Publishing Changes That Affect Your Book

If you need copies of your book for a Christmas event, a church book table, or a gift, I’d check your printer’s schedule now. IngramSpark posted recommended holiday order dates, and KDP warned that seasonal demand extends delivery times.

The date you need books in your hands should guide your author copy book order. A printer’s holiday recommendation may still be too late for your particular event.

This issue also covers Kobo Plus’s expansion into three more countries. If you already distribute through Kobo, your territory settings determine whether you need to do anything.

IngramSpark lists holiday order dates by format and region

IngramSpark’s U.S. holiday-ordering recommendations were confirmed on October 27: order hardcovers by November 30 and paperbacks by December 7.

For the United Kingdom and Australia, the page lists November 28 for hardcovers and December 6 for paperbacks, with an explicit qualification: estimates as of October 21. Check their recommendations page again before you order because those dates may change.

While IngramSpark recommends these order dates, it doesn’t guarantee arrival dates and calculates printing and shipping dates separately.

Rush printing gives your order higher production priority but it doesn’t give you faster shipping or a guaranteed delivery date.

Recommendation: Choose the printing service and shipping method together, then allow time for the books to arrive before your event. An order date alone doesn’t answer every question about the printing and delivery schedule.

Your next step: Write down your event date, required book quantity, format, and destination. Check the current regional print/delivery recommendations, confirm your book’s file status on IngramSpark, and work backward through printing and shipping before selecting your order date.

Source: IngramSpark holiday ordering guidance

KDP: Order Proof and Author Copies Early

On October 27, KDP warned that high holiday book demand extends delivery times every year. This year is no different. It asks authors to make book updates and place orders early, especially for time-sensitive events.

Unlike IngramSpark, KDP didn’t publish a universal holiday order cutoff date. Check the estimate for your own book, quantity, destination, and shipping choice.

If you still need a physical proof, allow time to inspect it and correct anything that needs attention. A cover problem or an unreadable page discovered after a large order creates a different problem from a late shipment.

Your next step: Review the current delivery estimate before you promise copies to an event organizer. If you need a proof, put the proof order and your inspection time ahead of your final author-copy order.

Source: KDP’s October 27 holiday reminder

Kobo Plus expands into Estonia, Lithuania, and Slovenia

Kobo announced the expansion of its ebook and audiobook distribution service on October 28. Kobo Plus is now available in 37 regions.

If your book(s) are currently opted in to 'all current and future' Kobo Plus locations, they will automatically appear in these new stores. If your book is enrolled in individual countries only, check your settings before you add a new territory.

Important point to note: unlike KDP Select, Kobo Plus does not require exclusivity.

Your next step: Check the Kobo Plus territory selection for your book. If all current and future locations already match your rights and publishing plan, you don’t need to enroll the same title again.

Source: Kobo’s October 28 announcement · Territory settings · Subscription payments

Your Checklist This Week

• Match your print-order plan to the date you need books in hand, with the correct format and region.

• Allow for proof inspection, file approval, printing, and shipping before promising an event quantity.

• Check your Kobo Plus territories and existing distribution commitments before changing enrollment.

If Your Book Needs a Clearer Plan

If you want to publish your Christian non-fiction book but can’t settle its chapter order or scope, I can help you identify the decision that needs attention first. Book a free Writer’s Clarity Call.