Publishing Timeline
Note: This is roughly the production timeline and does not include editorial, illustration, or special design services that will require time to complete. We will do our best to avoid any delays. Should there be delays, we will inform you of the issue as soon as possible. If you need additional time to complete a task, please let us know.
Sign up to publish
Submit materials
Introductory call (1-2 business days of signing the publishing agreement). Your Author Services Representative will contact you to discuss the requirements needed to publish your book and how you can submit your materials.
Provide book information and upload manuscript. You can use our online submission tool to complete this task. For more information on how to proceed with submitting your materials online, refer to Walking through an online submission of the FAQs.
Content evaluation (5 to 10 business days). We will review your manuscript to ensure it meets our publishing guidelines.
Review of supplied materials (up to 5 business days). Your Author Services Representative reviews your files and makes sure that they are ready for layout and design.
Layout and design
Prepare for design work (3-5 business days). Your materials will be prepared for the designers, so they can start creating your book.
Cover and book interior design (2-3 weeks). The designers will create the first proofs of the cover design and interior layout for your book.
Design quality assurance check (2 business days). Your Author Services Representative will review the designers’ work to ensure that it reflects your requests.
Proofs provided for your review. After receiving the design work, your Author Services Representative will send you your first set of proofs to review.
At this time, you can approve the design or request revisions. Review your proofs thoroughly. If you need to make changes, your publishing package includes one set of changes to the cover and 25 author changes to the interior layout. Formatting changes to the interior will be completed at no cost.
Proof revisions
Book Interior
Submit interior revisions. If you need to make changes to the interior, you can submit it to your Author Services Representative using our interior revision form.
Interior revisions (7-10 business days). Your book’s interior designer will make the changes specified on the interior revision form.
Interior revision quality assurance check (2 business days). Your Author Services Representative will review the designer’s work to ensure your revisions were applied correctly.
Proof provided for your review. After reviewing the revised work, your Author Services Representative will send you your revised proofs to review. If satisfied with your proofs, you can provide your approval to your Author Services Representative.
Cover design
Submit cover revisions. If you need to make changes to the book cover design, you can submit it to your Author Services Representative using our cover revision form.
Cover revisions (7-10 business days). Your book’s cover designer will apply the changes specified on the cover revision form.
Cover revision quality assurance check (2 business days). Your Author Services Representative will review the designer’s work to ensure your revisions were applied correctly.
Proofs provided for your review. After reviewing the revised work, your Author Services Representative will send you your revised proofs to review. If satisfied with your proofs, you can provide your approval to your Author Services Representative.
Sent to printer
Approval of cover and book interior. When we receive your cover and book interior approval, we then begin the process of sending your book to the printer.
Final quality assurance (1-2 business days). The design team will do a final quality check to ensure that everything is in the proper format for our print partner.
Printer processing (5-7 business days). Your Author Services Representative will submit files to your print partners. When the printer set up is complete, your book will be made live and available for purchase.
Printer copy (7-10 business days). Your first copy will be printed and shipped to you.
Promote book
Your Marketing Services Representative will get in touch with regarding any promotional materials included in your package. You may contact your marketing consultant if you would like to discuss additional promotional services.