Troubador Publishing Reviews 

Absolute transparency from start to finish. Helpful and no pie-in-the-sky promises. First-rate communication throughout from both Holly and Sophie and all concerned. It has been, and still is an exciting and amazing experience. A radio interview, a piece in the local paper and talks later at a couple of libraries that have ordered my book. What's not to like? I cannot recommend Troubador highly enough.

Self-publishing is a daunting route to take for new authors, and the prospect can seem overwhelming. But I had nothing to fear once I signed up to Troubadour. I can't fault Beth and the team and want to thank them for guiding me through each stage of the production process. I was informed of timescales in advance, given sound advice about launch dates and reassured by Beth's calm approach to my concerns. If this review helps to give just one more author the confidence to jump in and self-publish with Troubadour, then my work here is done.

Troubador was my first choice for publishing my book firstly because of Hannah's D's enthusiasm for my book when I first rang and sent in my manuscript. Nothing was too much trouble and I immediately built a great rapport with her. I was then passed to Beth my production control manager and, again, she could not have been any more helpful, professional and kind. I had absolutely no clue how to publish a book before this and I was guided all the way with helpful 'how to' guides sent to me and emails sent to reassure as well as keep me closely informed of the process. The costs are laid out clearly and you can pick and choose the package that is suitable for you.
My book 'The Eventful journey' (caravan adventures) has gone to the printers and it is appearing on many book selling websites already for pre-order which is extremely exciting. Every other person I have dealt with at Troubador has been extremely helpful and professional and I highly recommend them if you are thinking of publishing your book.

Troubador have been publishing books to the highest standard since the late 1980s. It was clear to me from day one that they were committed to quality and ensuring that I had the best possible self-publishing experience with ‘Don’t Look Back’.
I found the team a very knowledgeable, experienced, reliable and proactive unit. They were so friendly, helpful and a privilege to work with. Every one of them possessed expertise in their area, yet had an awareness of the history of my book’s journey to date.
The publication process from beginning to end was robust and ran very efficiently in specific stages to tight deadlines. Guidance notes were provided on all aspects along with email correspondence from the named contact. Where required they also provided advice via telephone. This was a proven route to me making informed choices and decisions which matched my expectations. I made requests for a certain type of paper, a specific image on the front cover, the positioning of photographs in the central plate and also some portrait and landscape tables in the book. All of these were accommodated with help from the team. The copy editor did a great job and the cover designer produced some excellent work to go on top of my original image and run over the spine onto the back cover, thus giving a first class wrap- around feel to the book. Make no mistake, for me the finished product had a quality and appearance which far exceeded that of many published works. It has attracted very positive reviews on Net Galley.
This business works to high standards and delivers on tight deadlines. But the process is a two-way street and needs the author to play their part in this. Being proactive also helps and I hope that I’ve contributed in both these areas. My thanks and congratulations go to every one of you.

If I could have given Troubador SIX stars, I would have done. My experience publishing Trinity of Souls with them has been fantastic from the day I first contacted them up to now, with both the paperback and ebook already on sale, well ahead of schedule.
Every department I have dealt with has been professional, efficient, and friendly. They have been there to guide, to suggest, and to reassure, at every step: but the final decision on everything has always been mine.
I don't normally write reviews but, on this occasion, I felt compelled to do it.

I have just published my book.'The Stamp of Innocence' with Troubador Publishing.

I would thoroughly recommend Troubador to any potential author.

The service has been first class from the very outset. Responsive, flexible and accommodating at every turn.

They put my mind at ease throughout as I knew I was dealing with a very professional company, who would keep to promises made and deliver on them on time as well.

And I was very happy with the finished product itself, both as an e-book and a paperback.

I will definitely be using Troubador again in 2024 for my next books!

Aled Gwyn Job

I recently asked Troubador to carry out an Opinionated Edit on the first draft of a novel I am writing. The analysis was astonishing, and their report was full of helpful suggestions on improving the text. I have been very impressed by the quality of the work and the speed of execution.

Fantastic publishers very happy. Incredibly professional

EC Radcliffe

The Troubador / Matador team is very responsive, highly flexible, and goes beyond the call of duty to make things happen (books printed and delivered on very short notice? Can do!)

A joy for any author to work with

From 2018 to just recently, Troubador has always been there for me every time I've needed expert help.
I'm the SAS author, Lorna Almonds-Windmill. Five years ago, I had two books already out with different publishers - but no experience of self-publishing. Troubador helped me to publish a Sequel to one of my books. It was published first as an E-book in 2018 and then as a large paperback in 2020. I was amazed at the range of specialist advice on offer and the good relationships I was able to develop with different Troubador departments. I couldn't have done it without them. Apart from the book itself, I took advantage of social media support and even a video 'trailer' before the launch. Recently, I've used Troubador to promote a couple of my talks on Facebook. Self-publishing works but you do need a (very good) publisher!

I found everyone at Troubador to be pleasant, friendly, helpful and efficient, as well as being excellent communicators. The scale of charges was transparent and I was never pressured to go for services beyond my budget or inappropriate to my needs. I was particularly inpressed by the meticulous copy editing and proof reading, also the quality of the cover design.

The hybrid publishing option offered by Troubador is an ideal compromise between traditional publishing and self-publishing. Their flexible options enable you to pick and choose from an extensive range of services. You only need pay for assistance in the areas you want it. All the staff are friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable in their area of expertise. Guidance notes on all aspects of the journey provide helpful insight. The process from start to finish runs like a well-oiled machine. I recommend Troubador to anyone considering this model for publishing their book.

