The whole route, mapped out before you start.
No black box, no mystery timeline. Here's exactly what happens between sending us a manuscript and holding a finished book — and roughly how long each stop takes.
Manuscript to shelf, in five stops
Every book we take on moves through the same five stops — no shortcuts, no skipped steps.
Submission & Review
Send your manuscript and synopsis. Our editorial board reads and responds within 4 weeks.
Editing
Developmental edit, line edit, copyedit, and proofread — or a full ghostwriting draft if you're starting from an idea.
Design
Cover concepts, interior typesetting, and a print-proof review before anything is final.
Print & Distribute
ISBN registration, print run or POD setup, and retail & library listing.
Market & Promote
Launch campaign, reviewer outreach, and an author website ready before release day.
A realistic timeline, not a promise we can't keep
Every book is different, but here's what most titles look like stop to stop.
One team, so nothing gets lost in a handoff
Most books slow down at the handoffs — when the editor is done and no one has briefed the designer yet, or the cover is finished and marketing is starting from zero. We avoid that by keeping one team on your book the whole way, so the person doing your cover design already knows what your line editor flagged, and your marketing plan starts before the manuscript is even final.
You get one point of contact who can tell you exactly where your book is in the process, at any stage.
Questions we hear at the start
Do I need a finished manuscript to submit?
A finished manuscript is best, but if you're earlier than that — an outline, a partial draft, or just an idea — talk to us about ghostwriting or developmental editing first.
Can I use my own editor or designer instead of yours?
Yes. If you've already got an editor or a cover you love, we're happy to pick up the process from wherever you are rather than starting over.
What if I don't like the cover concepts?
Every cover design engagement includes revision rounds. If none of the initial directions feel right, we'll talk through what's missing and go back to the drawing board.
Do you handle audiobooks?
Not directly today — we can point you to trusted audiobook production partners once your manuscript is final.
What happens after the book launches?
Marketing support continues past launch day, and your author website is built to carry every future book, not just this one.
"They told me week one what week twelve would look like, and week twelve looked like that. I've never had a business relationship that predictable."Claire Dubois-Lang, author of Between Two Meridians
Ready to see where your book fits on the route?
Send us your manuscript or tell us where you are in the process — we'll tell you honestly what the timeline looks like for your book.