Iowa
State University Press
Building Better
Books
Crafting a
superior book can be compared to constructing a building.
The cornerstone of such a book is the author’s expertise,
and setting that cornerstone requires advance planning. The
first step in this process is finding the right team of
publishing professionals to shape the book and provide
editing, professional design, timely production, effective
marketing, and sales. Iowa State Press performs all of those
functions knowledgeably, drawing on decades of expertise and
successful publishing in food and agriculture, dietetics,
aviation, aquaculture, veterinary medicine, journalism,
and related fields.
A knowledgeable acquisitions
editor is the architect for building a better book. By
examining the content of the book, its sales potential, and
by coordinating the project from start to finish, the
acquisitions editor engineers a plan that becomes the
framework for the project.
Getting Started
Most publishers
handle only certain types of books, allowing them to
concentrate on meeting the demands of specific audiences and
assuring targeted product delivery. Iowa State Press’s
acquisitions editors seek text, supplementary text, and
reference books in the fields listed above. If you have a
project that falls in one of these areas, you are invited to
contact Iowa State Press (see
list of editors below).
When contacted
early, an acquisitions editor plays an important role in
shaping the book. Iowa State Press accepts completed
manuscripts too.
The Plan
If the book you
envision fits our program, you will be asked to prepare a
proposal that includes several key pieces of information to
assist in the decision-making process: A
detailed synopsis of the content and a sample chapter, if
possible. List of projected collateral materials, e.g.,
illustrations, appendices, tables. Outstanding,
competitive features of the proposed book. The
author’s qualifications for addressing this topic.
Market. Schedule
for completion.
The acquisitions
editor will review the proposal and obtain expert reviews
that evaluate the proposed content of the book. Reviews may
take 6 weeks or more, but will help to shape or refine the
project. You and the acquisitions editor will then agree on
a plan that includes a schedule for completion of the
manuscript.
With a plan in
place, the acquisitions editor circulates the project to our
publishing committee. This important step involves a
marketing and financial evaluation. The analysis will result
in a formal decision to publish or decision to decline. You
will be informed of this outcome as soon as possible.
The Contract
A contract may be
offered as soon as the Press is certain of its desire to
publish. Royalties are offered based on the type of
book, production costs, and estimated sales. The
acquisitions editor will discuss with you any special
circumstances that the contract must address. Once all
parties have signed the contract, you will receive a copy
for your records. The contract is a legally binding document
that seals both author’s and publisher’s commitment to
the project. Manuscript delivery date will be stated in the
contract and acquisitions department personnel will work
with you to ensure timely arrival of the final manuscript.
Construction
With assurance of our
commitment to publish and a due date established for the
final manuscript, the author begins to prepare the materials
that will build the book. Before final submission, you will
need to capture the text in a standard word processing
program on disk and have all collateral materials such as
photographs, tables, figures, charts, and permissions. Your
acquisitions editor will routinely contact you to check
progress and answer questions.
The acquisitions
editor will then assess the final manuscript and transmit it
to the production unit, where the manuscript editing staff,
design department, and compositors apply their skills to
build the book. The acquisitions editor and the author will
be consulted at key stages. As the book approaches
completion, the Marketing Department will develop a complete
marketing plan.
The final phase of
construction is the actual printing and binding of the book.
Our Guarantee to You
The Acquisitions
Department of Iowa State Press will help you plan the best
book possible. We are committed to working with you to give
your project the attention it deserves. Advance planning
will ensure success—yours and ours—and result in a
salable, high-quality book.
Many authors
comment on the courteous and professional care they enjoy at
Iowa State Press. We invite you to submit a project to one
of our acquisitions staff and see for yourself.
How and Whom to Contact
at
Iowa State Press
Iowa State
Press
2121 South State
Avenue
Ames, Iowa
50014-8300
phone:
515-292-0140
fax: 515-292-3348
www.iowastatepress.com
David
Rosenbaum, Acquisitions Editor
515-292-0140,
extension 636
rosenbaum@iowastatepress.com
Veterinary Medicine
Aviation
Mark Barrett,
Acquisitions Editor
515-292-0140,
extension 613
barrett@iowastatepress.com
Journalism/Mass
Communication
Food Science and
Technology
Rick Petersen,
Acquisitions Editor
515-292-0140,
extension 632
petersen@iowastatepress.com
Agriculture
Human-Animal Bond
Veterinary
Technology; Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Gretchen Van
Houten, Publishing Director
515-292-0140,
extension 611
vanhouten@iowastatepress.com
Animal Science
Aquaculture
Food Science
Dietetics
