JOSSEY-BASS

RELIGION-IN-PRACTICE SERIES

Thank you for your interest in Jossey-Bass. We're glad that you're interested in publishing with us. Please consider the following information when submitting a project for publication:

Need
Why are you developing this project? Why do people need help on the topic at this time? How is the topic of increasing rather than passing or declining importance?

Purpose
What is the work designed to accomplish? How does it meet the need you have identified?

Contribution
What new information is offered? In what ways would the work add to current knowledge and practice?

Intended Audiences
Be specific and describe the primary, secondary, and other audiences with respect to discipline, institutional affiliation, and job position or title. Also address where and how members of these audiences typically purchase their books (religious bookstores, secular bookstores, online, etc.).

Uses
What would the work help the audiences to do, understand, improve, carry out, and so on? Distinguish between the uses for the practitioner audiences and the uses for the academic audiences -- or whatever distinction is most meaningful.

Knowledge Base
What is the research or experience base for the information in the project? Briefly describe any special studies or previous work relevant to this project.

Missional Match with Jossey-Bass

Describe how you envision your project fitting in with Jossey-Bass’s publishing mission and with our other books and audiences? (The “Religion in Practice” publishing mission is attached to this document.)

Title Possibilities
Along with your current working title, please suggest several alternative titles. We strive for a title that clearly communicates to all audiences the topic, purpose, and utility of a work.

Length
How many double-spaced, typewritten pages do you anticipate the manuscript to be? What do you expect the word-count to be?

Outline of Contents and Chapter-by-Chapter Descriptions
Provide a few sentences about the purpose and contents of each chapter, giving specific details and examples as well as general statements. Also explain the logic of the work's organization.

Sample Chapters
Please submit the plan with two or three sample chapters. If you would like some feedback before you prepare the sample chapters, send the plan without them, and we will offer an initial reaction. We prefer to learn of projects in their early stages to point out potential problems and offer editorial suggestions. If you would like us to return any of the materials you submit, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Format
How do you envision your final product? Will your project be a book, a binder, a package? Are you proposing a single product or a group of products?

Related and Competing Works
Please list the author, title, and publisher of the main related and competing works; describe why they are not adequate to meet the need you have identified; and tell how your work would differ or be superior.

Previous Works

If you have authored previous books, please list title, co-author(s), publishing company, copyright date, format (paper or hardcover), list price, and net units sold.

Potential Text Adoption
In addition to sales to individual practitioners and academics, Jossey-Bass works are often used as texts in college, university, and seminary courses and corporate and government training courses. If your work would have such text use, please describe the level, titles, and average enrollment of courses for which it would be appropriate; the kinds and approximate number of institutions with such courses; and the competing texts.

Large Purchases

In addition, describe any organizations, associations, ministries, or businesses that would be interested in purchasing large quantities to resell or give away to their employees, members, or donors.

Promotion

How do you intend to promote your book? Describe specific opportunities with ministries, conferences, events, businesses, associations, media contacts, newsletters, etc.

Endorsers

Who within your sphere of influence will endorse the book? (Denominational leaders, ministries, leading pastors, theologians, professors, media figures, authors, business leaders, public intellectuals, associations, etc.) Please include name, title, and affiliation. Please identify which of these probable endorsers are potential foreword writers.

Timetable
What schedule is envisioned for preparing sample chapters (if not already included), the complete draft manuscript, and revisions of the manuscript?

Other Publishers
Has the manuscript been sent to other publishers for consideration? If so, which ones? Note that Jossey-Bass has no objection to your informing other publishers that we are considering the proposal.

Background Information
Please attach your vita, resume, or biography detailing your professional and educational background, including prior publications.