When opting for our assisted-publishing package, because of our unique publishing process, City Stone Publishing cannot be held liable for any defamation, bias, or controversy-based claims concerning the content of books that are published through and with the support of City Stone Publishing.

We at City Stone Publishing strongly believe in (a) keeping full ownership of books with the individual authors and (b) freedom of speech.

(a) Authors’ full ownership of books

a.1) Authors accept that, under the assisted-publishing process of City Stone Publishing, with full ownership also comes full liability regarding their published work.

a.2) Authors accept that when traditionally publishing through City Stone Publishing, whilst City Stone Publishing holds the copyright, the author accepts full liability with regards to the contents of their published work.

(b) Freedom of speech

We do not claim to have the justification to ‘tone down’ books that offer opinions one might not agree with or wish to discuss.

As Neil Gaiman said, “If you accept — and I do — that freedom of speech is important, then you are going to have to defend the indefensible. That means you are going to be defending the right of people to read, or to write, or to say, what you don’t say or like or want said.”

Whilst we agree with the above, we will not defend ALL the indefensible: only the indefensible that in our eyes does not bring any harm to others nor incites dehumanisation or evokes behaviour that in our eyes is reproachable or hugely offensive. We understand that there is a fine line between a controversial book that discusses a taboo or difficult topic and a book that promotes taboos or involves issues we cannot fathom ever agreeing upon.

We also understand that our line is subjective – it’s our prerogative as City Stone Publishing to decide which topics are a no-go for us and thus, may not be suited for City Stone Publishing, and which are.

Having said that, there will be books published with and through City Stone Publishing with content that we – as we are sure you, readers and writers as well – might not wholly agree with or have different opinions on. Books you want to talk about, you are going to discuss, books that open your eyes and make you aware of other views and perspectives.  That is what good books do.

©City Stone Publishing 2022