Here you can find our publishing timeline in more detail:
1. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
a. Inquiry submitted.
b. Declined, or moved to Proposal.
c. Proposal Submitted.
d. Proposal Out For Review. Several Reader Reports.
e. Declined, or Contract offered.
Usual timeframe: 2 weeks.
2. EDITORIAL AND DESIGN
a. Manuscript uploaded by author.
b. Copyediting (or heavy edit).
c. Copyedit returned to author for approval (last opportunity to add Endorsements and last chance for changes); final check on Profile, The Blurb Keywords, Categories.
d. Interior design and draft front cover.
e. Proofreading.
f. Full cover (can’t be started until interior design and hence page-length is finalised).
g. Final cover and interior files.
Usual timeframe: 3 months.
3. MARKETING COPY
Material for Marketing page prepared – Edited Description, AI/tipsheet, press release prepared (not for every title, depends on the book and the publicist) – this can’t be started until the final cover and interior files are finalised and locked.
Usual timeframe: 2 weeks.
4. PRE-SALES AND MARKETING
a. Info sent to the trade and sales reps.
b. Book appears on Crystal Peake website. Your book will appear on our website within four to six weeks of the publication date being set. If it does not, please contact Kevin Peake via the Author Forum, SALES & DISTRIBUTION: OTHER QUERIES.
c. Info to trade journals (they work 6-10 months ahead).
d. Selected titles sent to NBN catalogues (they work 6-10 months ahead).
e. Author free copies printed.
Usual timeframe: 2.5 months.
5. PRE-ORDER
a. Books available for pre-order from trade and online, worldwide (for copies for personal use, this is currently only done via email).
b. Reps start selling (chain buyers work 6+ months ahead).
c. Marketing activities get into full flow (particularly signing sessions which can take time to arrange – major stores can be booked 6-12 months ahead).
d. If you have requested it, paid-for PR* will start here; publicist in contact with author and enters plan on Marketing page.
Usual timeframe: 4 months.
Throughout the process: we encourage engagement with our Author and Reader forum pages, and building your social media contacts and your overall ‘platform’.
6. PRINTING AND PUBLICATION
a. 3 months before publication – Standard PR starts, publicist enters plan on Marketing page.
b. 2 months before publication – books in warehouses.
c. 1 month before publication – ebook distributed and available for pre-order.
Usual timeframe: 3 months.
APPROX 13 MONTHS IN TOTAL, FROM INQUIRY TO PUBLICATION
7. AFTER PUBLICATION
a. Sales are added to the Book Sales page up to three months in arrears.
b. Three-month review – see Marketing/Introduction.
c. ebook promotions, dependent on number of good Amazon reviews.
d. Every time a book reaches another 500 copies more PR is triggered – see Marketing/Introduction.
*payment from author involved.