When we publish to Apple/The iTunes store, the stars have to align in just the right spot in the sky.
The manuscript is uploaded to their system, complete with the cover, description, and a variety of other details. Keywords to make searching for the story simpler, author details, digital ISBN registration when necessary; it's a neat process and it's very quick.
It's then that we hit the snag.
Before any story, erotica or not, can be put up for sale on any of the major e-book outlets they must be reviewed. This is to make sure the stories meet their guidelines. For instance, Kindle doesn't allow incest to be published. Psuedo-incest is a different category and is allowed. If someone tries to publish an incest erotica short story, the reviewer will reject it because it doesn't meet Kindle's guidelines.
The reviewers work long, tiresome hours and tend to as many stories as they can, but there's never enough time in a day. The reviewers at iTunes are backed up several months and while they are moving as quickly as they can, they have an enormous task in front of them. Keep in mind, they aren't just reviewing erotica. They have to look at and read every single manuscript on the iTunes store before it is published as well as all the other details (cover, etc) and reference them against their guidelines.
It's a very hard job and we appreciate them, but the updating of our iTunes catalogs are in their hands once the upload button is pressed.
So why make this post?
I've received several curious emails asking me what was up, why some catalogs update faster than others. Systems vary. Sometimes systems go down entirely while uploads are happening. In the iTunes case, the reviewers are completely swamped with manuscripts. They'll get there, but the wait time is indeterminable. But we know they're working on it as hard as they can, and they're doing great.
Look for a sizzling new story on Kindle, Smashwords, Nook, and Kobo this weekend.
Time to go write.
-Alvery
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