Saturday, September 2, 2017

Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Cambridge Scholars Publishing's putative link to Cambridge is that it was "Founded by former lecturers and researchers from the University of Cambridge." According to the website's description of the 67 advisory board members (9/2/17), exactly one has a current or former connection to the University of Cambridge. (Terri Apter is a Fellow Emerita of Newman College.) The mailing address is in Newcastle. [UPDATE (10/13/18): An email of 12 October 2018 notes that "we remain proud of our roots, and maintain a representative office in Cambridge, the city of our foundation."]

The website states that "We ... do not require any fees be paid to us for publication purposes." Hence, characterizing the business as predatory -- it was on Beall's list of possible predators -- would seem extreme. The quality of the books is debated at Political Science Rumors. A few respondents comment (mostly adversely) on what they have read.

The journals do not look stellar. No editorial boards are listed, although the "editorial advisors" may serve that function. "The International Journal of American Studies is a peer reviewed journal to be launched in spring/summer 2013 ... All manuscripts should be sent electronically to: Irakli Tskhvediani (iraklitskhvediani@yahoo.com; jdpag2012@yahoo.com) by the 30th of April, 2013." The journal is said to be "supported by" the US Embassy in Georgia.This seems to mean that "In 2012 US Department of State and Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, granted him a Federal Assistance Award to set up the publication of a peer-reviewed journal of American Studies." Five years later, the journal is still "awaiting book cover" and has no content.

