Frequently Asked Questions
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- What is BookBaby?
- BookBaby digitally distributes eBooks from independent authors, poets, memoirists, and publishers, making their works available to digital retailers (like the Apple iBookstore, the Nook store at Barnes & Noble.com, Kobo, Copia, Sony's Reader Store, and the Kindle store at Amazon.com) in all available regions and territories. We are part of the CD Baby family, (the world's largest online distributor of independent music), which has paid out over 180 million dollars to artists just like you.
- How does BookBaby work?
- It’s as easy as A-B-C.
- Upload your eBook and pay as little as $99. Signing up on BookBaby.com is fast and easy. You set the selling price, supply eBook descriptions, author bio, and even list out keyword search terms so that readers can find your eBooks online. You're in control from start to finish and retain all publishing and ownership rights.
- Sell your eBooks worldwide. We'll take your digital file ( in Word, Text, etc...see list on conversion page) and turn your book into an eBook that can be read on every reading device - Kindle, iPad, Nook, Sony Reader, and more. In about two weeks, your eBook is up for sale at Amazon, Apple's iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Copia, the Sony Reader Store, and many more in the coming months.
- Get paid 100%. We collect your net sales from the online retail stores. A few days later, BookBaby pays its authors every last cent. Our cut of your sales? 0%.
It’s really that simple!
- How does BookBaby make money?
- We get asked this question all the time! We can afford such a low price of $99 per eBook because we’re the sister brand of CD Baby. Since 1998 we’ve been working with hundreds of thousands of indie musicians, selling their CDs from our Portland, OR warehouse and digital downloads through CD Baby, iTunes and dozens more online music websites.
We’ve already invested in the people, processes and infrastructure to power our music business. Adding eBooks to our products and services was a really easy fit!
We also think that if an author has one book, they probably have five or six more in their backlist too! Once people find out how easy – and profitable – it is to self publish their eBooks through BookBaby, they’ll send us everything they’ve ever written!
- How do I sign up?
- Simple. Click here and tell us about your eBook!
- How much does BookBaby keep from my sales?
- 0%. Nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada. You keep 100% of your net earnings after our retail partners take their cut.
- What is an ISBN and why do I need one?
- An ISBN identifies YOUR unique eBook amongst the thousands of other available titles being sold in the digital marketplace. If your eBook already exists in print form you cannot use the same ISBN for the digital version. Digital retailers like the iBookstore track and report sales according to ISBNs. If you do not have your own, we can assign one to your eBook for $19.
- If I change my eBook cover or contents after it is already delivered to bookstores, will I need a new ISBN?
- There is no simple answer to this question. Most eBook publishers and distributors are operating under different rules. Since the ISBN is what Booksellers use to know who to pay when an eBook is sold, and determine which edition of an eBook they are selling, it is very important that they are accurate. We have asked Bowker, the agency that administers the ISBN code in the United States, to provide some basic guidelines:
No new ISBN is needed if:
- The changes to your eBook are minor spelling, grammar or typographical corrections.
- You are changing non-content details about your eBook – book pricing, long and short descriptions, genre listings, keywords and any other promotional or sales information.
A new ISBN is needed if:
- Any other changes to the eBook's content. This includes, but is not limited to, removing or adding text, changes to the creative team listed in the book, changes to the eBook's title or subtitle, adding or removing illustrations, or adding or removing audio or video.
If in doubt we recommend you purchase a new ISBN.
- Do I own the ISBN you assign?
- Yes, you do. However, once a publisher is assigned to an ISBN it can't be reassigned. If you use an ISBN purchased from BookBaby you will be listed as the publisher at some retail sites, and some will list BookBaby whether or not BookBaby delivered your book to that store. If you want to ensure that you are listed as the publisher at all of our retail partner's sites we recommend that you acquire your own ISBNs. For more information please go to www.bowker.com.
- Will you add the ISBN to the eBook?
