A: You can't get paid until your book has actually been accepted by your editor. It generally takes about a month for your editor to get back to you to tell you whether or not your book has been accepted, and what changes you will need to make to your manuscript. Most contracts specify the amount of time in which an editor must respond to your book, and this time frame can be as long as three months. Don't interpret a long response time as a sign that your editor is not interested in your book. Rather, your editor is probably very overworked (and underpaid) and is just having a hard time finding the time to sit down and give your book the careful and thoughtful read it deserves. Don't expect your book to be automatically accepted either. Particularly for first time authors, there are very often substantial changes you will be expected to make before your book is officially accepted and your check is issued. This is normal, and not something to worry about-remember, this is your first time, and you are still learning about the process. Even multi-published authors sometimes need to make many changes before their manuscript is accepted.

Q: Yahoo! My book was accepted. Now how long will it take before I can see it in the bookstore?

A: Usually nine to twelve months after they have accepted your manuscript. This may seem like a very long time, especially in this age of electronic media, but the long delay is actually in your favor. Your publisher needs time to copy edit and proof read your manuscript, and also to publicize your book. Publishing your book quickly means that they have less time to get advance quotes and reviews, and less time to try to place articles or excerpts in magazines, which often have six month lead-times.

Q: How much editing can I expect from my editor?

A: This varies wildly from editor to editor. Your agent will try to place you with an editor who really will edit your book, but this can't always be accomplished because many editors simply don't have the time or the desire to actually edit. If your editor isn't doing the kind of editing job you feel you need, sometimes your agent can pick up the slack, but it can also be necessary to hire an outside editor. Additionally, if your book arrives and the editor feels it still needs an enormous amount of work, they will advise you to hire an outside editor. They're actually doing you a favor if they suggest this, because the other alternative they legally have is just to cancel your book and demand that you repay your advance. Also, your editor does not generally line-edit or proof read your book. Your editor does what is called a substantive edit. Then, once your book has been modified according to these notes, and officially accepted, it goes to a copyeditor and then a proofreader. At each stage you will be given the opportunity to read the changes and make necessary corrections.

Q: How much marketing and publicity can I expect from my publisher? Can we put something in the contract about this? And what is my agent's role in publicizing my book?

A: I don't know any authors, and this includes multi-published authors with million dollar deals, that are happy with the amount of publicity and marketing they receive from their publisher. Please be prepared to do as much as you possibly can in terms of your own publicity and marketing. Hiring your own publicist is always a good idea, and if handled correctly, will be welcomed by your publisher. If you look at the New York Times bestseller list, at least half of the writers on it will have worked or are still working with independent publicists. The big names in particular always use an outside publicist in addition to the publicity their publisher provides. Your agent should also be able to help you with ideas, but do keep in mind that your agent is not your publicist. Publicists are highly trained individuals with different skill sets and contacts than agents. Agents sell your book, negotiate your contract, and manage your career. They do not publicize your book.

The answer to the second question, about putting a publicity and promotion budget in your contract, depends on how much clout you have as an author. The more money the publisher is paying for your book, and the more copies they expect to sell, the easier it is to get them to commit to a certain ad/promo budget. If this is your first book, and you are receiving a reasonable advance, it will generally be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get anything about this in the contract. Keep in mind that even if you get the publisher to commit to spend a certain amount of money, they will always reserve the right to conduct publicity and marketing campaigns in the way they think best.

Q: Why isn't my publicist calling me back?

A: First, you may be calling her at the wrong time. You will only be in touch with your publicist near the publication date, when you go over a publicity plan with her. Publishers don't focus on publicity until quite near your publication date, because (wisely) they don't want to get people excited about your book until they can actually buy it in the stores. Second, you could be calling her at the right time, but she is swamped, and you aren't her highest priority. I have some golden words of advice when it comes to dealing with publicists: suck up like crazy. Send them flowers. Send them thank-you notes. NEVER call them to complain. Unlike your editor, who gets blamed if your book is not a success, your publicist really has no vested interest in the success or failure of your book. She is working on tons of books at the same time, and many of them are by bestselling repeat authors. If she likes you, she will pay more attention to you and work harder for you. If she doesn't like you, well, let's just say you're in a less advantageous position. This is another reason authors hire their own publicists-unlike the publicist at the house, who has many, many authors, you are paying someone to focus entirely on you.