An Author's Guide to Scholarly Publishing

Description

Directed specifically to the needs of academic authors, this realistic handbook is a guide to publishing success for both beginning and seasoned scholars. Robin Derricourt uses an immensely readable series of informal letters to provide a fund of practical advice: an up-to-date manual on how to plan and prepare a book, approach a publisher, secure a contract, and build a reliable author-publisher relationship that will last throughout the process of publication and marketing. Informed by rare common sense, and a sense of humor, the book speaks clearly about the most recent developments in the rapidly changing world of electronic publishing, clarifying what can and cannot be achieved with word processors. From the possible negative responses of a publisher to the questions implied by success--new editions and subsidiary rights--An Author's Guide to Scholarly Publishing is indispensable reading for academics in every field. Derricourt's candid yet encouraging suggestions will be useful at any stage of book preparation, including the process of writing, when focusing on purpose and audience benefits both the author and the future publisher, not to mention the future reader!Furthermore, his "letters" include those on various kinds of books--standard monographs, technical books, conference volumes, edited volumes, collected papers, textbooks, and works built on dissertations. A reference of "nuts and bolts," this book is also quick and entertaining reading when perused from cover to cover.

Robin Derricourt moved from an academic career into scholarly publishing in 1977. He has held senior positions in commercial and university press publishing houses, working with a substantial international list of authors across a wide range of subjects, including most of the humanities and social science disciplines. For over twelve years he was a publishing director for Cambridge University Press in both England and Australia. Derricourt received the Ph.D. degree in archaeology and anthropology from the University of Cambridge, and has held teaching, research, and administrative positions in archaeology.

"Academics wanting to make their mark in the book market need good advice. Robin Derricourt provides just this in An Author's Guide to Scholarly Publishing... [The author] is full of humour as he pinpoints where each submission fails or succeeds."--New Scientist