Submissions

Learn how you can get your work published with Mountaineers Books.

How to submit your book idea

What we publish

Before submitting a proposal, we suggest you click around our site and take a look at the kinds of books we’ve published. Mountaineers Books produces titles that explore, preserve, and celebrate the outdoors through recreation, adventure, and education. Our imprint Skipstone publishes books that promote a deeper connection to the natural world through sustainable practice and backyard activism. All of our titles strive to demonstrate how a life engaged with the outdoors benefits an individual's physical and mental health, and the well being of the greater community and future generations.

We publish books related to: adventure travel, biking, camping, climbing, conservation, environment/nature, hiking, mountaineering, mountaineering literature, natural history, outdoor adventure, paddle sports (canoeing, kayaking, SUP), safety/first aid, skiing (alpine, Nordic, boarding), snowshoeing, surfing, walking, and wilderness skills. 

Our Skipstone imprint publishes books relating to: sustainable foods, urban and wilderness foraging, organic/sustainable gardening, wildlife gardening, urban farming, general wildlife, natural living, and general outdoor-related gift topics.

We do NOT publish fiction, general tourist/travel guides, or guides dealing with hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, or organized spectator sports.

What to submit

If you aren't sure whether the subject of your proposal matches our interests, please send a query letter only, via email to submissions@mountaineersbooks.org.

If your subject matches our interests, please submit a complete book proposal. We only accept proposals that include all of the following:

  • Brief query (cover) letter
  • One to two page synopsis, including the project's purpose, focus, scope, and significance
  • Annotated outline, detailed table of contents, or chapter summaries
  • Market analysis, including competitive research and a description of what you would do to promote and sell your project
  • Four sample chapters; or for regional guidebooks, approximately 10 sample routes
  • Sample artwork, if applicable
  • Your complete bio including a list of all previous publishing credits and any other applicable credentials

We will ask you to resubmit if your proposal is not complete.

How to submit

If sending via email, please put all manuscript materials (reading text only) into a single Microsoft Word file. Include any necessary artwork as low-resolution jpg files. Send query letters and/or proposals to submissions@mountaineersbooks.org. Please note: We do not accept phone queries or walk-ins.

If sending via USPS or UPS, do not send disks or hand-written materials. Do not send any original manuscript materials, artwork, or photos. Include your name and address on all submitted materials. We will only return materials if adequate SASE and instructions are provided.

Submissions
Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201
Seattle, WA 98134

Due to the volume of submissions we receive, you will only hear from us if we are interested in your submission, in which case we will respond within three months of receipt. No other confirmations or replies will be provided, and any hard-copy submission materials will be recycled.