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Penguin Group (South Africa) has a local publishing division which produces between 30 and 40 new books a year. Most of our list is adult fiction and adult non-fiction with a few children’s books. The fiction list covers both literary and mass market books. The non-fiction list is comprehensive and includes travel, sport, politics, current affairs and business books.
Please note that Penguin is not able to enter into e-mail correspondence if your book proposal is not suitable for the local publishing list. Please read the information provided below to find out how to submit manuscripts to Penguin.
Submitting Manuscripts
It is rare for unsolicited manuscripts or proposals to be accepted for publication. However, unsolicited book proposals will always be considered if the following procedure is complied with.
First send:
• an introductory letter with a synopsis of the book and the first three chapters of the book.
• submission should be by email publishing@za.penguingroup.com or post to PO Box 9, Parklands 2121 (not fax).
• return postage should be provided if you require the return of your material, but Penguin can accept no responsibility for loss of or damage to material.
• sample material can be printed on both sides of the paper.
• only send copies of material - original material should always be retained by the author. If illustration or photographic material is to be submitted you should send colour photocopies. Original artwork should never be submitted with a proposal.
You should expect to wait approximately 3 months for an answer or a request for further material for assessment.
Contracts and Payment
If a decision is made to publish a manuscript, the publisher will draw up a contract and send it to the author. The contract will contain details of royalty payments and the rights and obligations of both parties. Agreement on the terms should be reached between author and publisher before the contract is signed.
General Information and Advice
If you are interested in writing and need general information and advice on how to begin, it is a good idea to look in your local library or bookstore for books that will help you with the genre of writing you are thinking of. Publishers are not in a position to help or give advice on the craft of writing.
There are no hard and fast rules about the format of manuscripts – most publishers have their own individual requirements.
If you wish to have your work edited before submitting it, contact:
The Professional Editors' Group
P O Box 411684
Craighall
2024
Email: peg@editors.org.za or go to their website www.editors.org.za where you will find their Directory of Members' Services.
Most international publishers work through literary agents who submit material on the writer’s behalf and negotiate terms with the publisher if the work is accepted.
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
How To Get Your Book Published in 30 (relatively) Easy Steps
by Basil van Rooyen
If you have any additional queries, follow the link below:
