You have written a book and want to publish it in Cameroon? Here is everything you need to do, step by step, from the manuscript to the book on sale: correction, choosing how to publish, layout, ISBN, copyright, printing, legal deposit and launch.
1
Finish and polish your manuscript
Before anything else, the text must be complete and clean. Have it proof-read for spelling, grammar and consistency, check the order of chapters, and prepare the front matter (title page, dedication, table of contents, preface) and back matter (bibliography, glossary, about the author). A professional correction in English or French saves money later: every error corrected after printing means a reprint.
We offer: proof-reading and correction in English and French.
2
Choose how you will publish
You have three options. Traditional publishing: a publishing house selects your book, pays the production costs and pays you royalties, but it decides on the final form and holds the publishing rights. Self-publishing: you are the publisher; you pay the costs, keep full control and keep all the income. Assisted publishing: you stay the owner and publisher of your book, and a professional workshop handles correction, layout, cover, ISBN and printing for you.
We offer: assisted publishing, from manuscript to printed book.
3
Lay out the pages and design the cover
Choose the format (A5 or 14 × 21 cm is common for novels and essays; A4 for manuals and reports), the font and the margins, then lay out every page. The cover has three parts: the front (title, author, image), the spine (its width depends on the number of pages and the paper) and the back cover (summary, short author biography, ISBN barcode and price if you wish). Always approve a mockup before going further.
We offer: professional layout and cover design, with a mockup for your approval.
4
Get your official ISBN and barcode
The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is your book’s unique identifier; bookshops, libraries and online platforms need it to list and sell your book. In Cameroon, ISBNs are assigned through the Ministry of Arts and Culture. Each published format needs its own number: the paperback, the hardcover and the e-book each take one ISBN. The number is then printed on the copyright page and, as an EAN-13 barcode, on the back cover.
We offer: official ISBN from 20,000 FCFA, delivered with a vector barcode.
5
Protect your rights as an author
In Cameroon, your work is protected by copyright from the moment it is created, under Law No. 2000/011 of 19 December 2000 on copyright and neighbouring rights; no registration is needed for the protection itself. To collect the rights due when your work is used, you can join and declare your book to SOCILADRA, the collective management society for literary and dramatic works (Category A). Keep dated copies of your manuscript as proof, and put a copyright notice (© year, name) on the copyright page.
6
Print your book
Ask for a printed proof copy and check it carefully before the full run. Choose the paper, the cover finish (matt or gloss lamination) and the binding: glued (perfect) binding for most books, hard binding for prestige editions. For a first book, start with a modest run in digital printing and reprint as you sell; for large runs (hundreds or thousands of copies) offset printing becomes cheaper per copy.
We offer: digital and offset printing, soft, hard and leather binding.
7
Complete the legal deposit
Every book published in Cameroon must be deposited with the national legal-deposit service (National Library, Ministry of Arts and Culture). Legal deposit preserves the national heritage and gives your book an official record. The number of copies and the forms required are set by the administration and can change, so check the current requirements before you print, or ask us to guide you.
We offer: guidance on legal deposit.
8
Launch and sell your book
Organise a launch or book-signing (dédicace), and invite the press, your community and schools or universities if your book suits them. Place copies in bookshops (often on consignment), sell directly at events, and use WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram to reach readers. Consider an e-book edition (with its own ISBN) for readers abroad and in the diaspora.
We offer: roll-ups, banners, posters and bookmarks for your launch.
Checklist before publication
- Manuscript complete and proof-read
- Publishing option chosen
- Layout and cover approved (mockup)
- ISBN obtained for each format
- Barcode placed on the back cover
- Copyright notice on the copyright page
- Printed proof checked and approved
- Books printed and bound
- Legal deposit completed
- Launch and sales plan ready
Frequently asked questions about publishing in Cameroon
Do I need a publishing house to publish my book in Cameroon?
No. You can publish as an author-publisher (self-publishing). You then obtain your own ISBN, pay for production and keep all rights and income. Assisted publishing lets you do this without having to manage every technical step yourself.
Can I use a foreign ISBN for a book published in Cameroon?
ISBNs are assigned to publishers by the ISBN agency of the country where they are based. If you use an ISBN supplied by a foreign platform, that platform is usually recorded as the publisher. For a book published in Cameroon, a Cameroonian ISBN in your own name is the right choice.
How long does it take to publish a book?
It depends mainly on the state of the manuscript and on the time you take to approve the mockups. The ISBN itself is usually assigned within 2 to 72 working hours after payment. Ask us for a schedule based on your manuscript.
How much does it cost to publish a book in Cameroon?
The cost depends on the number of pages, the format, the colours, the binding and the number of copies. The ISBN costs from 20,000 FCFA per number with us. Send us your manuscript on WhatsApp and we will reply with a complete quotation.
This guide is for information. Administrative procedures (ISBN, legal deposit, collective management) can change; check the current requirements with the relevant services or contact us.