- We will add the ISBN to an eBook if we are converting it to ePub. We do not add the ISBN to a supplied ePub file.
- What are your Terms of Service?
- Read our terms of service here.
- How can I sell an audio version of my eBook?
- CD Baby, BookBaby's sister company, is the answer. As the world's largest online distributor of independent recordings, CD Baby has shipped millions of CDs and helped hundreds of thousands of artists get their music, audio books, and lectures available for purchase on digital download sites like iTunes, Rhapsody, AmazonMP3, and many more. Click here for more information.
- Does BookBaby accept enhanced ePubs?
- We accept properly formatted enhanced ePubs for delivery to Apple iBookstore only. Maximum file size is 2GB. If you have further questions, please email us.
- Does BookBaby also print books?
- Yes. Check out print.bookbaby.com!.
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- What is the BookBaby Guarantee?
- We stand behind our products and services with the strongest guarantee in the eBook and publishing business. You must be delighted with all of the products and services we offer or we will refund your money. You can buy with the highest confidence knowing that your book will be produced to your complete satisfaction.
- How do I pursue a refund or other claim?
- If you are unsatisfied for any reason with BookBaby products or services, please call customer service at 503-961-6878, from 9 am to 5 pm (PST), Monday through Friday, to discuss the issue. If we process a refund for your submission fee we will also remove your eBook from our retail distribution network.
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- What are your fees?
- BookBaby offers both Basic and Premium Publishing options. Here's a detailed comparison listing what each package contains:
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| Basic
| Premium
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$99 |
$199 |
Free basic ePub conversion
(Extra conversion charges including PDF or InDesign files, over 10 graphic images, etc. still apply) |
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| 14 point eBook conversion preflight checklist |
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| Creation of interactive table of contents |
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| Post conversion QC check on eReaders |
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| Distribution to all retail partners |
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| 100% payout of net sales back to authors |
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Free PDF conversion
(extra page counts and over 10 graphic images still apply). |
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| Personalized eBook layout and font review |
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| ePub proof for each round of revision |
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| Review and verification of metadata with proof |
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| $30 coupon off eBook Cover Design |
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| Priority processing and delivery to retailers |
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After the first year, we have an annual fee of $19 (due on year two). Also, a unique ISBN is required in order to distribute your digital eBook. If you do not already have one, we can assign one to your eBook for $19.
We charge $59 to convert PDF (free with premium package), InDesign, Pages, and Quark files into ePub format for eBooks that are 250 pages and less. Additional pages are $.50 each.
We will convert up to 10 graphic elements (photographs, artwork, illustration, tables, charts, graphs, etc.) for free on each eBook submission. Additional graphic elements are $2 each.
- How do your payments work?
- When you first sign up for BookBaby, you set a pay point in your account. This can be as low as $20. Once we owe you that amount, we'll automatically issue payment the following Monday. You can choose to be paid via check in the mail, ACH deposit (for those with US-based bank accounts), or through PayPal. Please keep in mind that CD Baby charges $1.50 processing fee per paper check payment. To avoid this fee and to guarantee quicker and more secure payment, please select either PayPal or Direct Deposit as your preferred payment method.
- How long does BookBaby take to show sales?
- Once your eBook is up for sale at the sites you have selected, it will take approximately 45 to 60 days after the end of the first fiscal month for any sales of your eBook to show up in your BookBaby account. This varies by store, and depends entirely on how quickly stores report their sales to BookBaby. As soon as we get sales reports from the retailers they are immediately imported into your account. Then, when your account has reached the payout amount that you have selected, we will automatically send out a payment to you via the method that you have selected on the following Monday.
To view your sales reports and payment information please click the "View transactions, payments and sales" link in your BookBaby Account.
- Can I set the price of my eBook?
- Yes – you set the price for your eBook during the eBook submission process. You can even give it away for free in some stores. (Please note that some stores do not offer free eBooks. Your eBook will be listed at the lowest available price at these stores.)
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- What are your file conversion and delivery turnaround times?
