Catholic book publishing is a unique, smaller segment of the book publishing world. The publishers of Catholic books are a tighter, closer community. Here are some helpful tips on Catholic publishing and choosing the correct Catholic book publishing company for you:
Do Your Research. Find out who the Catholic book publishers are, where they are, and how to contact them. It helps to attend Catholic conferences or seminars, network, learn who is who. Almost more than any other publishing segment, you need to understand this industry and who is important in it.
Choose the Right Publisher for You. You need to understand what each Catholic publisher's specialties, strengths, and preferences are, so you can narrow down the publisher list and match up your material with their needs correctly. Be thorough and picky.
Approach the Publisher Properly. Some Catholic book publishers want a call first, some want an email, some want a query letter, some just want a portion of your manuscript in the mail. You must show respect and approach them how they want to be approached--take the publisher's advice; otherwise, they will not listen to you or consider your material.
Learn to Shrug Off Rejection. You may have your manuscript rejected, especially if you've never been published before. That's just the way it is. It will help if you can learn from rejection. Be open-minded. You may need to revise and try again. If you have talent and perseverance, you will succeed in getting published.
Some excellent resources on how to get published in the Catholic book industry:
The Catholic Book Publishers Association (CBPA) facilitates the sharing of professional information, networking, cooperation, and friendship among those involved in Catholic Publishing in the United States and abroad. There website is www.cbpa.org.
Google gives a great directory of Catholic book publishers that may help you:
