Our Promise

At Everdream Studio, we don’t believe in playing by broken rules. We don’t believe in protecting systems that exploit creators, bury voices, or take more than they give. We believe in something better — and we’re building it from the ground up.

This is our promise:

To put creators first — not just in words, but in structure.
To be transparent, fair, and ethical in every agreement we make.
To challenge harmful industry practices and never mirror them out of convenience.
To create a space where imagination is protected, stories are respected, and the people behind them are never treated as disposable.

This Ethics Policy exists because we don’t expect you to take us at our word. We expect you to hold us to it.

We’re not just a publisher. We’re a creative house.

We’re not here to follow the rules.
We’re here to rewrite them.

Creative Freedom in a Creative House

At Everdream Studio, your story is your own.

We don’t own your work. We don’t control your IP. And we will never ask you to sign it away.

You retain full copyright to everything you create. Always.

We are a publisher, yes — but we are also a creative house. That means collaboration without compromise. Partnership without power plays. Support without strings.

We don’t believe in forced exclusivity, non-compete clauses, or decade-long lock-in contracts. We believe in mutual respect — in open dialogue, in fair terms, and in the kind of publishing model that puts authors at the center of the room, not the bottom of the food chain.

We welcome bold voices, strange magic, soft truths, hard questions, and everything in between.

Your creative voice is not a product. It’s a presence. A power. And we will always treat it that way.

Everdream exists to amplify, not to contain.

This is your house too. Welcome home. ❤️

Fair Compensation & Honest Work

At Everdream Studio, we don’t believe in exposure as payment.

We don’t ask creatives to work for free. We don’t hide royalties behind vague percentages or bloated overhead. And we don’t expect authors, artists, or editors to build a legacy on unpaid labor.

We believe in fair compensation.
Transparent agreements. Real numbers. Honest work, honestly paid.

If we ask someone to do the work — to write, design, edit, illustrate, market, or collaborate — we pay them. Period. No exceptions.

But sometimes, people offer their time and talents not for payment, but for passion — to build something beautiful together. When that happens, we say yes with gratitude. And we make sure their contribution is seen, credited, and valued just as much as any invoice.

Support, whether paid or freely given, is never taken for granted.
And it is never expected.

We cover production costs upfront because we believe in the work. Our recoupment model is public, predictable, and capped. We will never take more than we need, and we will never take forever.

Royalties at Everdream aren’t crumbs.

They’re a majority share — because you did the majority of the work.

We’re not here to profit off artists. We’re here to stand beside them.

To uplift, to protect, and to make sure every creative who walks through our doors is compensated with dignity — whether through money, recognition, or meaningful partnership.

The Transparency of The Deal

(Because we’re not playing the same game — we’re rewriting the rules.)

At Everdream Studio, there is no fine print.

No “gotchas.” No midnight clause edits. No contract traps dressed up in opportunity.

If there’s a deal on the table, you’ll see it — clearly, fully, and before you sign.

We believe in contracts that protect, not entrap. In royalties that mean something, not just numbers on paper. In agreements that work both ways — not just in favor of the house.

You will always know:

What you’re getting.
What you’re giving.
What happens if things go wrong — and what happens if they go right.

Our recoupment terms are public. Our royalty shares are listed before you sign. Our relationships are built on mutual clarity, not confusion dressed as professionalism.

We don’t believe in mystery math or whisper deals behind closed doors. We believe that transparency is creative empowerment.

If we can’t be honest with the people we publish, we don’t deserve to publish at all.

Ethical Marketing & Reader Trust

We don’t believe in manipulation.
We don’t buy fake reviews. We don’t flood algorithms with bots. And we don’t manufacture hype with smoke and mirrors.

At Everdream Studio, we market with honesty.

Yes — we send out ARCs.
Yes — we collaborate with influencers and pay for visibility when we need to.

But whether someone receives a book for free, gets paid for a feature, or picks it up on a whim — we never ask for anything but the truth.

We don’t script praise.
We don’t expect 5 stars.

We ask, simply, for honest engagement from people who care.

