Sphinx Publishing, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc., is always interested in working with attorneys and other experts in their fields as they search to help share valuable information with the individual consumer.

Sourcebooks and Sphinx have strong distribution into the retail market (major chain stores as well as independent bookstores), the library market (public, legal, and school), and mass market arenas. We pride ourselves in working as a team with our authors regarding editorial assistance and direction, sales, marketing, and publicity.

We follow a somewhat out-of-date model for book publishing that makes our passion for books central. In short, we believe in educating the consumer while working with our authors to develop solid, informative titles. We seek authors who are interested in sharing basic, fundamental information with the consumer market in a manner that makes complex or overwhelming topics more understandable.

Content Areas of Publication

We are interested in books that will establish a unique standard in their subject area. We look for books with a well-defined, strong target market. Our Sphinx Publishing list includes topical areas, such as:

• Business Law
• Citizens’ Rights
• Employment Law
• Family Law
• General Law
• Libros en Espanol
• Personal Finance
• Personal Property/Injury
• Real Estate
• US Immigration
• Wills/Estate Planing

Proposal Information

In order to consider your project for potential publication, we will need to see a proposal that includes the following items:

• A brief synopsis in 1-2 paragraphs
• Author biography or résumé specifying credentials
• A general table of contents, plus estimated length of manuscript
• One or two sample chapters (not the first)
• A description of the target audience and 1-2 paragraphs describing your book’s unique advantages

Please do not send complete manuscripts unless a specific request is made for one. Queries only and simultaneous submissions are acceptable. We advise against the expense of sending your proposal via overnight delivery or certified mail. Please send your proposal and self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Sphinx Publishing
1935 Brookdale Road
Suite 139
Naperville, IL
60563

While we love talking to authors, we're a bit bookish, meaning we need to actually read your proposal. That's the long way of saying it's best not to call or personally email us. If you follow the directions above (or if you even come close), your proposal will be given a fair and thorough review. For more hints, try books like The Writer's Market, or any number of books and magazines like it, available in bookstores and libraries. Finally, receiving proposals via email or fax may seem convenient, but isn't for us, and may actually cause manuscripts to miss the review process other proposals receive. Therefore, we advise against it.

Please send only copies of your materials. Do not send us any original manuscripts or artwork. We will not be held liable for materials lost or destroyed in the mail. Please enclose a correct size (depending on what you want returned) self-addressed, stamped envelope with your proposal, with enough postage for your materials to be returned at first-class rates. We will not return manuscripts without appropriate postage.

Thank you for considering Sphinx Publishing for your project. We look forward to reviewing your materials and considering your book for publication.

The Editors
Sphinx Publishing