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Submitting a book proposal

Submissions

Hawthorn Press mostly publishes books that we commission. However, each year we publish a few books by authors who, having looked carefully at our Series and books, send us a well-prepared book submission. So thank you for considering Hawthorn.

Before submitting your book proposal, read the Submission Guide below. We do not accept proposals for poetry books, children’s picture books, and fiction.

Author Questionnaire: about the book

What questions triggered this book idea?
Has it developed from your own teaching? Is it based on your own course or workshop? Research?
Why do you think this book is needed? What needs does it address?
What is the overall purpose of the book? Do you have any specific objectives? Key themes?
Give a brief overview in no more than 300 words what the book covers and its structure
How many words?
What illustrations, photos and diagrams are there?
How will this book be special, original and marketable? Unique selling point?
List up to six particular features of the book and how these will benefit the reader or user. Please cover topicality if the subject is controversial.
What makes it suitable for Hawthorn?

Readership – Who is it for?

Who is this book for? Primary readership? Secondary readership?
What level of ability will it assume in the reader?
Is it a general level, professional level (specify which professions), course book or research level?

Courses

If appropriate, is this a main text for a course, a workbook or a book supporting a course or workshop? Please supply details.
On which taught courses might it be recommended?

Competition

What other similar and competing books are there?
How do these competing books compare?
Why should your book be preferred?
How is it more up to date? Does your book break new ground and if so, how?
How is your approach better?
How many people do you meet annually at conferences and workshops you may lecture at? How many copies could you sell directly via such channels? How many potentially interested people are on your email contacts
Which magazines or journals would be interested in this book?
What are your media contacts?

Schedule and your publications

What is a realistic timescale for writing this book?
Tell us about your other publications or works in progress:

List any previously published works, sequentially, with title, publisher and year of publication and sales figures
List any works that are forthcoming, with title, publisher, and anticipated publication year.
List any books you are now working on or planning.

You as an author

This information will help us consider publicity e.g. on the web site, back cover.
In 100-250 words tell us about yourself:

Who are you and what is interesting about you?
What are your credentials? Why should the reader respect your expertise in the subject area of the book?

What is your best publicity medium?
Please send your CV

What strengths do you possess that we can use in promoting your book? Experience in media interviews? Lectures and workshop programmes? Acknowledged expertise in the subject matter? Please list the following:

Membership of any relevant organisations or associations and dates.
Any significant periodicals in which your work (especially related to this book’s subject area) has been published.
Media or broadcast interview programmes/ types of programmes that you think will be particularly interested in this book - include names of personal contacts.
Organisations (or even types of organisations, such as local study groups) you believe will want to use this book (in bulk purchases) as programme resource material (with names of contacts if known).
Recognised authorities on the book’s subject whom you believe might be willing to read the manuscript and write endorsements for publication, including the cover and advertising ‘blurbs’ and reviews. Please include contact details if known and indicate whether the person is known to you personally. Please give the names and addresses of 2 people who you respect as qualified to comment on the book proposal.

Book Plan and MS Submission Guide Checklist

Send the first two chapters of your book
Send an introduction and full table of contents/book plan
Include a brief author biography and or CV
Include a stamped, self addressed envelope of the appropriate value for MS return
Please allow us at least 2–4 months to respond
Emails are OK for inquiries, but not the full submission, which should be by post

Send your submission by post to: Publisher, Hawthorn Press, 1 Lansdown Lane, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 1BJ, UK