"All good books have one thing in common -- they are truer than if they had really happened, and after you've read one of them you feel that all that happened, happened to you and that belongs to you forever..." Ernest Hemingway
1. Read Publisher's Note.
2. Heed our list of What We Do NOT Publish.
3. See our list of What We DO Publish.
4. Examine our Guidelines.
5. Answer our Questions for Prospective Authors.
6. Examine our Publishing Agreement, including Frequently Asked Questions About Publishing.
7. Read Frequently Asked Questions About Proposals.
Caxton Press
Oregon Historical Society Press (operations may be temporarily, even permanently, suspended)
Oregon State University Press
Sasquatch Books
University of Idaho Press
University of Washington Press
Wordcraft of Oregon
Fiction
Poetry
Genealogies
Textbooks
How-To
Sports (unless connected to a significant social history)
Outdoors (unless connected to a significant social history)
Family histories
Children's (or young adult) books
Reprints of self-published books
Religion (any faith)
In spite of this carefully-considered list, we still receive proposals for everything on it. Such proposals are usually accompanied by statements such as, "I know your Website says you don't publish poetry, but I was wondering if you ever make exceptions." The answer is NO! No matter how you package it or pitch it, no matter how you whimper or whine, coax or cajole, no matter how many millions of copies you "guarantee" it will sell, we still ain't gonna take it. In fact, if you're sure about your potential bestseller, you should consider self-publishing so you can keep all the fame and fortune for yourself.
Historical Photographs
Homesteading Memoirs
Indian Wars
Northwest History
Oregon Trail
Oregon Travel
Typically these run no more than 120 pages in a book 7x8.5 inches or 150 pages in a book 8.5x11-inches, which limits any manuscript to a maximum length of approximately 40,000 (7x8.5) to 60,000 (8.5x11) words, depending on the number and size of images used.
Although our subjects cover the Northwest in general and Oregon in particular, more than 80 percent of sales are to independent Oregon bookstores.
The index and titles in our catalog show what we're publishing now, though virtually all books concern either history or travel.
We do not expect a lengthy, detailed proposal such as those that many agents and editors insist is necessary; we just want to hear your idea, examine an outline or summary, and see a sample of the manuscript.
Do not send an unsolicited manuscript; call or email first to introduce your proposal and learn our guidelines.
If the following questions trigger a response of "no" or "unsure" or "don't know," then you're probably shopping in the wrong market for your book.
The Manuscript
1. Do the people, settings, and events of the chapters stem primarily from the Northwest in general or Oregon in particular?
2. What is the approximate word count of the manuscript, and what kind of images (artwork or photographs) can you provide for it?
The Editing
3. Are you willing to make mechanical changes to the manuscript so it fits our house style?
4. Can you accept editorial criticism about, and changes to, your work without a rise in blood pressure or a response heavily dependent on Anglo-Saxon obscenities?
The Marketing
5. How much time and labor can you invest in actively promoting your book?
6. Who do you see as your primary audience for the book, and what are your ideas to reach those readers?
Acquisitions EditorIn a rarely-seen photograph, a hopeful author offers his manuscript for the consideration of the Bear Creek Press Acquisitions Editor and Officer of Garbo Elegance and Tonsorial Perfection (whose name is Fred, though he prefers Fabio Fabuloso). Note to writers: Because Fred, er, Fabio, exercises complete control over initial acquisitions, it can be helpful to bribe him with the offer of a new hat, tunic, skirt, stockings, or shoes, all in basic black, of course. And whatever you do, don't refer to his dog (shown at his feet) as a "cat." Once Fabio accepts a manuscript, it goes to the Bored of Directors for final approval (see below). |
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Bored of DirectorsOnce a prospective manuscript is approved by the Acquisitions Editor, its next stop is the Bored of Directors, shown at right. The Directors are arranged according to their status, which is reflected in their styles and colors of hats. (The goal is to dress like some part of an American or a French flag.) Even though A Big Cheese Director (known as the ABCD) occupies the high seat during meetings, the final decision on any manuscript ultimately rests with the man snoozing in the upper right corner, who is, obviously, the most Bored of Directors. |
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Grand InquisitorAfter being accepted by the Bored of Directors, a manuscript faces its last and most stern test, for now it must be submitted to the Grand Inquisitor (GI) for review. Although it is an honorary position, the GI must meet two stringent qualifications to prove absolute objectivity in making his selections: that he be dead and speak not a word of English. Our current GI is Dante Alighieri (12651321), shown here taking time from his tour of Purgatory (in background) to present his most recent choice for publication. |
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Q: Do you accept simultaneous submissions?
