Penguin Books SA publishes primarily for the South African trade market. This means that the books we seriously consider for publication must be commercially viable in the South African book market.

In addition, we sell into the general book trade (i.e. book shops for the consumer market) so our books need to appeal to the book-reading public. We do not specialise in educational, academic and niche publications.

Penguin Books SA publishes primarily within the following genres:
• General fiction
• Literary fiction
• General non-fiction (sport, environmental issues, business, politics, African interest, current affairs, history, etc.)
• Narrative non-fiction (memoir/ biography/ autobiography, travel writing, etc.)
• Children’s books

Penguin Books SA publishes fewer titles within these genres:
• Sci-fi/Fantasy
• Collections of short stories

Is there any work that Penguin will not consider for publication?

Penguin will not consider manuscripts within the following categories:
• Scripts for plays, television or film
• Poetry

What does ‘unsolicited manuscript’ mean?
An unsolicited manuscript is one which is sent to a publisher without the publisher requesting/ commissioning it.

Who can I consult if I have general enquiries about publishing in South Africa?
You should contact the Publishers’ Association of South Africa (PASA) on (021) 762 9083 (or go to www.publishsa.co.za) who will be able to answer most questions on publishing and publishers in the country. The book, How To Get Your Book Published in 30 (relatively) Easy Steps by Basil van Rooyen (Penguin Books) is also a valuable source for South African authors.

Do I need a literary agent?
You do not need to be represented by a literary agent to have your work considered by Penguin Books SA.

How do I find a literary agent if I would like one?
Most South African publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts, but if you would like to find a literary agent (particularly if you would like your work considered by overseas publishers), you can consult The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook.

If I send my manuscript to Penguin Books South Africa, will it automatically be considered for publication by all the Penguin companies around the world?
No. Your book will only be considered by Penguin Books SA. Most overseas publishers, including the Penguin Group companies around the world, do not accept unsolicited material and require submissions to be made through literary agents. Unfortunately, we cannot divulge the details of editors at other Penguin Group companies.

If my book is accepted for publication, will it be published by Penguin Books internationally?
Not necessarily. Penguin Books SA may offer rights or copies of our publications to our overseas companies, but the decision to publish/sell the book in their market is entirely at their discretion.

Do you publish authors who are not living in South Africa?
Yes.

 

What does Penguin look for in a manuscript?
Penguin Books SA is ultimately looking for books that will work within the South African trade book market. Originality, high writing standard and market appeal are therefore essential.

Is it necessary to have my book edited before I submit it to Penguin for evaluation?
This is entirely up to you. Obviously, the more polished a manuscript is, the more likely it is that it will be accepted. That said, if it is accepted, it will go through an in-house editorial process before it is published.

Who do I contact if I would like a freelance editor to look at my work before I submit it to publishers?
If you would like a freelance editor to edit your work, or to give you a reader’s report, which may provide valuable feedback, you should contact The Professional Editors’ Group (www.editors.org.za).

Before I write my book, can I send Penguin a proposal to gauge interest in the topic?
Yes but it is difficult to assess any proposal properly without reading any actual material, and it is unlikely that Penguin Books SA would make any commitment based only on a proposal. If you would like to assess whether your book idea is viable, it would be useful for you to consider the market potential of the book (who the readership is, how many people will likely buy a book on this topic, how your book will compete with the existing product already on the market, etc.).

Is someone from Penguin Books able to meet with me so I can explain the concept behind my book before I submit it?
No. As we receive so many manuscripts, we are unable to meet with potential authors.  Once you have made a submission according to the guidelines above, and if we are interested in your work, we will be in touch with you to ask for additional material and/or request a meeting.

Do I have to finish my book before I submit it to Penguin Books?
No, although you will need to have at least three chapters and a full outline completed. We only require the first three chapters and a synopsis of the entire book, so you can submit these to us when they are ready.

Your guidelines stipulate that you need the first three chapters of the book, but some of my best chapters are later in the book. Can I send these instead?
It is important that you send the early chapters so we can read the manuscript properly. However, you can send a later chapter if you would like us to look at that too. Please do not send the entire manuscript.

I have an idea for a book but I need someone to help me write it. Can Penguin Books help me write my book?
Unfortunately, Penguin Books SA cannot assist with providing ghost writers. We suggest you contact The Professional Editors' Group (www.editors.org.za) or the South African Freelancers Association (www.safrea.co.za) who should be able to put you in touch with a freelance writer.

In what languages does Penguin publish?
Penguin Books SA publishes primarily in English and Afrikaans.

Can I submit my handwritten manuscript to Penguin?
No. From both an editorial and production perspective, handwritten manuscripts prove too cumbersome for us to consider them realistically for publication. Not only is the handwriting often difficult to read, but if the manuscript is accepted for publication, it will need to be typed up in order to put it through the production process and this will need to be done by the author, not by Penguin Books SA.

I have written a children’s book but I do not have an illustrator. Is it necessary to have the book illustrated before I submit my story to Penguin?
No. Penguin Books SA will review the text on its merits. We would commission a suitable illustrator should this be appropriate.

Will Penguin Books provide me with a reader’s report if my book is not accepted for publication?
Unfortunately, as we receive so many manuscripts, we are unable to provide any detailed feedback. Penguin is also not able to enter into written/verbal correspondence if your book is turned down.

