Differentiating Between Critical Publishing Dates

When working with a publisher, to avoid confusion it is important to understand the difference between three critical dates for a book; the Bound Book Date, the Ship Date and the Publication Date (more commonly known as the Pub Date).

The Bound Book date refers to when the book comes off the printing press.

The Ship Date refers to when the publisher releases backorders and ships to bookstore accounts and wholesalers.

The Pub Date is when the book is actively marketed to consumers. The Pub Date determines media appearances, advertising or in-store display promotions.

Typically, the time between the Bound Book date and the Pub Date is between four to six weeks to allow time to prepare marketing efforts.

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