Book Publishing Timeline

 

NIGHTENGALE PRESS BOOK PUBLISHING TIMELINE:  
 
The following information is intended to give you a clear timeline for the publication of your book. These steps are generalized, and sometimes circumstances change, but for the purposes of understanding, let's take each step in sequence.  
 
FIRST STAGE: Manuscript and contract submission
 
 1. Registration on www.nightengalepress.com .
 2. Synopsis acceptance.
 3. Manuscript submission.
 4. Manuscript acceptance.  
 5. Contracts prepared and sent via email.
 6. Payment invoice sent via email.
 7. Receipt of the signed contracts and payment of invoice.
 8. We return one signed and sealed contract to the author.  

SECOND STAGE: Manuscript preparation and book production

 1. Manuscript preparation according to the #3 guidelines on the contract section of our website.  
 2. This is the point in the process to consider the need to copyedit/proofread the manuscript. If the author has not already had his manuscript edited and proofread, we encourage all accepted authors to take this step. The author may choose an editor in his locale, or we may refer the author to one of our primary copy editors. We also have excellent developmental editors, if the publisher decides the author’s manuscript is still in need of development. Nightengale Press takes no fee for this service and contracting with an editor is optional, though books that have not been edited prior to publication are produced with the caveat that the author assumes responsibility for errors in the finished book.  
 3. Prepared manuscript (in chapters properly named in Microsoft Word documents and made as accurate as possible) is emailed to Nightengale Press.  
 4. Receipt of the prepared manuscript.
 5. Book goes into the workflow.
 6. Author supplies materials to Nightengale Press for the author's stand-alone website and custom book trailer, if the author has elected to have these made through our services at WEB4W, according to the detailed instructions we will supply at this time. Go to www.nightengalepress.com to read more about these options.
 7. Author begins marketing preparation according to the detailed instructions we will supply at this time, and through use of the book CALLING ALL AUTHORS – How to Publish with Your Eyes Wide Open which we send to you along with your signed contracts for your use in preparing your marketing plan. Marketing planning is a key ingredient in every book’s success, and our authors find this part of the process mysterious. The book helps to clarify and provide step-by-step assistance in creating your book’s success.   
 8. Layout of the interior
 9. PDF galley proof supplied to author for review. Includes instructions for listing changes.
 10. We submit the proofs for review. Author considers publicity options we provide at this time.

THIRD STAGE: Proof corrections and approval of finished book 

1. Author's submission of changes for the manuscript
2. Changes made and second PDF proof sent. This very important process continues until the author is sure that the book is as perfect as we can all make it. We try to avoid submitting manuscripts that need revision after upload --- simply because it requires a $100 fee to re-submit the files to LSI. We want to avoid these costs for the author, so, we really want the details worked out before we upload the finished book.
 3. Design of the cover
 4. PDF proof of cover sent to author for review.
 5. Author suggests changes for cover and/or accepts the completed cover. Again, the correction process continues until the cover is as perfect as possible. If further changes are necessary, the author provides them according to the correction guidelines previously provided. We make the changes and the author again signs off on the proofs. Uploads are made and the process repeats itself until the book is the way the author desires. Again, we try to avoid revision uploads by encouraging the author to make every necessary change prior to the first upload. We cannot stress this enough.
 6. Author accepts both interior and cover layouts in writing via email, giving permission to upload the files to LSI.
 7. Upload of files.
 8. 2 Proof copies ordered. Publisher reviews the book first and then sends a copy to the author. If there are any changes to be made, the $100 upload fee for changes to the cover and/or $100 for changes to the interior is required. Whether one or both are revised, it's still $100 for each one.
 9. Assuming no changes, 10 free copies of the final version are ordered and sent directly to the author. (15 free copies for the Soup-to-Nuts Contract, and 5 free copies if the book is a color interior book such as a children’s book)
This pretty much covers it. The actual time required to complete this timeline is variable, depending on editing requirements, how many corrections to the proofs are needed and the like. Generally, it takes 3-6 months to produce a book, though some books take less time, again depending on the readiness of the book for publication at the time of submission. The more ready the manuscript is in the first place, the faster the production time.
 
FOURTH STAGE: Changes after pub date
 
If the author decides at any time after the publication date to make additional changes to the cover or the interior of the book, there is a fee of $225 each. This includes $125 for the graphic designer’s time in making all changes and $100 for the re-uploads. This is to be avoided if at all possible for minor typos and is best reserved for major revisions, such as adding new sections, entirely re-working the cover or the interior.
 
Thank you. We look forward to making your book come to life.
 
Nightengale Press

 

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