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McGraw-Hill Home > Higher Education > Authors > Book Proposals

Do you have an idea for a university or college textbook? The editors at McGraw-Hill Ryerson are delighted to hear from you. We suggest you read the Prospectus Guidelines to better understand the kinds of considerations that underlie the decision to publish a textbook. Then email or fax the Submission Form for Book Proposals to contact us about your project.

PROSPECTUS GUIDELINES FOR NEW BOOK PROPOSALS

The ideal prospectus includes a convincing rationale for the project, a strategic plan for its development, and a clear focus on its targeted market. A carefully prepared prospectus will explain why you want to undertake the project, and it will address these issues:

1. The Market

For what market is your project intended?
What is your best estimate of the number of students in your province who take this type of course per year?
What is your best estimate of the national annual enrollment?
Please identify the course number and enrollment that your project would fit at your institution.
Do you perceive your project as a viable candidate for the U.S. or world market? Why?
What is the level? (1st year, 2nd year, senior, graduate)
Which courses would be the most likely targets?
What prerequisites, if any, are there?
What kinds of students take the course? Are they primarily majors, non majors, or both?
What is the length of the target course?
Is the proposed text intended to be the primary course book or a supplement?
What trends are likely to affect the development and marketing of your project? (For example, changes in enrollments, course content, or use of pedagogical/ancillary materials?)
Are there additional markets for your project beyond Canadian classrooms? (For example, book clubs, professional bodies, international publishers, etc.)

2. The Competition

What book are you presently using in this course?
What are the major competing texts? Specify the author(s), title, publisher, and available supplements or ancillaries for each competitor? What is the perceived market share of each? What is the price of each? What are their strengths and weaknesses, and how do you propose to address them in your plan?

3. The Content

How will your book's coverage be similar to and different from that of major competitors?
What characteristics will your text share with current market leaders?
What distinctive approaches to topic coverage will your project have?

4. The Format

What is the projected length of your book in printed pages? In manuscript pages?
What are your plans for the art program? (For example, number of photographs, line drawings, cartoons, maps, etc.)
Are there special design considerations?
What plans do you have for front matter (preface, introduction, an alternative table of contents) and back matter (glossary, special indices, bibliography, appendices)?
What hardware and software will you use to prepare your manuscript?

5. The Pedagogy

Do you plan to use a specific teaching strategy or pedagogical approach? If so, how will it be implemented?
What innovations and competitive advantages will your book offer?
What special features do you plan? (For example, summaries, boxes, short or long cases, running cases, video cases, problem material, built - in - study guide, readings, photo essays, etc. Be sure to describe these in as much detail as possible.)

6. The Supplements

What ancillary materials for instructors do you anticipate will accompany your text? (For example, instructor' s manual, test banks, electronic presentations, videos, etc.)
What ancillary materials for students do you anticipate? (For example, workbook, study guide, website, software, etc.)
How will the ancillary package differ in quality and elements from those offered by key competitors?
Do you propose to develop these supplements yourself?

7. The Competitive Edge & Distinguishing Features

Given the targeted market, your review of major competition, and your project plan, what special advantages will your project offer to potential adopters?
Specifically, how will your project surpass current offerings?
How will your project address course instructor needs not successfully met by competitors?

8. The Schedule

What is your schedule for completion of an initial draft manuscript?
When do you anticipate delivering complete, final, production - ready manuscript for the main text?
When do you anticipate delivering first and final drafts of the supplements you will author?

9. Special Considerations

Are there special considerations in development, production, or marketing strategy that we should take into account in evaluating your project? (For example, market research, use of consultants, etc.)

ANNOTATED TABLE OF CONTENTS

Describe the coverage of each chapter, citing topics that will be unique to your book, what is innovative about the organization, and how your approach is superior to that of the most successful competitors. Preparation of an annotated table of contents will help you to refine plans for overall structure and special features, and will enable the publisher and reviewers to evaluate the organizational logic and pedagogic strategy. Particularly useful would be a brief rationale for each chapter, describing coverage, objectives, reasons for distinctive approach, and, if appropriate, queries on specific topic issues.

SAMPLE CHAPTERS

Sample chapters are the heart of the complete proposal. Whatever the prospectus and annotated table of contents reveal about your conception of the book, it is the draft chapters that demonstrate whether its potential will be realized. Samples of pedagogical features and art should be included. Similarly, pertinent samples of the supplements you are writing should be included. The inclusion of these samples will enable us to arrive at a publishing decision based on a careful, thorough evaluation.

Please enclose a C.V. describing your credentials: writing, teaching, and recent experience, degrees and affiliations, special qualifications, and awards. Please be sure to provide your mailing address, office hours, e-mail address, and telephone numbers.

REVIEWER AND CONSULTANT SUGGESTIONS

Your recommendations for reviewers - whether they be instructors representative of your target market, authorities in the field, or special topic experts - would be most welcome. By pointing us to the leading institutions in your field you will further assist us in finding qualified reviewers.

Mail, Fax or e-mail your prospectus to:

College Division, McGraw-Hill Ryerson

300 Water Street

Whitby, ON

L1N 9B6

Phone: 905-430-5000

Fax 905-430-5172

Submission Form for Book Proposals

Please fill out the following form, and press the "Send" button at the bottom when completed. This form may also be printed out and faxed to (905) 430-5172.

First Name:		Last Name:
College:		Dept:
Street:		City:
Province		Postal Code:
Home Phone:		Work Phone:
Email Address:		Office Hours:
Degree & Rank:
Co-Author:
Affiliation:
Phone:

Subject/Title of Project
Level

Yes, Prospectus is Available

Current Status of Project: Sample Chapters Available by: Completed Manuscript Available by: Features and Benefits of material (attach separate document if needed): Major Competitors: How does/would your project compare with major competitors? Are you in contact with other publishers? yes no Is yes, which publishers? Our privacy policy summarizes the protection and confidentiality afforded this communication.