An author interview is normally today, but I’m swapping up my posts this month, doing an author interview on the 29th.
Oh, and I'm giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to a commenter! Just leave a comment and I'll draw a name by next Friday!
I’m traditionally published and readers often ask me why it takes so long for my next book to come out when indie authors are releasing two or three books a year. So I thought I’d do a blog on the process my books take.
When I sign a contract, I’m given a due-by date. The last book I turned in—the fourth book in the Memphis cold case novels—was due March 1st. I turned it in to my editor on time by working fourteen hours straight on February 28th. The cover was already being worked on. See the finished product.
Oh, and I'm giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to a commenter! Just leave a comment and I'll draw a name by next Friday!
I’m traditionally published and readers often ask me why it takes so long for my next book to come out when indie authors are releasing two or three books a year. So I thought I’d do a blog on the process my books take.
When I sign a contract, I’m given a due-by date. The last book I turned in—the fourth book in the Memphis cold case novels—was due March 1st. I turned it in to my editor on time by working fourteen hours straight on February 28th. The cover was already being worked on. See the finished product.
Usually, I receive an email from that editor within two weeks, telling me what she wants changed. You mean it wasn’t perfect???? No, unfortunately, it wasn’t. After I make the changes she suggests – and I’ve never run into a suggestion that didn’t make the book better – the manuscript then gets into a queue to be formatted and then sent on to the next editor who will also make suggestions.
It’s almost like an assembly line. Lol The editor will also catch spelling errors, etc. This time I received edits four months after the first editor approved the manuscript. That’s where I am right now in the process. Working on edits. I usually have a three-week turnaround time.
I will finish my edits today and then let the manuscript sit for a couple of days before I print it out and read it. Once I send my edits in, in a week or so I’ll receive an email either approving my changes or asking for me to make more changes. This time I’ll only have a couple of days to make the changes.
Once these edits are finished, the manuscript will go to the formatter and usually a couple of months pass before I’m mailed a hard copy of the manuscript to read and catch any errors I find. At this point, it is much more expensive to make changes to the manuscript. While I’m proofing, at least two other readers are doing the same thing. That means six people have read the manuscript, looking for typos and errors. And still a few manage to get by us!
Once this copy is approved, it goes to the printer. We are about two or three months away from release. The release date is determined by many factors--other releases, the time of year, problems incurred before printing…
And now you have a peek behind the scenes! Justice Delivered releases April 2, 2019, and can be pre-ordered here!
Great post! I've learned, and finally accepted, that the best way for me to catch errors is to read a printed hard copy and preferably in book form since my eyes scan a mss. page too fast. Your great books show a great team working on your behalf!
ReplyDeleteAnd that's exactly what I'll be doing this weekend, Elaine...reading the hard copy. Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting process! I knew some of this because I edit for an author. I just finished reading the third book in the series. I can't wait for book 4!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Megsmom! I'll be turning in edits for the 4th book Monday, then in a couple of months I'll get the galley sheets...thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWow. Thanks for clueing us, the readers, into this process.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Mindy! Thanks for stopping by.
Deletethanks for letting us in on the process, so worth it to get the finished product. love your books!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Ronald! It amazes me sometimes that a reader can read what took me months to write in a matter of hours. lol
DeleteIt’s good for us as a reader to try and understand the complexity ofmthe writing process. Thank younformwhat you do!
ReplyDeleteperrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
Perrianne Askew
Thanks, Perrianne! I love working with Revell! So glad you stopped by.
DeletePatricia, excellent explanation of why it takes a year or more for a book to reach the reading public from the publisher. In my own blog today, I mention that perhaps an indie-published book can get there a bit earlier, but there's a certain amount that is mandatory, no matter the method by which the book is released.
ReplyDeleteIt just takes time, doesn't it, Richard! Can't wait for your next novella!
DeleteThanks for the article. My Hubbie is also a writer but writes nonfiction theology books.
ReplyDeleteNow, nonfiction would be hard for me, Faith...kind of like schoolwork. :-) Fiction is hard, too, but so much fun. ;-)
DeleteThanks for the info. I never realized how much went into it after you wrote it.
