Much like accountants have their busy season, my busy season as a Walt Disney World travel guide author is late spring throughout the summer. With a target date of October 1st for the next year’s version to be available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble, my book must be complete and in the hands of the publisher by September 1st.

Last time I shared my process for research and writing new sections of the book. Once I’ve completed my fact-checking, it is time to read and re-read the entire book and revise areas as needed. When I have a complete draft, I send the book to my editor who works her magic and poses insightful questions. At the same time, I rely on the generosity of some very knowledgeable members of the Disney community who perform peer reviews on the book. This is critical as they look at the book from their own Disney perspective and share ideas on information that should be added or even removed. This is where I currently am in the making of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers (2012).

It’s time to breathe for a couple of weeks while I wait for feedback. After I receive and integrate editorial changes, I start the detail work.

• Adjust spacing between paragraphs and pages.
• Confirm chapter headers are correct
• Update and proof the table of contents
• Update and check the index.
• Review and update the maps
• Acquire an ISBN
• Select a photo and create the cover

I got lucky this year. Typically, Disney releases price updates in August which means another round of last-minute updates right before I send the draft to the publishers. Disney recently released ticket price increases which I’ve already been able to integrate into my draft.

Once September 1st rolls around, I send the book to the publisher. It is about three weeks until I receive a physical proof to review. In the meantime, I prepare the electronic document for publishing to eReaders like the Kindle and nook which require special preparation.

At long last, October 1st will arrive and if all has gone well, Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers (2012) will be available. Finally!

Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers and the co-creator of WDW Fan Zone. When she’s not chasing after her little ones, you can most likely find her at the beach or in the kitchen trying her hand at a new recipe. You can follow her on Twitter @DisneyExplorer or become a fan of Beyond the Attractions on Facebook.

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