- If you supply an ePub file, you can expect your file to be delivered to our partners within 5 business days.
If you supply a file that needs conversion, it can take up to 10 business days for delivery to begin depending on the file format submitted, the number of pages in the book, and the amount of graphic elements (photographs, artwork, illustrations, charts, tables, graphs, etc.) included in your book.
You can follow the progress of your project by clicking the "view" link to the right of the title on your BookBaby Artist Dashboard:
If the status at a retail partner is "Delivery Requested" it means your eBook is ready for delivery. Your eBook will be delivered within the next 5 business days.
If the status at a retail partner is "Encoding requested" it means we have submitted your eBook to the online store, and they have asked us to provide additional technical or descriptive information. You will only be contacted if we need that information from you. In most cases we can provide the information from your original sign up.
If the status at a retail partner is "Delivered" it means your eBook has been delivered to that partner.
- What are the details about format conversion?
- Most of the big eBook retailers require the work they sell be delivered to them in the ePub format. If you've already converted your work to ePub, wonderful! If not, we can handle the basic format conversion to ePub for FREE. If your files are in Adobe PDF, InDesign, Pages, or Quark format, and/or your eBook requires more complicated conversion (to accommodate tables, graphs, heavy graphic elements, or special formatting needs) additional fees will be required.
- Can I upload an ePub file?
- You can upload an ePub file for distribution. If you do, please make sure the ePub file passes an ePub check (a good one can be found at http://validator.idpf.org/). It is very important that none of the individual files inside your ePub file have spaces in the file names. Otherwise we will not be able to deliver your ePub file to any of our retail partners. Not every ePub validation tool scans for this so please check your ePub file carefully.
- How should I prepare my eBook file for ePub conversion?
- See our guidelines for basic ePub conversion.
- Should I try to convert my own files into ePub?
- In a word, no. Leave this for the professionals! Unless you have experience working with ePub conversions or have purchased commercially available software, you’re much better off letting BookBaby take care of this very important process.
- Will free ePub conversion software be able to convert my files?
- Not likely. We have found that when authors try to use one of the free ePub conversion software packages available on the internet, and submit them to BookBaby, the files almost always fail our retailers’ ePub quality control tests. In fact, about 85% of the time we have to either fix the files ourselves or reject them outright. It often ends up costing you more time and money.
- What kinds of file formats will you accept for ePub conversion?
- For the FREE basic ePub conversion, we accept the following file formats:
- Word (.doc, .docx)
- Rich Text (.rtf)
- Text file (.txt)
- HTML (.html)
We also accept the following file formats for additional conversion charges:
- PDF (.pdf)
- Quark (.qxd)
- InDesign (.indd)
- Pages (.pages)
- (Other file formats may be accepted. Please contact us for a custom quote)
We charge $59 to convert these file types. If your book is over 250 pages, add $.50 per page. If your book also contains more than 10 graphic elements please add $2 per element.
You may also upload an ePub file. Before uploading your ePub file, validate it at http://validator.idpf.org/.
Our uploader has a maximum file-size limit of 100MB. If your book is larger than that please contact us at books@bookbaby.com.
- Will you send me a proof of my ePub file before you deliver it?
- Authors who sign up for the for the Premium Publishing package receive proofs of their eBook as part of this service. Proofs are not included in the Basic Publishing package.
- Will my eBook look exactly like the book I upload?
- No. The magic of eReader devices is that users can customize their reading experience by changing fonts and font size (and sometimes line-spacing, margins, and justification). In other words, text "flows." It no longer lives in a fixed position on a printed page. Instead, text flows in sequence according to the user's preferences and what kind of device they own.
Because of this, we want to convert your eBook so that it looks good on all devices- from an iPhone to an iPad to a Sony Reader- and also so that it looks good in color (iPad, Nook Color) and black and white e-ink (Kindle).
