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Now: Publish! A review by Nicholas Newman 10 June 2009 Getting Published: A Companion for the Humanities and Social Sciences By Gerald Jackson & Marie Lenstrup Increasingly publishers are being overwhelmed by aspiring academic authors eager to get their latest tome published. After completing several years of research, many academics are eager to turn their latest contribution to human knowledge into print. In fact for many academics, the need to add a string of publications is essential for their Curriculum Vitae, if they are to achieve the next step in career advancement. For academic publishers like Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS Press) based in Copenhagen, such entreaties from would be academic authors are proving an increasing headache, as piles of manuscripts continue to arrive at their door every day. Unfortunately, for many authors such manuscripts come in formats that are unsuitable for consideration by professional publishers. This has led NIAS Press, editor in chief Gerald Jackson and his colleague Marie Lenstrup, who runs a marketing book publisher consultancy ASBS Netherlands, to write this new book ‘Getting Published: A Companion for the Humanities and Social Sciences’. They have been responsible for getting books successfully published on topics ranging from modern piracy to the secrets behind Singapore’s success. Getting Published aims to maximize would be scholastic authors chances of being considered by professional academic publishers like NIAS Press. This book provides an essential guide of what is expected in transforming a piece of academic research into a book, which a publisher may consider a marketable proposition. This book covers many aspects of the publishing world that a would be author should be aware of. These include dealing with tricky issues of contracts and copyright, with coverage on such issues as marketing and the latest developments to affect the industry. However, I would have appreciated greater insight into the organizational and bureaucratic challenges faced by would be authors in transforming a potential book into a saleable product. For instance, the challenges faced by editors of jointly written books, in motivating potential contributors to accept the invitation to write chapters and deliver on time. Unfortunately, the authors appeared to be a little vague on this issue. Also the book explains the duties and the responsibilities expected of potential authors in the period from when the manuscript is accepted to it being on sale on the internet or your local bookstore. What is clear from reading Getting Published is that there is much work to be done by the author in promoting his book. Overall, what makes this book different from similar books on this topic is that Getting Published is written by industry insiders, well experienced in guiding authors through the publication process. For any potential would be academic author this book should prove essential reading. However, in these days of the internet, it is a pity that this book is not available in formats suitable for eBook readers or for paid for audio book downloads. For an idea of the books that NIAS Press publish see http://www.niaspress.dk/ Hardback – 2009 ISBN 978 87 91114 76 2, £35.00 Paperback – 2009 ISBN 978 87 91114 77 9, £13.99 Published by NIAS Press
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