A: Yes, though we expect to be informed that it is such a submission, and then notified if you accept an offer elsewhere.
Q: How long does it take you to respond to a proposal?
A: Usually it's a matter of weeks, sometimes days, depending on the time of year. Proposals submitted at our peak sales times -- especially mid-summer and near Christmas -- wait longer than those sent during our slower periods, particularly January-February.
Q: If you don't accept my proposal, do you return my submission?
A: Yes, as long as you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) for its return. If you don't, we have little choice but to hang on to it for a while (in case you should furnish the SASE later) and then send it to the recycling bin.
Q: How do you let me know about your decision?
A: We'll contact you by either phone or e-mail, which is why you want to include this contact information in your cover letter.
Q: If you offer to publish my book, how long do I have to accept?
A: After notifying you of our acceptance, either by phone or e-mail, we usually wait from ten to thirty days before withdrawing our offer, depending on the circumstances.
Q: If I accept your offer, what happens next?
A: We make arrangements for you to furnish the manuscript and images on disk. Once this arrives, we estimate the time it will take to complete the project, then fit the book into our lineup. The timing of the book's release coincides with the four quarters of the fiscal year: winter (January-February-March), spring (April-May-June), summer (July-August-September), or fall (October-November-December).
Q: From the time you begin working on a book, how long does it take to finish?
A: It depends on the amount of editing required to bring the manuscript to a finished state. Ideally, once a project reaches its turn at the front of the line, and if the writer is fast and responsive in correcting and returning the proofs, it can happen as quickly as one month. More likely, however, it will take two or three months.
Q: How many proofs do you send to the author?
A: As many as necessary to reach the point where both author and publisher agree on the quality of the finished book. To reach this agreement, the author may request as many proofs as he needs. Usually this entails two or three; but even at this point, both the writer and the editor are "blind" to the writing, unable to see everything that needs fixing.
Q: What happens after the author approves the final proof?
A: The book goes to a proofreader for one more examination and correction. After that, the book is ready for printing.
A: No. A substantial one is beyond our means, and a token is meaningless.
Q: What are some mistakes to avoid in making a proposal?
A: Glad you asked. See A Proposal Gone Wrong.
Q: What happens after the book is printed?
A: Then it's time to begin the marketing. To understand what this involves, go to Marketing Basics.
Go to frequently Asked Questions About Publishing
What follows is a proposal we received from a writer looking for a publisher. And what goes wrong is almost everything, as you might see from our response. The name and place of the query have been changed so it does not reflect poorly on the writer -- and because George Washington seems like he was a decent enough fellow to let us use his name -- but the wording is exactly as it appeared.
George's Letter:
Dear Bear Creek Press,
This is just a follow-up to a letter I sent some weeks back, along with samples of my work. My name is George Washington and I'm a copy editor and writer at the Mt. Vernon Times newspaper. I was wondering if you might be interested in a couple of book ideas. I write film reviews that have become rather popular to our readership and have won a couple of regional journalism awards, and I have assembled these into simple volumes for family and friends. It seems to me that more professionally published versions might sell well in a couple of our area bookstores, and would not become dated because the films are always available in the video stores.
I also have written some columns dealing with the birth and growth of our first son, the changes of seasons, my mother and father, married life, etc. They have a more literary, even poetic quality, than you often find in a newspaper and have received some very favorable responses. I would also like to gather some of these into a volume, once I have accumulated enough of them.
