Editorial Submisisons Policy
Interested in submitting a book proposal to Gray & Company, Publishers?
Please read the following guidelines carefully . . .
We publish nonfiction books about Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, and Ohio. If your book is not about Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, or Ohio, or it is fiction, please do not submit it as we will not consider it for our regional publishing program.
If your nonfiction book or book idea is about Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, or Ohio, and you would like us to consider publishing it, please submit a proposal including:
- An outline of the book you have written or propose to write
- A copy of your manuscript or sample text (enough to demonstrate the quality of your writing)
- A description of the intended audience (for example: children age 4-9, west-side golfers, stamp-collecting widowers living in Parma Heights, or whatever).
- A brief description of yourself (including your qualifications for writing this book)
Please submit your idea by email: editorial@grayco.com (we can accept Microsoft Word, PDF, or ASCII text documents)
Do NOT mail your proposal or drop off materials in person. We will not review or return unsolicited submissions sent by mail or delivered in person.
After we receive your proposal via email, we will send a confirmation of receipt email in about a week. Then we will review your proposal. It could take a while before we decide whether or not to accept your submission. Please be patient and wait for us to contact you.
Thanks again for your interest,
The Editors
Gray & Company, Publishers
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I go about getting my book published?
A: If you believe in the power of books to convey valuable information (and of course you do, if you’re planning to write a book!), then start by reading a few books on the subject. Click here for a suggested reading list.
Q: Where can I find examples of a book proposal?
A: We recommend the book The Writer’s Market. It is an annual publication that provides a catalog of publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts and gives detailed instructions on how to develop and format a proposal. Here are a few basic things we would like to receive with any submission:
- An outline of the book you have written or propose to write
- A copy of your manuscript or sample text (enough to demonstrate the quality of your writing)
- A description of the intended audience (for example: children age 4-9, west-side golfers, stamp-collecting widowers living in Parma Heights, or whatever).
- A brief description of yourself (including your qualifications for writing this book)
Q: Does Gray & Company review proposals for novels, poetry, or works of fiction?
A: No. We publish only nonfiction books about Cleveland and Ohio.
Q: What if it’s historical fiction?
A: No. We publish only NONfiction.
Q: My book is about the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it mentions the Cleveland Browns. Are you interested?
A: No. We ONLY publish books about Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, and Ohio. If your book or book idea is NOT primarily about Cleveland or Northeast Ohio, we will not consider publishing it.
Q: How should I submit my proposal?
A: You may submit your idea by emailing it to: editorial@grayco.com (we can accept Microsoft Word, PFD, or ASCII text documents).
Q: I’m near downtown Cleveland; can’t I just drop my proposal off at your office?
A: No. Please do NOT drop off materials in person. Send your proposal by email to: editorial@grayco.com.
Q: My proposal is top secret. Can I set up a meeting with you?
A: We need to have some kind of proposal in writing before setting up a meeting. All proposals are kept confidential.
Q: Can I pay you to publish my book?
A: No. We are not a vanity press or a print-on-demand publisher. We select the projects that we wish to publish based on their quality and appeal to readers in the Cleveland area.
Q: I have the only known photo print of Abraham Lincoln in Cleveland. Can I send it with my proposal?
A: Do NOT send any original manuscripts, photos, artwork, or other materials. Please scan and send them electronically with your proposal.
Q: How long will it take for you to review a book proposal?
A: We receive many submissions, and we have a small staff, so it may be quite a while before we respond to your proposal, if at all. (We cannot guarantee that we will respond to every unsolicited submission, nor can we guarantee return of any unsolicited materials.)