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1. How long before I hear back from you after I have submitted a proposal?

We shall acknowledge receipt within 24 hours, and respond in detail within two weeks. We shall then confirm the basis on which we recommend proceeding to Stage Two.

2. What about payment?

We accept personal cheques. We only bill for each stage on completion of the job.

3. Who decides which publishers are sent the proposal?

You do. We only recommend which firms should be approached, but it is your call as it is your work.

4. What is the advantage of making multiple (simultaneous) submissions compared to serial (exclusive) submissions ?

In a nutshell, time. Your work deserves careful consideration, and many publishers are unable to respond to proposals as promptly as they, let alone you, would like. So, sending to several firms at the same time has an obvious advantage. We let the publishers know when a multiple submission is made, so this can add an urgency factor.

The downside is that many firms prefer to take up an "exclusive" option and not be pressured to make a quick evaluation; for example, they may need extra time to refer to external readers. This is where we come in, consulting with you on how best to proceed, and ensuring the publisher responds within a reasonable time frame.

5. Is it reasonable to expect a Publisher to respond to a proposal without first seeing any written material, sample chapters etc?

Yes. Publishers and their series editors know which areas and topics are of interest and have the right "fit" for their lists. They will indicate interest in principle in your work based on a solid proposal. They will then ask for sample material, or, in some cases, a complete draft before proceeding further. This is where our services in overseeing the process are particularly useful to you.

6. I may be able to obtain a subvention or grant to cover indexing costs for the work, and possibly some design costs. Is it helpful to mention this in my proposal?

Yes. Publishers will not make a decision to publish based primarily on whether a work receives a grant or not, but when it comes to deciding between works of equal merit it can make all the difference.

7. I understand you can put me in touch with experienced freelance editors. Do you negotiate terms with them, or should I undertake this myself?

We are happy to refer your work to, and put you in touch with, freelance editors. However, we do not act as an intermediary when it comes to making particular arrangements with them. We are always glad, though, to provide general advice on publishing matters.