Author Guidelines

Manuscript Submission Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in publishing with Imbila. We are glad you are considering entrusting us with your writing.

To help both you and us, please read these guidelines carefully. Manuscripts or proposals that do not meet these criteria are unlikely to be accepted.

Mission & Fit Initial Query Proposal Package Format Review Process Rights Quality Contract

Submission Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines carefully when preparing your manuscript

1

Mission & Fit

What We Publish

Imbila seeks to publish Christian books that build up readers in faith, truth, and godliness. We value biblical theology, practical application, and works that encourage discipleship.

We are interested in nonfiction genres such as:

Christian Living

Practical guides to following Christ in everyday African contexts—work, family, relationships, ethics, and integrity.

Theology/Apologetics

Clear, accessible treatments of doctrine, exegesis, or biblical themes that equip ordinary believers with sound theology rooted in Scripture and applicable in African realities.

Church Leadership

Books that help pastors, elders, and ministry leaders think biblically about shepherding, church health, mission, and theological depth in the African church.

Marriage & Family

Books that address the unique challenges and joys of marriage, parenting, and family life in African societies, shaped by Scripture.

Devotional Work

Books that help believers grow in daily communion with God—through Scripture reflection, prayer, and meditations.

Ethics

Biblical responses to moral questions facing Christians in Africa today—integrity, justice, sexuality, governance, poverty, and community life.

Worldview

Works that equip believers to think Christianly about culture, philosophy, education, and contemporary issues, offering a distinctly biblical lens.

At this time, we do not accept works of:

Fiction Poetry Exposés Biographies Personal Experience Only

Books centered primarily on personal experience without theological or pastoral insight, or books outside our doctrinal affirmations (which can be found in our Statement of Faith).

2

Initial Query / Idea Stage

Before Submitting

Before sending a full proposal or manuscript, please submit a query via email to submissions@imbilapublishers.com

Include:

  • Your proposed title and subtitle
  • A one-paragraph summary of your book idea (what it is, what it seeks to accomplish)
  • Your target audience (who you are writing for, why this book is needed)
  • Why you are the author for this project (experience, background, insight)

We will review and will contact you if your idea aligns with Imbila's mission and current publishing interests. If you do not hear from us within six (6) weeks, you may assume that we will not be commissioning the work. (Please do not submit a full proposal or manuscript without invitation.)

3

Proposal / Manuscript Package

If Invited

If your query is accepted, please submit:

  • Extended summary/overview of the book
  • Table of contents with working chapter titles
  • Chapter outline or summaries (brief description of each chapter's content)
  • One or two sample chapters, already proofread
  • Estimated total word count for the complete manuscript
  • Proposed timeline: how long you will need to finish the manuscript after contract signing
  • Audience description: who the readers are; what needs or problems the book meets
  • List of similar / competing books, and a clear statement of how your book is different and what value it adds
  • Your author bio & book blurb
4

Format & Presentation

Technical Requirements

To help us review your proposal/manuscript, please format as follows:

  • File Format: .docx or .rtf files
  • Document Format: Times New Roman, 10pt, justified, 1.0 spacing
  • Margins: 1 inch (28 mm) on all sides
  • File Naming: Author_Title_Draft1.docx
  • References: Use footnotes, not endnotes
  • Images: Submit high-resolution (.jpg or .png) separately with captions. List the license or origins of images used in the manuscript.
  • Permissions: Authors must secure rights for third-party material (text, images, charts).
5

Review Process & Timeline

What to Expect

Query Response

Within 6 weeks

Proposal Decision

8–12 weeks

Contract to Publication

Varies by project

After receiving a query, we will respond within 6 weeks to let you know whether we are interested in a proposal.

After a proposal is submitted, please allow 8–12 weeks for a decision. (These periods may vary based on editorial load.)

If your work is accepted, further editorial review, copy-editing, design, and other processes will follow.

6

Rights, Permissions & Intellectual Property

Legal Requirements
  • Submissions must be original works of the author.
  • If using quotations, illustrations, or large excerpts from other works, permissions must be cleared and documented.
  • By submitting a work, you assert that it is your own, does not infringe on others' rights, and is not under contract with another publisher.
7

Quality & Readiness

Our Standards
  • The manuscript should show clear structure, theological depth, practical application, and readability.
  • We expect coherence in message and consistent voice/style throughout.
  • Even sample chapters should be polished: poor grammar or muddled structure may lead to rejection regardless of the idea.
8

Contract & Support

What We Provide
  • If accepted, Imbila will issue a contract specifying rights, royalties, publishing schedule, and responsibilities.
  • Imbila provides editorial review, design (cover/interior), and (as appropriate) marketing or promotional support.
  • We expect authors to also contribute to promotion (e.g. endorsements, platform, speaking, social media).

Why Some Submissions Are Rejected

Here are some common reasons proposals or manuscripts are not accepted:

  • The concept does not align with Imbila's mission or theological convictions.
  • Similar books are already saturating the market without clear differentiation.
  • The manuscript or proposal shows insufficient development of ideas, poor structure, lack of clarity.
  • Work is not adequately proofread or is unfinished.
  • Genre or content type outside the scope (see section on Mission & Fit).

Why This Matters

Imbila's heartbeat is to equip the African church with resources that are both theologically rich and culturally resonant. We believe the African Christian today needs books that:

  • Speak clearly about the realities of suffering, poverty, prosperity, and resilience.
  • Address issues of faith, integrity, and community in contexts of rapid change.
  • Root believers in God's Word, guarding against shallow teaching or false gospels.
  • Inspire hope and courage through faithful testimony and sound doctrine.

If your book idea seeks to serve the African Christian in these ways, we would love to hear from you.

Ready to Submit Your Query?

Send your initial query to our submissions team and we'll review your idea.

Please allow up to 6 weeks for a response to your initial query.

Email Submissions Review Checklist