Frequently Asked Questions

The Physical Craft

Why do you bind all your books with spiral coils instead of traditional spines?

Because we bind every single book ourselves right in our workshop, we get to choose what actually works best for our readers. Traditional glued bindings often come with a harsh chemical smell, and worse, they force you to use physical effort just to keep the pages open. That constant tension pulls you out of the experience of getting lost in a good book.

We believe reading should be comfortable, welcoming, and accessible to everyone. As we age, or for anyone navigating injuries, wrist issues like carpal tunnel, or neuromuscular conditions such as MS or Parkinson's, wrestling with a stiff spine can make holding a book frustrating or even impossible. By using spiral coils, our books lay perfectly flat on a table, in your lap, or on a bookstand without any physical force required. We want our stories and guides to be easily enjoyed in every season of life, regardless of physical capability.

What exactly is sugarcane paper, and does it feel different than normal paper?

Sugarcane paper is an incredible, eco-friendly alternative to traditional wood-pulp paper. It is made from bagasse—the fibrous sugarcane residue left over after juice is extracted from the stalks. Instead of letting this material go to waste, it's upcycled into paper.

As for how it feels, it has a gorgeous, organic tactile quality. It’s slightly warmer in tone with a subtle, rich texture that lets you know it's crafted from real plant fibers, feeling sturdy and wonderfully natural in your hands.

Side note: Because of that warm, natural cream tone instead of stark chemical bleach, sugarcane paper is also much easier on the eyes during long reading sessions, cutting down on harsh glare.

Do you offer traditional hardcovers or standard glued paperbacks?

Right now, we don't—though that might change down the road as we grow! At the moment, we intentionally choose spiral-binding for every book we make. We love how spiral coils allow a book to lay completely flat on a table or in your lap without you having to fight to keep it open. It makes for a much more comfortable reading experience that is significantly easier on your hands and wrists, allowing you to just lose yourself in the pages.

Will the ink from the EcoTanks smear if I get a drop of water on the page?

Our books aren't waterproof, and printing ink and paper can smudge or warp when wet. If a page gets splashed, blot it gently and let it dry. We recommend keeping books away from liquids to protect the pages.

Shipping & Handmade Logistics

Since you make everything by hand, how long will it take for my order to ship?

Even though every book is crafted with care right here in our workshop, we try to keep books premade and ready for their new home. Our shipping policy lists a processing time of 1–2 business days. If we need to bind a fresh batch and expect a delay, we'll reach out by email.

Do you ship internationally?

We don't offer direct international shipping as an automated checkout option on our website, mostly because the cost factors can be unpredictable and steep. However, we love our international readers! If you reach out to us directly, we're always happy to have a conversation and walk you through the available options to get our books into your hands.

Plus, many of our books are also available as digital e-books, which means instant delivery with zero shipping costs.

What is your return policy?

We want you to love what you bring home. You have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return. To be eligible, it must be in the same condition you received it, unused and in its original packaging, with a receipt or proof of purchase. Please contact us before sending it back; items returned without first requesting a return won't be accepted. You are responsible for return shipping costs. Once your return is received and inspected, we'll let you know if a refund is approved. If approved, the refund will be issued to your original payment method within 10 business days. For full details, please see our refund policy.

Can I track my package once it leaves your family workshop?

Yes! Use the USPS tracking code provided with your order to follow its journey. If you don't receive a tracking number or need help, email us and we'll be happy to assist you.

Authorship & Publishing

I wrote a book! Do you accept manuscript submissions from other authors?

At this time, we aren't taking traditional manuscript submissions. However, we are always excited to connect with fellow storytellers and kindred spirits! You are more than welcome to reach out, introduce yourself, and share a bit about your work. We are slowly building what we call the "Curious Porters Collective," and we are always open to starting a conversation to see if your writing style, values, and personality might be a beautiful fit for future collaborations down the road.

Who actually writes the stories and the real-world guides you publish?

Real people with real passions! You will find the author's name proudly printed on the cover of every book. However, we do have a few mysterious souls in our collective who prefer to write under a pen name. Why the secrecy? It's not because they are international spies (at least, we don't think they are). They simply want to protect their everyday identities so they can go about their lives as humble, normal humans—picking up groceries, tending their gardens, and living quietly without the spotlight. Think of it like a superhero's secret identity, just with way more ink and far fewer capes!

Do you offer digital versions (e-books) of your work, or only physical copies?

In short: Yes! While our first love and main focus will always be crafting tactile, handmade physical books, we aim to offer every single one of our titles as an e-book as well.

If you don't see a digital version of a specific book you want just yet, we are probably in the process of making it. Please reach out and let us know what you are looking for! To be completely honest, we can sometimes get so happily lost in the workshop cutting, punching, and binding paper that we forget to look at our screens. Knowing you are eagerly waiting for a digital copy gives us the perfect burst of extra motivation to get it formatted and launched for you.

The Homestead & Brand

What does "Workshop-to-Bookshelf Publishing" actually mean?

It means there are no massive commercial factories, no outsourced assembly lines, and no middlemen. We handle every single step of a book’s physical creation right here in our family workshop before it ever reaches your hands.

Here is what that hands-on journey actually looks like:

The Ink & Press: We take the finalized manuscript and print every page ourselves, pressing our deep EcoTank ink onto warm, eco-friendly sugarcane paper.

The Trim & Punch: Once the pages are printed and the ink is properly set, we manually trim the paper down to the perfect size and punch the binding holes by hand.

The Bind: We physically thread the spiral coils into every single copy. This hands-on step is where a stack of paper finally becomes a finished book—one that is intentionally designed to lay perfectly flat for your comfort.

The Bookshelf: Finally, we inspect the finished book, pack it up with care, and ship it directly from our worktable to your front porch.

It is a true labor of love. By doing it all ourselves, we can guarantee that every story you bring into your home carries the soul, quality, and warmth of a truly handmade artifact.

How does buying a book from Curious Porters help the environment?

Let’s be perfectly honest: simply existing on this planet leaves a footprint! But as creators, we consider it our responsibility to make sure our footprint is as light—and as helpful—as possible.

Here is how feeding your reading habit actually does some good:

Paper choices: We source from certified organizations, and many of our books are printed on sugarcane paper made from up-cycled plant fiber, reducing reliance on wood pulp.

Earth-Friendly Ink: We use Eco-Tank ink systems, which are highly efficient, drastically reduce plastic waste, and are much gentler on the environment than standard industrial printing.

Forest-Bound Scraps: When we trim your books to the perfect size, those paper scraps don't go into a landfill. We compost them, letting them break down into nutrient-rich soil for our local forest.

The Wetland Rescue: We use a portion of our profits to protect and maintain a 5-acre wetland that we personally saved from being filled in and paved over for a subdivision. Buying a book helps the frogs and cattails thrive.

Your Personal Carbon Sink: Here is a fun science fact—as long as you keep your book on the shelf, or pass it along to a friend, you are preserving the carbon captured inside those pages. Look at you, sequestering carbon just by reading!