I have a BA and MA in English/Creative Writing. I would be happy to send you some samples of my reviews and my columns.
I'm not even sure if this is the kind of thing you do, but our newsroom book reviewer has reviewed several books published by you, and so I thought this would be a good place to begin my search for a regional publisher.
Tell me what you think.
George Washington
Our Response:
Dear George,
We would have responded to your query in the beginning if you had included the necessary SASE, which is mandatory for all publishing proposals. In addition, the generic salutation indicated the letter might be part of a mass mailing, another taboo in the business. Even though both might seem to be minor flaws, each is a vital part of the first impression and an indication of the writer's degree of devotion to the profession.
Another guiding principle in approaching publishers is to offer one proposal in detail rather than multiple projects. This is similar to shopping for a car by examining one in minute detail rather than by giving a fleet a cursory glance.
As far as Bear Creek Press is concerned, we publish books that "capture the life and preserve the history of the Northwest," which includes a lot of territory, though our focus is on history. Still, we're interested in a wide range of subjects if you care to narrow your list to what you think might best fit our list. (For starters you can examine the catalog linked to our Website.)
Before proceeding, however, one word of warning: the Mt. Vernon area is our worst market in the region; consequently, whatever we decide to publish must have some bearing on the region in general rather than on the Mt. Vernon area in particular. If you're still interested in pitching that one proposal -- email is the best way to submit -- we'd be happy to take a look.
George's Response:
Sorry but I'm too old, too experienced and too talented to be chastised like some child. Your loss.
George Washington
A Summary
Although the problems with George's proposal are presented to some degree in our response above, it might be beneficial to summarize some of them here. What is wrong with thee? Let me count the ways:
1. He neglected to include in his original submission an SASE or any contact information, especially an e-mail address.
2. He addresses his message to the entire publishing house, which means the cleaning lady gets first crack at it.
3. His letter is more of a resume than it is a proposal, for he fails to pinpoint the one project he is submitting for our consideration; in fact, he seems uncertain about what kind of "book ideas" he's pursuing much less proposing.
4. He is unaware of what we publish ("I'm not even sure if this is the kind of thing you do").
5. His interest in us is dubious ("I thought this would be a good place to begin my search").
6. His "talent" as a writer is not evident in his message, for the prose is mundane and the mechanics questionable.
7. He presents his academic credentials as one of his qualifications, but writing in any school at any level often has little if anything to do with writing in the real world. (Although such a tactic may work with some publishers, for us it does not.)
8. He is incorrect that it is our "loss." With approximately 300,000 books published each year in this country -- it will probably be more by the time you finish reading this sentence -- it means that almost three books are published each minute of each working day. That's published, not proposed. The number of proposals needed to reach this figure is so huge that it means, at least unofficially, the United States now has more writers than ticks.
9. His vanity is conspicuous enough to taint that all-important "first impression" and to hinder a positive professional response to his query.
10. His closing response effectively ends any future publishing venture with Bear Creek Press.
Alas, an unhappy ending for everyone.
PS: We have since received word that George Washington has opened an ego-massage parlor in Walla Walla, Washington. We wish him all the best.
Back to Frequently Asked Questions About Proposals
Go to Frequently Asked Questions About Publishing
Bear Creek Press
814 Couch Avenue
Wallowa, Oregon 97885
541-886-9020
bearcreekpress@eoni.com
www.bearcreekpress.com
Bear Creek Press
With its World Headquarters located at the old Abbie Riggle Place on Bear Creek Road just one mile from downtown Wallowa, Oregon, Bear Creek Press is the largest publishing house on the southwest bank of the Wallowa River.
"Well-designed and well-printed books."
Statesman-Journal (Salem, Oregon)
"There could be nothing so important as a book can be."
Editor Max Perkins in a letter to author Thomas Wolfe
Bear Creek Press produces only organic, free-range books containing no pesticides, herbicides, preservatives, or growth hormones. Ask your bookseller if Bear Creek Press books are right for you.
