J Kent Calder – Editor

Throughout my publishing career, I have sought to partner with exceptional authors to help them achieve the largest possible readership for their ideas, primarily by navigating the space between the academy and the broader public. As an acquisitions editor, I sought manuscripts that were well researched and placed subjects in national and international contexts. I like to work on scholarly interpretations and journalistic nonfiction projects in the realms of cultural, political, environmental, and military history, memoir, biography, and creative nonfiction that offer new insight and enhance understanding. I have always believed that publishing good books is about building relationships over time and establishing a reputation for being resourceful, responsive, and effective. I can guide authors who seek success in the rapidly evolving world of scholarly and educational publishing.

I can help with developing proposals and manuscripts for submission and in dealing with the ins and outs of the peer review process, negotiating contracts, and submitting final manuscripts for transmittal to editorial, design, and production departments. I am available to read manuscripts and provide suggestions for improving publication opportunities and outcomes. I like to work collaboratively with authors and am willing to provide as much advice (or as little) as authors wish to receive. My sweet spot is helping academic authors appeal to a more general audience and those authors outside academia to raise their scholarly credibility and standards.