A clear path
for your book.
Writing a book is personal. Preparing it for publication brings another set of decisions about the words, the design, and how the finished work will reach readers.
We help you understand the agreed stages, gather the right materials, and take part in the reviews and approvals along the way. This overview describes the journey; your author agreement defines the services and responsibilities for your project.
Your publishing journey.
1. Begin with a conversation
Tell us what you’re writing, why the message matters to you, and who you hope will read it. Share your manuscript’s current stage and a short project summary. You don’t need to send a full manuscript through the initial public inquiry form; we’ll explain submission steps if the project moves forward.
2. Understand the publishing relationship
We discuss the project’s fit and the services it needs. Before you commit, review the package scope, payments, copyright ownership, publishing permissions, proceeds arrangement, and responsibilities in the agreement. This is the time to raise questions about revisions, additional services, and any event or release plans you have in mind.
3. Bring your materials together
For accepted projects, the next priority is a complete digital manuscript, preferably a Word document. Author information, photographs, illustrations, endorsements, and permission records may also be needed. Keep a backup of your work and identify anything unfinished or still awaiting permission so it can be addressed before publication.
4. Prepare the manuscript and design
The agreed editorial work helps prepare your words for readers. Interior formatting and cover design then give the book its visual form. You may be asked to review materials, answer questions, and provide corrections. The package includes two rounds of revisions or substantial rewrites at no additional charge within the original agreed manuscript scope, including meaningful changes to your existing manuscript. Each round is one consolidated set of requested changes, reviewed and completed by LHP in collaboration with you. Routine proofreading and minor grammatical corrections do not ordinarily count against these rounds. Revisions can affect the schedule.
5. Review the book you will share
Your review of the manuscript, cover, and interior is an important part of the process. Check the materials carefully and communicate corrections through the agreed revision process. Additional revision rounds, extensive new content development, ghostwriting, or work substantially outside the original agreed manuscript scope may incur extra charges. Changes requested after final manuscript approval or once production formatting has begun may also involve additional production charges when extra production work is required, even if both rounds have not been used. Any additional charges are explained and approved by you before work begins. Final approvals and any outstanding amounts due are completed before LHP submits the final approved publication files.
6. Prepare for publication and release
With the approved files and required materials in place, LHP carries out the agreed publication and distribution setup and launch preparation. Distributor processing, proof production, printing, and retailer availability follow their own schedules. The focus is a considered release built on accurate book information and the approvals already completed.
Planning your publication.
When the estimated schedule begins
The agreement estimates approximately 12–16 weeks after LHP has received all of the following:
A fully signed publishing agreement.
The required initial payment.
Your complete manuscript.
The photographs, permissions, author information, and other materials needed for publication.
The estimate assumes a substantially complete manuscript requiring the services included in the package. It is an estimate rather than a guaranteed publication date.
What can affect the timeline
Delayed materials or approvals, substantial revisions, and changes after approval may extend the schedule. Printing, proofs, distributor processing, and retailer listings are also influenced by third-party timelines outside LHP’s direct control.
If you hope to have the book ready for a conference, ministry event, or speaking engagement, tell us early. A specific deadline must be accepted by LHP in writing, and retailer availability by a particular date is not guaranteed.
Start where you are
For your first inquiry, a short summary is enough. Tell us about your message, intended readers, manuscript stage, and approximate word count if known. We can then discuss the next appropriate step.