book review submission requirements

Over time we have found that most of our contributors prefer to make their own choice of books to review rather than refer to a prepared list, so have removed a link to "Suggested Titles." We encourage reviewers to contact the Editor at editor@touchstonemag.com if they have any questions on the suitability of a particular book proposed for review in Touchstone. This is especially recommended in the case of new fiction, on reviews of which Touchstone is very selective. While we resist making ironclad rules on what we will and will not consider, as a rule we favor reviews of books that have high literary quality and thematic depth. A positive response from the Editor on suitability does not, of course, assure publication of a finished review.

Book reviews should be in MS Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) as attached files and sent to submissions@touchstonemag.com. The review should include the following information:

—Reviewer's name, address, and telephone number, whether the review is full-length or review article length (see below), and a brief biographical note.

—A full bibliographic citation for the book reviewed:

Author or Editor, Title, Publisher, date of publication, number of pages, price, cover type

—Example:

Emil Trautt, ed. and trans., The New Renan. Paris: Éditions LaGrange, 2015, 332 pp., $24.95 hc, $17.95 pb.

Normally, reviews should be of new books—forthcoming, or with the current or previous year's publication date. Full-length reviews run a maximum of 1,500 words; short reviews run 100 to 300 words (1–3 paragraphs).

Feature-length reviews (3,000–5,000 words) will be considered "review articles," will be subject to the more extensive editorial review that articles receive. It is important to remember the strong connection in the editor's mind between the significance of the book and the amount of space considered appropriate for its review. More than one subject-related book may be reviewed together as a review article or a full-length review.

As with other Touchstone articles, appropriate documentation is required, but without footnotes or endnotes. Notes should be contained within the text and abbreviated as much as possible. For example: [J. B. Smith, Hist. Chr. Church, 1934, I: 256]—and later: [Smith, Hist., III: xviii].

The editor will attempt, on request, to obtain from publishers review copies of books potential contributors believe they are likely to review. Normally, receipt of a review copy presumes the submission of a review from the recipient. "Over the transom" reviews—those sent in with no previous communication with the editor—are welcome. The first few paragraphs, at least, will be read.

Touchstone subjects all accepted submissions to rigorous editing, with particular attention to clarity and economy of expression. Potential contributors should read already published reviews for examples of accepted work. The editor will send final drafts of reviews to contributors for approval. No review will be published that does not meet its author's approval, but if the editor and author cannot agree on the final form, it is possible that the review could die on the vine.

Book Reviews will be paid at the rate of 20 cents per word published in the final version.

The mailing address for review material is:

Touchstone Book Reviews
P. O. Box 410788
Chicago, IL 60641

a note to publicists

(1) Mailings of catalogs and publication notices are welcome, but please do not send unsolicited review copies. Sample copies for review will be requested by the potential reviewer, or by us on his or her behalf.

(2) Pre-publication proofs will not be accepted.

(3) The post office box number (410788), must appear on any materials mailed to Touchstone Reviews.

(4) It is our custom to send PDF copies of reviews appearing in Touchstone to the titles' publishers as a courtesy, but only when we are in contact with a publicist, or an appropriate email address to which to attach the file can be found without difficulty on the company website.

A note regarding reviews of self-published books: Requests that a self-published book (i.e., a book whose production is paid for by the author or his agents) be reviewed in this journal will be received only from the person who proposes to write the review, not from the author, producer, or publicist. If the editor expresses interest in this proposal, he should be sent a copy of the book itself, and will give either a Yes or No on proceeding with the review. The submission, when completed, will then be subject to normal editorial evaluation.

On Lewis and Tolkien: Touchstone has a special interest in the work of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, but the massive proliferation of secondary literature on these authors, including submissions to this journal, has made it necessary that we only accept the especially interesting or illuminating. As their lives and writings are parsed ever finer we find less of what we receive passing these tests. This being said, we will be glad to read over what we are sent, but ask the author not to be excessively disappointed if even a well-written manuscript is turned down.