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Paulist Press
Christian, Academic, Catholic
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Paulist Press
Paulist Press is open to proposals from authors without an agent, by email or post. Send a cover letter, a sample chapter, the table of contents, word count, completion date and your CV; send a full manuscript only on request. Children's books need the whole manuscript. Replies take 6 to 8 weeks. It does not publish dissertations.
Paulist Press is a Catholic publisher in Mahwah, New Jersey, founded in 1865 and run by the Paulist Fathers. It publishes works on spirituality and prayer, theology and Scripture, and books for children. Its series include Classics of Western Spirituality, Stimulus books on Christian and Jewish dialogue and the What Are They Saying About series. Paulist acquired Newman Press in 1962.
For adult books, Paulist wants a proposal and sample chapter rather than a complete manuscript. Children’s proposals are different: send the entire manuscript with any illustrations, or a 15 to 25 page sample for chapter books, along with the genre, age range and a promotion plan. Materials are not returned.
What Paulist Press is looking for
- Spirituality and prayer
- Theology and Scripture
- Christian and Jewish dialogue
- Children's books, such as picture books and activity books
Publishes
- Academic
- Catholic
- Children's
- Christian
- Nonfiction
- Religion and Spirituality
Readers
- Adult
- Picture book
How to submit to Paulist Press
From its own guidelines- Write a cover letter with your working title, subject, audience and comparable titles.
- Add a sample chapter, the table of contents, estimated word count, completion date and your CV; children's books need the whole manuscript with illustrations.
- Email submissions@paulistpress.com with the subject Book Proposal, or mail it to Paulist Press, Attn: Editorial Dept., 997 MacArthur Blvd., Mahwah, NJ 07430.
- Submit only once and allow 6 to 8 weeks for a response.
Is Paulist Press right for your book?
A good fit if
Writers of serious Catholic nonfiction, teachers and scholars writing for a general readership and authors of faith-based children's books.
Look elsewhere if
Authors of dissertations, and children's writers working in fiction, memoir or poetry, which the press does not generally publish for children.
Questions about Paulist Press
Does Paulist Press accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes. Paulist Press reads proposals sent directly by authors, by email to submissions@paulistpress.com or by post to its Mahwah, New Jersey office. For adult books, send a cover letter, a sample chapter, the table of contents, word count, completion date and your CV. Do not send a full manuscript unless asked.
How do I submit a children's book to Paulist Press?
Send the entire manuscript with any illustrations, or a 15 to 25 page sample for a chapter book. Include the genre, such as picture book or activity book, the target age range and your promotion plan. Paulist does not generally publish children's fiction, memoir or poetry.
How long does Paulist Press take to reply?
Paulist Press asks authors to allow 6 to 8 weeks for a response. Submit your proposal only once, and do not send original artwork or anything you need back, because materials are not returned. If you have not heard after eight weeks, a short polite follow-up is reasonable.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
