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Write for Chalice Press

For Prospective Authors

Thank you for considering Chalice Press as a potential publisher for your work. We know all authors are passionate about their work and that you wouldn't - and shouldn't - entrust your work to just anybody. Thank you for your consideration.

About Chalice Press
Chalice Press publishes resources that invite individuals and groups into deeper relationship with God, equip them as disciples of Jesus Christ, and send them into ministries as the Holy Spirit calls them. Our theological tradition is evangelistic (we share with others our experience of God), inclusive (we are guests at a table where everyone is welcome) and mission-oriented (our gratitude to God compels us to serve and exchange our stories with others). 
 
What We Publish
CBP/Chalice Press is open to receiving any publishing proposal that aligns with our mission to publish resources inviting all people into deeper relationship with God, equipping them as disciples of Jesus Christ, and sending them into ministries as the Holy Spirit calls them. At this time, we are particularly interested in publishing content by and for women, young adults (age 18 to 35), and racial/ethnic cultures for our academic, congregational leadership, and general audiences. We offer print, digital, and multi-media formats. Topics of particular interest include: non-fiction in the areas of Academics (Homiletics, Biblical Studies, Theology, Christian Education); Congregational Leadership (Preaching, Evangelism, Hospitality, Leadership Development, Discipleship/Equipping Ministries); General (Faith and Life, Inspiration/Devotion, Bible Study/Application, Mission/Evangelism).
 
A Key Part of a Chalice Press contract
Every contract we write includes an "Affirmation of Diversity." Here's what it says:

The Christian Board of Publication and its imprints affirm the faith and gifts of persons regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by law and will not publish material that opposes this affirmation.

If you have questions about what that means, be sure to let us know early in the process.
 
Letter of Inquiry
To help you craft your proposal, please follow the following guidelines. Our review process begins with your letter of inquiry, which should be no more than two pages and will focus on a single proposal. In your query letter, please address these issues:

  • Hook of the book. Provide an attention-grabbing sentence or phrase to show how you can attract reader interest about your book. For example, start your hook with this question, “What if I told you _______?” (Feel free to provide several)

  • Challenge assumptions. Thinking about your project, create a list of a dozen provocative, contrarian statements that would catch somebody’s attention. For example, “you have heard it said X, but I say Y.” The stronger, the better. This helps us determine how your book provides a new view on an old question.

  • Takeaways. Provide at least three concise, concrete lessons that readers will gain from reading your book. How will you improve the reader’s condition or create a positive result in their lives? The more, the better.

  • Your audience: Who will read your book, and how will readers benefit from your book?

  • You: How are you uniquely qualified to write this book?

  • Your platform. How do you plan to let the world know this book is available - professional, personal, and online networks, websites, regular media connections, etc. Understanding your platform will help us understand your book’s potential.

We accept only electronic submissions sent to submissions@chalicepress.com and prefer that your letter be included in the body of the email, not as an attachment. If you have titled your book, we encourage you to include the title in your email's subject line. We will contact you about our interest in having you develop a full proposal.

Do not mail or email self-published books, manuscripts, photos, video clips, resumes/CVs or any other materials at this time. We will neither return nor file any materials you send to us without our written request. Send such items only if we ask you to do so.
 
What to Avoid
Although Chalice Press publishes a broad range of material, we do not publish works that are primarily poetry, fiction, dissertations, children's books, cookbooks, festschrifts (essays in honor of someone), collections of sermons, newsletter columns, etc. Submissions in these genres generally will not receive responses from Chalice Press. For these, you may wish to consider our Lucas Park Books imprint (www.lucasparkbooks.com).
Publishing Partners
For proposals related to partner organizations, please use the contact information below:
 
Unsolicited Materials
Although we honor your work and value your materials, please understand that we cannot be responsible for anything you send to us without our written request, or for any original or irreplaceable materials under any circumstances. We will not return nor keep any materials we have not requested in writing. Paper submissions will be recycled unshredded.