2026 Holiday Guarantee
Publish This Month, Unwrap It by Christmas
If you publish this month, your book can be ready — or even in your hands — before Christmas. Here's everything you need to know to stay on track.
If any part of the timeline feels technical, your Publishing Consultant can walk you through it and confirm exactly what applies to your book — just give them a call.
The One Thing to Know First
This guarantee is for Standard Design books only. Projects requiring Elite Design, or complex design work are not eligible for the Holiday Guarantee. If your project includes editorial help or illustrations, this timeline won't apply — but don't worry, your Publishing Consultant can map out the right one for you.
Quick Eligibility Check
Are You a Good Fit?
You're likely on track if your book:
✓ Is a Standard Design project
✓ Doesn't require Elite Design or complex design work
✓ Has a finished manuscript ready to submit and pass Content Evaluation
✓ Doesn't need editorial or illustration work first
✓ Will ship to an address in the continental U.S.
Not sure? That's exactly what your Publishing Consultant is for. Call 844-349-9409.
Your Christmas Timeline
Choose the Option That Fits
Want your printed book in hand for the holiday? Or is having it ready to order enough? Pick the path that matches your goal.
Follow this timeline and your printed book arrives before Christmas.
| What's due | By when |
|---|---|
| Submit your finished manuscript and pass Content Evaluation | October 5, 2026 |
| Approve your final design and complete your final payment | November 19, 2026 |
| Print version ready to order | November 20, 2026 |
| Place your book order | November 25, 2026 |
| eBook goes live | December 18, 2026 |
| Delivery date | December 18, 2026 |
Delivery Guarantee Hit every date above and your printed book is guaranteed to arrive by December 18, 2026.
Don't need it shipped in time for the holiday? This slightly later timeline still gets your book ready to order by Christmas.
| What's due | By when |
|---|---|
| Submit your finished manuscript and pass Content Evaluation | October 13, 2026 |
| Approve your final design and complete your final payment | December 2, 2026 |
| Print version ready to order | December 3, 2026 |
| eBook goes live | December 18, 2026 |
Good to Know This path makes your book available to order by December 18, 2026 — it does not include guaranteed shipping.
A quick note on Content Evaluation: submitting your manuscript is step one — it also needs to pass Content Evaluation by the manuscript deadline. If content issues can't be resolved before the final submission date, the guarantee no longer applies.
Paying in installments? Your final payment is due on or before your final design approval date.
Shipping Essentials
A Few Things About Delivery
01
Guaranteed delivery covers the continental U.S. only — not Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, or international addresses.
02
Choose a trackable shipping method — that's what lets us hit your delivery date, and we'll send your tracking number as soon as your order ships
03
This guarantee covers standard print orders only, not specialty offset printing.
Ready to Make the Christmas Deadline?
Call Your Publishing Consultant Today
They'll confirm your timeline, explain what's needed in plain terms, and help you stay on track from manuscript to delivery.
Call Your Publishing Consultant TodayTerms
To guarantee that your book is available to order by December 18, 2026, following the applicable Holiday Guarantee schedule is essential. For eligible Standard Design projects, your complete manuscript must be submitted and must pass Content Evaluation by October 13, 2026. Manuscripts with content issues that cannot be resolved before the final submission deadline are disqualified from the guarantee. At that point, there must be no pending editorial or illustration work. If editorial or illustration work was required, it must be fully completed and final versions must already have been submitted by the applicable submission deadline. Projects requiring Elite Design, or complex design work are not eligible for the Holiday Guarantee.
Timely review and final approval are also required. Final interior and cover files must be approved, and all required payments must be received, by December 2, 2026 to maintain eligibility for the December 18, 2026 publication-availability date. For publishing packages paid in installments, the final payment must be received on or before the final approval date. Revisions requested after final approval or failure to meet any applicable submission, Content Evaluation, approval, payment, or production deadline will void the guarantee.
The December 18, 2026 publication guarantee applies to your book being available to order. It does not guarantee delivery of physical or complimentary author copies by that date. Authors who require physical books delivered by December 18 must follow the earlier Holiday Guarantee schedule, including the applicable book-order deadline. Additional eligibility, ordering, shipping, and production requirements apply.