Manuscript Submissions

Thank you for your interest in Dawn Publications. These guidelines are meant to assist you in submitting manuscripts which are likely to be of interest to us. Please be aware that Dawn is a publishing "boutique" and has very few openings for manuscripts at this time. Even though we receive many fine submissions, Dawn will accept only a handful.

Dawn publishes nature awareness titles for adults and children. The company grew out of the enthusiastic public response to the now-classic Sharing Nature With Children by Joseph Cornell, the eminent naturalist and nature educator. In 1991, we received a manuscript from 14-year old Kristin Joy Pratt, which she also illustrated with magic markers; we published A Walk in the Rainforest and have continued publishing picture books ever since. Our picture books are intended to encourage an appreciation for nature and a respectful participation in it. Some titles are well suited for classroom use; others are more of the bedtime genre. Many of our publications come from unsolicited submissions and first-time authors.

The best way to get a sense of what is appropriate for Dawn is to examine some of our books.
Dawn generally does not publish material which

  • contains animal dialogue which presents animals in a highly anthropomorphic light;
  • merely explains nature;
  • is a fantasy;
  • is a retelling of a legend (as most legends have a strong element of the supernatural);
  • is centered primarily on human situations or foibles.

We now accept submissions either by mail or by email. We appreciate your cooperation in submitting manuscripts properly. Please allow two months for a response.

To submit by email:

  1. Put the title and your name in the subject line. (For example, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter). One manuscript only, please!
  2. The email should consist of cover letter about yourself, your intent and vision for this submission, and your other books, if any.
  3. The manuscript may be either included in the body of the email or attached as a Word document (only).
  4. If you have previously submitted other manuscripts, please include your biographical information again.
  5. Email to: submission@dawnpub.com. Please do not send submissions or queries to any other email address at Dawn Publications

To submit by mail:

  1. Always enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). If an SASE is not enclosed, we will not respond.
  2. Please enclose a cover letter about yourself, your intent and vision for this submission, and your other books, if any, along with the manuscript.
  3. Please send submissions to:

    Dawn Publications
    12402 Bitney Springs Rd.
    Nevada City, CA 95959
    Attn: Glenn Hovemann

Illustrators:

Please send a cover letter about yourself, your style, your experience and other books you have illustrated along with samples of your work. If you want a reply, please be certain to include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send to:

Dawn Publications
12402 Bitney Springs Rd.
Nevada City, CA 95959
Attn: Muffy Weaver