If you supply a file for a free basic conversion the following elements will be changed to plain text: drop-caps, tables, multiple columns, call-outs, word art. All images with wrapped text will be changed to in-line images with text above and below. All footnotes will be changed to endnotes.
If you supply a PDF, InDesign, Pages, or Quark file for an advanced conversion we will preserve all the formatting that we can aside from the elements listed above. Different readers support different formatting, and we want your eBook to look great on all the eReader hardware.
If you supply a PDF, remember that an eBook is a different medium from a desktop computer. Please understand that the layout will be different than on your PDF. Again, text will flow.
If you really want it to look like a PDF, you have 2 options:
- Perform a second conversion, requiring another submission and ISBN for the fixed-layout version. We will deliver the fixed-layout to Apple. We can then either NOT deliver to the rest of our partners, or we can send them the version of your eBook with dynamic layout.
- Deliver to our partners a version of the eBook that is all images. But please be aware that any text inside the images will NOT be searchable, and our partners may not support these kinds of eBooks someday (as most of our partners are specifically requesting searchable text). Also, these eBooks may appear fuzzy on the Kindle.
- I have an ePub and a MOBI file can I send both? I have an ePub that I have optimized for the iBookstore, can I send that in addition to the regular ePub?
- Sure, as long as the content of the different files is exactly the same. Please upload the ePub file. After you have completed your checkout please email the other files to support@bookbaby.com. Be sure to name the files so we can tell what you want us to do. If the content in those files is different (there's audio for the iBookstore, color images vs. grayscale, hyperlinks vs. no hyperlinks) those are different books, and should be signed up separately.
- If I write children’s books, how should I format it?
- First, we recommend you read the answer to the question above "Will my eBook look exactly like the book I upload?"
Second, if your children’s book is image-heavy, please be aware that text within the images/pictures will NOT be searchable. One simple solution to this problem is to include that same text below the picture as well.
- How does BookBaby's proofing process work for premium packages?
- When we create a proof for you as part of our Premium offer, we are converting your source document (such as a .docx, .pdf, etc) into a standard ePub file that can be displayed on most eReaders. Before this conversion process, our conversion specialists will look for any obvious formatting or font-size issues that could cause your document to convert incorrectly or display incorrectly after conversion. We will fix these issues before conversion. A very basic but common example would be if an author supplies a source document that contains a tab-indent at the beginning of every paragraph. Tab indents will not convert properly and would need to be fixed prior to conversion.
Once the conversion is complete, you will be able to view a proof of your eBook in the ePub format. If there are any content or display issues, they can be corrected at that time. If it all looks good, you will verify that the file looks correct, at which point we can begin distributing your eBook to our digital retail partners.
- What is metadata and why does it need to be reviewed?
- Metadata is the standardized information used to describe your eBook to our digital distribution partners. A conversion specialist will review the "metadata" you provide. We will, in turn, provide that information to all our digital distribution partners. Most of our partners are very picky about what characters, information, and descriptors can be used in the metadata. Some examples of basic metadata problems would be incorrect capitalization, a wrong ISBN, or missing author name. If metadata is incorrect, distribution partners may reject an eBook for distribution outright or delay its "ingestion" into their online retail store while it asks us for correct data.
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- When will my eBook show up in the online stores?
- Each retailer operates on a different schedule and will vary by a few days either way. You can use this as a general reference guide for time to distribution:
- Amazon Kindle: Your eBook will be up for sale in approximately 2-4 business days from when we deliver to them.
- iBookstore: Your eBook will be up for sale in approximately 3-6 weeks from when we deliver to them.
- Barnes & Noble: Your eBook will be up for sale in approximately 2-4 weeks from when we deliver to them.
- Sony: Your eBook will be up for sale in approximately 3-4 weeks from when we deliver to them.
- Kobo: Your eBook will be up for sale in approximately 2-3 weeks from when we deliver to them.
- Copia: Your eBook will be up for sale in approximately 3-4 weeks from when we deliver to them.
- Gardners: Your eBook will be up for sale in approximately 3-4 weeks from when we deliver to them.
