FAQ –
The Publishing Process
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How does the book publishing process work?
Throughout the Xlibris author-centered publishing process, you collaborate with your personal Xlibris Author Service Representative to ensure that your vision is translated into book format. Our Author Service Representatives provide advice and support while allowing you to maintain creative control over your book. You decide what is best for the project, and we can design the book around your ideas.
Once we have received all of your materials, we learn about your vision for the project before we begin to work on your book. To fully understand your ideas, you are able to speak directly with an interior and cover designer. After reviewing your manuscript, we will collaborate with you to choose the most attractive and readable design template or custom design for your work. We will then design your book and send you an interior galley and cover proof to review.
As soon as you return the galley to us, we'll make any revisions you request and, if necessary, send you a second galley. This process will continue until you approve all the content and layout within your book and on your book cover. Once you have approved the galley and cover, we'll send you an Author Copy, which will reflect what your published book will look like.
Your book is maintained as an electronic file with Xlibris, and we are able to fulfill orders ranging from a single book to tens of thousands of copies as they are received. Because it is a digital file, your book will never go out of print, and you can make revisions to it at any time.
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What is the average timeline for the publishing process?
The entire publishing process takes an average of three to four months once we receive your complete submission. This turnaround time will be affected by how long it takes you to review the galley proofs and the number of corrections you make.
- Submission
Xlibris will review your order and contact you within two business days from the time you sign up. Once we receive your complete materials, please allow two business days for us to review them to make sure they are ready for production.
- Initial Production
You can expect the interior layout and cover design files within ten business days from the time your book enters production.
- Author review of e-proofs and release of the book in the market
You will receive e-proofs of the interior layout and cover design for your review before we proceed with publication. If you don’t have any corrections after the review, you may now make your book available for sale by signing the Release Form. As soon as we receive the signed Release Form, it will just take less than 24 hours to upload your book information to Xlibris Bookstore and the book will then be available for ordering. However the availability of your book through the online retailers will usually take 60 to 90 days. So the faster you review the e-proofs and return the approval to us, the faster your book will be completed and will be made available in the market.
- Corrections
You may make any corrections (read more about Author Alterations) to the e-proofs. You will receive a second set of proofs to confirm these corrections. This process takes roughly 3-5 business days per set of corrections, depending on the number of corrections.
- Author Copy stage
Once we receive the Release Form, Xlibris provides a printed, bound Author Copy (1 paperback copy and 1 hardback copy if applicable) before we proceed in printing the additional free copies of the book that may be included in your package. With the Author Copy, you can verify that actual and final print version of your book. The printing of the Author Copies generally takes two to three weeks.
- Author Free Copies stage (if applicable)
After we send out the Author Copies, an Xlibris’ Book Consultant will then call to confirm your receipt of the Author Copies. The Book Consultant will verify if the Author Copies are of good quality and will also confirm if we should now proceed in printing the free copies. The Book Consultant can also process a book order if you wish to have additional copies of the book at a discounted rate.
We cater to correcting any print defects i.e. print variation, Xlibris errors i.e. unimplemented corrections. However charges will be applied for any further alterations or changes in the texts, format, and layout of the book.
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What are your submission guidelines?
To facilitate the smooth flow of the publishing process, please check that you have prepared your manuscript and other materials according to the following guidelines.
Please retain copies of the materials you send. If original materials are sent, Xlibris is not responsible for articles lost or stolen in transit.
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