Heart of Albion
Advice for authors
So you think you have an idea for a book or booklet that Heart of Albion might publish? Well, before posting all 500 pages of your manuscript, please think about the following topics:
- Is the subject matter non-fiction and aimed at adult readers?
If not, we're not interested. - Is the subject matter more-or-less related to British counter-culture, folklore, mythology or local history?
If not, we're probably not going to be interested. - Is it short enough to be a booklet (e.g. 10–15,000 words, assuming few illustrations) or long enough to be a book (e.g. 30–80,000 words, assuming few illustrations)?
With 'specialist topics' such as local history booklets and short books (30–50,000 words) sell much better than large tomes. - Do you own the copyright or have permission to reproduce any illustrations?
Reproduction fees can be a prohibitive cost. - If it's local history, have you considered self-publishing?
We have published a helpful book called How to Write and Publish Local and Family History Succesfully!
If you still think your ideas will interest us, please email the following:
- a chapter-by-chapter synopsis
- how this book differs from any similar books
- any anniversaries or other occasions relevant to promoting the book
- one or two sample chapters (text only – no illustrations!; MS Word 97 DOC format is ideal but RTF or even TXT are OK)
- an estimate of the total number of words
- a summary of the number of
- tables and/or family trees (if any)
- line drawings
- black and white photos
- colour photos (only if 100% essential!)
- a concise bibliography of any previously-published articles and/or books.
I would much prefer you to contact us before you write the whole thing but, if it's already written, send only a couple of chapters for the attention of Bob Trubshaw. If I'm interested I'll then ask to see the rest. Believe me, all publishers only read the synopsis and a few pages before deciding whether or not a book fits in with their range.
Heart of Albion titles are always written in an 'accessible' style, although this does not mean 'dumbed down'. When commissioning titles we send out an 'Advice to authors' document that outlines the preferred ways to develop ideas; guidance on the finer details of 'style', etc.; and otherwise makes the transition from your MS to final typeset as smooth as possible.
Alternatively:
Heart of Albion can also edit, design, typeset and print books or booklets 'at cost' on behalf of local history groups or individual authors (but these would not normally carry the Heart of Albion imprint).
In this case please email me the following:
- an estimate of the number of words
- an estimate of the number of
- tables and/or family trees (if any)
- line drawings
- black and white photos
- colour photos
- an indication of the number of copies you will require.
We can then provide a budget quote, subject to confirmation when details are finalised.
Bob Trubshaw