As a quality publisher of important and scholarly books,
our mission is to preserve the art, lore and wisdom of the
printed word. We are publishers of books about books: histories
of printing, illustration, marbling, typography, bookbinding
and papermaking. We also print fine books about publishers,
bibliography, book collecting and book selling. In these,
and related fields, we update and reprint classics of the
past, and publish new and original works from authors around
the world. We offer flexible contracts and pay royalties quarterly.
Oak Knoll Press co-publishes important books with The British
Library, Library of Congress, Winterthur Museum, The Tate
Gallery, and a dozen other distinguished publishers in Europe
as well as the United States. Our program is to add 35 to
40 titles a year to our list which now features over 950 titles.
To maintain these goals and reach out to authors who have
the expertise and/or experience to write the books needed,
we have created this "want list." If you have the
ability to write an interesting, compelling, and publishable
manuscript on any of the following subjects, we would like
to hear from you. Your manuscript will be read within two
months of arrival by one of our editors. If it should merit
our interest and fall within our realm of publishing, you
will be contacted immediately.
Thank you.
Mark Parker Miller
Director of Publishing
INQUIRY
GUIDE:
For a publisher to make a fair evaluation of a non-fiction
manuscript, four important elements need to be addressed in
the author's proposal:
1. A Clear, Clean Manuscript: (See "Manuscript
Format Guidelines"). If the work has not yet
been written, call us. Sometimes our editors can express interest
from an OUTLINE with a sample chapter, or from sufficient
previous work. This will allow us to ascertain whether the
author has the ability to write an intelligent, compelling
and interesting work within our field.
2. Is the Work Saleable? This is the most salient
point for any publisher. In a paragraph or two, the author
should inform the publisher, who is the intended audience
and what is its size? The publisher needs to be told why the
author believes this book will serve their needs and be a
commercial success.
3. What is the Competition? Is the work unique? or
are there other books available on the same or very similar
subject matter? If there will be competition, why does the
author believe his book is needed?
4. Author's Qualifications. Education, special training,
life experiences, etc. If an author has written a definitive,
scholarly work or how-to manual, what are his qualifications
and credentials to do so? One needs not to be a "known
expert" to research and write an interesting work, however,
he should have the background to know what he's talking about.
A skilled craftsman who has written intelligently about his
craft, and its unique techniques, will surely have more weight
than a writer who has "just done some research."
Basically, an author's proposal should make the publisher
want to read the manuscript. Likewise, a good manuscript
should make the publisher want to publish it. Our Editorial
Board meets every month to decide on new publications. As
a side note, the cost to launch a new title requires the capital
investment of $15,000 to $50,000. This cost is determined
by the number of pages, illustrations and binding.
FORMAT GUIDELINES:
Oak Knoll's Editorial Guideline: The Chicago Manual of
Style.
Format: Your manuscript should be submitted in hard
copy printed out from your disk. Do not send us disk at this
time. Later when you are asked for your disk, your files should
be properly organized as per standard computer practices.
List the name of each file, number of pages contained and
a description of the contents on a separate piece of paper.
Page specifications: All pages containing text, notes
and back matter should be consecutively numbered from the
first page to the last. Preliminary pages may use roman numerals.
We suggest a basic font such as Times New Roman for text.
The manuscript (typescript) may be single spaced with margins
at least one inch all around on 8 1/2" x 11" paper.
Chapter openings should begin at least three inches from the
top of the page. Chapter titles and subheads should be typed
in upper and lower case. Subheads of different levels should
be differentiated by their placement on the page (centered,
indented, etc.). Do not set them in italic or bold. The manuscript
will be marked up later for the typesetter to add bold, italics,
etc. to the text.
Illustrations: All illustrations must be numbered
with self-sticking paper attached to the back. This number
should correspond to a space within the text and their place
on the "List of Illustrations." Mark each hard copy
space with its illustration number (fig. 1 and so forth).
All artwork should be drawn with firm outlines. Cross-hatching
should not be too fine. Sizing instructions should be marked
on the back of illustration, if known. Make a separate control
list of your illustrations.
B&W Photographs: For best, non-color half-tone
reproduction, clear black and while photos should be glossy,
not matte. Avoid sepia and colored prints if possible. Illustrations
may also be scanned into text if author has access to a high
quality scanner. Ask editor for details. Any notes as to cropping
and/or sizing should be marked on a transparent overlay or
on a photocopy of the illustration. Never mark on the original
photo.
Color Photographs: For best results in the reproduction
of color illustrations, a professional color transparency
is suggested. However, illustrations well photographed with
a 35mm camera are acceptable if enlargements are not too great.
Check sheet: To be sure your manuscript is ready for
an editor or typesetter, make a control list of your preliminary
pages, (title page, copyright page, table of contents, list
of illustrations, dedication, epigraph, foreword, preface,
acknowledgments, etc.) Then list your end matter, (appendixes,
index, bibliography, notes, etc.) These two groups, the preliminary
pages and the end matter should be double checked against
your check sheet. If all is in order, add your main text and
mail your manuscript.
A clean, clear typescript on white paper will make a favorable
impression on your proofreaders and copy editors. Do not bind
manuscript - we need to be able to make photocopies for readers
and editors.
Good luck!
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Our Manuscript Want List
