Humans & Nature Press Books

The books branch of Humans & Nature Press is pleased to announce the 2026 call for proposals for single-author book manuscripts, open from June 1, 2026 at 9am PDT through August 3, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT.

Submissions may be made at this link.

For submission guidelines, click here.

For answers to frequently asked questions, continue reading below.

How will my manuscript be selected?

The Humans & Nature Press Books Editorial Advisory Board, along with our Executive and Developmental Editors, will be responsible for reviewing proposals and making final recommendations. We will seek to notify submitters of the status of their proposal within four months of submissions closing. At the present time, we project that we will accept up to three book manuscripts for publication in 2027-2028.

Are international submissions welcome?

Yes, though submission materials and manuscripts must be in English.

In what language will the manuscripts be published, and do you provide translation?

Do you offer an advance?

This is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Will I receive a royalty for sales of the book?

Yes. Authors will receive royalties commensurate with book sales. If the author receives an advance, these royalties will offset the amount of the advance until the advance is exceeded, at which point all royalties will accrue to the author. Royalties are paid once a year.

Who will I be working with as an editor?

You will work with Bruce Jennings, the Developmental Editor; Gavin Van Horn, the Executive Editor; or both of us. You will also be assigned a professional copyeditor once the manuscript is completed.

Are your books peer-reviewed?

No. However, if a fair evaluation of your submission requires it, we will bring in an outside peer reviewer.

Who distributes your books?

Publishers Group West (Ingram) is the current distributor of Humans & Nature Press books. They make sure your book makes it to major book sellers, independent bookshops, libraries, and other nature-loving venues.

How does Humans & Nature Press publicize its books?

We share, celebrate, and rave about your work on our social media channels, on our website, and in our newsletter. Furthermore, we draw from our many relationships to get the word out as widely as possible, including to bookstores that may host you for events, to podcasters who may host you for a conversation, and to book review sites that may feature your work.

How complete does my book have to be before submitting?

Our editors enjoy working with authors to shape projects, so we welcome proposals for works in progress. However, we’re also happy to consider complete, well-developed manuscripts. When submitting, we would like you to have at least a third of the book complete and three to four refined sample chapters available. In short, as an author, you are in charge of the content of the book and its preparation. Once you have submitted the manuscript, as the publisher, Humans & Nature Press takes care of the content’s presentation and the book production process.

Will I retain the copyright of my work?

As a book author publishing with Humans & Nature Press, you retain copyright of your book manuscript and receive clear credit for, and ownership of, the work. In your contract, you will be asked to grant the publisher, Humans & Nature Press, exclusive publication and distribution rights. This ensures the widest possible protection and dissemination under copyright law.

What about third-party content?

Third-party content is any content that has been reproduced, derived, or adapted from other sources.

What to consider when using third-party content:

• You should only use third-party content if it is strictly necessary.
• The author of a book is responsible for overseeing the inclusion of third-party content.
• If you plan to use third-party content in your book, please familiarize yourself with third-party permissions guidelines. Your final manuscript files should also include a completed permissions checklist.

Humans & Nature Press is not able to give you legal advice; the information provided is to be considered as guidance. If in doubt, you should always seek your own independent legal advice.

How long should my manuscript be?

We prefer prose manuscripts under 80,000 words in length.

When should I submit?

Please send us your work through Submittable during our open submission periods.

The submission window for 2026 begins June 1, 2026 at 9am Pacific and closes August 3, 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific. Submissions may be made at this link.

We are unable to review unsolicited manuscripts that come to us outside of the submission window.

Will you accept manuscripts that have already been self-published?

Manuscripts that were previously self-published are ineligible for submission.

Will you accept manuscripts that have been previously published?

No. If you have previously published portions of the manuscript in one or more publications (e.g., an essay for a literary journal) and wish to update and adapt it for the manuscript, that is acceptable.

Do you accept physical submissions?

Humans & Nature Press is unable to accept physical submissions. Submissions may be made at this link.

Can I use A.I.?

Please note that Humans & Nature Press Books does not accept essays, images, or documents that have been generated or extensively edited by AI. We value the authenticity of the content submitted to us. Please ensure that any work you submit reflects your own creativity and effort.

Are concurrent submissions acceptable?

Concurrent submissions are welcome. If you have submitted elsewhere, let us know in your cover letter that this is a simultaneous submission and please withdraw it from the Center’s Submittable if you agree to publication elsewhere.

For submission guidelines, click here.