For Authors · Since 1980
Publish history that lasts.
Join the imprint that has put more than thirty primary-source history titles into print across four decades — and built a global readership that actively hunts for the next one.
- Years publishing
- 40+
- Titles in print
- 30+
- Countries shipped to
- 80
- Editorial review
- 4–6 wk
Why Irving Books
A home for serious history — not a factory for it.
Most publishers treat manuscripts like inventory. We treat them like research. Your reviewer will be the editorial team, not an algorithm — and the decision, yes or no, comes back with genuine feedback.
Direct editorial relationship
One imprint, one editor, one conversation. No revolving cast of assistants — you work with the people who will take the book to press.
A readership that's already there
Our audience is hungry for primary-source scholarship. A new title lands in front of tens of thousands of subscribers on day one — no cold start.
Craft-grade production
Cloth-bound collector editions, restored photo plates on heavy stock, signed copies, individually-numbered runs. We make books people keep.
Global distribution, in-house
Orders ship from London to more than eighty countries. No middleman marking up your title — and no surprises on royalty statements.
Archive-first editorial
Letters, diaries, ministerial papers, intelligence files. We care about provenance. If you've done the archival work, you'll have a reader who understands it.
Honest timelines
Four to six weeks to a reply. If we commission, the route to print is clear — design, edit, plates, proof, press — with dates you can plan around.
"Every great book begins with a single decision — the decision to put the record straight."
— Focal Point Publications · Editorial desk
The process
From manuscript to printed book.
No mystery, no black box. Here's what happens after you hit submit.
- 01
Submit
Upload your full manuscript as a single Word or PDF file, plus a short synopsis and author bio. Takes five minutes.
- 02
Editorial review
We read every submission individually. Expect a reply in four to six weeks — with substantive feedback, whether we take the title or not.
- 03
Offer & contract
If it's a fit, we send clear terms: royalty structure, format plan (hardcover, paperback, digital), schedule, and marketing commitments.
- 04
Edit, design, press
Line edit, layout, photo plates, proof. You approve every stage. Then your book joins a catalogue that readers actively search out.
What we're looking for
The books we take on — and the ones we don't.
A strong fit
- Primary-source twentieth-century history — military, political, biographical
- Archive-grounded work on WWII, Cold War, post-war trials and intelligence
- Unpublished diaries, letters, and memoir material with scholarly apparatus
- Translations from German, Russian or Italian of significant primary documents
- Biographies drawing on unreleased or under-used archival holdings
Not a fit right now
- Fiction, poetry, general-interest non-fiction outside history
- Partial manuscripts, single chapters, or concept pitches without a draft
- Commentary on contemporary politics without archival grounding
- Self-help, spiritual or new-age titles
- Manuscripts under 40,000 words (reach out about essay collections separately)
Format
Word (.docx) or PDF
Length
Complete manuscript, not drafts or chapters
Extras
Synopsis, author bio, research sample
Submit a manuscript
Ready when you are.
Fill in the form, attach your full manuscript, and a member of the editorial team will confirm receipt within two business days. Substantive feedback follows within four to six weeks.
- What to sendComplete manuscript · synopsis · author bio
- How we replyPersonal email — not a form letter
- Reviewed byFocal Point Publications editorial desk
- Direct contactinfo@irvingbooks.com
Common questions
Before you submit.
Do you accept simultaneous submissions?
Yes. Please tell us in the synopsis. If another publisher makes you an offer while we're reviewing, let us know immediately and we'll accelerate our decision.
What royalty do you pay?
Royalties are negotiated per title and depend on format, production cost and print run. We're transparent about the economics and share a full P&L estimate before you sign.
Do I retain rights to my work?
Yes. We acquire a defined publishing licence, not your copyright. Terms are plainly written, and translation and subsidiary rights are negotiated separately.
Will you publish in multiple formats?
Most titles ship in hardcover and paperback, with eBook and occasional audiobook editions. Collector editions with signatures and slipcases are produced for flagship works.
Do you publish first-time authors?
Routinely. What matters is the quality of the research and the strength of the writing. Credentials help. They are not decisive.
How long to print after a 'yes'?
Typically nine to fifteen months from signed contract to launch, depending on complexity — photo plates, index, translation steps. We'll give you a firm schedule.
Your book deserves a publisher that reads it.
Send us the full manuscript. We'll give it the attention it's owed and reply with a real decision — not a form letter.