Our pricing is transparent. Our blurbs are real. Our launch campaigns reflect the story behind the book — not a distorted version of it.

Because trust is currency.

And in the creative economy we’re building, trust is the only thing we’re not willing to spend.

We want readers who believe in our authors.
We want authors who trust the process.

And we want every person who finds Everdream to know — from the first ad to the final page — that what they see is exactly what they’ll get.

Marketing can be ethical.

And at Everdream, it will be.

I. D. E. A. S.

Inclusion. Diversity. Equality. Advocacy. Safety.

IDEAS are not just our values — they are our foundation, our fuel, our fire.

While other companies quietly pull back from equity work, we are pushing forward —

louder, bolder, and more rooted than ever.

We are not neutral. We will never be.

Neutrality in the face of exclusion is complicity.
And Everdream Studio was not built to comply — it was built to disrupt.

These are not marketing buzzwords.

They are the blueprint of the world we’re building.
We do not do performative allyship.
We do not make space for equity only when it’s profitable.

We do not talk big and act small.

IDEAS are action.
IDEAS are policy.
IDEAS are protection.

And they are permanent.

Inclusion

This house was not built with a gate.
There is no secret knock, no club to join, no mold to fit.

At Everdream Studio, you don’t have to soften your voice to be heard.
You don’t have to explain your identity to be accepted.
You don’t have to translate your story into something palatable to be published.

Inclusion is not a checkbox.
It’s not a tagline.
It’s not a PR line we trot out during Pride or Black History Month and then quietly retire.

Inclusion is how we design the space.
It’s how we hire. How we listen. How we publish. How we protect.
It shows up in the forms we build, the channels we moderate, the stories we choose to uplift.

We are a creative house with a focus — and not every submission will be the right fit for our catalog.
But let us be clear: if we pass on your work, it will never be because of who you are, how you live, what you look like, or what you believe.

If you’ve ever felt like publishing wasn’t for you — if you’ve ever been told to “tone it down,” “wait your turn,” or “write something more relatable” — we want you here.

You belong here.

Exactly as you are.

Diversity

We do not fear difference.
We crave it.

We are not looking for stories that follow the formula.
We are looking for stories that break it. Reshape it. Burn it down and build something new.

Diversity is not about casting one “acceptable” voice into a empty white space.

It’s about multiplicity — of race, gender, language, sexuality, ability, background, belief, and story structure.
It’s about worlds that reflect the real one — messy, beautiful, layered, and alive.

We publish queer stories, immigrant stories, neurodivergent stories, disabled stories, stories rooted in Indigenous knowledge, diaspora, resistance, reclamation, grief, joy, magic, rage, and healing.

We do not tokenize.
We do not exoticize.
We do not edit your story into something safer for “the market.”

Diversity at Everdream means permission to be whole.
You do not need to simplify yourself to be understood.
You do not need to explain your existence to be valid.
You do not need to speak in code to be heard.

Your story doesn’t have to be about pain to be powerful.
It doesn’t have to be educational to be respected.
It doesn’t have to be for anyone but you — and the people who’ve been waiting to find it.

We don’t publish diversity for optics.
We publish it because it’s real. And because it’s brilliant.

Equality

Everdream Studio does not play favorites.
Not with fame. Not with following. Not with marketability.

Whether you’re a debut author with 37 followers or a seasoned creator with six-figure sales —

you get the same contract. The same royalty structure. The same respect.

Equality means no secret tiers.
No preferential treatment hidden behind clout.
No whisper-network perks.

We do not gatekeep based on “professionalism,” which too often just means proximity to power.
We don’t ask if you’ve been published before. We ask if you have something to say.

Everyone who walks through our door is met with the same baseline:
→ Clear expectations.
→ Transparent terms.
→ Fair revenue share.
→ And a partnership rooted in mutual care.

We don’t believe your identity is a liability.
We don’t believe your background should dictate your worth.
We don’t believe in chasing trends or exploiting stories that were never ours to tell.

Equality isn’t just about what you earn.
It’s about how you're treated every step of the way.

And at Everdream, that treatment will always be:
human, honest, and whole.

