publishing: manuscript submission

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Mapin Publishing is one of India’s finest publishers of quality illustrated books on Indian art, culture and literature. Established in 1984, Mapin publishes books across a broad range of subjects including architecture, photography, history, crafts, design and catalogues for exhibitions and museum collections, as well as research studies and monographs for the academic market. We have also ventured into publishing children’s books recently. Under our imprint, MapinLit, we publish English-language fiction (novels, novellas and short stories), poetry, biographies, reference books, memoirs, general and narrative non-fiction.

If you are a prospective author, please send us a proposal to initiate a discussion with us.

A book proposal sent to us should contain:

  • Curriculum vitae of the author
  • The rationale behind the book, its themes, objectives and a detailed synopsis
  • The proposed contents of the book with a paragraph of explanation on what you intend to cover in each chapter and the estimated length of the entire manuscript (word count)
  • One or two sample chapters.
  • An estimated number of the images you intend to use [if your proposal is for our art list]
  • Any supplementary multimedia products that would enhance the book’s marketability
  • A description of the target market
  • A list of similar or major competing books in the field

Please note:
Mapin’s publishing programme is based on Indian art and culture, and themes that are grounded in our cultural experience, including the shared cultural heritage of all of South Asia. Please submit only those proposals that are clearly aligned with the focus of our programme. Our current list of titles serve as a good indicator for the subjects that interest us. You could also look at the list of categories that appear on our home page for a better understanding. We are happy to discuss any new ideas and concepts to create visually stunning books.

We discourage prospective authors from sending us unsolicited manuscripts, images or similar materials. Mapin is not responsible for safe-keeping or returning any such items. It would be best to consult the editorial team before sending anything other than the proposal at the first instance.

Books packaged/produced by Mapin