Proposal Guidelines for Emerald Books
Emerald publishes monographs, edited collections and handbooks across a range of
business disciplines. Our aim is to produce new and innovative research that is essential
reading for scholars while also being relevant to key practitioners.
When producing a book proposal, it’s important that as much of the following information is
included, so that we can come to a timely decision on whether your work is right for Emerald
(and Emerald is right for you!). Once we receive your proposal, we will acknowledge receipt
and provide detailed feedback within 90 days.
Need
Why is a new publication on this topic needed at this time? How is this topic of increasing
rather than passing or declining interest?
Purpose
How is the publication designed to meet the need? What are the primary and secondary
purposes of the publication? What new contribution does the publication make to the field?
Will it contain primary research or work not previously published?
Readership
Who are the intended audiences and how will they be able to use the publication? Will the
book be useful to an academic or practitioner audience? If academic, at what level would the
key audience be? Be specific and realistic, rather than claiming that managers or educators in
general will be interested. Distinguish between primary and secondary audiences. Identify
specific professional associations that are audiences.
Knowledge Base
Describe your knowledge base of academic and/or professional experience, research, and
theory. Attach biographical information, including the titles of previously published works.
Please include name of publisher, date of publication, and (if known) number of copies sold.
Related and Competing Books
What are the five most competitive or similar publications, and how - specifically-does the
proposed publication differ from and go beyond each of them? Please describe your
proposed publication's new contribution in considerable detail - this is a central issue. How is
it unique?
Outline and Synopsis
Attach a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline of the publication's planned contents. Also
include a brief (150-300 word) synopsis of the book (the elevator pitch). For an edited
book/handbook, please provide a list of possible/probable contributors
Sample Chapters
Please send entire draft manuscript if it is available; otherwise, please submit two to four
sample chapters with the publication proposal indicating when complete draft manuscript
would be available.
Manuscript Length and Special Materials
Either let us know how many pages (assuming 250 words per page) you expect that the
manuscript (not the book) will be or suggest a word extent range you anticipate for the
manuscript. What and how many special materials (drawings, tables, figures, exhibits, and so
on) do you anticipate will be included?
Timetable
What is your schedule for completing the manuscript? Do you have a preferred publication
date (is there a specific conference or event at which the book should ideally be launched)?
Reviewers
Please provide the names and addresses (including emails) of at least three reviewers who
would be able to provide a detailed and unbiased opinion of the proposal. Please do not
include here colleagues or friends who may already have seen the proposal.
Proposal History
Is the proposal/manuscript being considered for publication elsewhere?
Marketing Support
Please attach a separate document detailing the ways in which you, as author, will be able to
support the publisher's marketing of the book. Marketing resources might include:
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How often you speak and/or train, and to what numbers in what venues.
If you teach professional or college-level courses, please provide courses and names
of institutions.
Membership in professional associations or association with membership
organizations. Please include membership numbers.
Media contacts.
If you publish a newsletter or e-newsletter then indicate frequency of mailings and
size of mailing list.
Columns/ other publishing (internet or print)
Please also list names of prominent individuals who are likely to endorse your work
and/or provide a Foreword.
Attach any interviews with you, stories about you, or articles by you that have already
appeared in local or national media.
Are their possibilities for bulk purchases of your book, either through networks that
you are a member of, conferences or courses? Will you wish to buy copies of the
published book at an Author rate?
Do you anticipate that the book will be particularly marketable in any specific
geographic region? If so, please explain why.
When completed, please send your proposal to Brent Persun:
mailto:mbpersun@emeraldinsight.com