Prospective Authors

Michigan State University Press is well known for publishing rigorous scholarship in a wide range of fields and smart and appealing books on Michigan and the Great Lakes region. Our authors hail from around the world, and our books address crucial contemporary social and environmental issues.

Michigan State University Press publishes scholarly books on African history and culture, animal studies, anthropology, architectural history, criminal justice, critical contemporary issues, cultural history and humanities, environmental and natural resources studies, European history from the nineteenth century to the present, higher education, Latinx history and contemporary issues, Michigan and Great Lakes history and politics, mimetic studies, Native American history and culture, rhetoric, urban studies, and U.S. history. For a complete list of subject areas and series pages, visit https://msupress.org/series/

To submit a book proposal to MSU Press, send a completed proposal to Judith Lakamper. Proposals should include:

  • A brief letter of inquiry
  • Two sample chapters
  • The CV(s) or resume(s) of the author(s) or volume editor(s)
  • Prospectus
    • What are your argument(s), methods, and sources?
    • What is the relevance of your manuscript?
    • Who is the audience for this book? Please be specific and realistic.
    • Name recent related and competing titles
    • Please include an annotated table of contents
    • Estimated word count
    • Estimate of image usage
    • Expected timeline for completion
  • Please do not send full manuscripts unless invited to do so.

We do not publish unsolicited works of fiction, memoirs, poetry, Festschrifts, commemorative publications, conference proceedings, or unrevised dissertations. For information on how to revise a dissertation, visit https://msupress.org/author-information/prospective-authors/dissertation-revisions/