GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORS
WHAT PELICAN PUBLISHES
We publish an average of 30 new titles a year, related to identifiable regions around the United States (especially the South). Specialties are popular history, biography, culture (food and drink), cookbooks, architecture books, and children’s books. We believe that ideas have consequences. One of the consequences is that they lead to best-selling books.
We ask that you study Pelican’s books and lists. Our latest catalog is posted on www.pelicanpub.com, and a look through it will help you understand where our interests lie. We will consider almost any well-written work by an author who understands promotion.
WHAT PELICAN CONSIDERS
ACCEPTS: Solicited and unsolicited submissions of:
Adult Nonfiction
Genres: Specialties above plus humor, music, sports
Minimum word count: 40,000 (maximum: 100,000)
Young Adult Fiction and Nonfiction (teens)
Genres: Regional history, biography, adventure
Minimum word count: 25,000
Juvenile Fiction and Nonfiction Middle Readers (ages 8-12)
Genres: Regional history, biography, cooking, adventure
Maximum word count: 25,000
Juvenile Fiction and Nonfiction Picture Books (ages 5-8)
Genres: Holiday, regional history, biography, adventure
Maximum word count: 1,100 plus author’s note to children
DOES NOT ACCEPT: National topics, adult fiction, poetry, reference, or periodicals.
See below for audience and format-specific submission guidelines.
GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORS
Thank you for your interest! Please find below our guidelines for submissions. Note that we do not consider mailed submissions.
Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Reader Submissions
With subject line “TITLE—Submission for Publication,” email editorial@pelicanpub.com a message containing the following (no attachments):
- Query letter (for details, see below)
- Author publication credits (ISBN/link to Amazon), sales history (life to date and first 12 months), and translation/subsidiary rights sales if any
- Author platform, including social media links
- Synopsis (max 250 words)
- Table of contents, if applicable
- First chapter
- Research references if nonfiction
We require exclusive submission for up to one month. If that period expires, we will continue our evaluation on a nonexclusive basis. If we solicit additional chapters within that first month, we require exclusive submission for up to three months.
Juvenile Picture Book Submissions
With Subject Line “TITLE—Submission for Publication,” email editorial@pelicanpub.com a message containing the following (no attachments):
- Query letter (for details, see below)
- Author publication credits (ISBN/link to Amazon) and sales history (life to date and first 12 months)
- Author platform, including social media links
- Full manuscript
- Research references if nonfiction
Accompanying artwork may be attached to email
We require exclusive submission for up to three months. If that period expires, we will continue our evaluation on a nonexclusive basis. Please note that these books are 32 illustrated pages when published, with a maximum Flesch-Kincaid reading level of second grade (2.0).
QUERY LETTER CHECKLIST
The query letter should discuss the following.
- One-sentence description of your book, followed by a description of subjects covered
- Anticipated length (in words) and number of black and white and/or color images if any
- Intended audience and what you would personally do to reach (promotional ideas and contacts)
- Three competing titles, with links to Amazon, and how your title differs from the competition
- Anticipated timeline to complete text
- Ideal publication date or season (spring or fall)
OTHER SUBMISSION POLICIES
- We do not require that writers contacting us have a literary agent representing them.
- We will consider only one work at a time by the same author.
- We look for a concise synopsis/outline and a topic with a clear sales hook and audience. The author should present a strong case as to why we should take on the book and who would buy it.
- If an author seeking to publish an illustrated work plans to use artwork copyrighted by an author, illustrator, publication, or syndicate, permission must be obtained in writing from that source. Permission in writing must also be obtained by any author seeking to use quotes or other materials from previously copyrighted publications.
- Authors seeking to have previously published books reprinted must have, in writing from their previous publisher, a signed letter reverting publishing rights to them.
- Should Pelican accept the book for publication, the author(s) will be asked to sign a contract.
PAYMENT POLICY
Pelican pays its authors a royalty based on sales. All terms are specified in our contract. No book will be published by Pelican without a contract signed beforehand.
All guidelines listed above are subject to revision at any time by Pelican Publishing and its editorial board.
We look forward to seeing your proposal!
3/2020