As we all know, books are a very popular holiday gift idea! Don’t you want as many people as possible to unwrap YOUR book on the morning of December 25th? And, don’t forget about Hanukkah, which is December 22nd through the 30th this year!

As crazy as it seems, some people really do start their holiday shopping in August and September. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, and many other stores. They’re already decked out in their Christmas finery. Yeah, I think it’s ridiculous, too, but it is what it is.

I used to shop super early for Christmas each year but, after awhile, I realized that, the earlier I started shopping, the more I spent. Now, I only shop after Thanksgiving and I get it ALL done in one week. I then don’t allow myself to buy anything else.

I admit that I DO make a list (a very organized spreadsheet with family members’ names, gift ideas, stores I need to hit, and prices for everything) before I begin my shopping. But, I am able to budget accordingly by being prepared before I whip out my credit card. And, if I find a better gift idea for someone at a lower price during my list-making period, I’ll remove the previous gift idea, and replace it with the new one. Of course, I always buy awesome books for my loved ones!

I used to be one of those people who went WAY overboard on Christmas but, once the kids got older, and after we sold our house, moved onto a boat, and started practicing minimalism, I finally started doing Christmas like (most) normal folks.

Aaaaand, I have gotten WAY off topic here!! Back to business…

Every single year, during the first week of August, around the time that the first groups of kids start to go back to school, things start to go NUTS here at BookLocker.com. It’s like somebody flips an instant switch. After a relatively mundane, hot, sweaty Florida summer, working normal business hours (my “normal” is 60-80 hours/week), we start to get FLOODED with emails and manuscript submissions.

Most of the emails from hopeful authors ask the same basic questions:

“Can you get my book on the market before Christmas?”

You don’t want to wait until December to get your book on the market. Many people will be done shopping by then.  You want your book on the market during the entire holiday shopping season for optimal sales. We can get your book to market LONG before Christmas but you need to submit your manuscript for consideration ASAP.

“Just how quickly can you get a book on the market?”

We get most print books on the market within 3-4 weeks. (For books that take longer, it’s usually because the author waited to make final edits until after we formatted the file.) You’ll work directly with our amazing, award-winner cover designer, Todd, to ensure your cover is exactly what you want. We will also format your manuscript to our printer’s specs, send it back to you for any final edits, receive the edited file from you, convert it, and upload it to the printer. They will then ship you your print galley (which is the first printed, bound copy of your book) and, once you approve it, we’ll put your book up for sale, including on Amazon. Yes, we will do all of that in only 3-4 weeks. We’ve been doing this for 20+ years and the process goes very quickly on our end.

“What do you need from me to get started?”

Your manuscript so we can review it for quality and content. You can submit it online here:
https://publishing.booklocker.com

“How fast can you get back to me with your decision?”

Usually within 2-3 business days. Yes, really. Our vetting process is proprietary, but mainly focuses on quality and saleability.

“Can you publish my book even FASTER?”

Yes. We have a 2-week rush program for a higher fee ($1099 vs. $875, and you might qualify for a discount code so ask me about that when you submit your manuscript) and, for the services provided, we don’t know of any company that comes anywhere close to processing cover design, formatting, conversions, and listings that fast. We are selective about what we publish and, since we aren’t an author meat market, we are able to get our authors’ books to market months faster than the “other guys.”

“Where will my book be for sale?”

BookLocker.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, BooksAMillion.com, Indigo.ca, and numerous other websites across the globe. In addition, people can order BookLocker’s books through their local bookstores.

Every day you wait to get your manuscript to us is a potential day of missed sales from Christmas shoppers. Also, we do like to sleep occasionally. So, if you love us, please – oh, pretty please – submit your manuscript for consideration sooner rather than later. If you do, we might get a few winks in next month. 😉

RELATED

Numerous UNSOLICITED Testimonials from BookLocker Authors

BOOKLOCKER’S PUBLISHING PACKAGES AND PRICES

SUBMIT YOUR MANUSCRIPT for consideration

ASK ME A QUESTION about BookLocker, the publishing industry, book selling, what it’s like to live on a boat, how to live a minimalist lifestyle, homeschooling, or anything at all! If I don’t know the answer, I will darn well find it for you! 🙂

UPSET WITH YOUR CURRENT PUBLISHER? See if BookLocker can give you a better deal. We have NEVER made a late royalty payment. If your publisher is not paying your royalties, you should consider moving sooner rather than later because they just might in trouble.

