CityLife Books seeks fiction and nonfiction proposals and manuscripts that speak to regular readers of the alternative Las Vegas weekly newspaper, CityLife. The Stephens Press imprint offers a publication route for local writers who have something provocative or important to say about Southern Nevada. We publish books that question the conventional wisdom and offer new ways of looking at this region and its people. Great writing is paramount. CityLife readers are outspoken and passionate about popular culture, politics and causes. CityLife Books, whether fiction or nonfiction, will reflect and embrace this perspective the newspaper has fostered. CityLife Books are sold through retail and online booksellers, and marketed through our news publications.
Submission Guidelines
Writers wishing to submit to CityLife Books should first familiarize themselves with CityLife. Copies can be picked up weekly at news racks around the Vegas Valley or at the Las Vegas Review-Journal offices. You can also learn more about the CityLife focus at www.lvcitylife.com.
Both full manuscripts and proposals are accepted for submission. We will not likely make a final decision to publish, however, until an entire manuscript is reviewed. You will be notified via e-mail when your submission has been received and entered into our review process.
We accept simultaneous submissions, but you must state this in your submission. As a courtesy, please inform us if you have released the rights to another publisher while we are still considering your work.
Because of the large volume of submissions, a response may take several months. Our decisions are not based solely on the quality of the writing. We will evaluate the marketability of your project, analyze the potential with retailers and distributors, and assess the appeal for CityLife readers.
The submissi0on should include:
- A cover letter including:
-
- A brief description of the book
- Final or projected word count
- Target date for completion of the manuscript
- Contact information, including phone and e-mail address
- The complete manuscript OR chapter outline and 2-3 sample chapters
- Market analysis, including the author’s qualifications and platform
- SASE with sufficient postage if you wish to have submission materials returned
Both electronic and hard copy submissions are accepted. Send submissions as e-mail attachments to submissions@stephenspress.com. Mail hard copy submissions to CityLife Books, 1111 West Bonanza Road, Las Vegas, NV 89106.
Market analysis should address:
Who Is the Audience?
- Who wants this book? Why do they want it? Why do they need it?
- Where can they be found?
- Do you have any unique access to this audience?
What Makes Your Book Special?
- What is new or different about your book?
- Do you have contacts or relationships with well-known individuals willing to write a foreword or endorsements for your book?
- List any special markets your book may have outside regular trade book channels such as bookstores.
- Could sales result from your contacts —– associations, organizations, corporations, groups, workshops, seminars or speaking engagements?
- Which magazines or professional/trade journals may review your book or print articles by you that in turn would promote the book?
- Do you have specific ideas for marketing your book?
- How willing are you to be active in marketing your book?
What Qualifies You to Write This Book?
- List previously published books or articles.
- Are you a specialist or expert on your book’s subject matter?
- Are you an active public speaker or comfortable addressing audiences, doing interviews or able to engage prospective buyers at author appearances?
- Experience, access to information, other facts that make you uniquely suited to write this book?
Manuscript Preparation
- Microsoft Word documents only.
- Entire manuscript should be a single file.
- Page set-up using 12 point Times Roman, double-spaced with one- inch margins all around.
- Insert the final word count at the top of the first page. Use Tools> Word
- Count to find.
- Use a page break to start a new chapter.
- Turn page numbering on.
- Please do not format or “design” the book layout.
- If images are part of your submission, provide COPIES only (no originals) as a separate element. Do not insert images into manuscript file. If your project is accepted for publication, you will receive further instructions on how to prepare images, captions, etc.
Stephens Press, LLC is the book publishing division of Stephens Media, LLC, which is the parent company of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and CityLife among more thane fifty publications in nine states.