GUIDELINES

XGI Publishing normally operates on a commissioned works basis. Authors are invited to email us and ask for our commissions work list, or to sign up as a contracted author. Submissions from new authors are welcomed, provided that the work is of a sufficiently high merit and fits in with our forthcoming planned list of titles.

Many authors may already have acquired for themselves a degree of fame in their area of expertise. This is an important asset and should be mentioned when submitting work for publication.

Books are published in paperback using the present-day methods in the publishing and the printing process. We concentrate on the online sale of books through large online retailers and direct sales. However we do have access to distributors to larger retail outlets in the event a book requires further distribution.

We are looking to publish books written by a diverse choice of authors, in well researched non-fiction areas.

Manuscripts can include: educational and professional books, self-development and business management subjects, and those concerning women’s issues. Well-researched general non-fiction manuscripts are also considered.

ADVICE TO AUTHORS

Please read the following carefully before preparing your work for submission to us. We are always eager to consider the work of new writers as well as that from published authors.

As you will appreciate, only a small proportion of the manuscripts submitted to publishers are finally accepted for publication. Some of these are not looked at because the publisher’s particular submission procedure was not adhered to or ignored.

FOR FICTION

XGI Publishing doesn’t currently publish works of fiction with this or other imprints.

FOR NON-FICTION

The work should be well researched as appropriate, on a topic that is not too obscure to be of interest to a general sector of the reading public. It should be well-written, very competently checked for errors, with clear illustrations only as and if applicable. It should be preferably endorsed by having been viewed by another person with knowledge in that particular field. It would be useful if you have contacts within the field of study who could be called on for peer-reviews.

XGI Publishing doesn’t accept unsolicited manuscripts. Any unsolicited manuscript will be destroyed unread, and we maintain a non-return policy with regard to unsolicited manuscripts

We do accept submissions from authors but expect them to follow the normal, acceptable procedures that are logical and already in place. The way you submit your work is important and will have a beneficial effect on the editors receiving it.

HOW TO SUBMIT

The author needs initially to submit to the editors a synopsis of the whole manuscript and two sample chapters. A decision can then be made by the editors as to whether to review the manuscript for inclusion in our forthcoming publication lists.

Should the affirmative good news for the author be the case, then that author is sent an email requesting the completed manuscript or contract for approval and for this document to be scrutinized by any legal representative whom he or she may wish to employ.

We ask you, as the author, to submit your work to us in the reasonably straightforward and logical way listed below:

  1. First approach to us as publisher
    • Send initially to us a synopsis email which is a précis of the whole book together with at least two sample chapters.
    • Send electronic copies only.
    • Be courteous and enclose a short covering letter addressed to the editor
  2. If we now have, in reply to your first submission, indicated to you that we wish to see your full manuscript We accept submissions via email only. All submissions should be sent via email the address given to your assigned review editor which will be given to you in the above reply.
    • Your piece should be sent as an attached RTF
    • Please use a fixed width font (ie Courier New) Size 12.
    • Do NOT centre justify your paragraphs.
    • Do NOT use strange fonts.
    • Do NOT include your name in the document header.
    • Do NOT put anything in the document footer.
    • DO include name, address, phone number, email etc at the top of the document.
    • You should indent the first line of each paragraphs by 0.5 (approx 1cm), double-space lines, and indicate section breaks with a centered "#".

RTF Files: Otherwise known as "Rich Text Format", this is a standard file format designed for passing documents between different word processors.

PUBLISHING POLICY

  1. We do acknowledge the receipt of your m/s and it usually takes about three to six weeks after receipt of the full m/s before we send to you any information regarding possible publishing agreements for consideration.
  2. There are a number of criteria which we use when considering or assessing a piece of work for publication. Commercial viability is, of course, important but we also look for originality together with a sense of style and poise in writing.
  3. If we have requested the full manuscript, we will then send this to one of our experienced Readers.
  4. Every submission is considered on its individual merits; Work is never rejected or accepted automatically. However, we know you will understand that we cannot promise to publish all books sent to us for appraisal. We do give a very generous amount of time and consideration to authors who submit their work to us.
  5. Authors should note that XGI Publishing always pays royalties net of sales and advances are restricted to 50% of estimated first years sales.

Synopsis – This is a short description of the entire book and may contain up to 700 words. It describes the content of the book, and is an essential adjunct for the author to use when making an initial submission of his or her work. Not to submit a synopsis is a mistake. It may indeed show the publisher that you, the author, do not appreciate the need for this and may even prevent your manuscript being considered.

Sample Chapters - These are chapters that give good examples of the author’s writing and can be seen as representative of your capabilities. Print off in double line spacing on good quality paper to include title of the book, and your name and address affixed. These chapters you send do not have to be consecutive. It is a good idea to submit those chapters with which you are happiest as regards the quality of your writing.