Editor Interview: Five Rivers Publishing

Canadian interest

Gaspereau Press, Dundurn Press

D.G. Laderoute, Ann Marston, Candas Jane Dorsey

We publish exclusively Canadian authors, for the most part writing about Canadian issues.

Excellent research, exacting prose, attention to detail. Follow the guidelines.

A very polished manuscript from an author who understands the subject, the characters (if fiction), and is able to write with authority.

They don't read the guidelines, or don't adhere to them, and submit work which isn't polished, full of spelling and grammatical errors.

Cover letters matter somewhat, as this is an introduction to the author. While publication credits do not form part of our acceptance criteria, knowing if the author has some experience of the process can help us to understand the author a bit better.

If by the third chapter we aren't completely invested in the story, we skim the remainder to assess if the manuscript improves. Generally those first three chapters are a pretty good indicator of what the remainder will be like.

We evaluate if the subject matter is new, or if the author brings a fresh perspective to the subject. And we also do a bit of research regarding the author, because it's not just about the fit of the manuscript to the publisher, but the author to the publishing house. We very much build a community here, and so it's important to be sure we're compatible.

When a query comes in (which means cover letter, synopsis, and first three chapters), I read over the email cover letter to assess how the author expresses herself. That's usually a pretty good indicator of what's to come. If the subject matter and genre are of interest, I then open up the synopsis. If the document isn't in a DOC or DOCX format I reject the submission. Why? Because if the author cannot follow simple guidelines, that's a good indicator they won't be able to follow editorial direction.
If the synopsis is presented in an interesting fashion, about an interesting concept, I'll then open the sample chapters.
Usually the first line or first paragraph is a good indicator of how well the author is able to tell their story, how capable they are of suspending disbelief or an imperative to be elsewhere, and thus snag a reader. If by the end of the third chapter I'm sufficiently interested, I'll request the remainder of the manuscript.
That first process of reading the query can happen as quickly as a few hours, depending what else is on my docket that particular day. However, it can take a few weeks if we're really busy.
The second stage, after I've received the full manuscript, usually takes several weeks, because I usually immediately turn on Track Changes in Word, in order to save time down the road should I decide to acquire the manuscript. And doing so also allows me to offer a little extra to the author, in that if the manuscript is rejected, the author then receives a partial evaluation of their work, which hopefully we will be helpful.
If by the end of the manuscript I find I simply cannot exist without acquiring the story, then I send a contract off to the author, and we begin the long journey toward publication and hopefully a long and fruitful association.

We provide considerable substantive, line, and copy editing. The author always receives digital galleys to proof read and correct.

We do nominate work for awards, and in fact several of our publications have been shortlisted. Further details regarding that can be found on our website.