Proposal Guidelines

PUBLICATION PROPOSAL FORM


NAME:                     DATE

I. The Book
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Title

Subtitle (if applicable)

Author (full name and affiliation)

Summary
Please supply a one-line description of the book summing up its scope and content.




Description
Please provide a concise description of the book, outlining your rationale, approach, central thesis, main themes, and objectives. A brief note about your research and methodology (primary sources, secondary sources, interviews…) should be included.




Short non-technical description
Please provide a short description that could be used as the basis for catalogue or jacket copy. This should be clear, informative and persuasive (150 words or less).




Key features
If you had to give three key benefits your book offers its readers, what would they be?




Contents
Outline the book’s contents in as much details as possible, including the title of each chapter and its key points, themes, or arguments.
If a contributed work, also include the name of each (prospective) author.

Pedagogical Features
If appropriate, please outline the main pedagogical features you would plan to include (e.g. chapter summaries, case studies, study questions, glossary, further reading, web links)




Illustrations
Do you need to include any in the book, and if so how many and of what type (e.g. line drawings, diagrams). Please note that all illustrations must be supplied as high-resolution scans on disc and that if your manuscript is accepted for publication, permissions must be cleared by the author or volume editor before production can begin.




Projected extent
Estimate how long the book will be and provide the total expected word count to the nearest 5,000 words. It is important to be as accurate as you can.




Projected Completion Date
Please tell when you expect to have a complete manuscript. Avoid good intentions here and be realistic. If the project gets approved, we have to put a delivery date on the contract, and that date cannot be missed.




II. Market and Competition
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Market and Readership 
What is the primary readership (be as specific as possible) e.g. 1st year political science undergraduates, graduate seminars, etc. Are there secondary markets in other areas or at other levels?




For student books, please give details of courses where your book could be recommended as essential or supplementary reading.  Where possible, please provide names and contact information for people teaching courses for which your book would be appropriate.




For monographs, please give information on the research context and any relevant organizations, associations and networks.





International Markets
Where do you see the main markets for the book e.g. UK, USA, Canada, Europe, Australasia etc?  Please provide any information that would help us to promote the book in specific markets, e.g. international case studies, contributors, author profile, possible endorsements etc.




Your analysis of competing or comparable books
List comparable books on the market that would compete for a reader’s attention. Please provide an annotate list, with full bibliographic information, explain how your book is like, or unlike, the other books.  What are their strengths and weaknesses in relation to your book?  What advantages does your book have over the competition?




Webmarketing
Are you aware of any websites or blogs which could be interested in promoting or reviewing this book?




III. Author and contributor information
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Your details (title, name and affiliation/job title)


Contact details (email, phone, postal address)




Biographical note:
Please provide a short biographical note (up to 50 words).
For edited volumes please include a list of contributor affiliations. Please also give any additional information that would be helpful in making our decision e.g. previous books, teaching/research experience, media contacts.



Do you run a website or a blog?




IV. Suggested Reviewers
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Please provide the names of three or four people we might approach to ask their opinions on your proposed book.




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Please submit your proposal electronically along with a CV and sample material (sample chapter(s), introduction, or relevant article) to:

Marie-Claire Antoine
Senior Acquisitions Editor, Political Science
email: mantoine@continuumbooks.com



Thank you!
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