How do I become an ibidem author?

You can contact us with your publication project idea via e-Mail, on the telephone, or via mail. You can find our contact details here.

The first step is to fill in our proposal guidelines. Please submit either a full book proposal or a manuscript draft including a short synopsis of your publication. Our editorial team will assess your materials confidentially and without any obligation on your part. Should the project be a good fit for ibidem’s list, we will commission external peer reviews before deciding on a publication offer.

What type of publications are eligible for publication with ibidem?

We specialize in monographs, edited collections, textbooks, conference proceedings, and dissertations with a high scientific standard. Our program is hoping to enrich academic discourses in the social sciences, the humanities, and selected natural sciences.

We aspire to not only provide a valuable platform for academic literature suitable for a general readership but also to make niche topics accessible to a wider public. Our list thus contains highly specialized textbooks as well as science biographies or translations of medieval literature. For us the most important factor when deciding on publication offers is the quality of the work.

We also publish a small number of fiction titles under our exclusive imprint Edition Noëma.

What book series does ibidem publish?

ibidem Press offers a range of series with well-known editors. We invite you to browse through our publishing program. You can find a full list of all our book series here.

What difference does it make to publish as part of a series?

The book series are a central part of our publication program. They are firmly established as part of the scientific discourse in their respective fields, and new titles in a series will automatically benefit from their excellent reputation and reach. The content strategy of our series is shaped by our renowned series editors. All our book series are available on a subscription basis and receive a highly targeted marketing treatment.

How can I publish my manuscript in an existing ibidem book series?

The development of the content of our book series lies within the responsibilities of the series editors. If you are interested in publishing within one of our series, please say so in your proposal or manuscript submission. We will share your material with the series editor in question and inform you of the outcome as soon as possible.

What conditions does ibidem offer for book publications?

ibidem policies are designed to facilitate publication to the highest academic standards while offering our authors the best possible conditions.

• At proposal stage all our titles go through a double-blind peer review.
• After publication you receive two to five author copies for free. The exact amount depends on the format of your publication.
• All authors receive royalties on sales.
• Our marketing team will send your book to relevant journals and other media for review requests and provide promotional material in both print and electronic form.
• Every ibidem book author has the option of claiming a one-time disbursement from the German collecting society VG WORT. For more information please refer to the section „What is VG WORT?“ or directly to VG WORT.

What are the benefits from publishing with ibidem?

• We offer all of our authors thorough editorial guidance, supporting you every step of the way. From editorial feedback at proposal, writing, and revisal stage to technical support during layout and formatting—it is our ambition to create the best publication possible.
• Our books are produced to the best quality standards, using acid-free paper and the best materials available.
• We work closely with our authors on the cover design of our books. If you have specific ideas concerning the best look for your cover, we will be glad to incorporate them as much as possible.
• ibidem guarantee of availability: As long as the rights of your book remain with us, your book will never be out of print. We automatically facilitate any necessary reprints at our cost.
• Our books are stored at the biggest European wholesalers such as KNV, Libri, and Umbreit and can be ordered with 24h-delivery to most bookshops. Even before publication date your book will be ready to order on amazon.com, other online bookstores, and of course our own website. In North America we benefit from the great reach of Columbia University Press.
• You may claim the VG WORT disbursement. For more detailed information on this topic please refer to section VG WORT or to VG WORT directly (vgwort.de).
• Through sales-based author’s royalties, you participate in the sales income from your book.
• We send review copies to academic journals that you designate.
• We design individual promotional flyers for your book free of charge and provide them to you.

Please contact our author support if you are missing a service in our portfolio. The interests of our authors are central to us and we strive to meet your wishes.

What other publication options can ibidem offer?

If you have any special requests for your publication, there is a range of things we can help you with. Our author support team will be glad to support you with any extras you may need.

Below are just a few examples of add-ons we can facilitate. Please do not hesitate to ask should you have any other requirements.

• Special editions bound in leather or linen
• Combination of different publication formats
• Author copies available any time at special author discount
• Added CDs or DVDs
• Color printing
• Special printing paper

What steps are involved in the publication process?

If you would like to offer your book or journal for publication through ibidem, the process starts with the filling in of our proposal guidelines. Once submitted, all book proposals are assessed by one of our editors. Should we think that your proposed book or journal could be a good fit for ibidem, we will commission a round of external peer reviews. Depending on the outcome of the reviews, we may ask for a final version of the book proposal to be prepared, incorporating the reviewers’ suggestions.

