Pre Publishing Checklist: What to Review Before Your Book Goes Live

The final publishing check is not another quick read of the manuscript. It is a release decision.

By this point, the text should be stable. The cover and interior should match the selected formats. Rights, metadata, pricing, files, accounts, proofs, and launch links should all agree.

If one of those areas is unclear, pause the release. Fixing a file before publication is easier than replacing it across several platforms after readers have found the error.

Use this checklist as a sign off sheet. Mark an item complete only when you have seen the evidence yourself.

The Five Part Release Gate

Your book is ready to submit when all five gates are green:

• The content is final and approved.
• Rights and credits are documented.
• Every edition passes its file checks.
• Metadata, accounts, and commercial settings are correct.
• The proof and launch setup have been reviewed.

An amber item needs an owner and a due date. A red item stops the release.

1. Lock the Manuscript

Confirm that one file is the approved master. Its title should show the date and final status.

Check the following:

• All planned chapters are present and in the right order.
• Headings use one clear hierarchy.
• Names, dates, terms, and style choices are consistent.
• Editorial queries have been resolved.
• Tracked changes and comments are removed from the clean file.
• Tables, captions, notes, citations, and references are complete.
• The final proofread is complete.
• No one is still rewriting content in another copy.

Do not label a manuscript final when stakeholders still expect to add material. A late paragraph can change page flow. A new chapter can change the spine and index.

2. Check Rights, Permissions, and Credits

Review every item that came from another person or source.

This may include photos, illustrations, maps, charts, lyrics, long extracts, interviews, letters, recipes, tables, brand marks, and previously published text.

For each item, keep a record of:

• The creator or rights holder.
• The permission or license.
• The editions, territories, languages, and uses covered.
• Required credit wording.
• Any limit on print quantity or marketing use.
• The file or email that proves approval.

Confirm author, editor, illustrator, photographer, translator, and contributor credits. Check spelling and preferred names.

The U.S. Copyright Office’s information for writers can help U.S. authors understand general copyright topics. Rights questions can depend on the material and country. Seek legal advice when needed.

3. Review Front Matter

Front matter differs by book, but each included page should be intentional.

Check:

• Half title and title page.
• Copyright page.
• Edition and imprint details.
• ISBNs for the correct print editions.
• Rights statements and credits.
• Disclaimer where appropriate.
• Dedication and epigraph.
• Table of contents.
• Foreword, preface, or introduction labels.
• Correct page order and numbering style.

Do not copy a copyright page from another book without review. It may name the wrong publisher, edition, country, rights owner, or production team.

4. Review Back Matter

Back matter should help the reader complete the book and take the next useful step.

Check acknowledgments, notes, references, bibliography, glossary, index, discussion questions, resources, author bio, other books, newsletter invitation, website, and contact details.

Test every web address and QR code. Send the reader to a stable page you control when possible.

Avoid filling the final pages with several competing calls to action. Choose the next step that fits the book.

5. Check the Cover

Review the cover at full size and thumbnail size.

Front Cover

• Title and subtitle match the metadata.
• Author name is correct.
• The main idea is clear at small size.
• The design fits the genre and audience.
• Image and font licenses cover the intended use.

Spine

• Text is centered and readable.
• The spine width matches the final interior and paper choice.
• Publisher or imprint mark is placed correctly.
• No element sits too close to a fold or trim edge.

Back Cover

• Description has been proofread.
• Endorsements are accurate and approved.
• Contributor names and credentials are correct.
• Barcode area is clear.
• Price treatment matches the publishing plan.
• Website and social details work.

Liberty’s book design and formatting support includes cover and interior production for print and digital formats.

6. Check the Print Interior

Review the print PDF page by page. Then review it in the platform preview tool.

KDP’s official paperback formatting guidance covers trim, margins, bleed, front matter, body matter, and back matter. Use the live rules for the chosen format and platform.

Check:

• Page size matches the selected trim.
• Margins and gutter allow comfortable reading.
• Bleed is correct where artwork reaches the edge.
• Fonts are embedded where required.
• Images have suitable quality.
• Body type is readable and consistent.
• Chapter openings follow one style.
• Running heads do not appear on the wrong pages.
• Page numbers are present where expected.
• Blank pages are intentional.
• Widows, orphans, and awkward page breaks are controlled.
• Tables, notes, captions, and references are complete.
• The final page count matches the cover file.

Do not check only the first chapters. Layout problems can appear after a late image, long note, or section break.