I searched for publishers, trawling the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook for possibilities. In every case I received a polite rejection 'sorry, we are not taking any new authors on at this time'. Rightly or wrongly, I believed my book will sell, so decided to self publish. Who to choose was the next step. My wife, who has written several books, recommended I look at Troubador Publishing. Troubador appeared to offer a comprehensive service so this is who I went with.

As a first time author, I had plenty of questions which the staff at Troubador answered promptly and comprehensively by email or by phone. I also appreciated the honest quality of the advice given which on several occasions meant that I was advised not to opt for services offered by Troubador. I was impressed by the way they organise the publishing process which allows writers to fine-tune their script at each stage while completing the process in a timely manner.

I can highly recommend Troubador as your publisher.

Noises After Dark by John Tomlinson is an autobiographical account of the author’s work as a medic for Save the Children in Somalia during 1980s. He describes the successes, the trials and tribulations as well as the dangers of his work building up, staffing and running a hospital in an isolated area of the country. The narrative is set against a backdrop of corruption and a burgeoning civil war with which he and his colleagues have perilous first hand experience. In spite of all the dangers, frustrations and difficulties, John’s account maintains an optimistic and sometimes humorous can-do attitude. From his experiences he describes how he gained a new perspective on life and new insights into the human condition. I found Noises After Dark to be a well written, personal and thought-provoking book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it.

Troubador are a joy to work with. Positive and professional from the moment you make contact to the glorious moment where your dream has turned into a reality and you are holding a copy of your book. In this case "You Couldn't Make it Up - Our adventures in small town Provence"
I will certainly be using them again. If you have a script that is just sitting there gathering dust as you attempt to find an agent who will respond, why waste any more time - give Troubador a call.

A rank outsider, when it came to writing, I never expected to see my manuscript become a book. On the advice of a friend ,I half-heartedly sent it off to the Literary Consultancy where it was picked up by a highly professional, enthusiastic editor, who nurtured it chapter by chapter through to a final draft. Suggesting Matador for the publication was a matter of course. For someone with no experience of the publishing world, I found them helpful, polite and instantly accessible. I was impressed with the way, Sam, quickly stepped in to make up lost time owing to the non arrival of an important email. Each step of the way, payments for the process were quickly acknowledged.
Developing the cover was particularly spectacular- the ideas spun back and forth quickly until I felt the cover mirrored the contents perfectly. "Agnes's Broken Dreams" by me, Judy King was on the way to be printed, the day before the office was about to close for Christmas. By mid-January 2023, the finished book arrived at Matador's office and I held the first copy in my hand at my home in Mallorca early February, well ahead of the official publication date of the 28th March 2023.

The quality of the finished books first led me to use Troubador and I was not disappointed when they published my first book. However it was the individual step by step support, so essential at this stage of vulnerability that bought me back to use them again. Their interest and care coupled by professionalism is unique and I will happily be returning.

I must admit that I was rather sceptical and snobbish at the thought of self-publishing, having seen some error-filled and dire examples of self-published books. However, when I received a book of poetry as a gift, I was struck by how beautifully produced and illustrated it was. The publisher was Matador (an imprint of Troubador) and before contacting them, I checked up on the competition in the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook. Unfailingly, the Troubador team garnered praise for professionalism, helpfulness and joining in with the creative impulse.
This has been my own experience; I always felt we were a partnership and working in tandem. I never felt pressurised or rushed. Indeed, I would counsel patience and taking one's time. Producing a book is a very labour-intensive endeavour.
From the very outset, the financial outlays were made very clear. I call writing my 'very expensive hobby.' Although the first book sold out after a print-run of 800 copies, I had incurred expenses by insisting on a certain number of hardbacks and including 8 pages of photographs. A word of warning - no need to go overboard. Nevertheless, the end result was stunning and all the reviews were glowing. For me, it has been an achievement that I feel proud of: a thing of beauty.
I definitely would suggest using the proof-reading and the copy-edit options. It is frightening how many tiny details just slip under the radar. I did use the marketing option on my first book (published during the pandemic), however word of mouth proved to be the most successful marketing tool.
I have just published my second book with Troubador. In some ways it has been an easier experience because I had worked with some of the staff before and was more aware of the whole process from inception to fruition. I am now more adept at what I require in terms of marketing. In any case, the books made brilliant birthday and Christmas presents!
One thing I have really enjoyed is being in control; the books are exactly the way I wanted them to be! (I now fear I am becoming a control freak!) This time it's in paperback only (1000 copies) and no photos.
I'm looking forward with trepidation and excitement to my second book landing in my lap in a few weeks time.
Basia Gordon
Memoir 1: From the River to the Sea: Aquitaine, A Place for Me
Memoir 2: Smithereens: Aquitaine, Scotland and Other Meanderings.

It's not for nothing that these guys are widely regarded as the best in the business. At every stage in the production process their professionalism is matched by their assiduity. There are traps aplenty elsewhere in the scary business of getting books into print. But with Troubador you're in safe hands throughout. They're a no-nonsense outfit, and what they promise they do deliver – with style and grace.

Plain and simple, this company cares about its writers. I have had experiences with 'normal' publishers in Ireland and the UK, with self-publishing companies in Canada and Germany and Ireland. No one tops Troubador. They are always on your side and are totally professional.