Addendum (9/30/18) in Defense of Cambridge Scholars

In August 2018, I received an email maintaining that CSP's "presence in your ‘flaky journals’ list seems unwarranted." It came from John Peters, who stated that he was "doing some advisory work with Cambridge Scholars Publishing." I offered Mr. Peters the opportunity to present his views in "a guest posting ... providing further information on the publisher and fully disclosing your relationship to Cambridge Scholars." He submitted the following "comment on behalf of Cambridge Scholars Publishing":
Dear all
    I act as an advisor to Cambridge Scholars Publishing (CSP), and Professor Kaye has kindly invited me to post some information on the publisher. I have spent many years in publishing and on the fringes of academia (mostly with visiting posts); I spent 10 years as Director, then CEO, of Emerald Publishing in the UK; founded GSE Research and acquired Greenleaf Publishing (sustainability and responsible business books and journals), which we sold to Taylor & Francis/Routledge in 2017. I am still associated with T&F, and hold a few other consulting/advisory posts, including CSP, who I first met several years ago. I’m fortunate enough to be able to choose my clients, and not to work for people I don’t care for.
    A couple of preliminary points. Firstly I deeply, deeply dislike predatory journal publishers. They are thieves and con-artists. I am wholly in favour of exposing predatory academic journals which solicit money from academics to publish ‘open access’. My friends at Cabells have done some sterling work there, picking up Jeffrey Beall’s baton, in addition to the good work done by this and other blog sites.
    Secondly, debate is good, and debate about quality, impact, inclusion, diversity etc is vital. So please read this in the spirit in which it is intended; not to shut down debate, but to encourage it.
    Much of the discussion on here is about outbound solicitation of authors to publish books. Of course, all publishers ‘commission’ (that’s what Commissioning Editors do) but that tends to be done very selectively, ie publishers talk to people they have heard of, or who they meet at conferences, or – particularly - who have sold well in the past. CSP’s commissioning works quite differently, and I will try to explain why, and how.
    A few words on the CSP business model. There are no charges to publish. There is no requirement on authors for a buy-back in return for publication. Royalties are accrued to the author from the first sale of a title. Decisions to publish are not taken on likely sales or profitability (which is unusual in a commercial publisher). The commercial risk to publish rests entirely with CSP. Some titles succeed, some do not, but the business model is predicated on the portfolio succeeding in aggregate.
    This is interesting, and quite liberating, in terms of publishing philosophy. From a publisher’s point of view (as opposed to an academic’s) ‘quality’ in a title is a proxy for likely commercial success. Publishers like to pick winners. That means they tend to navigate away from marginal interest, unheralded authors and second-tier institutions. CSP’s approach reverses that, because it isn’t predicated on a few big-sellers carrying the portfolio, but on enough titles selling enough copies to make the thing work as a whole. That means an author who is very niche is as welcome (more or less) as one who is mainstream; an author from Latvia or Laos as welcome as one from USA or UK. Which is why CSP talk about an ‘ecology of knowledge’ – the stirring-in of a diversity of material, ideas and people.
    A business model like CSP’s allows for the net to be cast wider, which means that solicitation moves away from pre-selection of ‘winners’. It isn’t reliant on a few big-sellers to drag the rest over the line. CSP’s invitations to publish are generally drawn from a combination of repeat and referred authors, plus desk research into who is researching or has previously published. All mailers have a clear unsubscribe/opt-out option.
    And regarding some of the comments about ‘robots’ or ‘spam-bots’, I can assure you that the people on the end of the mailers are real people, who will reply cheerfully and politely if you contact them; will generally be upset if you are rude, abusive or obscene (yes, sadly, that does occasionally happen); and will take you off a mail-list if you ask them to.
    Many people in both publishing and research think the traditional system is not completely fit for purpose. There are any number of innovative models, from Faculty of 1000 in London to Social Science Research Network (now part of Reed Elsevier) in New York State, to self-publication with Lulu.com. CSP publish hardback books and ebooks with a relatively short turnaround time, by asking lots of people, both likely and unlikely, to submit proposals, and publishing many (though not all) of proposals received, at their own commercial risk.
    I welcome those innovations. We need, in my view, to encourage different voices in the corpus of knowledge. The status quo should be challenged. We also should, I believe, encourage smaller, independent, non-traditional publishers who operate outside the confines of multinational industries and giant corporations. Bio-diversity works better than mono-culture in most spheres of life, and that includes scholarly research and publishing. There is room for all sorts.
    Finally, the name. Cambridge Scholars Publishing were founded in 2002 by University of Cambridge alumni and faculty, in Cambridge. The business relocated to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northern England, when the then Managing Director took a faculty post at the University of Durham. The current CSP operates from a converted early 1900s public library in quite a deprived area, Walker, in Newcastle, where employment, and particularly ‘knowledge work’ is not easy to find. They also maintain a contact address in Cambridge, with a view to, at some stage, opening an editorial office there. CSP have opened representative offices in Berlin, Barcelona and are about to do so in Hangzhou, China. There is no association, official or otherwise, made or implied with the University of Cambridge or Cambridge University Press.
    Thanks for reading. True to my comments about debate and discourse I should probably offer the opportunity to contact me directly with questions or comments, so please feel free to do so: jvpeters@btconnect.com.
In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that Mr. Peters is paid for his advice to CSP and posted -- anonymously (8/8/18) -- a comment expressing puzzlement over the criticism of CSP. The comments submitted to this blog range from praise for CSP, to skepticism, to harsh criticism. Only a few seem to be based on experience with CSP. Click on "comments" at the bottom of the page to see them.


