Author Submission Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in publishing with us. Please review the following information, and email or write for clarification or further information.

We specialize in regional travel and reference, guidebooks, natural science, and outdoor adventure in California, Baja California, and the Southwest U.S. Our publishing program focuses on “Adventure in the Natural History and Cultural Heritage of the Californias.” A marketable non-fiction title generally includes photos and illustrations (e.g., maps, artwork, diagrams, tables), all with captions that enhance understanding of the text. Natural history and guidebooks require substantial map work.

A goal of our publishing program is to contribute to the body of knowledge about selected disciplines or topics (e.g., San Diego region, Baja California, introductory earth science). To this end, we highly encourage you to review Sunbelt books related to your topic and cite them as appropriate in your manuscript. We will loan copies of these books to local authors or you may purchase them for research purposes at 40% off retail prices.

Sunbelt titles generally have about 200-300 pages of main text with approximately 300 words per formatted page, not including front matter (e.g. table of contents, title page) or back matter (e.g. bibliography, index). They may have a photo, illustration, or chapter heading every 2-3 pages.

Authors are advised to query first with their idea/concept before submitting the initial proposal. Queries should be short, succinct, and focus on what makes the proposed work unique, as well as publishable and marketable. Authors may query via email to editor@sunbeltpub.com or send a single-page query letter to Jennifer Redmond, Editor-in-Chief, Sunbelt Publications, 1256 Fayette Street, El Cajon, CA 92020. Please do not query, or follow up on queries already sent, by telephone. Queries may be followed up by email or U.S. mail, if no answer has been received within 60 days. Materials submitted will not be returned unless accompanied by SASE with sufficient postage.

Once contacted, the author shall send the proposal. This includes the General Outline (see below), a brief discussion of the target market for the title and the author’s qualifications, comments on complementary or competing titles currently on the market, and sample illustrations and/or photographs (if applicable). Include comments on author’s commitment to promotion as noted below under “Teamwork.” Proposals may be followed up by email or U.S. mail, if no answer has been received within 60 days. Materials submitted will not be returned unless accompanied by SASE with sufficient postage.

Foreword—by the publisher or a topical authority.
Preface—to the book, its genesis, authorship and contributors, and niche.
Introduction—to the subject matter, geared to the target market.
Text—including illustrations and photos with captions.

• a. Natural history chapters (e.g. biology)
• b. Cultural history chapters (e.g. pioneers)
• c. Outdoor recreation chapters (e.g. trail logs)

The appropriate and profitable relationship between author and publisher is “teamwork” whereby both contribute to the production and promotion process. Promotional opportunities include written and online reviews, bookstore signings, author lectures, field trips (if applicable), media features and interviews (newspapers, magazines, radio and television), and brochure mailings to selected lists. Authors are expected to actively promote their book by following guidelines established for author signings and interviews, especially during the crucial 6 months after release. Authors are also encouraged to write articles for publication that will stimulate interest in the sale of their book, and to suggest promotional ideas or events. Active partnership is key to a successful sell-through of your book.

Once instructed to submit their full manuscript for evaluation, author supplies final text electronically together with identical hard copy. The preferred format for electronic files is Microsoft Word (Courier font). Hard copy should be double-spaced, single sided, in 11 point text. Author supplies camera-ready artwork, illustrations, and photographs at or above minimum standards of the appropriate profession (e.g. cartography).

Copyright is assigned to the publisher with exclusive permission to publish and distribute the work in all media and in all formats. Publisher will edit, title, price, and package the work to maximize its marketability, consistent with maintaining the essential content of the work. Excerpts printed in other Sunbelt books, with full credit to the author, facilitate promotion of the original work. Author is fully responsible for the accuracy of information presented in the work.

Author is responsible to procure and provide written permission for use of all non-owned material including photographs and illustrations and to pay for same if required. Owners of such material are often willing to grant permission gratis if credit is given. There is generally no fee for material published by public entities although written permission is required for all but U.S. government agencies (e.g. USGS). Sunbelt-owned photo files and other materials are generally available at no cost but with full credit. Permission to reprint material from periodicals must generally be granted by original author.

Retail price is determined by the cost of production, marketing and royalty plus the publisher’s best judgement of a title’s price point with respect to similar titles in the market. Royalty is a percentage of net sale receipts (less returns and promotional copies) and is paid semiannually with a statement of sales. Typical examples of the margins for a $14.95 retail book are:
High margin direct sale to consumer (e.g. direct mail/website sales):
RRetail price to consumer (100%) $14.95
Price to buyer (100%) $14.95
Royalty to author (10% of $12.95) $ 1.50

Medium margin sale to bookstores:
Retail price to consumer (100%) $14.95
Publisher price to bookstore (60% of $12.95) $11.22
Royalty to author (10% of $7.77) $ 1.12

Low margin sale from publisher to wholesaler for resale to bookstores:
Retail price to consumer (100%) $14.95
Publisher price to wholesaler (45% of $12.95) $ 8.42
Royalty to author (10% of $5.83) $ .84

        Ten complimentary copes are provided to the author. The author may purchase additional copies at 60% OF or 40% OFF the retail price (same as for bookstores) plus sales tax, unless author’s valid certificate of resale is on file with Sunbelt. These copies may be resold in compliance with legal requirements and not-to-compete with Sunbelt bookseller customers. Additional copies are available to the author on consignment for lectures and other sales opportunities.

• After submission of proposal and request to submit full manuscript, author submits manuscript and accompanying materials to publisher, who may accept it finally or conditionally. Acquisition committee considers content (which may include a technical review process), marketing, and financial aspects of proposed project.
• Author is contacted and informed of Publisher interest, and signs memorandum of understanding (MOU), and/or publishing agreement.
• If conditional, Author revises work until final acceptance by publisher, which will be established by written memo, and submits hard copy and disk of approved manuscript and camera-ready supplementary materials (e.g. photos, illustrations, maps). Author changes are not accepted beyond this point.
• Publisher copyedits, designs, and typesets the work including interior, cover, and title. Author reviews this copyedited version.
• Publisher develops and initiates marketing plan in collaboration with author.
• Galley proof (text and layout w/o illustrations) is shared with author for comments, time permitting.
• Page proof is produced including total interior and cover for final proofreading.
• Printer produces blue-line proof for publisher approval; delivers final bound product by ship date.
• Publisher commences distribution to booksellers.
• Official publication date is peak of launch marketing campaign, several months after ship date.
• Commence on-going marketing process.
• Reprint if successful.

• Author will complete an "Author Questionnaire" once the contract is signed.
• Author will provide the publisher a digital photograph to be used for promotional purposes.
• Author provides a paragraph "About the Author" and "About the Book”, suitable for pre-marketing use.