Seaworthy Publications is a nautical book publisher that specializes in recreational boating.  While  book publishing is obviously our focus, we are also interested in other types of boating products, videos, and computer programs.

General publishers have little interest in boating books.  The reason is that books about boating appeal to a very limited audience compared to many other categories of books.  In fact, the book trade's standard sales and  distribution methods are geared to publishing books of more general interest.  The result is that in many bookstores the selection of boating books consists of barely a token representation.

By contrast, at  Seaworthy Publications we view the publishing of boating books as our niche in the publishing industry.  We can successfully publish and promote boating books by the constructive use of creative targeted marketing  techniques and a nationwide network of marine dealers, chain stores, and wholesalers.

Every book receives personal attention throughout the publishing process at Seaworthy Publications.  Every detail of manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution is handled with utmost care.  Each book is generally one of only a few titles we select for publishing during any given year.  As such the success of every book is vitally important to us.

For the fastest response, (usually one or two weeks) we suggest you submit your queries electronically.  Use an e-mail program capable of sending attachments.  Send your query to queries@seaworthy.com our e-mail address for writer submissions.  Tell us what your book is about, what markets you think it will sell to, and why it will sell.  Tell us what makes your book unique compared to other books that cover the same or similar subjects, and the price range of any direct competitors.  In your attachment(s), include a sample table of contents and two representative chapters.  You may also include graphics, drawings, etc., so long as your overall message size does not exceed 1 Mb (One Megabyte).  If sending graphics electronically, remember that our maximum screen resolution is 72 DPI.  Anything more than 72 DPI is simply a waste of transmission time.  Save your attachments as Microsoft Word or Word Perfect Documents in IBM format for DOS or Windows 95.  If you don't have one of those, send us a message and tell us what you have and we will reply with instructions.  We do not accept Apple formatted documents.  If you use an Apple computer, save your attachment as a Word for Windows 95 Document.  Please don't send us your entire manuscript.  Also, It is a good idea to put a copyright notification on any material you send to any publisher, especially electronically.  The reason is that your transmission goes over unsecured circuits and could be intercepted or misdirected, although the chances of that happening are remote.  You may choose to submit a query through the mail or other ground carrier, but be prepared to wait up to three (3) months for a reply.  Send a query letter, a sample table of contents, and two sample chapters.  Our address is, Seaworthy Publications, Inc., 215 S. Park St., Suite #1, Port Washington, WI 53074.

We are willing to accept unsolicited manuscripts and are happy to work with first-time authors.  In addition, none of our authors have agents, but we are happy to hear from agents that have good book ideas to sell.  We are greatly interested in receiving query letters about finished manuscripts.  We are also willing to consider queries about book ideas.  All queries will receive replies.  No queries sent through the mail, or other ground carrier, will be returned except unless they are accompanied by return postage.

To be accepted,  your book must be available electronically, or on computer diskettes in IBM or Apple Macintosh compatible formats such as Word, Word Perfect, PageMaker, or ASCII text file formats.  The days of typewriters, typesetters, and hand retyping of manuscripts are history as far as we're concerned.  We are a highly automated company.  We need our writers to have at least minimal capabilities in computerized word processing, e-mail, Internet access, and to be able to furnish their work to us in a format we can readily make use of.  If you are a writer and do not already have a personal computer that is IBM or Apple  Macintosh compatible, you need to get one and learn how to use it.  In any event, the ultimate responsibility for getting your book to us in a format we can readily use would contractually fall to you.

All  submissions are carefully reviewed and if the book is accepted the writer will be contacted and arrangements will be made to discuss the book's future.  If the book is not accepted, the writer will either receive a form letter indicating one or more of the various general reasons why we decline manuscripts, or the writer will receive a thoughtful written review of his or her submission.  Our written reviews are reserved for  exceptional manuscripts that came close to meeting our needs, or ran a close second to another manuscript that was accepted.  Writer's receiving a written review from us should be highly encouraged in their pursuit  of publication.

The general reasons we decline manuscripts are as follows:

1.  We are not accepting poetry at this time.

2.  We are not accepting fiction at this time.

3.  Your subject matter does not pertain to sailing, boating, or related information.

4.  While your subject pertains to boating, sailing, or related information, it does not meet our current needs.

5.  While your subject pertains to boating, sailing, or related information, its appeal is more geared to the general market.  Seaworthy Publications' dealer base consists of marine supply chains, nautical book and chart dealers, nautical book distributors, ship's stores and chandlers, and nautical mail-order companies.  As such, we are more interested in regional cruising guides, how-to books about boating, and first-person boating adventure stories.

Our typical candidate's book would fill a 6" X 9" trade paperback of 225 to 350 pages.  Some specific kinds of books that would be of particular interest to us are:

1.  Regional cruising guides.

2.  How-to books on sailing or cruising related topics.

3.  Technical books on specific subjects related to sailing.

4.  Books on circumnavigation, especially single-handed.

5.  Books on long-distance cruising, especially single-handed.

6.  Computer programs -- navigation, weather, etc.

7.  Galley cookbooks.

8.  Sailing or boating related audio or video cassettes.

9.  Other cruising, sailing or boating concepts.

If you have any questions that are not covered in this guide sheet, please feel free to contact us directly.  We will be very happy to be of assistance to you.

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