About Us

ISER Mandate

The purpose of the Institute shall be to undertake, sponsor and publish research within such disciplines and in such parts of the world as are deemed of relevance to Newfoundland and Labrador. Without limiting the generality of the above, research pertaining directly to social, cultural and economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador shall be of special importance. While academic excellence is the foundation of ISER Books, manuscripts are particularly welcome that combine academic excellence as well as wide public appeal in subject matter and style.

Any inquiries should be directed to Sharon Roseman, Academic Editor ( sroseman@mun.ca ).

Guidelines for Prospective Authors

We welcome manuscripts that fit within the mandate [link to mandate] of the Institute of Social and Economic Research. Please do contact us if you have an idea for a book that you think fits ISER Books.

The first step is to submit a Book Proposal. For our paper files on your project and to ensure that there are no formatting or other problems that can arise with electronic transfers, please send your book proposal in hard copy to Dr. Sharon Roseman, Academic Editor, ISER Books, Memorial University, 297 Mount Scio Road, St. John’s, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada.

This proposal should include the following information:

  1. Name(s) of author(s) or/or editor(s).
  2. Contact information for author(s)/editor(s).
  3. Proposed working title of the book.
  4. Approximate length of the manuscript (in manuscript pages and/or word count).
  5. Please write a summary of the book directed at prospective readers. This summary should be from 300-500 words in length. It should address the main subject and central argument of the book, outline the book’s objectives, and describe how these objectives are met. If the book is an edited collection, please also discuss in 200-300 words how all of the chapters will be linked so that the book forms a cohesive whole
  6. Provide a Table of Contents and a synopsis (of approximately 200 words) for each of the book’s chapters. If this is an edited collection, please provide a full list of contributors and their institutional affiliations (if relevant), the titles of their chapters, and a 200 synopsis of each chapter.
  7. Do you anticipate having illustrations, tables, or figures in the book? If so, please provide details.
  8. Describe the intended audience for this book.
  9. Provide a list of two or three titles and publication dates of other books dealing with a similar topic. Please briefly discuss how this book is distinctive from similar volumes.
  10. If available, provide a copy of the book’s Introduction (or first chapter if it is not an introduction) and one other chapter.
  11. Let us know a proposed date for the delivery of a full book manuscript should ISER Books ask to see it.
  12. Provide any information that is available about proposed funding sources to support the publication of the book.
  13. ISER Books has not published many translations in the past. If the proposed book is for a translation or bilingual book, please provide the name(s) of proposed translator(s). If relevant, also provide information about any plans to seek funding to support the translation work. In 200-300 words, discuss the value of this book being available in an English edition.
  14. Is this proposed book the result of a revision of a doctoral dissertation? If so, please outline in 300-500 words all of the changes that have been or will be made to the original dissertation document. We suggest that authors in this situation consult the following resources:
    1. Eleanor Harman, The Thesis and the Book: A Guide for First-Time Academic Authors , Second edition, University of Toronto Press, 2003.
    2. Beth Luey (ed.), Revising Your Dissertation: Advice from Leading Editors , Revised edition, University of California Press, 2007.
    3. William German, From Dissertation to Book , University of Chicago Press, 2005.
    4. Lorri Hagman, "Turning Your Dissertation into a Book" , The Graduate School, University of Washington: http://www.grad.washington.edu/mentoring/memos/dissertation-into-book.shtml
    5. European University Institute, "From PhD to Book" : http://www.eui.eu/ProgrammesAndFellowships/AcademicCareersObservatory/CareerTips/FromPhDtoBook.aspx
  15. Authors are responsible for securing permissions for any material with existing copyrights in place. This might include quotations of prose or poetry, reproductions of the full text of documents in the original language or translation, and for figures, tables or illustrations. Permissions will also be needed for photographs of individuals. Please provide any information that you currently have about already secured permissions or plans to obtain them.
  16. We prefer not to review proposals or manuscripts being considered simultaneously by other presses. If the book is under consideration anywhere else, please provide details to the Academic Editor before submitting a proposal.

You should not submit a full manscript without receiving an invitation to do so from the Academic Editor. If you are invited to submit a full manuscript, submission guidelines will be provided.

All Book Proposals are reviewed first by the Academic Editor who consults with the Director of ISER. If you are asked to submit a full book manuscript, it will undergo peer review. Your manuscript will be sent to two or more specialist readers. The review process can take several months, as it often takes time to locate willing readers and then they need sufficient time to read the full manuscript and prepare a report. After the initial peer reviews are received, the Academic Editor may seek further readers. If the readers' reports recommend publication, the book project will be presented to the Director of ISER.