The production phase encompasses several stages, which at Virtus can vary in number and scope based on the preferences of the author (how “hands-on” an author may wish to be).

At the conclusion of the copyediting stage, the author may choose whether or not to review the copyediting prior to page makeup. In most cases, it’s advisable for authors to forego this review, since all copyediting is reviewed internally. It is generally much simpler for authors to limit their review to page proofs, as described below.

Following the copyediting stage, and once an interior design has been selected, the book will be formatted into high-quality book pages. You can read more about page makeup in our Author Resources section here.

Page proofs will be sent to the author in batches, generally 1–3 chapters. Pages are sent via email as .pdfs. The Virtus managing editor (ME) can provide guidelines regarding how corrections may be marked. You can also read about submitting changes here. To ensure an efficient process, it’s critical for authors to return page proofs as quickly as possible. The ME will discuss scheduling aspects with the author at the start of the production phase.

Simultaneously, the page proofs will be sent to a professional proofreader approved and selected by the ME. Professional proofreading is a critical stage, to ensure that all copyediting changes have been incorporated, that all text is complete and has been included, and that all industry-wide best practices have been followed when creating the pages (such as ensuring that facing pages align correctly at the bottom when appropriate). You can read more about proofreading here.

The changes indicated in proofread page proofs from the author and the proofreader are collated, which means combined. This can be a tricky process since there may be cases where changes are contradictory. In such cases the ME or project manager will consult with the author to clarify such issues.

Once all approved changes have been made, a set of final page proofs will be generated, which will undergo a final quality control (QC) check at Virtus. The final page proofs are ultimately approved by the ME.

At this stage, if desired, the book can be formatted into an accessible eBook in ePUB format, which can be offered for sale alongside the print version.

Additionally, at additional cost, Virtus can provide either an AI-generated or human-read audio book. Whether an audio book is needed or desirable should be discussed with the ME at the very start of the project.