Become an Author
What We Publish
The University of Calgary Press publishes peer-reviewed academic non-fiction. We publish monographs and collections across all areas of the social sciences, with fourteen series in specialized topics.
Brave & Brilliant, our literary series, publishes literary works, including fiction, poetry, plays, and other creative forms, authored by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
LCR Publishing, an imprint of the University of Calgary Press, offers a full-feature publication program for meaningful, fully funded, research-based or technical works that fall outside the strict format of the academic monograph and do not require additional peer review.
Bighorn Books, an imprint of the University of Calgary Press, publishes research-based non-fiction for a general audience with a focus on the hidden corners of history and many fascinating building blocks of society today.
Open Access
As an academic publisher, we feel a responsibility to ensure that knowledge is accessible to the widest possible audience. We therefore embrace Open Access publishing and make our scholarly books available in free-to-download PDF format under a BY-NC-ND Creative Commons license in addition to publishing our books in print and for-purchase eBook formats.
If you have questions about Open Access publishing, please contact us.
The Submission Process
Academic Manuscripts
We accept submissions of proposals for non-fiction academic book manuscripts in all areas of the humanities and social sciences from scholars around the world. Collections, co-authored books, multi-authored books and monographs are all accepted. Submissions to our specialized series are encouraged, and can be indicated on the prospectus form. Submissions on general topics are welcome.
We no longer publish family histories, community histories, or biographies without a significant scholarly framework or collections of interviews, letters, or primary sources without accompanying contextualizing scholarship.
To submit, please complete the scholarly prospectus form and submit it to our editorial team. Please review the style and documentation guides and figure submission guidelines while preparing your prospectus. You will receive a response from us within two weeks. If you have not heard from us after this time, please send a submission status inquiry.
As of September 2019 the Press is only able to publish academic work for which funding can be secured. We are committed to publishing works of academic excellence and will work with you to confirm sources of funding. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Brave & Brilliant Literary Manuscripts
Submissions to the Brave & Brilliant literary series are currently closed.
Only those authors whose work has been selected for further consideration or for publication will be contacted. The Press is unable to provide feedback on manuscripts that have not been selected for publication.
The series will be open for submissions from September 1 to October 15, 2025. Manuscripts submitted during this period will be considered for publication in 2028 and later. Further instructions for preparing submissions will be added to this page in August.
Authors considering submitting to the series may also note that:
- The Press invites submissions of full manuscripts accompanied by the authors’ literary CV
- The Press considers simultaneous submissions
- Submissions must contain no more that 30% previously published material
- The Press only accepts submissions from Canadian citizens and permanent residents to the Brave & Brilliant series
- Authors of any career stage may submit to this series
- The Press only considers poetry, fiction, plays, and other creative literary genres submissions for this series
- Works of highly literary creative non-fiction may be submitted to this series. Author of research-based non-fiction intended for a general audience may consider Bighorn Books, the University of Calgary Press’ non-fiction imprint.
- Authors are encouraged to review the books published in this series when preparing a submission. The Brave & Brilliant series page may be found at this link.
- The Press does not consider sequels to books released by other publishers, reprints of previously published books, or mass market fiction or non-fiction
- The Press does not publish general how-to books, books on life-coaching, gift books, guides or cookbooks
Email: braveandbrilliant@ucalgary.ca
Our Imprints
LCR Publishing publishes scholarly and technical works that fall outside the strict format of the academic monograph, that offer unique and meaningful findings, or that are particularly time sensitive. Visit the LCR Publishing homepage to learn more.
Bighorn Books publishes general interest non-fiction. Written for an engaged audience who value gripping storytelling, unexpected discoveries, and fascinating facts, these are the stories so good they have to be true. Visit the Bighorn Books homepage to learn more.
The Approval Process
Academic and Literary Works
Your submission will be reviewed by our editorial team. If you have submitted directly to a series, the series editor will also review your proposal. If your book fits within the mandate of the press and within our publishing program, it will then move forward to peer review.
Both scholarly books and Brave & Brilliant literary titles undergo peer review. Your work will be assessed by at least two experts in the field. Once assessments have been received, a proposal for publication will be presented to our editorial board.
All University of Calgary Press books are published at the recommendation of, and after review by, our editorial board. Comprised of distinguished faculty, the board members are experts in their fields and familiar with the demands of publishing.
Our Imprints
After receiving your query, the team will review your project and its fitness for the imprint to which you have submitted. We may request additional information, including manuscript samples. Our editorial team will carefully review your proposal with consideration to our previous and upcoming list, and our ongoing publications program.