These numbers are based on my personal experience, in late 2008 and early 2009. Your mileage may vary.Time to write a book: a week to a lifetime
Time to design a cover: a few hours to a few weeks
Time to copy-edit: a few days
Time for major editing: a few weeks
Time for Lightning Source to process your files and ship out a proof: four business days
Time to receive a proof from Lightning Source: one business day
Time for Lightning Source to ship a case of 20 books: two days
Time for Lightning Source to ship one book: two days
Time for a book to be listed on Amazon.com after a proof is approved: one or two days
Time for a book to be received after ordering on Amazon.com (with no special shipping, and book is in stock): two or three business days.
Time to be listed on Barnes & Noble.com and other online booksellers' websites after a proof is approved: two to five days
Time for a book to change from being drop-shipped by Lightning Source to being stocked by Amazon: a few days to a few weeks, or maybe forever
Time for a book to be discounted by Amazon: a few weeks to a few months, or maybe forever
Time until you get your first money from Lightning Source: I'm not sure yet, but I think it's three months. Then you get money monthly, if your book sells.
Time for a book to be noticed by Google: one day
Time for a popular blog (like this one) to be noticed by Google: one hour
Time for press releases distributed by PR Newswire or PR Web to start appearing on other websites: a few minutes
Time for Google to notice your news on those websites: a few minutes to a few days
Thanks very much for the timelines. This info is not available anywhere else and will be very helpful. I didn't realize how quickly Amazon will start selling a book.
ReplyDeleteInteresting numbers, Michael. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhy does it take Outskirts Press so friggin' long to get a book listed on Amazon?
You've given me the amunition I need to complain.
Hi, Michael, you left a comment on my blog; iauthorbooks, thanks. Nice blog here. I checked out POD but here in Thailand it's so cheap to get a book printed (300 copies for less than $1,000 USD)that I'm going for it. There's a huge book fair here in March, so I'll take some there and see what happens. I can relate about errors and my wife found many (she's my editor)even after I read and reread it 10 times, LOL. My second book will be coming soon. It's "finished" but my wife hasn't proofed it yet. Good luck to you.
ReplyDeleteVerne Arnold
Addendum; one can print 500 books for less than $1,000 USD.
ReplyDelete