Submitting a Proposal

The initial book proposal submission should consist of four items—please send these files as one single PDF file, with the items in the following order:

• A description of the book, such as a prospectus,
• The table of contents with chapter summaries, if not included in the prospectus,
• Two sample chapters, one of which should be the introduction,
• The author’s CV.


Cover letters should include the following information (if it is not already included in the prospectus):

• The approximate length of the manuscript in total number of words (please note a limit of 130,000 words inclusive of bibliography and notes),
• The anticipated number and type of tables, figures, illustrations, and maps,
• The current status of the manuscript and the expected date of completion,
• Any elements that will require special handling or typesetting.


Submitted materials will be reviewed and circulated among the members of the Asia Center Publications Committees. This stage generally takes a few weeks. If the decision is favorable, the author will be invited to submit the complete manuscript for review. Do not send a copy of the complete manuscript until invited.

Book proposals related to China may be sent to Qin Higley, Editor for China, at qhigley@fas.harvard.edu.

Book proposals related to Japan and Korea may be sent to Daniel Lee, Editor for Japan & Korea, at dslee@fas.harvard.edu.

Book proposals related to Asia in transregional or transnational perspective, as well as book proposals on Southeast Asia, may be sent to Kristen Wanner, Director of the Publications Program, at kwanner@fas.harvard.edu. General inquiries may be sent to the director at ceaspubs@fas.harvard.edu.

We will always try to confirm receipt of your materials. If you do not hear from us within a week or two, please follow up.