7. Check the eBook

An eBook is not a smaller PDF. A reflowable book changes with screen size, device, and reader settings.

Check the EPUB in relevant preview tools and devices:

• The cover displays clearly.
• The table of contents links to the right sections.
• Chapter starts are consistent.
• Body text responds to font and size changes.
• Images resize without becoming unreadable.
• Links and notes work.
• No print only page numbers appear in navigation.
• Special characters display correctly.
• Paragraph indents and spacing are stable.
• The reading order makes sense for assistive tools.
• Decorative elements do not block access to content.

Test the first and last chapter as well as pages with images, lists, notes, or unusual formatting.

8. Match ISBNs to Editions

An ISBN identifies a specific edition. Paperback and hardcover editions normally use different ISBNs. Platform rules can differ for eBooks.

KDP’s current ISBN guidance says that paperbacks and hardcovers need an ISBN on KDP, while Kindle eBooks do not.

Confirm:

• Each print edition uses the intended ISBN.
• The ISBN in the file matches the setup record.
• Publisher and imprint details are correct.
• The title and contributor data match the book.
• No ISBN has been reused for a different format.

Recheck platform rules before upload because they can change.

9. Verify Metadata

Metadata should match everywhere the reader sees the book.

Check:

• Title and subtitle.
• Series name and number.
• Author and contributor names.
• Book description.
• Publisher or imprint.
• Language and publication date.
• Categories and keywords.
• Audience and age range where relevant.
• Territory and rights choices.
• Edition and format.

Read the description on a phone. The opening lines should tell the right reader why the book matters. Remove claims the book cannot support.

10. Review Pricing and Distribution

Check the current print cost before setting the price. Confirm the price in every marketplace and currency you plan to manage.

If you use wholesale distribution, review the discount and return settings. Understand how they affect the amount left after printing and channel deductions.

Confirm where the book will be available and who owns each account. Availability through a network does not guarantee store or library orders.

Do not copy an old price plan without checking current platform terms.

11. Confirm Account Ownership and Payments

Verify:

• The legal account name.
• Login and recovery access.
• Tax details.
• Bank or payment information.
• Sales report access.
• Contact email.
• Two factor security.
• Team access where the platform supports it.

If a provider manages setup, document who can update files, prices, and metadata after launch. Keep a safe handover record.

Need Help With Files, Setup, or Proofing?

Liberty can support cover and interior production, publication files, platform setup, and final proof checks based on your project’s scope.

[Discuss Your Final Production Steps]

12. Review the Digital Preview

Use the platform’s preview tool even if the PDF looked correct on your computer.

KDP’s formatting issue guidance notes that preview tools can identify problems with margins, cover size, and fonts.

Check every warning. Do not assume the platform will repair the file. If a warning is safe to ignore, record why.

13. Review a Physical Proof

Hold the book as a reader would.

Check:

• Cover color, contrast, trim, and finish.
• Spine alignment.
• Type size and line spacing.
• Inner and outer margins.
• Image and table quality.
• Paper choice.
• Page order and blank pages.
• Header and page number placement.
• Back cover and barcode.
• Overall comfort and balance.

Review in daylight and indoor light. Ask one careful person who has not stared at the layout for weeks to check it too.

Order another proof when corrections affect layout, spine width, image placement, or cover dimensions.

14. Test the Launch Setup

Confirm that the book can be found and bought as intended.

Check:

• Retail links open in the right region.
• The live cover and description are correct.
• Print and eBook editions are linked where expected.
• Website buttons work on mobile.
• Email links and forms work.
• QR codes open the intended page.
• Social graphics use the final cover.
• Events have correct time and location details.
• Advance copies and disclosures are handled clearly.
• The support team knows the final date and links.

Keep a record of screenshots and final URLs.

Final Sign Off Sheet

Before submitting, ask each owner to confirm:

• Editorial approval.
• Rights and permissions approval.
• Cover approval.
• Print interior approval.
• eBook approval.
• Metadata approval.
• Pricing and distribution approval.
• Account and payment approval.
• Physical proof approval.
• Launch link approval.

Record the date and exact file names. If the team cannot identify the approved files, the book is not ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Publish Only the Version You Approve

A release date is not more important than the book attached to it.

Lock the manuscript. Check rights. Review each edition on its own terms. Match the metadata and commercial settings. Inspect a physical proof. Test every reader link.

When all five gates are green, submit the exact approved files and keep a clear record of what went live.