- Baker & Taylor: Your eBook will be up for sale in approximately 2-3 weeks from when we deliver to them.
- eBookPie: Your eBook will be up for sale in approximately 2-3 weeks from when we deliver to them.
- My eBook is already available on one (or more) of your partner sites, can I still sign up with you guys?
- Sure! After you add your eBook to your BookBaby account please go to the Distribution Options link on the eBook Detail page. Please uncheck the box next to any store you don't want us to take care of.
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- Can you convert eBooks with graphic elements (photographs, illustrations, artwork, charts, graphs, tables)? How much will it cost?
- BookBaby can convert all your graphic elements included in your eBook. We will convert up to 10 graphic elements (photographs, artwork, illustration, tables, charts, graphs, etc.) for free on each eBook submission. After the 10 free graphics, we charge $2 per graphic element.
Graphics must be submitted to us in any of the following formats:
Image size guidelines (all images except the cover image):
- Up to 600px tall
- Up to 550px wide
All images must be RGB only at 72 dpi.
Images, tables, and diagrams require optimization to ensure proper display on the supported eReaders. Non-image materials such as excel tables, pie charts, and non-flattened artwork will be converted to jpegs for proper display on eReaders. These items will not scale or resize with the fonts.
- What kinds of file formats and sizes will you accept for my supplied eBook cover?
- Cover graphics must be submitted to us in any of the following formats:
Cover size guidelines:
- at least 800px tall
- at least 550px wide
All images must be RGB only at 72 dpi.
- Should my eBook images be in RGB or CMYK color mode?
- We require all image files for any part of your eBook to be supplied in RGB color mode. CMYK images are not accepted and cannot be delivered to our retail partners.
When you take a photograph with a digital camera or scan an image using a digital scanner, the resulting file uses the RGB color mode so you will not need to convert these files.
If you are using Adobe Photoshop and want to check the color mode of your file, you can do so under Image > Mode. We suggest making any necessary color mode conversions from CMYK to RGB before you start color/tonal changes or photo manipulation.
- Does BookBaby offer eBook cover design?
- Yes. BookBaby is now offering eBook Cover Design for any new eBook submission. Basic Cover Design is $149 and Deluxe Cover Design is $279.
- Is BookBaby Cover Design available for existing eBooks already submitted through BookBaby?
- At this time, Cover Design is only available for new eBook submissions. If you want BookBaby to design the cover of an existing eBook, you will need to resubmit the eBook and choose either Basic or Deluxe Cover Design on the Professional Services page during the sign up process.
- How does the BookBaby Cover Design process work?
- After choosing either Basic or Deluxe Cover Design during the eBook sign up process, you will be asked to fill out a Design Questionnaire for ideas about your design. You will also be prompted to upload any graphic materials you want included in your design. The BookBaby Design Team will email you a cover design proof within 3-4 working days depending on the package you selected. Once you have approved your eBook Cover Design, we will incorporate it into your eBook's ePub file and begin deliveries to our retail partners.
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- How can I make changes to my eBook?
- Before checkout: You can make unlimited changes prior to checkout and payment. You can edit anything contained in the eBook Information list on the eBook Details page. You can also re-upload eBook content files and we will use the latest upload as your final file.
After checkout, eBook content changes: You can still make spelling or minor punctuation changes but you will incur change fees. Any changes beyond spelling and punctuation will necessitate a new edition of your eBook, which will require a new eBook submission, submission fee, and ISBN number.
To request spelling or minor punctuation changes, email books@bookbaby.com. Here is the fee structure for changes:
- Up to 10 changes in your eBook - $50
- 11 to 25 changes in your eBook - $75
- 26 to 50 changes in your eBook - $100
Why do we charge for changes after checkout? What might seem like a minor change actually requires more time and effort than you might think. Each file must be retrieved within our system and our technicians make the manual changes to your eBook. The updated file must then be reconverted to ePub and MOBI for our various retail stores. And finally we must redeliver to every retail store in the BookBaby network. That’s a lot of work for a few missed commas, so please spend the time and effort to proofread!
