8 Months Out
Metadata Released
- Press releases metadata (book information) to distribution partners.
- Book appears on online retailers and Press website.
5 Months Out
Advance Review Copies (ARCs)
- Press mails/emails ARCs (also called galleys) to trade publications, national media, and reviewers at long-lead publications.
4 Months Out
Season Announced
- Press announces all books in the season to the industry.
- Fall/Winter: Announced in June
- Spring/Summer: Announced in December
3 Months Out
Pre-publication Discount Email for Author Use
- Author shares email with individual “friends and family” contacts (bookstores and libraries should receive website-generated flyer).
Pitch Book Events
- Author reaches out to contacts at venues.
- Press pitches author to venues the Press is connected with.
- Press submits to book festivals:
- Miami Book Fair
- Word of South
- Author informs Press of additional festival requests.
- Author notifies Press of events scheduled, with four weeks’ notice, using the event submission form.
- Press adds events to calendar, plans social media, checks on book sales arrangements.
1 Month Out
Book in Warehouse
Finished Review Copies
- Press mails finished books as follow-ups to ARC recipients plus media with short lead times.
Pub Announcement Emails to Media
- Press sends emails to wide range of additional media contacts, inviting them to request review copies.
Author Copies Ship
- Author posts “unboxing” video/photo on social media and shares website book page or website-generated flyer with alumni associations, professional organizations, bookstores, and libraries.
Pub Date
Book in Stores
Book Announced
- Press announces book on social media and in email blasts to subscribers.
- Author posts on social media.
- Author book events begin.
- Author does interviews, writes op-eds/articles.
- Reviews start appearing.
- Press includes book in exhibit displays, award submissions, ads, direct mail.
This timeline is also available as an image.
