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Editorial Submissions

Submission Guidelines 

Thank you for your interest in Islandport Press. We are a regional New England-based independent publisher with a particular emphasis on Maine writers and Maine-inspired work. We publish 10-20 titles per year.

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What We're Looking For 

The common thread of our books is a New England sensibility, which we characterize as grit, resilience, adventure, independence, connection to nature and appreciation for this beautiful place we call home. As our region becomes increasingly multicultural and diverse, we are especially interested in publishing the stories of those who have been historically underrepresented in publishing.

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We publish in the following categories:

 

Fiction & Narrative

  • Adult Fiction (50,000-100,000 words)

  • Young Adult Fiction (40,000-75,000 words)

  • Mystery/Thriller (60,000-100,000 words)

  • Memoir (50,000-90,000 words)

  • Essays (40,000-80,000 words)

 

Children's

  • Picture Books (500-1,000 words)

  • Board Books (under 300 words)

 

Specialty & Nonfiction

  • Cooking

  • History

  • Humor

  • Nature/Outdoors

  • Photography

  • Gift Books

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Our Publishing Model 

We are a traditional publisher, offering advances ranging from $1,000-$5,000 for most titles and royalties of 7.5-10% on paperbacks and 10-15% on hardcovers. We handle all aspects of editing, design, production, distribution, and marketing. We do not offer publishing services to authors who are not under contract with us.

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How to Submit

  1. Review our current catalog at islandportpress.com to ensure your work aligns with our list

  2. Email submissions@islandportpress.com with your book's title in the subject line

  3. Include in your email:

  • A cover letter explaining why your book fits our list, your relevant background/expertise, and your marketing platform (including social media presence, speaking engagements, professional connections, etc.)

  • Your manuscript or proposal as a Word or PDF file (under 10MB)

  • For children's books: Include a rough storyboard and 1-2 finished color samples as PDF/JPEG or cloud storage link

 

Manuscript Requirements

  • Fiction/Children's: Complete manuscript, double-spaced, 12-point standard font

  • Nonfiction: Proposal with the following elements:

    • Overview

    • Comparative titles published in the last 3-5 years

    • Target audience analysis

    • Author platform details

    • Author bio

    • Table of Contents

    • Sample chapter

    • Proposed format, length, and delivery timeline

 

Submission Policies

  • We accept simultaneous submissions but request notification if your work is accepted elsewhere

  • We welcome both agented and unagented submissions

  • We do not accept previously published works unless they are out of print with rights reverted

  • We accept submissions year-round

  • Electronic submissions only; our editorial team works remotely

  • We do not accept portfolios, website links, story ideas, or concept submissions

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Review Process 

You will receive an automated confirmation when we receive your submission. Our editorial team reviews submissions regularly; due to volume, we aim to respond within 90 days. After 90 days, you may follow up at submissions@islandportpress.com.

 

If we decide to pursue your project, our typical publishing timeline is 12-18 months from contract to publication. We typically seek to acquire worldwide rights in all formats (print, ebook, audio).

 

Privacy Notice 

We treat all submissions as confidential. Manuscripts and proposals are shared only with necessary members of our editorial team during the review process. We delete submissions after review unless we move forward with publication.

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