Information for Authors and Illustrators
Author Guidelines
Herald Press invites book proposals from Christian authors in the areas of (1) Bible study and theology; (2) missions and church life; (3) church history and culture; (4) social issues, peace, and ethics; (5) Christian living, meditations, and personal experience; and (6) other popular books about Mennonites and Amish. Our purpose is to publish books from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective: books honest in presentation, clear in thought, stimulating in content, appropriate in appearance, superior in printing and binding, and leading to the spiritual growth and welfare of the reader.
Terms and Procedure
When submitting your proposal, please follow the MPN manual of style as a PDF document (also available in Word document format).
For royalties, we usually offer up to 10% of the net sales of each book sold and generally some provision for escalation above 15,000 copies.
Collect and send us the following:
- a one-page summary of your book;
- a table of contents and one-or-two sentence summary of each chapter;
- the first chapter and one other, numbered and detached pages, and name of Bible version used (such as NRSV);
- a resume or brief statement of your educational, publishing, religious, professional, and community involvements;
- a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of your material;
- the completed author form, stating the significance of the book and describing your target audience.
You can e-mail everything as an attachment, or snail mail the whole set to:
Acquisitions, Herald Press616 Walnut Avenue
Scottdale, PA 15683
You may expect a reply in about two months. If your proposal has potential for Herald Press, a finished manuscript will be requested. Herald Press depends on capable and dedicated authors to continue publishing high-quality Christian literature.
Believers Church Bible Commentary authors and editors: Download the BCBC handbook and view the Scripture Indexes List.
Illustration Guidelines
Herald Press releases a wide variety of new books each year for adults, young people, and children. We sometimes commission cover art appropriate to the specific nature of the book involved. Usually we need a full-color cover illustration that includes people, rendered in the medium of the artist's choice. Occasionally we commission black and white illustrations for use inside the book. We tend toward realistic rather than abstract treatments.
We welcome submissions of your work for our review. Please send samples we can keep on file. Art assignments are based on study of the submission files, choosing those illustrators best suited for a particular need. Samples may include tear sheets, photocopies (both black-and-white and color), slides, photographs, and original art. All must fit in an 8 1/2 x 11 file folder. Include a cover letter and short resume with your submission. If you want a reply regarding our interest in your work, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Send all submissions to:
Art Director, Herald Press616 Walnut Avenue
Scottdale, PA 15683-1999