Production

Once we have the final, complete manuscript, and all the materials necessary for production (including all illustrations and the completed Author Questionnaire), everything will be sent to our production department. A production editor will be assigned to your book and he or she will see the book through all stages up to the final check of the advance copies. The Production Editor will mark up the manuscript if necessary and will send it off for typesetting. A proof is usually produced within 3 to 4 weeks. The production editor will do a quick check of the layout before sending you the proof for correcting and indexing.

Proofs and Index

You will be sent page proofs for checking. As the proofs are based on your electronic files, it is unlikely that new spelling mistakes have been introduced. It gives you a final chance to correct typos and other minor mistakes. Corrections should leave the pagination intact. You will be asked to compile your index on the basis of these page proofs, unless other arrangements have been agreed upon beforehand.

Deadlines are an important factor in the production of your book. We will try to let you know as precisely as possible when we expect to send you proofs and when we would like the corrections and index back. If you know in advance that these deadlines cannot be met, please let the production editor know as soon as possible. As soon as production starts, your manuscript will be scheduled for typesetting and printing and binding. Please keep in mind that we announce books well in advance of publication and will take orders from that moment onward. Customers expect us to provide books when promised and delays may result in cancellations. We may also miss important marketing opportunities such as book fairs and conferences.

We aim to have your book on the shelves within 6 months of sending the manuscript for production. Often we can do it more quickly; especially when all deadlines are met, it is possible to have your book published within 4 months.