Who We Are
Transcendent Publishing is an award-winning, author-focused company voted the #1 Self-Publishing Company in the United States 2025.
And we don’t take that lightly. We believe every book deserves the same level of excellence, strategy, and design quality as those produced by traditional publishers—without authors having to sacrifice creative control, rights, or royalties.
Our experienced team of editors, designers, and publishing professionals collaborates closely with each author to bring their vision to life through high-quality production, personalized support, and a strategic approach to launching their book into the world.
When you partner with Transcendent Publishing, you remain 100% self-published—retaining full rights and royalties—while benefiting from the guidance of a trusted industry leader committed to your long-term success and your book’s lasting impact.
I'm Shanda Trofe, the visionary behind Transcendent Publishing, and I'm thrilled to guide you on your journey to success. As both a bestselling author and a seasoned entrepreneur, I've dedicated myself to helping individuals like you transform their messages into high-quality books.
My passion lies in empowering authors, coaches, thought leaders, and innovators to not only share their message but also to leverage it into a sustainable empire. I firmly believe that the true wealth of an author transcends mere book sales—it resides in the ecosystem of products and services that blossom from their core message, with the book serving as the cornerstone.
From coaching programs to online courses, membership platforms to captivating speaking engagements, the possibilities are endless once your book is strategically published and launched to the world.
Becoming a published author is just the beginning of an exhilarating journey toward credibility and client conversion. By aligning your book with your long-term objectives, you'll not only establish yourself as an authority in your field but also attract a loyal following eager to invest in your expertise.
My mission is clear: to equip authors with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate the complexities of authorship and emerge as trailblazers in their industries. Together, we'll lay the foundation for your enduring success in the ever-evolving landscape of self-publishing and authorship.
SHANDA TROFE
BIO FOR SHANDA TROFE
CEO of Transcendent Publishing | USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author | Book Coach and Publishing Consultant
Since 2012, Shanda Trofe has dedicated her career to helping aspiring authors transform their ideas into beautifully published, bestselling books—from the first spark of an idea to a polished, published release. With over 800 #1 bestselling book launches under her award-winning company, Transcendent Publishing, she’s recognized as one of the leading experts in the world of self-publishing and author branding.
As both a coach and publishing consultant, Shanda is known for her heart-centered yet strategic approach, empowering authors, coaches, and thought leaders to create books that not only inspire readers but also build long-term success. Through her courses, coaching programs, and signature publishing packages, she guides authors through every step of the writing and publishing journey with professionalism, care, and expertise.
Shanda holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing, and is presently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Among her bestselling non-fiction works are titles such as Self-Publishing Success and Authorpreneur, along with over a dozen co-authored books, notably the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller, All In. Shanda resides in St. Petersburg, Florida with her husband and their pack of dachshunds.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - FAQs
Is Transcendent Publishing a vanity press?
No. Transcendent Publishing is not a vanity press.
Vanity presses typically publish books under their own publishing accounts, retain partial ownership or control of the book, and take a percentage of the author’s royalties. Authors often have limited transparency or long-term control over their work.
Transcendent Publishing operates differently. We provide professional self-publishing services only. Our clients publish their books through their own print-on-demand accounts, retain full ownership of their work, and keep 100% of their royalties.
Is Transcendent Publishing a hybrid publisher?
No. Transcendent Publishing is not a hybrid publisher.
Hybrid publishers generally function as publishers of record. They publish books through the publisher’s accounts, and retain a portion of royalties in exchange for services.
Transcendent Publishing does not publish books under our accounts. We do not act as the publisher, and we do not retain royalties. We strictly offer self-publishing services such as cover and interior design, setup, and book launch marketing services while the author remains fully independent, retaining all of their rights and receiving 100% of their royalties directly from book distributors such as KDP and IngramSpark.
What type of company is Transcendent Publishing?
Transcendent Publishing is a 100% self-publishing services company.
We support authors by providing:
Professional book cover and interior design
Self-publishing setup guidance using the author’s own accounts
Book launch strategy and bestseller support
Publishing education and consulting
Our role is to support authors, not to act as the publisher. All of our clients publish through their own print-on-demand accounts, such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark.
While we guide authors through setup and best practices, we do not own, control, or manage these accounts. Authors retain full independence, ownership, and access to their publishing platforms at all times.
Does Transcendent Publishing take a percentage of royalties?
No. Transcendent Publishing does not take any portion of author royalties.
Our self-publishing services are fee-based and transparent. Once your book is published, all royalties are paid directly to you through your chosen distribution platforms, through your own print-on-demand accounts.
Who is Transcendent Publishing best suited for?
Transcendent Publishing works with authors who want:
Full ownership of their intellectual property
Professional-quality books that meet traditional publishing standards
Strategic guidance and full self-publishing support without giving up rights or royalties
A transparent, ethical self-publishing experience
How long does the publishing process take from start to finish?
The project timeline largely depends on the author, as each author works at a different pace. That said, most projects typically follow this general timeline:
Editing and revisions: approximately one month, if editing services are included in your package
Design, production, and proofing: approximately one month
Book launch preparation and marketing: approximately one month
In many cases, projects can move more quickly. Most books — from manuscript to bestseller — can be completed in two to three months, depending on how promptly the author completes tasks such as reviewing the print-ready PDF, approving designs, and submitting feedback or change requests.
We guide authors through each step to keep the process moving efficiently while ensuring quality at every stage.
What if I already have a cover designed?
You’re welcome to submit an existing front cover concept for us to review. If it meets our professional design and technical standards, we may be able to use it as is or enhance it to give it a polished, professional finish.
We do require the editable source file for any existing cover design. Even when a front cover is approved, we still create the full print-ready cover layout, including the front, back, and spine, and size it correctly for each book distributor’s specifications.
Final print-ready covers are delivered and uploaded to printers as PDF files. Cover dimensions, including spine width and bleed, are determined by the final specifications of the formatted interior file.
To ensure your cover meets all technical requirements for platforms such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark and maintains a professional, bookstore-ready appearance, our professional cover designers complete all print-ready files optimized for each distributor’s requirements.
What are the advantages of the Amazon Bestseller Campaign?
The primary goal of the Amazon Bestseller Campaign is to help ignite Amazon’s sales algorithm, increasing your book’s visibility to potential readers.
Our 30-day launch strategy includes three coordinated phases:
A paperback presale to generate early sales momentum
Advance readers to support early Amazon reviews
A strategic Amazon Bestseller marketing campaign
Throughout the launch, we optimize your book’s product page on online retailers using SEO (Search Engine Optimization), including strategic keywords and categories to improve discoverability and ranking.
By the end of the launch, your book is positioned to have reviews, Amazon bestseller status, and placement on Amazon’s Hot New Releases list. Together, these signals help Amazon recognize reader interest, which can result in increased visibility in search results, on similar book product pages, and in Amazon promotional emails.
Can I white-label your publishing services?
Yes. If you have your own publishing imprint and provide your own ISBN, you may white-label our services and present them under your brand.
How do I get started?
The first step is to schedule a complimentary publishing consultation to discuss your book and determine whether we’re the right fit.
If you decide to move forward, you’ll receive a Service Agreement outlining our terms, what’s included in your package, and three payment options. You may split your package into two payments, choose a convenient monthly payment plan over 3 to 6 months with a small finance fee, or save 3% by paying in full.
All payments must be completed prior to publication. Once your agreement is signed and payment is made, your spot in our production queue is secured. You’ll then receive an onboarding email and a Book Components Checklist to help you prepare your manuscript and materials for submission.