Writing a Book for IRA

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When it comes to resources on instructional practice, professional development, and literacy research, IRA books are second to none. Our authors are leading educators whose publications are essential reading for teachers, teacher educators, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, and the entire literacy community.

Why publish with us?

Publishing with IRA is a distinct professional achievement. Your work will carry the imprint of the only learned society devoted to issues affecting literacy education. It will undergo peer review and meet the highest standards of editorial quality. Our peer review process is single blind and an author’s identity is revealed to the reviewers.

IRA gives you access to a worldwide network. Our books are frequent selections for teacher education and in-service professional development. If your work is selected for the IRA Book Club, you are guaranteed an audience of several thousand.

Our in-depth knowledge of the literacy community means we offer marketing expertise. Our books are presented to hundreds of thousands of your colleagues through semiannual catalog mailings, our website, journals, and newspaper, and at our many conferences. We also have a network of distributors who place our books in school districts and university bookstores.

IRA combines the services of a large publisher with the personal touches of a smaller house. We provide

Competitive royalties
Top-notch editing
Award-winning design
High-quality production

How do I start the process?

IRA is looking for both established authors and tomorrow’s literacy leaders to contribute to its publishing program. If you would like IRA to consider your book, send us a proposal and two sample chapters prepared in accordance with our instructions.

If you have considered writing but are unsure about how to start, browse “Establishing a Mindset to Write for Publication” from Beating the Odds: Getting Published in the Field of Literacy.

What happens next?

Each proposal is assessed first by our in-house staff for completeness and general relevance to literacy education. Provided that no key elements are missing and that the proposal is found to have merit, it is sent for peer review. Authors and editors can expect to receive a decision within a few weeks. Again, our peer review process is single blind and an author’s identity is revealed to the reviewers.

Once a contract is signed, further information will be forwarded to the authors or editors regarding manuscript preparation, additional peer review, and other details.

Preparing your book proposal

The primary style manual for IRA publications is the fifth edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

Prepare the following files for uploading to our online manuscript tracking system. Text should be presented double-spaced in 12 point font, preferably in Microsoft Word; images should be submitted in tif or jpg format. It is strongly recommended that you receive editorial approval on a proposal before submitting a full manuscript for review.

Detailed letter of intent answering these questions:

1. Describe the proposed book.
- What is the subject matter and knowledge base relevant to the topic?
- How will it be organized and why is that organization ideally matched to the subject matter?
- Are there any special elements (tables, figures, photographs, reproducible forms, etc.), ancillaries, or other items to be added or linked to the manuscript? If so, approximately how many are there of each type?
- What is the estimated schedule for producing the manuscript and the estimated page count?
2. Consider the intended audience and how the book will address their needs.
- College: Will this book be applicable in introductory, undergraduate, or graduate courses? Can it be used as a core text or a supplement? What is the average enrollment of these courses?
- Professional Development: Is this book suitable for purchase by coordinators for staff development, by individuals for personal use, or by both? Who will purchase it? Teachers? Supervisors and administrators? Reading specialists? Literacy coaches? Researchers?
- Other? Please specify.
3. Provide an assessment of related or competing books (including IRA titles) and an explanation of how the proposed work differs from them. List any existing books in this field and discuss their strengths and weaknesses. (If possible, supply title, author, publisher, date of publication, and number of pages.) How will your book be similar to, as well as different from, competing texts? If no competitive book exists, try to cite a book that comes closest to your own.

4. Organizations and individuals to whom the book would be marketed.
- What are the critical terms and themes that should be addressed in marketing and promotional materials?
- Are there any special time frames for optimal marketing

Curriculum vitae (brief version) for each author/editor

Abstract of 100 to 150 words

Table of contents with titles and chapter descriptions; if the work is a contributed volume, names and affiliations of chapter authors

One or two sample chapters

Tables, figures and images created in programs other than Word in separate file(s). Please do not embed them in the manuscript.

Submitting your book proposal

All manuscripts must be submitted online through IRA’s Manuscript Central tracking system.

Go to the IRA Books Manuscript Central site (will open in a new browser window)

Create an account if you haven’t done so already

Click the Author Center link

Click on the blue star and follow the instructions provided

A confirmation e-mail will acknowledge our receipt of your manuscript

You can follow the progress of your manuscript by accessing your Author Center.

If you have any questions about writing or submitting a proposal to the IRA Books program, please do not hesitate to contact us.