FAQs
A Guide for Authors
Who is my main point of contact?
Your main point of contact is your publisher, the person who reviewed your proposal and negotiated your contract. If you have any questions or queries, you should address them to first to the publisher.
Do you have house style guidelines ?
Yes, we have specific ways of presenting information - spelling, writing style, grammar, punctuation, units of measurement, etc in our house style guide. If you are unsure about how to present anything, please contact us.
How should I present my manuscript ?
You should submit two hard copies and an electronic copy of your manuscript to the publisher on or before the deadline agreed. Make sure you supply a complete list of the text files and content on disk. The manuscript must be double-spaced so that the copy-editor has room to mark it up for typesetting. For more details, see Checklist for manuscript delivery, Preparing your manuscript package, and Artwork preparation and presentation.
Should I design the text and page layouts myself?
No. We have expert designers who compile a specific design for each book, ensuring that it is presented in the best way for the reader. For books in series, we have a design template that will be applied to the text, to ensure consistency of presentation and appearance, and reinforce the series brand. For the manuscript, keep the layout as simple as possible, ensuring that different levels of heading are distinguishable. Do not right justify the text, design the text, or create special styles for headings and features, as this will all be taken care of by our production staff in line with the text design.
How long will it take to publish my book?
It usually takes about six months from the delivery of your final manuscript to publication, although some books can take longer (e.g with very complex design). Your publisher will be able to clarify this for you, and explain in detail the many production stages a book has to go through.
I want to use a diagram from a book published by another publisher. What should I do ?
Material that you did not create yourself may be copyrighted material. You will need to seek permission from the copyright holder (often the publisher of the material) to reproduce the material. We can supply a standard letter and permissions form which you may reproduce.
Can I submit the chapters I have completed as they are ready, and send in the rest of the book later?
If this has been agreed with the publisher. However, the text will not go into the production process until the complete and final manuscript has been received. Producing a book in several sections may create problems of consistency and does not in the end save any time.
If you have supplied sample chapters so that we can work together to develop the manuscript, please ensure that when you do send in the final manuscript, it is complete, and includes all chapters you have already submitted. To ensure that you have submitted a complete manuscript package, please use our manuscript completion checklist.
How should I present the figures and illustrations?
Please use a common graphics or illustration package or provide rough sketches for us to work up into finished artwork. If you are using a software package, please remember that your artwork may be reproduced in black and white on the page, so you should create it in black and white rather than colour. You should save your illustrations/figures in a separate file from your text files, numbered by chapter. They should be saved one illustration per file, with a separate print-out of each.
Will I be able to make corrections to the text?
Please make sure that the manuscript and disks that you submit to us are in a complete and final format. You will be sent a proof of your book to check, and will have the opportunity to correct any serious factual errors that you might have overlooked in the manuscript. However, making corrections at this stage is expensive, and should be kept to a minimum. Speak to your production editor if you have any questions.
Will my book have a web site?
Many of our books do have online resources on a supporting web site available to lecturers and/or students. The publisher will discuss this with you when negotiating your contract. Please be aware that online material is presented differently, and you will need to adhere to our online guidelines.
How will my book be marketed and sold?
A marketing plan will be put together for your book prior to publication. The marketing department produce leaflets, catalogues, updates and other promotional material, sent to both lecturers (who could recommend the book to their students) and bookshops. They ensure the book is shown on our website, through which we sell books, and lecturers can order inspection copies.
We have a sales team covering university departments and bookshops. The sales team ensures lecturers are aware of your book, offer inspection copies to interested lecturers, and ensure that the bookshop knows your book is being published. They work in tandem with the marketing department.
