FAQ –

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 Review Copy, which will reflect what your published book will look like. Once we receive the approval form for the Author Copy, we will make your book available to the market.

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.

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 turn around 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 to three business days from the time you sign up. Once we receive your complete materials, please allow two to three business days for us to review them to make sure they are ready for production.
• Initial Production
  You can expect the book interior and cover formatting and design within ten business days from the time your book enters production.
• Author review of proofs
  You will receive proofs of your book's cover and interior for your review before we proceed with publication. The faster you return the proof, the faster your book will be completed.
• Corrections
  You may make any corrections (read more about Author Alterations) you like to the galleys. You will receive a second set of proofs to confirm these corrections. This process takes roughly ten business days per set of corrections.
• Author Copy stage
  A printed, bound Author Review Copy will be produced so that you can verify that your book is in its final format and is ready for sale. This step generally takes two to three weeks.
• Release it to the world
  Once we receive your Author Copy approval form it takes no more than 24 hours to upload your book for sale to the Xlibris bookstore. Channel availability usually takes between 60 to 90 days before your book appears in the online retailers.

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.

• Prepare your manuscript
  Please submit your manuscript as a single digital file in one of the common word processor file types like Microsoft Word (.doc) and Rich Text Format (.rtf) - please contact a Publishing Consultant if your manuscript is saved in another format. If you have a typewritten or hard copy version of the manuscript, you might want to consider in taking advantage of our Data Entry Service.
• Prepare your images
  You may either submit your images to Xlibris as digital files or as hard copy original images. If you are publishing a black & white book, your images will be converted to gray scale. For full-color books, images will appear in CMYK color mode.
• Write your book summary and author's biography
  Please supply a digital file with the text for your book summary and author's biography to appear on the book's back cover and webpage.
• Save your materials on a disk
  Please save all your materials on a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Zip disk or 3.5-inch floppy disk.
• Fill out and sign the Author Agreement and Order Form
  Complete the requested information fields indicating your publishing, editorial add-on and marketing service choices, form of payment and attach your signature to the relevant forms.
• Pack, label and send your materials to Xlibris
  Xlibris recommends that you use a traceable mail service (UPS, FedEx, certified mail, etc) to ensure safe arrival of your package.
  Mail to:
  Xlibris Corporation
  International Plaza II, Suite 410
  Philadelphia, PA 19113
  U.S.A.
• Or if you will submit the materials through email, you may send it through submissions@xlibris.com

Please retain copies of the materials you send. If original materials are sent, Xlibris is not responsible for articles lost or stolen in transit.