Terms & Conditions

The Cup of Comfort book series includes the following types of books:

  1. Anthologies of uplifting true stories (“standard”)
  2. Anthologies of true stories with a Christian focus
  3. Devotionals and prayer books with a Christian focus

Payment Terms

The following Payment Terms apply only to the standard anthologies (non-Christian):

  • A one-time payment of $500 is paid to the Author of the lead story in each book (the “grand prize” winner).
  • A one-time payment of $100 is paid for each of the other stories published in the book.
  • Each contributor receives one complimentary copy of the book per story.

The following Payment Terms apply only to the Christian books:

  • A one-time payment of $50 is paid for each story published in the book.
  • A one-time payment of $25 is paid for each devotional published in the book.
  • Each contributor receives one complimentary copy of the book.

Terms & Conditions

The following terms and conditions apply to all Cup of Comfort books

  • Payment is upon publication.
  • The Author warrants that he/she is the sole author of the story.
  • The Author warrants that the story is 100% original (conceived and written by the author; not an adaptation of a piece written by someone else).
  • The Author guarantees that the story is true — that is, the characters in the story are real people (not fictionalized characters and not composite characters), and the events are depicted as they actually happened). Names and some details may be changed to protect the privacy of the people in the story, but the story must be based on real people and actual events.
  • The Author warrants that the story has not and will not be published in a book-length anthology with national (United States) or North American distribution nor in a widely circulated consumer magazine.
  • The Author warrants that he/she is the exclusive holder of the legal right to grant permission to publish the story.
  • The Author warrants that publication of the story will not infringe on any other person’s or entity’s copyright.
  • The Author warrants that publication of the Story will not defame, invade the privacy of, or violate any other rights of any other party.
  • The Author agrees to disclose any previous or pending publication of the story in any other publication and in any other media (audio, video, live performance, radio, TV, film, Internet, etc.).
  • If a story is selected as a finalist for publication consideration in a Cup of Comfort book, the Author will be notified in writing. This will consist of a Contributor Agreement being issued to the Author by the book’s Editor on behalf of the Publisher (Adams Media).
  • No story is published in any Cup of Comfort book without the Author’s written permission to publish that specific story in that specific book. This authorization is granted by way of a duly executed Contributor Agreement.
  • If a story (or devotional) is accepted for publication in a Cup of Comfort book, the Publisher reserves certain rights for a certain period of time, as specified in the Contributor Agreement, after which those reserved rights revert to the Author.
  • When a story (or devotional) is accepted for publication in a Cup of Comfort book, the Author retains the right to publish their story (or devotional) in a book comprised solely of their own works and on their personal Web site.
  • If a story is accepted for publication in a Cup of Comfort book, the Author grants the Publisher the right to edit, condense, and/or alter the story, including its title, as necessary for publication. Adams Media agrees not to change the facts of the story.
  • The Author is given the opportunity to review, change, and approve the line edit of the story; if the Author and the Editor cannot come to agreement on the line edit, the story will not be published in the book.
  • The Publisher reserves the right not to publish any story (or devotional) submitted for publication in the Cup of Comfort book series. If a submission is not published in the book, all rights remain with the Author.
  • Only the authors of finalist stories will be individually notified of the outcome of each book (that is, whether their story has been selected for publication).
  • The results of each contest — that is, the stories published in the book and the respective authors — will be announced in the Editor’s Blog and in the Cup of Comfort Newsletter.
  • Manuscripts are not returned.

The following terms and conditions apply to the critique program

  • Purchase of the critique service in no way guarantees publication in any volume of the Cup of Comfort series.
  • Once a story is submitted for critique, the $30.00 fee is nonrefundable for any reason.
  • If submitting for a particular Cup of Comfort volume for which we are currently accepting submissions, it is responsibility of the submitter to submit his or her story for critique in time for the submission to be reviewed and returned within 15 business days. The Publisher will not expedite any critiques due to an impending deadline for a current volume.
  • After receiving his or her critiqued story, it is the submitter’s sole responsibility to re-submit the story for publication consideration.
  • The critique program consists solely of one review of a 1,000 to 2,000 word Cup of Comfort story. Publishers will not review any stories that fall significantly under or over the suggested word count nor will any refund be granted.
  • The Publisher will not review any works that fall outside the category of an inspirational story. Please do not submit any articles, fiction, poetry, prose, profiles, eulogies, sermons, testimonials, letters, commentary, expository essays, persuasive essays, diatribes, academic papers, confessionals, erotica, pornography, or experimental literature.
  • There will not be any opportunity for a follow-up dialogue or email exchange between the submitter and Publisher with regard to the critique.
  • In submitting a story under this program, the submitter attests that her or she holds the legal rights to the story and indemnifies F+W Media, Inc. from any and all legal liability related to these rights.
  • F+W Media does not accept liability for direct or indirect loss or damage of any nature, including but not limited to typographical errors, errors of omission, submission that or do not comply with these rules, submissions that are lost, incomplete, illegible, unintelligible, or otherwise not received by the intended recipient, in whole or in part.
  • Any questions or comments regarding this program can be directed to the Cup of Comfort Publisher here.