AZTEX Corporation publishes automotive, transportation and motorsports history. Our goal as a publisher of these areas of history is to present the most accurate, well documented, interesting, illustrated and technical work possible, in keeping with the high reputation we have earned in over twenty-two years of publishing in this arena.
Manuscripts should contain illustrations and appendices as applicable to the specific subject. Bibliographies and reference citings are also desirable.
Manuscripts should be competent in content and grammar, offering a fresh approach. Subjects should be carefully conceived, well researched, and serve the needs of a full range of readers from research historians to the casual enjoyer of nostalgia.
We seek works on cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, fire engines, motorsports, ships, airplanes or trains and related accessory-type companies. The work may be on a specific marque, individual, series, or entire company.
Where it is a company history, financial interests, personality conflicts, and societal concerns should be considered as part of the overall history. When presenting a biographical or autobiographical work, competitors, bosses, co-workers, family, family background, historical review of societal norms of the day, political implications and anything else that impacted the individual should be covered. Where such does not flow within the text, this type of information can often be appropriately handled as appendices.
We publish only adult non-fiction, though many titles are equally suitable for high school age.
Manuscripts should be typed and double-spaced with pages numbered in consecutive order, with at least a one-inch border at top and bottom and both sides. The author's name, address and phone number should be in the upper left-hand corner of the first page of the manuscript, or alternately centered on the cover page of the manuscript. Do not staple or bind manuscripts in a notebook or other cover; all pages should be loose, in order. We will consider clean photocopies in lieu of the original. Computer printouts should be letter quality; no dot matrix.
Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission to quote from copyrighted material. Such permission must be submitted to AZTEX' editorial offices with the completed manuscript. Please document your sources fully. As a rule quotes of more than 50-100 words will probably need written permission, but this varies according to the length of the material from which your excerpt is quoted. Copyright law does not clearly define fair use, and we urge all writers to err on the side of caution. Quotations from articles may require permission for more than one line. Again, total length of the original work is a key factor in determining the need for permission; be certain to contact the publisher of any work if there is any doubt as to the need for written permission.
For fine points of style, we use The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th Edition, The University of Chicago Press.
If a manuscript is accepted, we require it to be submitted on computer disk with a hard copy. The disk must be the 3-1/2 inch square floppy. We can translate from most programs. Advise us of the program you used, and version, and we will tell you how to save it for the best translation.
Send a query letter with a one-page synopsis and one sample chapter. If it is an illustrated work, include three or four sample illustrations. We will look at a full manuscript, but it is more expensive for you and our having the complete manuscript versus one chapter and synopsis does not increase your chances of being accepted for publication. The synopsis is very important.
Be sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope for us to reply. We do not return material or reply to unsolicited material that has no postage-paid return envelope.
Describe briefly the content and intent of the work as well as the projected audience. State your aims and theme clearly. Carefully research the current market to be sure your idea is original, and does not duplicate an existing, currently published work. There is room in the market for more than one work on a subject, but each must present information that is unique. Know what other books are already available on the topic and explain why yours is different. Briefly outline your qualifications to write on this subject.
If your query with synopsis, sample chapter, and writer's qualifications meets our editorial objectives, we will invite you to submit the entire manuscript. Our manuscript review committee will carefully consider it and reply within eight to ten weeks. Be certain to keep a copy of the manuscript for yourself. Do not send your only copy. Losses do occur in the mail. AZTEX will not be responsible for materials lost in the mail.
All manuscripts are submitted on speculation until a contract is issued, even if revisions are requested. Revisions are considered to be the option of the author and are made at his/her discretion so as to allow the publishing house to consider the manuscript in a form that we consider acceptable.
If a manuscript is accepted by the Editorial Committee, a Punctuation and Proofing Policy sheet will be sent to the author with the Publishing Agreement. The author is expected to follow its guidelines and make any adjustments necessary to the completed manuscript to conform to its requirements.
AZTEX Corporation's usual policy is to pay a royalty to the author on books sold. The Publishing Agreement details rights, royalty scale, copyright policy, etc. No financial outlay is required from the author. The publisher assumes full responsibility to publish the work.
There are occasions wherein AZTEX Corporation pays a flat fee for a work in lieu of royalties. This policy is sometimes applicable in a situation where AZTEX arranges with the author to create a work based on AZTEX's specific idea, or where there is a compilation of the works of numerous authors. Again, no financial outlay is required from the author(s), and the publisher assumes full responsibility to publish the work.
Our Marketing Department actively promotes every product both before and after its release. We promote our products through conventions, telemarketing, direct mail promotions, world wide web, and/or advertising in strategic publications as applicable and upon the determination of the Marketing Manager. When we accept a manuscript for publication, we work together as a team, AZTEX and the author, to secure maximum exposure and sales for your work.
We appreciate your interest in AZTEX Corporation. Thank you for allowing us to consider your work.
Please send all queries to:
Phone 1-882-4656 or E-Mail ac@aztexcorp.com
Last updated March 30, 1998
Copyright © 1996-2003 AZTEX Corporation
Made in the USA
970602