Information on the ND Institute for Regional Studies
Broadsides, Monographs,
Dialogues and CDs
Submitting a Manuscript for Consideration
Editorial Matters
The Publications Program of the Institute for Regional Studies operates editorially in the manner of a university press, selecting works of merit through peer review. This page and those linked to it provide information for authors, prospective authors, manuscript reviewers, and others who may be involved in the process by which the Institute acquires works and publishes them.
Dr. Tom Riley is the chief contact for authors seeking to place book
manuscripts for publication with the Institute.
Dr. Tom Riley, as Co-Director of the Institute, respresents the Institute in negotiating agreements for publication with authors, and his office is in charge of marketing of Institute books. Thomas J. Riley, Dean College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Minard Hall 221, NDSU, Fargo 58105-5075; Telephone 701-231-8338; Thomas.Riley@ndsu.edu.
How the Acquisition Process for Books Customarily Works
When the Acquisitions Editor receives a manuscript from an author, he
solicits one or two authorities in the field to review the manuscript
and provide an evaluation of its merits. (Here are the guidelines for
reviewers.) He asks that reviewers return manuscripts with their evaluations
promptly, ordinarily within a month. Based on these evaluations, and also
on internal editorial review, the Acquisitions Editor makes a recommendation
to the Board of Publications as to disposition of the manuscript. The
decision may be acceptance (generally with some revisions expected prior
to publication), rejection, or return to author with suggestions for revisions
and invitation to re-submit. It is the intention of the Institute, almost
always realized, to give this decision to the author within three months
of submission. Whatever the decision, manuscripts are returned to authors
along with the anonymous reviewer comments.
The Institute pledges authors an orderly and expeditious consideration
of manuscripts. In turn, the Institute has these expectations of authors:
- No simultaneous submissions! An author submitting a manuscript to the Institute signifies thereby that it is not also under consideration at another press.
- Authors should be prepared to submit, along with hard copy, a word-processed version of the work after it is accepted and necessary revisions have been made.
- Authors of books accepted for publication will be contacted by Dr. Riley to discuss terms of a publication agreeement. Terms may vary with the situation, but they are comparable to those of other university presses and generally include payment of modest royalties.
- On conclusion of an agreement for publication, authors are entrusted to the tender mercies of the Production Editor, who is in charge of the process of copy editing, design, and production of the book. He provides the following cautions and exhortations to authors: It takes at least 6 months to publish a book, so be patient. Communications by authors about copy editing, design, and production should be addressed to the Production Editor only.
- Authors are expected to give page proofs of the book a careful proofreading.
- All Institute books must be indexed, and the author is responsible for indexing.
- Authors are important, too, to the marketing of books. Institute authors can expect to hear from Dr. Riley's office about plans for marketing and about how they are expected to assist in promotions.
The Publications Program of the Institute for Regional Studies is a modest but high-quality operation that serves a a highly literate regional constituency. The Acquisitions Editor welcomes inquiries from prospective authors.