Publishing radically rewarding literature for over thirty years

Thank you for your interest in NeWest Press. NeWest publishes outstanding literary works by established and emerging Canadian authors. On average, we publish from 8 to 10 books each year in short print runs. If a book sells well, we reprint it as necessary.

NeWest publishes fiction, poetry, drama, and non-fiction works with literary merit. It does not publish young adult or children’s books. Please browse our on-line catalogue to see if your writing fits within our publishing mandate.

Each week we receive a number of unsolicited manuscripts. If the NeWest editorial board decides that a manuscript fits within its publishing mandate, it then circulates the manuscript for peer review. This review process can take up to nine months to complete. In order to be considered for publication, a manuscript must receive a positive response from at least three readers. We ask for your patience during this process, as we strive to give each manuscript the attention it deserves.

We plan our publication schedule approximately 18 months in advance, so the time from submission to publication is usually at least two years.

Please note that, at this time, the Press is not considering poetry, mystery, or short fiction manuscripts. We encourage you to check this page at a later date for updates.

Please also note that all communications regarding questions and follow-ups must be sent by post. Please do not phone, fax, or email us about your submission. If you would like notification that your submission has been received, send a self-addressed, stamped postcard, in which case we will try to send you an initial response to your submission within 16 weeks. During the review process, if you are concerned about the status of your submission, send us a short note by post.

The Perfect Submission (pit it and pat it and mark it… )
By closely following these guidelines, you will help ensure your submission is considered. Hard at work making books happen, our busy staff do not have the time to follow up on incomplete submissions or discuss book concepts over the telephone.

NeWest Press does not accept multiple submissions or manuscripts via email or fax.

Please ensure that your application package contains:

1. Your completed manuscript, in the following format:
   
   • - paper copy
   • - typed in 12-point standard font
   • - double-spaced
   • - 8.5 x 11” white paper, single-sided, header on each page specifying your name, the manuscript’s title, and the page number (please insert header using standard word document formatting, not manually)
2. Cover letter with synopsis of the work.
3. C.V. specifying writing experience and/or previous publications.
4. If you would like confirmation that we have received your submission, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard. Otherwise, it may take up to 9 months before you receive news. We will not respond to emails asking for confirmation of receipt.
5. If you would like your manuscript returned after it is reviewed, include a self-addressed envelope of appropriate size with sufficient postage. Please let us know at the time of application whether we should return, recycle or destroy your manuscript if it is declined. To reduce impact on the environment, we encourage you to allow us to recycle your manuscript rather than return it.
6. Also, in order to reduce the amount of paper used, it is recommended that document margins be set at 0.75 inches rather than the standard 1.25-inch margin.

Send submissions and queries to:
NeWest Press
Attn: Acquisitions
#201 8540 - 109 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T6G 1E6