Submissions

Ocean Publishing is a traditional small press. We find talented authors with quality manuscripts and then take on the financial and management responsibility to produce and market their books. Accordingly, we are very selective. While we have some very excellent titles in other genres in our backlist, since January 2009 our focus has been re-directed exclusively to nonfiction manuscripts on marine life, nature, environment, and conservation. Please do not submit anything outside of these parameters.

We want to receive a proposal outlining the nature of your work, what your intended market is and why, and information about your background and credentials for writing this manuscript. If we are interested in taking a closer look at your book, we will contact you.

Note: when querying electronically, send only a one-page email, giving an overview of your book, its market and your credentials. Please do not send attachments. We will not open them and we will delete your email.

If you are submitting via the US Mail, this is what should be included:

BOOK PROPOSALS SHOULD INCLUDE:

A one-page overview of the book
Two or three sample chapters
A chapter-by-chapter outline
Number of photos or illustrations
Author's background/credentials
Target completion date
Market/audience information
Word count/number of pages

AUDIENCE / MARKET INFORMATION SHOULD INCLUDE:

WHO IS THE AUDIENCE?

What is the market for your book and how many potential buyers?
Who wants this book? Why do they want it? Why do they need it?
Do you have specific marketing ideas in mind? What are they?

HOW DOES YOUR BOOK HELP THE READER?

How will this book benefit the buyer? How will it help them?
What need does it fill for your target market?

WHAT MAKES YOUR BOOK SPECIAL?

What makes your book different from other such books? Are there other such books? What are they?
Does your book have more information? Is it more comprehensive, easier to use? What advantages does it have over the competition? Why will people buy it instead of something else? Note: Please do a data base search for competing titles through Amazon.com -- the largest online book store with more than one million titles in its data base. Report your findings in your proposal.

MARKETING NICHES / SPECIAL MARKETS (Please be thorough here)

List any special markets your book may have outside regular trade book channels (i.e. book stores).
Could sales result from your contacts-- associations, organizations, corporations, groups, hospitals, treatment centers, workshops, seminars or speaking engagements?
Which magazines or professional/trade journals may review your book or print articles by you which in turn promotes the book?
Do you have specific ideas for marketing your book?
How willing are you to be active in marketing your book?

SUBMISSION OF TEXT (for all genres)

All materials should be clearly printed on white 8 1/2 x 11 paper, double-spaced, with at least 1" margins on all sides, and with 12 point font.
No more than 250-300 words per page.
No dot matrix print outs, please.
Do not staple, clip or otherwise bind pages in the submission.
Materials will not be returned unless accompanied by an SASE with proper postage. NOTE: Do not send by Certified Mail or Return Receipt Requested.

Materials should be submitted to:

Submissions