Addicus Books – Stages of
Publishing a Book
The following details describe the phases our book typically go through from the time a contract is signed to the time the book rolls off the press. At Addicus Books, we work swiftly to produce a book. The time it takes depends on the length of time is takes to develop and polish the editorial content of the book. (The average time publishers take to produce a book is nine to eighteen months.) After we have a finished/polished manuscript, we can often have finished books in four to six months. Each of our books is published as a trade paperback (5.5 x 8.5) and as an e-book. The following are the basic steps involved in publishing an Addicus book:
1. Contract is signed.
2. Substantive/Developmental Editing. Here, the manuscript/text is reviewed by the editors. We are relentless when it comes to content organization, clarity, and tone. We have top-notch editors who make recommendations to the author/writer for incorporating revisions that will strengthen the book. The author/writer incorporates these revisions and returns the manuscript. In some cases, we recommend the author work with a professional writer to revise or refurbish manuscripts.
3. Copy Editing. After the manuscript is complete, it goes to a professional copy editor who carefully reviews the text to bring it in line technically and stylistically in accordance with the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS). The CMS is the standard used by most publishers. The copy editing process deals with technical issues—proper spelling, use of numbers, grammar, and punctuation. Often, the copy editor will also have content queries for the author about a passage in the text.
4. Cover Design. A professional book cover designer begins work on the book cover soon after the contract is signed. Bar code obtained. ISBN number is assigned to book.
5. Books are entered into our national distributor, IPG Books, located in Chicago. The book cover is furnished to the distributor months prior to the book’s publication. The cover and data about the book (title, author, book description, price, and ISBN number) is listed in the data bases of several dozen wholesale and retailers.
6. Typesetting/interior design of the book. After the copy editors changes are incorporated into the manuscript (by the publisher’s staff), the manuscript goes to a graphic designer, who does the interior design of the book and typesets the book.
7. Proofreading. The typeset pages are sent to a professional proofreader for proofing.
8. Author’s final approval. A copy of the typeset pages in the form of a PDF is sent to the author for a thorough final review. After the publisher receives any final corrections from the author and proofreader, the book is sent to press.
9. Printing. The book is sent to the printer—a book manufacturer. Printing takes four weeks.
10. Shipping. Books are shipped to the warehouse of the publisher’s distributor in Chicago. The distributor handles all incoming orders from bookstores and libraries; the distributor ships book orders. Any books the author has purchased are shipped directly to the author from the printer.
11. Publisher submits a copy book to U.S. Copyright Office. (Copyright is in author’s name.) The book goes into the Library of Congress.
12. Distribution. Our distributor, IPG Books, fulfills all orders to the book trade—bookstores and libraries. They well to Amazon.com, all chain bookstores, independent books, and libraries.