My work has been rejected by Penguin Books SA before, but I have now done substantial editing/re-working of the manuscript. Am I able to re-submit?
Yes. You are welcome to re-submit according to the standard guidelines. Please mention that you have previously submitted and why you are re-submitting the manuscript.

I’ve self-published my book already. Can I submit it to Penguin Books?
If you are looking for a publisher to re-publish your book, then you can submit the work to Penguin Books SA for review, as per our submissions guidelines. However, if you are merely looking for someone to distribute copies of your self-published book, you should contact the Publishers’ Association of South Africa (PASA) on (021) 425-2721 (or go to www.publishsa.co.za) who will be able to give you details of distribution companies operating in the country.

What sort of information should I include in my introductory letter?
You should include any relevant information pertaining to the submitted material, such as: a brief author biography, if you have been previously published, why you wrote the book, etc.).

How long should my synopsis be?
The synopsis needs to explain what the entire book is about. It can be as short as a few paragraphs, but preferably not longer than two typed pages.

How long should my manuscript be?
The length of a manuscript depends on the book, but as a rough guideline, full-length adult fiction/non-fiction works should be between 35 000 and 100 000 words.

How should I format my manuscript?
We would prefer manuscripts that:

• have 1.5 or double spacing
• use a serif font like Times New Roman, Garamond  or Century, size 12
• have page numbers
• use paragraphing
• are not written completely in CAPS

Manuscripts sent via email should preferably be submitted as an attached Microsoft Word document.

How do I ensure my copyright is protected when I’m sending my manuscript to Penguin Books SA?
According to South African and UK copyright law, your work is already copyrighted without needing to use the © symbol. Copyright can only be assigned to another party if it is in writing.

How will I know that my manuscript has been received by Penguin Books SA?
If you send your manuscript via email, you will receive an automated response, indicating that your email has been received. If you send your manuscript via post, it is advisable to call our offices a few weeks after posting to confirm that your manuscript has been received and logged.

If I’m still waiting for an answer from Penguin Books SA, can I send my manuscript to other publishers?
You are not under any obligation to any publisher until you have been made an offer and signed a publishing contract, so you are welcome to submit to various publishers simultaneously.

How long should I expect to wait for an answer to my proposal?
The time it takes to evaluate manuscripts often depends on when your manuscript was received (as it goes into a queue), the time of year, and the number of manuscripts we are currently evaluating at any one time. Typically, it takes 4-6 months before we are able to provide any feedback. Manuscripts that show potential may take a little longer as we will need to complete market research and do provisional costings before we decide whether the project is indeed a viable venture.

How will I know if my work has been rejected?
Penguin Books SA will let you know if your work has been rejected. If you have not heard from us, it means your work is still being evaluated.

How will Penguin Books SA contact me?
Penguin Books SA will contact you via email or post, so it is essential that you provide your email and/or postal address. We cannot take responsibility for email addresses that have changed during the time it has taken us to evaluate your manuscript, so please make sure you provide us with back-up address information.

If I send my manuscript via post, will Penguin post it back to me after it has been evaluated if I include a stamped self-addressed envelope?
Unfortunately, as we receive so many manuscripts and because of the time it takes to evaluate manuscripts (meaning that postage fees are often increased during this period), we are only able to post manuscripts back to authors in exceptional circumstances.

How long does it take to publish a book?
We plan our publishing schedules a year in advance and ‘pre-sell’ to our customers 4 months in advance of publication. You should assume 9 months to a year from the time your manuscript is accepted until the month of publication.

If my manuscript is accepted for publication, will I need to pay Penguin to print it?
No. As a publishing company, Penguin Books SA pays for and manages the production process (editing, proofreading, typesetting, printing, etc.), as well as distribution and sales. The author will not need to pay for any part of this process.

If my manuscript is accepted for publication, how will I be paid?
Royalties are paid to authors as a percentage of the net revenue of the book based on the number of copies sold.

What royalty percentage does Penguin Books offer authors?
The average royalty percentage offered is 12.5% on net revenue.

What happens if my book is accepted for publication?
If a decision is made to publish a manuscript, Penguin Books SA will make you an offer based on what we believe to be the sales potential of the book in our market. If the offer is accepted, a publishing contract (containing details of royalty payments and the rights and obligations of both parties) will be drawn up.  Penguin Books SA will then put the manuscript into production.

Penguin Group Companies

Addresses for Penguin Group in the UK, USA, Canada, India, New Zealand and Australia are provided below. Penguin Group offices in any other country do not accept book proposals.

United Kingdom: Penguin Books Ltd, 80 The Strand, London WC2R 0RL

USA: Penguin Putnam Inc, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014-3657

Canada: Penguin Books Canada Ltd, 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3

India: Penguin Books India Pty Ltd, 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110 017

New Zealand: Penguin Books New Zealand, Private Bag 102902, North Shore Mail Centre, Auckland 10

Australia: Penguin Books Australia Ltd, Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria

Useful Books

The following publications contain much useful information for writers:

The Writer’s Handbook
edited by Barry Turner
published by Macmillan, London

Get Your Book Published in 30 (relatively) Easy Steps

by Basil van Rooyen

If you have any additional queries, follow the link below:

Contact Penguin