Share your expertise with your colleagues and the scientific community . . .
One of the most prestigious contributions a professional can make to the field of nutrition science, toxicology, or risk assessment is to write a book. International Life Sciences Institute’s (ILSI) book publishing program (ILSI Press) publishes high-caliber, professional books that enrich the literature on nutrition science, toxicology, and risk assessment and numerous researchers and clinicians with critical information to facilitate their daily jobs. ILSI Press books cover a spectrum of subjects based on current research, scientific theory, or clinical practice. Among the many titles the ILSI Press has published are reference texts, monographs, and workbooks. Popular topic areas include
- Food Safety
- Risk Assessment
- Overweight/Obesity
- Risk Management
- Toxicologic assessment in children
- Carbohydrates
- Micronutrient deficiency
Proposing a book idea
ILSI Press welcomes book proposals from professionals who want to make a contribution to the field. All interested authors are encouraged to complete an author questionnaire before submitting a full proposal. The questionnaire solicits information useful in assessing the merits of a book idea, including the book's purpose, intended audience, competition, and basic organization. If the idea is judged to have merit, the author may be asked to submit a full proposal that would include a content outline and a sample chapter.
Criteria for acceptance
The ILSI Press book publishing team weighs a variety of criteria in determining whether to move forward with a book proposal. These criteria include the originality of the material, the availability of other resources on the same subject, the perceived need for the information, and the proposal's fiscal and commercial viability. Acceptance of a proposal may be contingent on modifications suggested by the publisher. If the author agrees to accommodate the publisher's suggested revisions, the author receives an acceptance letter and a contract outlining the publishing terms.
Manuscript review
The author will receive detailed manuscript guidelines to aid in the preparation of the manuscript. Typically, an author may take up to 18 months to complete a manuscript. Multi-authored texts may take longer to complete. Once submitted, the manuscript will be sent out to several experts in the field for review and sent back to the author for revision. Based on the peer review and the strength of the revision, a manuscript may or may not be accepted for publication.
Publishing process
The publishing process begins when the manuscript is accepted. Copyediting often requires four to six weeks and ensures the book will be published with proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, clarity, and style. During this period, the publishing team meets to discuss how the book will be designed and formatted, priced, and marketed.
Once the manuscript is edited, the author generally will have four weeks to review the edited manuscript and respond to the editor's queries. The manuscript is then sent into type and design. The resulting page proofs are sent to a proofreader. Corrections are made to the text before sending it out for indexing, if applicable. The production process from typesetting to camera-ready art may span three to four months, depending on the length of the book. The printing and binding process generally requires four to six weeks. In total, it may require six to eight months to move from manuscript to bound book.
Submitting your idea
Your complete book proposal package should include the following elements:
- A detailed table of contents that includes a brief description of the topics that will be covered in each chapter.
- One to three sample chapters. The samples should illustrate your writing style and the approach you will take for the book. If you intend the book to include graphic elements (tables, figures, or other artwork), include samples of these as well. Chapter samples should be in hard copy, with double-spaced text and 1.5 inch margins all around.
- A detailed resume or curriculum vitae of each author.
- A prospectus that explains why you are writing your book and for whom. It should explain the logic behind the project (what need the book will address and why it should be published). The information you provide here will help the ILSI Publications and Communications Committee make an informed decision on whether to pursue publication.
Preparing the prospectus
The prospectus you submit with your book proposal will help the ILSI Press evaluate your proposal and its potential fit into the ILSI Press book publishing program. The prospectus should answer the following questions that apply to your book.
What Happens Next?
Once received, your proposal will be reviewed by the ILSI Press editorial staff. You might be contacted and asked to provide additional information, or your proposal might be sent straight to reviewers for their assessment. This process can take as long as six weeks. Feel free to contact ILSI Press at any time to determine the status of your proposal.
Manuscript development
Manuscript development encompasses the period of writing, reviewing, and rewriting necessary to ensure a well-organized, complete work that is attuned to the needs of its potential audience. All proposals and manuscripts are carefully reviewed in-house. In addition, when appropriate, manuscripts are sent to several content experts. Reviews help us ensure the book offers the most complete, well-presented, and current information on the subject. In addition, the comments, suggestions, and quotations from the reviewers may be used in marketing efforts for the book. Content experts are asked to critique the style, level of writing, organization, comprehensiveness, accuracy, and structure of the text. Reviewers are asked to cite the strengths and weaknesses of the material and to offer suggestions for improvement. Reviewer comments on the possible audiences for the book and how the book might best meet the needs of those audiences may be used to guide authors in revising their manuscript.
Production
Once the author has submitted an acceptable and complete draft of the manuscript, the materials will be entered into production. The production process and schedule vary for each book, depending on the format, number of pages, illustrations, complexity, and other considerations. Copyediting typically is the first step in the production process. The copyeditor edits the manuscript for grammar, typographical errors, style, consistency, and punctuation. The copyeditor also will format the manuscript for the typesetter. The copyeditor may compile a list of author queries to clear up ambiguities in content.
The copyedited manuscript will go to the author for review and final approval. At this point, the author should answer all queries posed by the copyeditor. The author also should read through the manuscript carefully to check that the editor has not inadvertently changed your intended meaning.
Professional designers who consider all the elements of the text and illustrations as well as the purpose and market of the book do the internal text and cover design of the book. The design process includes input from the editorial, production, and marketing staff.
After copyediting and design are completed, the book is designed and paginated. You will receive the first set of page proofs to review. Although a copy also is sent to a professional proofreader, the author is expected to ensure the accuracy of the page proofs.
Marketing
Prepublication promotion of ILSI Press books begins as early as six months before a book comes off press. Following acceptance of the final manuscript, we develop an individual marketing plan for the book. The marketing plan is derived in part from author input regarding the intended audience for the book, meetings at which the book might be displayed or promoted, publications to which the book might be sent out for review, and other useful promotional leads. In fact, author input and collaboration is critical in the development of a comprehensive marketing plan.
ILSI Press's book marketing plan in the coming year includes the direct mailing of catalogs and direct mail pieces to ILSI Press members, academic institutions and libraries, health professionals, and scientists in industry and government. ILSI Press books are exhibited at 3-5 major meetings and numerous small ones. ILSI Press books are also vigorously promoted through our on-line bookstore program as well as other distribution outlets.
For more information on any of the above, please contact: International Life Sciences Institute, Attn: Publications, One Thomas Circle NW, Washington, DC 20005; Phone: 202-659-0074; E-mail: ilsipress@ilsi.org.