How to Get Published

What happens once you have your book/CD-ROM/Web publishing idea formulated, and you'd like AOCS to consider it for publication? This section will answer the most common questions AOCS is asked.

Proposal Submission and Review

For the sake of simplicity, we will look at book publishing as an example of how publishing with AOCS works. The same process applies to CD-ROMs and Web publishing, with minor variations in the final production stages.

Book publishing begins with a proposal. The AOCS Press website has a book proposal form that can be filled out online and submitted to Press staff, who will initiate the internal review process. You can also mail a proposal to:

AOCS Press c/o Jodey Schonfeld
2710 S. Boulder
Urbana, IL 61802-6996

The first step in our review of your idea begins with the following criteria:

• Your areas of specialization
• Size of audience
• Is the material for a U.S. audience, international, or both?
• Names of trade or professional organizations interested in the topic
• Colleges/universities that could use the book as a textbook
• Short courses and seminars where book could be marketed/sold
• Distance learning courses to develop with the book
• Potential sponsors: Commodity suppliers, product manufacturers, consultants (use as "leave-behind" at clients), your company's website

BSPC Review of the Proposal

The first technical review of your book idea is done by the AOCS books and special publications committee (BSPC). Members of the committee review your proposal and the market survey data that is compiled by AOCS marketing staff. BSPC members (all of whom are your peers in the fats and oils industry) look for:

• Appropriate for AOCS Press? Timely?
• Familiarity with work of the editor
• Size of the market and institutional interest in the topic
• Suggestions for additions/subtractions from table of contents
• Members indicate any competing titles known in the field

If AOCS decides to accept your proposal, you will be contacted by AOCS staff with the good news.