After checkout, eBook metadata (pricing, description) changes: You can make changes to all the non-content areas of your eBook after checkout. This includes long and short descriptions, genre, author bio, keywords and pricing. BookBaby allows one FREE metadata change per calendar year. For subsequent changes you will be charged $50. This is a manual process and will require redelivery to every retail store. To request metadata changes, email books@bookbaby.com.
All other changes will be priced per the content changes section above.
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- What is Apple iBookstore and iPad?
- Apple iTunes is the leading digital music retailer. Now they've expanded into eBook territory with their iBookstore, giving consumers a streamlined, reliable, and safe way to purchase eBooks from their favorite authors and poets for use on the Apple iPad. BookBaby delivers eBook content to all iBookstore territories.
- What is the Barnes & Noble NOOK?
- Barnes & Noble, one of the world's most popular booksellers, has now introduced an e-reader called the NOOK that allows you to easily download any of the more than one million eBook titles available from B&N. Plus, you can read eBooks for free while inside a Barnes & Noble store.
- What is the Amazon Kindle?
- The Kindle is Amazon's light, wireless reading device. It holds up to 3500 eBooks in memory, has a non-LCD screen so you can read in direct sunlight (just like a paper book!), and has long battery life.
- What is the Sony Reader?
- Sony has developed a line of lightweight reading devices with touch screens, wireless downloading capability, and paper-like display. Easily access new releases from their Reader Store or download from over one million public domain titles from GoogleBooks
- What is Kobo?
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Kobo is a global eBook retailer backed by Indigo Books & Music (CA), Borders (US), REDgroup Retail, Angus and Robertson (AU), and Whitcoul's (NZ). Their ebookstore powers two standalone devices for sale in the US: the Literati and the Cruz reader. They also have downloadable apps for a number of current and upcoming devices, including all iOS (Apple) devices, Android, Samsung's Galaxy Tablet, and the upcoming Blackberry/RIM tablet. BookBaby authors will also have their eBooks included in Kobo's online store that serves a worldwide audience.
- What is Copia?
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Copia.com is a popular eBook store with a social twist, allowing customers to leave notes in the "margins" of digital texts that can be shared with friends. Copia eBooks are readable on any device that accepts the ePub format (iPad, Nook, Kobo, Sony Reader, and more)
- What languages can my eBook be written in? In what countries will my eBook be available?
- Please refer to our individual eBook Retailer pages for each store's accepted languages:
Please note: We do not translate any of your text for you. If you'd like to distribute an eBook in two or more languages you will have to sign them up separately with multiple submissions.
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- Where do I find information on my eBook sales?
- BookBaby authors now have access to our new and improved Accounting Dashboard. To get to your Accounting Dashboard, log into your account. On your My Account page, you'll see a light blue tinted toolbox to the left. Click on "Accounting Dashboard" and you're in!
- Can I sort the sales data in my accounting dashboard?
- Yes! On your Accounting Dashboard, you'll see a green button that reads "Filter Sales". Click on this button and a new section opens below. You can sort by book, sales date range and partner.
- Can I download reports from my accounting dashboard?
- Yes! On your main Accounting Dashboard page, you'll see a blue link at the top right that reads "Download Reports". Click on this link and a new section drops down. You'll be prompted to enter a date range for the report. Click on the green button that reads "Download Report." Please be patient, this process could take several minutes.
The downloads are .txt files that can be opened by any popular spreadsheet program, including Excel.
- I know I've made a few eBook sales lately. How come they're not showing up on my dashboard?
- Our partners report sales – and send payments – on varied schedules. Each retailer has its own schedule. The rule of thumb is that a sale made in the current month will not show up on reports until 60-90 days following the end of the current month. Each time we receive reports and payments from retailers, we post your sales and send author payments within a week.
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