ReplyDeleteYes, Denise...turning it in is just the beginning. :-)
DeleteWow, so much hard work by so many to give us, your readers so much enjoyment. Is it enjoyable to you or just nerve racking hard work? Love your books.
ReplyDeleteA little of both. ;-) I love writing, even when finding the words are like hunting for Easter eggs. lol Marketing? eh, not so much. Thanks for reading my books!
Deleteinteresting info
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteVery enlightening. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to 'see' you here, Lucy! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThanks for the blog on the process of your books.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, Emma!
DeleteThat's quite a process! I used to do transcriptions and editing for a British minister, David Pawson. I loved it, and miss doing that type of work.
ReplyDeleteLinda, have you given writing a book any consideration? Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI've read your other books and am looking forward to this one. I picked up your first book because the fact that you live in my home state caught my eye.
ReplyDeletelhanberry1(at)gmail(dot)com
Hello, fellow Mississiappian! What part of the state, Linda? I've travelled all over signing books and before that doing abstinence presentations. :-)
DeleteHattiesburg. Maybe you've done a book signing there?
DeleteVery interesting. My daughter has recently sent her first novel to various publishers to see if one will pick it up. I certainly hope she can publish via this route, at least in the beginning. Thanks for the giveaway. :)
ReplyDeletebettimace at gmail dot com
Betti, I wish her the best and tell her to remember that publishing is very s-l-o-w! :-)
DeleteMy admiration continues to grow as I read more and more about the process of writing/publishing a book! Congratulations and thanks for the enjoyment you give us!
ReplyDeleteConnie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Ah, thank you Connie. I appreciate the encouragement!
Deleteinteresting insight....thank you!
ReplyDeletejohnnabooks(at)hotmail(dot)com
Glad you found it interesting, Johnna!
DeleteWow! What a long process! I really appreciate the work and time authors and editors put in to make a book really shine. My crazy brain picks up on typos, etc., and if there are too many they take me out of the story. Thanks for the interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI hate it when a typo gets past the at least 4 proof readers who go through my manuscript, Winnie. But sometimes, one will slip by! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteIt happens sometimes no matter how many times it's proofed, doesn't it? :-D
DeleteVery interesting to learn about the process it takes to get a book published. Lots of people involved, no wonder it's so long between books in a series.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Dianne, if you add the 9 months it takes to write one...it really is a long process.
DeleteYou mean writing is a process and a lot of work? Here I thought it was magic or divinely supplied. LOL. Seriously, very interesting to learn more about the process. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDawn, remember Bewitched? I've often wished I could wiggle my nose and the story would be done. lol
DeleteReally enjoyed Bewitched! It would be nice for so many things. Love your writing so truly appreciate you and your teams' hard work providing us readers great stories! :)
DeleteA fabulous post thank you. It takes a village...
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Yes, Mary, it does take a village. :-)
DeleteAmazing. It is really interesting to learn what is involved in the publishing process.
ReplyDeletebetsylu2@msn.com
Thanks Beth for stopping by. Glad you found it interesting.
DeleteAwesome post, Pat! The more I learn about the writing process, the more I appreciate authors.
ReplyDeletepsalm103and138atgmaildotcom
Thank you, Caryl! It is a long process.
DeleteI am really glad you posted this. It's soooo hard to wait on the next installments, but THANK YOU for going through the process. I always feel a little (or a lot) cheated when a book hasn't been properly edited and/or has typos or errors in it.
ReplyDeleteAnd now we know "The rest of the story" as Paul Harvey used to say :-) Whew, what a process! I've heard where some authors Love the editing stage of their books...me, I'd probably be sick of going through my manuscript so many times. That's why I wouldn't make a good writer, lol! I would think having great editors and proofers would be a valuable asset to authors. Many eyes make for perfection :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the process with us Patricia! I love getting these behind-the-scenes glimpes.
Trixi, by the time the last edits are done, I cannot read my book again. I've never read one once it's published. Did listen to one...thanks for stopping by!
DeleteThanks for taking time to share about this process with us who are sitting here as impatient readers. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for being patient, Rosalyn!
DeleteKristine, even though there are several people proofing my books, typos still get through. I wish they didn't, but...sigh...thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteWinner of the $10 Amazon gift card is Faith Creech!
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