RESOURCES

Information for Authors

Publishing with the University of Utah Press

The University of Utah Press has over 75 years of excellence in academic publishing. We publish innovative and rigorous scholarship as well as creative projects that contribute meaningfully to their fields, our collective knowledge, and issues of pressing concern. Our authors write works that resonate with both academic and general audiences. Committed to working closely with authors at every stage of the publication process, we look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you in bringing your work into the world.

Please note that the typical timeline from submission to published book is longer than many people expect. There is a good deal of variety and flexibility in those timelines, but two years tends to be a good estimate for the time it takes to move a manuscript from proposal to editing and production.

The University of Utah Press acquisition process illustrated in a flowchart with five steps: Submit Proposal, Request Manuscript, Edits and Feedback, Peer Reviews, Publication Preparation. Simplified process description below highlights average 2-year timeline from proposal to publication.

What We Are Looking For

The University of Utah Press invites scholars and writers to submit a proposal for publication consideration. Whether your work represents groundbreaking research or fresh storytelling, we encourage you to share your vision with us.

We invite proposals in the following fields:

  • Anthropology and archaeology
  • Linguistics
  • Mesoamerican
  • Indigenous studies and American Indian
  • Mormon and religious studies
  • Western American history
  • Utah history and biography
  • Environmental studies and sustainability
  • Regional and Utah guidebooks
  • Natural history and nature writing
  • General titles of regional interest
  • Creative nonfiction
  • Autobiography/memoir
  • Poetry

For scholarly and general nonfiction proposals, manuscript length should range between 75,000 and 90,000 words. We also ask that authors limit the number of figures and tables to those essential for their projects; all images will be printed in black and white unless color is essential for clarity or scholarly value. These guidelines help us balance scholarly rigor with practical publishing realities.

All permissions needed for quotations or images are the responsibility of the author and will need to be obtained before an accepted manuscript moves into production.

If you are submitting a proposal for a single-author monograph in archaeology, please consider entering the biennial contest for the Don D. and Catherine S. Fowler Prize. The submission deadline for the 2027 Fowler Prize is January 30, 2027.

For creative nonfiction guidelines, please refer to these special instructions. Creative nonfiction proposals are evaluated by a review committee twice per year, in the Spring and in the Fall.

Poetry manuscripts are accepted only through submission to the Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry. Please refer to the special guidelines and instructions here.

Submitting Your Proposal

The book proposal introduces you and your work to the editor and the Press. By articulating the scope and goals of your project, your proposal provides the information we need to decide whether to evaluate your full manuscript.

A complete proposal consists of the following:

  • Cover Letter addressing the following points:
    • General Overview
      • A summary of your work and its argument
      • Why are you writing it, and why you are qualified to write it?
      • What makes your manuscript well suited to our list?
      • The length of your manuscript (word count)
      • The number of figures and/or tables, if any
    • Contributions
      • The work’s contributions to the literature, distinct from similar or competing books in the field
      • What are some similar or competing books in the field?
    • Audiences
      • For example: scholarly, general reader, or course adoption
      • How do you propose to reach these audiences?
    • Plan & Timeline
      • Estimated timeline for completion of the manuscript, if it is not complete
      • For edited volumes, a list of expected contributing authors
  • Annotated Table of Contents, containing
    • Working chapter titles and chapter authors
    • A brief synopsis of each chapter
  • Introduction or Preface, as well as an optional sample chapter
    • If you do not have an introduction or preface, a sample chapter will suffice
  • Curriculum Vitae or Resumé for all book authors or volume editors

All proposals should adhere to our guidelines and be directed to the appropriate editor via email. John Moore (john.d.moore@utah.edu) fields proposals of anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics. Dr. Jedediah Rogers (jedediah.rogers@utah.edu) acquires works in all other subject areas, including western U.S. history, environmental studies, Mormon studies, creative nonfiction, and general regional titles. For more on our editors and staff, click here.

Full Manuscript Consideration and Peer Review

After review of your proposal, if the acquiring editor considers your project promising, you will be asked to submit a complete manuscript. We do accept simultaneous submissions, but please keep us informed of any offers from other publishers during this process.

After a full manuscript review and possible edits/revisions, if the Press wishes to proceed toward possible publication, the manuscript will be sent to at least two qualified peer reviewers for a more comprehensive evaluation. All projects we consider for publication must go through peer review. We will ask you for suggestions for reviewers, however, final reviewers remain anonymous.

Following successful peer reviews, all manuscripts considered for publication must also receive final approval from the University Press Faculty Advisory Committee.

If your work is accepted, a contract is issued and you will be asked to submit your final manuscript, pending any remaining revisions. Preparation for the FAC consideration will proceed in parallel with preparation of the final manuscript for handover to the production team.

Final Manuscript Preparation/Submission

For details on the content, style, formatting, digital art requirements, and delivery requirements for your final manuscript for publication, please contact your editor and consult the following guidelines.

Submission and Style Guidelines (pdf)

Marketing Your Book

Collaborating with the Press to market your book as effectively as possible is crucial to its success. We ask our authors to actively participate in reader communities in a variety of ways: relationships with local bookstores, connections for possible speaking engagements or book signings, community or academic engagement, podcast or media interviews, and much more. Every author’s experience is different, and we work to identify what is best for you and your book. Hannah New, our Marketing Manager, will work with you to develop a plan to get the word out and reach your audience.

Online presence and social media: While some online presence is essential to an author’s success, we recognize that the most important use of your time is writing your book. We prefer that all our authors have a website or a social media platform for sharing news and events.

For an overview of our marketing process, answers to some frequently asked questions, and a list of actions that you can take to improve the marketing of your book, please read the following document.

Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

In order to create a marketing and publicity campaign for your book, we require that you complete an author questionnaire as soon as possible. Please complete the following form and return it to the Marketing Department by e-mail at hannah.new@utah.edu.

Author Questionnaire (pdf)

Cover Questionnaire (pdf)

Jedediah Rogers, Senior Editor, Western History, Environmental Studies, Indigenous Studies, Mormon Studies, Creative Nonfiction, and General Regional Titles


John D. Moore, Acquisitions Editor, Anthropology, Archaeology, Linguistics