Prospective Authors

Thank you for your interest in the University of Nevada Press. Before submitting a proposal, please familiarize yourself with our submission and review process.

Given our role within the Nevada System of Higher Education and our membership in the Association of University Presses, prospective projects must both meet our mission and be subjected to a rigorous internal and external review process.

Our Mission

Founded in 1961 by Robert Laxalt, the University of Nevada Press publishes high-quality, deserving works that advance scholarly research, contribute to the understanding and appreciation of regional history and culture, and reach a wide range of academic and general readers. Publication is done in a fiscally responsible manner that reflects the highest editorial, design, and production standards. The citizens of Nevada, readers, and authors are the Press’s most valuable asset.

Our publishing plan is defined in two ways: geographic focus as well as discipline and subject matter. If a book enhances our understanding of Nevada, the Great Basin, or American West—regardless of its field or approach—we’re interested. If it fits a topic we publish on—regardless of its geographic focus—we’re interested. We publish in a wide range of humanities and social science disciplines, including environmental studies, Basque studies, Native American studies, public health, mining, urban studies, and gambling and gaming studies.

Our Review Process

Proposal

Every submission to the Press begins as a proposal, regardless of genre and audience. For tracking purposes and to ensure the most expedient response to your proposal, please use our online form to express your interest in submitting your manuscript to us. The information provided at this stage will allow us to assess your project’s fitness for our mission and current needs, and should your project receive a positive evaluation, this information will continue to be used in later phases of the project.

We strive to provide feedback to queries within one month of initial submission. Depending on current submissions, though, responses may take longer. We ask for your patience as we provide your submission the care it deserves. If, however, you have not heard from us within six weeks, please feel free to follow up with an email. Upon submission of your proposal, you will be provided the email address of the appropriate person for your inquiry.

Full Manuscript Review

Should your initial proposal receive a positive initial review, we will ask for an opportunity to review your full manuscript. Upon receipt of your manuscript, an internal review will be followed by a single-blind external peer review process. At this stage, manuscripts are evaluated by external readers who are recognized authorities in the subject matter of the manuscript or, in the case of a literary work, by distinguished critics or writers in the genre of the manuscript. For fiction and poetry, we seek a minimum of one positive evaluation, and for all other genres, we seek a minimum of two positive evaluations. At that point, the manuscript is presented to the Press’s Editorial Advisory Board. Only after Board approval is the Press able to make a publishing commitment.

Again, we strive to provide a timely peer review process. The timeline for peer review will vary, though, depending on the length and complexity of the manuscript, as well as the availability of appropriate peer reviewers.

Editorial Advisory Board

As a nonprofit and as a member of the Association of University Presses, our Editorial Advisory Board must sanction the offering of a publishing contract for all projects. To that end, when a project has received the appropriate number of positive peer reviews, the board is debriefed on the project. At that point, they may approve, decline, or send projects back for further reviews. Their decisions will be based not only on the merit of the project itself but the manner in which it advances the mission of the Press, the Nevada System of Higher Education, and the community we serve.

Other Considerations

Manuscript Length

The Press publishes the most deserving work that contributes to its mission and the mission of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Generally speaking, though, we have found that the submissions with the greatest likelihood of success are under 120,000 words (scholarly, excluding bibliography), 85,000 words (trade), and 80 pages (poetry).

Figures (photos, illustrations, maps, etc.)

We recognize that figures are sometimes critical for a manuscript to reach its full potential. Including one or two black-and-white figures can often easily be accommodated, but works with a larger number of figures or color figures present challenges that should be considered at the outset of a project. Printing in color is more expensive than printing in black-and-white, and printing in color often requires a more costly stock of paper. Further, if figures are scattered throughout the book, rather than collected in a gallery, typesetting the book will be more costly.

As a nonprofit press with a mission to serve our community, the added expenses of including extensive figures and/or color figures may make a project infeasible for us (even if we see the value in the project) or translate to a higher list price than is feasible unless outside funding is secured.

Subventions

Often in cases of worthy books with higher production expenses (that is, longer works or works with extensive figures and/or color figures), authors are able to secure grants that help offset these costs or offer financial assistance themselves to ensure we are able to produce the highest quality books possible. As you consider submitting a manuscript to the Press that falls into one of these categories, please consider the feasibility of your obtaining funding to support the project. Such subventions are often critical in keeping list prices lower and expanding the reach of your project.

Getting Started

Do you think your book is a good fit for the University of Nevada Press? Get started by clicking the button below and submitting a proposal.