We wish we had unlimited time, money, and ability to publish everything we get in the mail, via email, or word-of-mouth but we can’t. How can you increase your odds of getting published by the Ice Cube Press, or any small press? You can purchase our books! Why, the more books we sell the longer we’ll be in business. Reading is a sure-fire method for you to become a better writer as well.
The million dollar question, right? How can you get a book accepted by the Ice Cube Press? Well, study this paragraph closely. It would be unfair to say we NEVER accept ideas for publication. However, we are VERY VERY picky with books we choose, because, frankly, we can’t afford to pick one that won’t make money. If you want to submit an idea consider if it is “environmental”? Does it better tell the experience of living in the Midwest? Does it hope to tie spirituality to a sense of place in the Heartland? Do you know who will buy the book in particular? If you tell me you’re sure you can sell it to a thousand people I’ll immediately interpret that to mean we can sell somewhere between 15-25 copies. Is it a new story with a compelling way of seeing how to live in the Midwest? Telling me your book is going to be for the Mass Market doesn’t mean much, in fact, it means I won’t want it for certain. I don’t know who the Mass Market is and even if I did know who “they” were I wouldn’t know how to sell anything to them. Plus, if you are positive the “mass market” will want your book, I would recommend sending your book to a bigger, New York City-style publisher so they can do your book justice and get you on the New York Times bestseller list. This is pretty harsh, but publishing is a tough tough world to even break even on financially. So with that said if you still think you want to try and make a submission, then go ahead, but I will NOT look at e-mail submissions for more than four, sometimes up to six seconds. Do not send your whole manuscript either, I won’t read it (I’m no different than you, I own lots of books which I’ve purchased that I still haven’t read). If you don’t send enough postage to me (SASE) to return what you do send me I won’t return it. If you still feel inclined to send something after reading all this, then only send a sample (the beginning like five pages), a brief description of your book and who you think would like your particular book. (Hint: your letter to me is a test, is it interesting?) Response time varies from a few days to several months. And, remember, if people don’t buy Ice Cube Press books I can’t keep publishing them, try reading a couple of them before you submit. You’ll want folks to read yours right?