Big 5 publishing house
Zondervan
Christian, Academic, Children's
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Zondervan
Zondervan reads unsolicited proposals only for Zondervan Academic: textbooks, reference and scholarly books. Its other imprints work through literary agents. Academic proposals go by email, and silence after 6 weeks means no.
Zondervan was founded in 1931 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is now part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. The Zondervan publishing house releases Bibles, Christian nonfiction, children’s books through Zonderkidz and academic books through Zondervan Academic.
Only one door is open to authors without an agent: Zondervan Academic. It reads proposals for college and seminary textbooks, reference works and scholarly monographs in biblical studies, theology and related fields. For general trade books, Zondervan publishers work with literary agents.
What Zondervan is looking for
Zondervan Academic wants proposals for:
- College and seminary textbooks
- Reference books
- Scholarly monographs in Bible, theology and related subjects
Publishes
- Academic
- Children's
- Christian
- Fiction
- Nonfiction
- Religion and Spirituality
Specialties
- Textbook
How to submit to Zondervan
From its own guidelines- Write a proposal of five pages or fewer: description, what is new about it, contents with two or three lines per chapter, intended reader and your CV.
- Email it to the Zondervan Academic submissions address on its Publishing with Us page.
- Wait 6 weeks. If you hear nothing, Zondervan has passed.
Is Zondervan right for your book?
A good fit if
You teach or study theology or Bible and have a textbook or scholarly project, or you have an agent for a trade book.
Look elsewhere if
You want to send a novel, memoir or Christian living book yourself. Those go through agents, not the Academic inbox.
Zondervan imprints
Which take submissions| Imprint | Direct submissions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zondervan Academic | Yes | Unsolicited proposals for college/seminary textbooks, reference books and scholarly monographs via submissions@zondervan.com |
| Zondervan Books | Not stated | Flagship nonfiction imprint; relocated to Nashville |
| Zondervan Thrive | Not stated | Launched late 2019 |
| Zondervan Reflective | Not stated | |
| Zonderkidz | Not stated | Children's |
| Zondervan Bible Group | Not stated | |
| Editorial Vida | Not stated | Spanish division of Zondervan |
Questions about Zondervan
Does Zondervan accept unsolicited manuscripts?
Only for Zondervan Academic. Zondervan Academic reads unsolicited proposals for textbooks, reference books and scholarly monographs in biblical and theological fields. Other Zondervan imprints work through literary agents. Academic proposals go by email and should be five pages or fewer.
How long do Zondervan publishers take to reply?
Zondervan Academic replies within about 6 weeks if it is interested. If you hear nothing after 6 weeks, take it as a no and move on. Do not send the full manuscript unless the editors ask for it. Trade imprints do not use this inbox, so a novel sent there will not be read.
Is Zondervan publishing house part of HarperCollins?
Yes. Zondervan publishing house is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, which belongs to HarperCollins. Zondervan was founded in 1931 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its imprints include Zondervan Academic for scholarly books and Zonderkidz for children. Only Zondervan Academic reads proposals sent directly by authors.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
