Tired of seeing your manuscript gather dust in a drawer or losing your touch as soon as a contract comes through? Ascending Quills shakes up the norms and puts speculative fiction writers back in the driver's seat... without the administrative turbulence.
1%. That's roughly the proportion of manuscripts accepted each year by major French publishing houses. The rest vanish into a Bermuda Triangle of form rejection letters, radio silence, or, more perilously, vanity press offers that can cost up to €6,000 (Source: SGDL report 2024). The result? According to AFNIL, nearly 13,000 ISBNs were generated in 2023 through pure self-publishing, representing an 18% increase over one year. Evidence that creators are seeking an emergency exit... even though the road is still fraught with obstacles (layout, indexing, distribution).
Founded in 2019 by Hélène Gravelines, Plumes Ascendantes specializes in speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror), a sector that already accounts for 14% of fiction sales in France according to GfK. Its promise: to combine professional support and total freedom. In other words, the author remains in control at every stage, from the cover to the release schedule, while benefiting from an editorial committee, an in-house proofreader, and a graphic designer.
The financial model is clear: the house charges a flat fee for its services (coaching, proofreading, layout, legal deposit, communication). Once the book is on sale, all rights, including print, digital, and audio formats, go to the author. No imprecise percentages, no onerous clauses. The ISBN remains in the name of Plumes Ascendantes, but the revenue goes directly into the creator's account. In short: true publisher quality with the transparency of self-publishing when it comes to rights.
Narrative coaching (structure, pace, emotional arcs)
Orthotypographic and stylistic proofreading
Optimized print & ePub layout for e-readers
Cover design, internal or specialized freelance art direction in SFFF
Launch campaign: literary press, Bookstagram/TikTok influencers
The idea is not to be pushy (some authors are already proficient with InDesign or Canva) but to offer an à la carte menu. For example, one could entrust only the proofreading and manage the promotion themselves. Convenient for tight budgets.
Internationally, science fiction and fantasy are worth $2.1 billion (ResearchAndMarkets, 2023). In France, this segment has shown a +9% annual growth since 2021, fueled by the young adult wave and the popularity of short formats (novellas, digital serialization). The readers, 60% of whom are under 35, are highly connected and have a penchant for well-crafted editions. A perfect breeding ground for imaginative projects, provided they are visible, hence the advantage of a specialized label such as Plumes Ascendantes.
The house does not intend to slow down: Spring 2026, launch of writing workshops (in person in Toulon and via video conference). End of 2026, release of three space opera novels and a steampunk anthology. Then, January 2027, opening of a "fantastic" themed call for submissions to enrich the Nebula Noire collection. The mandatory theme? The boundaries between reality and imagination. Length? 70,000 to 120,000 characters. Calling all writers!
Former modern literature teacher, passionate about Ursula K. Le Guin and Alain Damasio, Hélène Gravelines is truly a jack-of-all-trades. A certified proofreader from the CEC, she has already published two novels and a collection of short stories.
Her motto: "A book is a crew. Everyone must row in the same direction." She can also be found volunteering at the Imaginales festival and as a speaker on Twitch where she deciphers contractual pitfalls.
Beyond the economic dimension, the approach challenges our relationship with creation: must one relinquish ownership of their work to be legitimate? In a context where 42% of French people say they want to write one day (OpinionWay survey, 2022), offering a middle path that is serious yet respectful becomes a cultural stake. Fewer disappointments, more diversity, especially for LGBTQIA+ voices or racialized individuals still underrepresented in mainstream catalogs.
Nothing magical: 1) Word or LibreOffice document, Times font size 12, 1.5 line spacing. 2) One-page pitch + full summary. 3) Online form on the website (section "Submit Your Project to Us"). Average response time: within 8 weeks. For those in a hurry, an express review is available within 15 days for a fee of €30, which is deducted if the manuscript is accepted.
• Publisher's Account: The publisher finances everything, the author earns 8 to 12% royalties.
• Author's Account: The author pays, keeps 20 to 30% but without guaranteed quality control.
• Pure Self-Publishing: The author manages 100% and keeps 100%, but must learn everything.
• Ascending Plumes positions itself between these three poles: professional services paid once, then 100% of sales go to the author. A compromise that is increasingly appealing to demanding writers.
Author Audrey on 09 January 2023
Art and Culture : Literature
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