The AAM Press Editorial Advisory Board and co-publisher, Rowman & Littlefield, review all proposals for publication bi-annually in January and September.

To submit a proposal for publication, email the following to publisher@aam-us.org:

• Three to five pages containing:
  • A preliminary table of contents, including an estimate of the number of words for each chapter and the total manuscript. Specify types and approximate sizes of indices.
  • Tentative outline describing in detail the scope of the publication.
  • Description of any special features (sidebars, figures or tables, case studies, interviews, etc.)
  • Brief resume that includes full citations or links, when available, to published writing.
• A draft preface that tells potential readers:
  • Who is the intended audience for the book?
  • What is the purpose of the book?
  • What is your reason for writing the book?
  • How is the book organized, compiled, or written?
  • How can it be used (if applicable)?
• A sample chapter. The sample chapter should contain representative content and features so the Editorial Advisory Board and the co-publisher can evaluate the appropriateness of content, writing style, special features, etc. The sample chapter should not be a general introduction.

What happens to a proposal once it’s received?

The Editorial Advisory Board meets periodically to review proposals as they are received. The decision to accept or reject a proposal is influenced by many factors, including the need for the publication, its potential market, the author’s qualifications (subject knowledge and writing skills), estimated production and marketing costs, and estimated sales. The co-publisher may conduct a market survey to determine the level of interest in the proposed book.

What happens when a proposal is approved?

After the Editorial Advisory Board approves a proposal, the Alliance will send an acceptance letter to the author on behalf of the Advisory Board. However, a contract is not issued until further review by the co-publisher. This often includes an outside review of the proposal. The author may be asked to fine-tune the outline. The steps that follow include:

• The co-publisher sends the author a contract. Contract negotiations are between the author and co-publisher, not AAM.
• The author is sent an information packet including style guidelines, formatting specifications, and a tentative timeline for chapter submissions.
• A developmental editor reads and responds to the first two chapters in detail and offers the author any suggestions that will make later stages of the writing and publishing process flow more swiftly.
• In general, the co-publisher prefers to see at least two chapters in the first six months after the contract has been signed and at least half the manuscript in draft form about three to four months before the final deadline.
• Normal book production time is four to six months.
• The completed manuscript is reviewed by the co-publisher and invited experts in the field, as needed.

Who is AAM’s co-publisher?

Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group (RLPG) is AAM’s co-publisher for new book projects. The company publishes almost 1,500 new titles each year, covering virtually all fields in the humanities and social sciences, including a strong list of library science titles. Books co-published by AAM and RLPG are published under the Rowman & Littlefield imprint.

RLPG is a hands-on partner with the author, responsible for:

• All phases of publishing and production including contract negotiation, project management, copyediting, composition, proofreading, and printing once a manuscript has been approved by the AAM Press Editorial Advisory Board.
• Marketing, sales, and order fulfillment.
• All business decisions related to the book.

Proposal deadlines: September 6, 2019 and January 10, 2020.

Questions? Email us at publisher@aam-us.org.