University press
Washington State University Press
Children's, Academic, History
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About WSU Press
WSU Press is open to proposals from established and first-time writers, with a focus on the American West. Email or mail a proposal with one or two representative chapters, not the full manuscript. Simultaneous submissions are fine if you tell the press, and the standard route is free.
Washington State University Press is the publishing house of Washington State University, based in Pullman, Washington. It publishes scholarly and trade books on the American West, including monographs, essays and biographies. Its trade imprint, Basalt Books, publishes nonfiction anchored in the Pacific Northwest, from arts, culture, history, food and the environment to memoirs and biographies, for young children to older readers. Recent titles include Lewis and Clark Reframed by David L. Nicandri and Saving the Oregon Trail by Dennis M. Larsen.
Submissions are open today, and you do not need an agent. The press wants a proposal first, not the full manuscript: a CV, a summary, a table of contents with chapter summaries, one or two representative chapters and the other items its guidelines list. You can send the same proposal to other publishers if you say so. If a proposal goes to formal review, a decision usually takes three to six months.
What WSU Press is looking for
- Proposals from established and first-time writers
- Books focused on the American West
- Scholarly and trade monographs, essays and biographies
- Basalt Books nonfiction anchored in the Pacific Northwest, for young children to older readers
- Projects for the New Histories of the American West series, which has separate guidelines
Publishes
- Academic
- Children's
- History
- Memoir
- Nonfiction
Specialties
- University press list
How to submit to WSU Press
From its own guidelines- Prepare a proposal with your CV, a summary, a table of contents with chapter summaries and one or two representative chapters.
- Add the other items listed in the press guidelines.
- Email it to Linda Bathgate, Editor-in-Chief, at linda.bathgate@wsu.edu, or mail it to PO Box 645610, Pullman, WA 99164-5610.
- Tell the press if the proposal is also with other publishers.
Is WSU Press right for your book?
A good fit if
This press suits historians, scholars and nonfiction writers working on the American West or the Pacific Northwest. First-time authors with a strong regional subject are welcome.
Look elsewhere if
Look elsewhere if you write novels, poetry or literary criticism, since the press is not accepting those at this time. Do not send a full manuscript first.
Books published by WSU Press
Well-known titles- Listening to the BirdsRoberta Tawlikitsanmay' Paul
- Lewis and Clark ReframedDavid L. Nicandri
- Tahoma and Its PeopleJeff Antonelis-Lapp
- Saving the Oregon TrailDennis M. Larsen
- Hardship to HomelandRichard D. Scheuerman and Clifford E. Trafzer
WSU Press imprints
Which take submissions| Imprint | Direct submissions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WSU Press | Yes | Scholarly and trade books on the American West |
| Basalt Books | Yes | Trade imprint; nonfiction anchored in the Pacific Northwest, for young children to older readers; separate guidelines |
| Lost Horse Press | Not stated | Shown in a homepage slideshow; relationship and submissions not stated |
Questions about WSU Press
Does WSU Press accept unsolicited manuscripts?
WSU Press accepts unsolicited proposals, not full manuscripts at first. It welcomes proposals from established and first-time writers on the American West, including scholarly and trade monographs, essays and biographies. Its Basalt Books imprint takes Pacific Northwest nonfiction under separate guidelines. The press is not accepting novels, poetry or literary criticism at this time, so those projects belong elsewhere.
How do I submit to WSU Press?
Email your proposal to Linda Bathgate, Editor-in-Chief, at linda.bathgate@wsu.edu, or mail it to PO Box 645610, Pullman, WA 99164-5610. Include your CV, a summary, a table of contents with chapter summaries, one or two representative chapters and the other listed items. The standard route is free. Basalt Books asks you to list any grants or funding that could offset costs, which is a question on its form, not a fee.
How long does WSU Press take to reply?
If your proposal goes to formal review, WSU Press usually reaches a decision in three to six months. The press does not state a reply time for the first look at a proposal. If you sign a contract, publication usually follows 12 to 18 months later. You may send the same proposal to other publishers at the same time, as long as you tell WSU Press.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
- Checked on the publisher's own site