Got questions about Print On Demand and Self-publishing? Ask Angela Hoy.

About The Author

Angela Hoy is the publisher of WritersWeekly.com, the author of 19 books, and the co-owner of BookLocker.com (one of the original POD publishers that still gets books to market in less than a month), PubPreppers.com (print and ebook design for authors who truly want to self-publish), and Abuzz Press (the publishing co-op that charges no setup fees).

Angela has lived and traveled across the U.S. with her kids in an RV, settled in a river-side home in Bradenton, FL, and lived on a 52 ft Irwin sailboat. Angela now resides on a mountaintop in Northwest Georgia, where she plans to spend the rest of her days bird watching, gardening, hiking, and taking in all of the amazing sunrises.

WritersWeekly.com - the free marketing ezine for writers, which features new paying markets and freelance job listings every Wednesday.

BookLocker.com - According to attorney Mark Levine, author of The Fine Print, BookLocker is: "As close to perfection as you're going to find in the world of ebook and POD publishing. The ebook royalties are the highest I've ever seen, and the print royalties are better than average. BookLocker understands what new authors experience, and have put together a package that is the best in the business. You can't go wrong here. Plus, they're selective and won't publish any manuscript just because it's accompanied by a check. Also, the web site is well trafficked. If you can find a POD or epublisher with as much integrity and dedication to selling authors' books, but with lower POD publishing fees, please let me know."

Abuzz Press offers FAST and FREE book publication, but only accepts a small percentage of submissions, and only works with U.S. authors.

PubPreppers.com - "We Prep, You Publish!" Print and ebook design for authors who truly want to self-publish. Offers formatting and design services only, and then provides simple instructions for authors on where to sign up to have the print and ebook editions printed/listed/sold. Cut out the middle man. Keep 100% of what bookstores pay for your book!

Angela's POD Secrets Revealed Series can be found HERE.

Have a POD Book with another publisher? See if BookLocker can give you a better deal. (BookLocker offers "disgruntled author discounts" to those who want to move from other POD services.)

See BookLocker's publishing packages HERE.

ANGELA ON TWITTER https://twitter.com/AngelaHoy

BOOKLOCKER ON FACEBOOK - Provides links to free excerpts!
https://www.facebook.com/booklockerbooks

ANGELA ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/angela.hoy.750

ANGELA ON LINKEDIN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelahoy/

Angela is the creator of the Original 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
https://24hourshortstorycontest.com/

Read More Of Angela's Articles HERE

HOW TO REMEMBER, WRITE AND PUBLISH YOUR LIFE STORY

Angela Hoy's popular online class is now available in book format!

Remember Your Past
Write It and Publish It
in as little as 12 weeks!

Angela Hoy's book will get you started!

• Using Angela's MEMORY TRIGGERS, recall memories that have been dormant for years
• Record those memories in chronological order in your memory notebook
• Using the memory notebook as your outline, write your autobiography!
• Also works for biographies and memoirs!

Read more here:
https://booklocker.com/books/4764.html

90+ DAYS OF PROMOTING YOUR BOOK ONLINE: Your Book's Daily Marketing Plan by Angela Hoy and Richard Hoy

Promoting your book online should be considered at least a part-time job. Highly successful authors spend more time promoting a book than they do writing it - a lot more.

We know what you're thinking. You're an author, not a marketer. Not to worry! We have more than a decade of successful online book selling experience under our belts and we're going to teach you how to promote your book effectively online...and almost all of our techniques are FREE!

Online book promotion is not only simple but, if you have a step-by-step, day-to-day marketing plan (this book!), it can also be a very artistic endeavor, which makes it fun for creative folks like you!

Yes, online book promoting can be EASY and FUN! Let us show you how, from Day 1 through Day 90...and beyond!