The final proposal is then taken to the editorial board’s bi-weekly meetings. If approved, we will then send the author/editor a formal publication offer and a contract draft, which, all being well, needs to be signed and sent back to us. Your book will then receive an ISBN and be ready for pre-order immediately.

After submission of the final manuscript, we create a fully layouted proof, a cover design, and a marketing blurb as well as other PR material in close collaboration with the author/editor. The book then goes into production, during which time we start marketing your book to bookshops, libraries, and wholesalers. As soon as the first copies are printed, you receive your free author copies.

When your book is being finalized you are advised to register with the German collecting society VG Wort and to close an agreement on the exercising of rights. This is necessary to register your book with them and to be able to participate in the possible disbursement by VG WORT. For detailed information on the necessary steps of the procedure please refer to ibidem.eu/pdf/vgwort_en.pdf.

This is also the time when we get in touch with potential reviewers and relevant media outlets to inform them about your book and request coverage.

Layout and style  

An academic book should have an appropriate layout as well as a linguistically flawless style. There are particular specifications for our book series to guarantee a consistent design. On request we can provide you with our style guidelines where we describe our requirements and recommendations. Please contact our author support for any question you may have in this respect.

Do I have any input on the cover design?

It is important to us that you can fully identify with your publication. This is why we create our book covers in accordance with our authors’ wishes and ideas. We welcome suggestions with regards to color scheme, font, and style and can include photographs and illustrations of your choice in the final design.

Does ibidem offer editing or proofreading of my manuscript?

Particularly papers that have been produced under the pressure of a deadline often need to be corrected again before going to print in order to eliminate the last remaining mistakes. This final correction can be done by you. Our author support team will provide hints and tips for revising your manuscript and will be available to answer any questions you may have. On request, we are also offering professional copy-editing and proofreading services.

What distribution channels does ibidem provide?

• We will market and distribute your book in the D-A-CH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) which means that the book will be distributed through Europe’s biggest wholesalers such as KNV, Libri, and Umbreit.
• In the USA, Canada, South America, Australia, and New Zealand, our partner Columbia University Press will market and distribute your book. They contact and have access to, amongst other sales channels, bookshops, university libraries, institutes, and campuses all over these crucial markets.
• In the United Kingdom and Eastern Europe, UK-based Gazelle Book Services represents our program actively, e.g. by sending out theme-based catalogs to target interest groups and attending conferences. They also distribute to these markets.
• By publishing your title as print book as well as e-book, different target groups can be reached. For institutional customers (libraries, institutes, companies, etc.), we are offering direct online access to electronic content (e-access) for their users and / or employees through our website. Our books are also available to both libraries and individuals on a large number of e-book platforms such as EBSCO or PROQUEST.
• Our printed books and e-books are listed and available for sale through various online booksellers, such as amazon.com, amazon.de, amazon.co.uk, amazon.jp, barnesandnoble.com, abebooks.com, weltbild.de, and of course our own online book store.
• For China, we partner with Inspirees (based in Beijing, China, and The Netherlands) for marketing and distribution. They approach academic libraries in regular road shows and through the Beijing Book Fair, and import physical book to China.

What marketing and PR activities does ibidem offer?

We source valuable reviews of your books by sending review copies to suitable academic journals, general media, and specialty online outlets, always liaising with our authors for best results. Bookshops and libraries are regularly being informed of our new titles via newsletters, subject catalogs, and leaflets. We create individual promotional flyers for conferences, lectures, and trade fairs. Of course, your book will be listed in all our seasonal catalogs and promoted via our website.

What is VG WORT?

One-time disbursement from VG Wort

The German collecting society VG WORT exercises the rights of authors as well as publishers and collects monies for both authors and publishers from, for instance, libraries, copy shops, and manufacturers of copy machines. VG WORT disburses these monies to authors and publishers as flat compensation for copyright infringements (by, for instance, libraries or users of copy machines) if they have closed an agreement on the exercising of rights with VG WORT and register their claims.

After finalizing your book it is therefore time to conclude an agreement on the exercising of rights with VG WORT. This is necessary in order to be able to register your book with them and thus participate in the possible disbursement. You will receive more detailed information about the necessary steps of the procedure with your author’s copies or please refer to ibidem.eu/pdf/vgwort_en.pdf.

VG Wort usually pays royalties at the end of June of the year following the respective book’s publication year. The amount of the disbursement depends on the number of pages of your manuscript.

VG Wort is an organization completely independent and regulated by public law and has no connection to ibidem or any of our offers. ibidem cannot make any guarantees with regards to VG Wort. All information contained here regarding VG Wort are non-binding; for more information, please consult www.vgwort.de.