Ashante Thomas's Blog

I ran into some old scholarly publishing friends and felt a post to that community was warranted. The following are tips for scholars looking to get that first monograph signed.

If you’re a scholar looking to turn your dissertation into your first monograph, here is the cold, hard truth: The book is the business of the press.

While your work is a labor of love (and career), university presses operate on timelines, board approvals, and peer review cycles that are entirely outside your control. If an editor guarantees you’ll be in production or print by a specific tenure deadline, they’re lying to hit their signing goals. With that in mind, I encourage you to begin lining up a publishing home as soon as you’ve got that manuscript drafted. Unlike trade nonfiction, a book idea and table of contents aren’t enough.

Where to Look
Look at the books you cite most often. Who published those authors? Consider the Association of University Press’s subject-area grid and the scholarly presses with exhibits at relevant conferences. That is your shortlist. Along those lines, most of these houses require exclusive review. With peer review cycles regularly taking two-plus months, planning your submission window is just as important as the writing itself.

What Your Press Actually Needs
Editors aren’t looking for a transcript of your defense. Forefront your ideas; show that you’re adding to the field of knowledge.

When you reach out
Your proposal must include:

• Argument: How does this book evolve your dissertation’s core claims?
• Specs: Estimated word count, number of figures and tables, whether there’s a subsidy to offset costs
• Sample content (or full manuscript): Offering the full manuscript up for review is ideal, but a clear, well-structured table of contents and one representative sample chapter is the minimum
• Peer reviewers: Give a list of 5 or more potential reviewers (and excluded peer reviewers)

Yes, providing a “do not contact” list for reviewers is perfectly acceptable. It’s unusual but not unheard of if it’s only 1–2 people. Academia is, unfortunately, as much about navigating social politics as it is about high-level scholarship.

Be strategic, be professional, and prioritize presses that actually understand your specific community.