Advocacy

This isn’t just about books.
This is about the world those books are trying to reach.

At Everdream Studio, advocacy isn’t a sidebar.
It’s not a reactive blog post. It’s not a PR statement issued only when the world is on fire.

Advocacy is the center of the room.
It’s how we show up. How we build. How we make choices — every single day.

We advocate for our authors.
We advocate for our editors, our artists, our illustrators.
We advocate for underrepresented stories, unheard voices, and broken systems in desperate need of light.

But we also advocate beyond the page — for gender equity, racial justice, LGBTQ+ safety, disability access, mental health, environmental protection, reproductive freedom, and the right to exist and create without fear.

We advocate because we know:
Stories are not separate from the world.
They shape it.
And so do we.

Even while small, we stand loud.
We stand proudly.
And we stand even when it would be easier not to.

We will not trade our ethics for approval.
We will not compromise our creators to keep the peace.
We will not prioritize reputation over righteousness.

We are not waiting for permission.
We are not waiting to be big enough, famous enough, safe enough to speak.

We speak now. So that others know they can too.

Because advocacy is not a phase.
It’s not a marketing initiative.
It’s not a reaction to trends.

It is a lifelong responsibility.
It is the loudest part of the dream.

And we are here for it. Every step of the way.

Safety

Safety is not a slogan. It’s a responsibility.

At Everdream Studio, we take the safety of our authors, collaborators, and community seriously — not because it’s trendy, but because it’s the baseline for any space that claims to care about creativity.

We define safety across three areas:

1. Emotional & Community Safety

Our platforms — including Discord, email, and submission channels — are moderated.
Harassment, bullying, or discrimination of any kind will result in immediate action, including removal and blacklisting from future opportunities.
We respect boundaries. Opting out of group spaces, discussions, or promotional events will never cost you your creative partnership.

2. Digital Safety

Private data is protected. We don’t share sensitive information without consent.
We do not tolerate doxxing, impersonation, or the unauthorized use of someone’s identity or work.
AI-generated imitations of another creator’s work without permission are prohibited under our community and submission guidelines.

3. Physical Safety

For in-person events, we screen venues, establish clear codes of conduct, and remain accessible throughout for support.
If someone makes you uncomfortable or unsafe during a physical event affiliated with Everdream, we want to know — and we will act.
No one is ever expected to attend an event, retreat, or live session as a condition of publishing or participation.

We don’t expect creators to toughen up, minimize harm, or “just ignore it.”
We take reports seriously, and we follow through. Every time.

Creating brave, inclusive, and artist-centered space is not extra — it's non-negotiable.

If Everdream is your creative house, you deserve to feel safe in it.

Ongoing Accountability

This policy is not a brand statement.
It is not performative. It is not static. It is not perfect.

It is a living commitment.

Everdream Studio is built by people — and people make mistakes.
We will, at some point, get something wrong. But when that happens, we won’t bury it.
We’ll name it. We’ll fix it. We’ll grow from it.

This statement is not meant to shield us from criticism. It’s meant to invite it.

We are not afraid of feedback from our community. We are built to receive it.
If something feels off, if we fall short of our values, if harm is caused — we want to know.

You can email us. Message us. Speak openly.

We will listen. And we will act with transparency, not defensiveness.

We are also committed to:

Reviewing this policy at least once per year
Updating it whenever our practices evolve or require change
Being publicly accountable when we adjust direction

This policy is not the finish line. It’s the floor.
The beginning. The bare minimum we promise to uphold.

We will do better.
Not just when people are watching.
But especially when they’re not.

Because if we say we are a creative house, we need to be one —

not just when it’s easy, not just when it’s trending, but always.

A Note from the Founder

Thank you for reading our promise.
Nothing in this world is perfect — including me.

But I will do the best I can to uphold these values as the bare minimum standard for what this studio stands for.

This policy is not about being flawless.
It’s about choosing to try. To grow. To build something better, on purpose.

So, have you ever dreamed of something better?

I know I have.
And this is me trying to make it real.

— C.M. Heroux
Founder, Everdream Studio