Wondering why it takes so long for your picture book to come to market? Here’s the schedule: #pbchat

After acquiring a manuscript, it can take at least a couple of months or more for a contract to be drafted and signed, for an illustrator to be found, and for edits. Lots of red tape during this time.

An illustrator can be given up to 10-12 months for the work (sometimes more or less, depending on medium, style, pace, and schedule).

A lot of publishers aim to have most final art in by list launch, which is the big reveal - the presentation to sales, marketing, and publicity where they learn about your book for the first time. List launch is often one year prior to publication.

Once the art is done and the book is designed, if it prints overseas (as four-color books often do), the production manager will build in a 5-6 month schedule for proofs, printing, and shipping.

Books arrive in the warehouse around six weeks prior to pub date.

All this adds up to about a two-year lead. Right now, I’m working on my fall 2021 titles, and already I’m feeling the time crunch. Keep this in mind if you’re pitching a book tied to an anniversary. Make sure you build in two years to market.