Email

Soliciting for Almost Anything
  • From: Adam Rummens [adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com]
    Sent: June 10, 2019, at 12:13 PM
    Subject: INVITATION TO SUBMIT A BOOK PROPOSAL, AND A SPECIAL CALL FOR OUR NEW CHINA BELT AND ROAD BOOK SERIES
    Dear Dr. Kaye,
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now inviting book proposals in all our academic and scholarly research fields. We would be pleased if you would consider submitting a proposal for a book or edited collection.
    With more than 800 titles due to publish this year, and sales in more than 120 countries worldwide, Cambridge Scholars Publishing is one of the world’s leading scholarly publishers. We publish in all major fields of academic research and practice, in Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Health Sciences. Our latest Newsletter has lots of information about Cambridge Scholars, including our home base at the Lady Stephenson Library, how we commission and select our titles, our unique ‘Print on Time’ system, and the chance to meet some of our publishing team.
    In addition to this call for proposals, we are pleased to announce a special call for proposals on any topics associated with China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative. The ‘Belt and Road’ initiative (yi dai yi lu, “One Belt One Road”) is a ‘21st century Silk Road’, connecting Asia, Africa and Europe, and reaching to Latin America, championed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. It is expected to exceed $1 trillion in construction and contracts alone, though it consists of much more than construction.
    The Belt and Road Book Series will be the first dedicated book series outside Asia to focus on this initiative. Its scope includes, but is not limited to ... .
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing aims to put our authors first in everything we do. We offer a fast, fair and friendly proposal review. Our titles are all published in handsome hardback, as well as eBook formats. We distribute worldwide via our international network of booksellers including Amazon, Ebsco/GOBI, ProQuest and Ingram. A title published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing is never out of stock or unavailable, thanks to our unique Print on Time global distribution system. We offer an escalating royalty payment—the more we sell, the higher the royalty rate, from the first copy sold. We make no charge for publication.
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing was founded in 2001 by University of Cambridge alumni and faculty, and relocated to the historic Lady Stephenson Library in Newcastle upon Tyne a few years later. Though not connected to Cambridge University in any way, we remain proud of our roots, and maintain a representative office in Cambridge, the city of our foundation, as well as regional representative offices in Barcelona, Berlin, and Hangzhou, China. ...
    I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Adam Rummens
    Commissioning Editor ...
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing publishes in Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. Established in 2001, our operational headquarters are in the historic Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, with representative offices in Berlin, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; and Hangzhou, China. We maintain an office in the city of our foundation, Cambridge, UK. Cambridge Scholars Publishing Ltd is registered in England. Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727
Soliciting in Decision Science
  • From: Adam Rummens [adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com]
    Sent: Aug 31, 2017, at 9:03 AM
    Subject: Decision Science Books
    Dear Dr. Kaye,
    Firstly, please excuse this unsolicited email. I’m sure that like me you receive too many as it is and so I’ll keep it brief. I was recently appointed as Commissioning Researcher for Cambridge Scholars Publishing (see below) with a brief to expand the subject areas in which we publish books. As such I am in the process of developing collections within the decision sciences. As I believe you already have some experience of academic and scientific writing, I wondered whether you would consider us as your publisher should you decide to put ‘pen to paper’ and write a book at some point in the future?
    We are also developing Editorial Advisory Groups to help ensure that we only publish high quality texts. If this is something that you would like to learn more about, please do let me know.
    As I promised, I have kept this message short, but would be delighted to talk or correspond more if you feel you would like to explore possibilities.
    Kind regards,
    Adam Rummens
    Commissioning Researcher
    About Cambridge Scholars Publishing:
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing (CSP) is an independent academic publisher, founded in 2001 by former lecturers and researchers from the University of Cambridge who felt existing publishing companies took too long to publish academic books, monographs, conference proceedings and textbooks.
    CSP has its own printing facility, now publishes 750+ titles each year in both electronic and print formats and is committed to providing a forward-thinking publishing service that champions original thinking, whilst ensuring we put our authors at the heart of everything we do. Our back list catalogue contains approximately 7,500 titles.
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing Ltd is registered in England. Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727
    Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this message do not necessarily represent those of Cambridge Scholars Publishing Ltd. The contents of this message are intended for the addressee only. They are confidential and may contain private information. Cambridge Scholars Publishing is not responsible for any damages resulting from the unauthorised use, forwarding or disclosure of this message, and will not be held liable for damages or loss caused by any viruses.
  • From: Adam Rummens [adam.rummens=cambridgescholars.com@mmail1.co.uk]; on behalf of; Adam Rummens [adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com]
    Date: Wed 3/28/2018 9:36 AM (and at 9:51 AM)
    Subject: Publishing Enquiry - Decision Sciences
    Dear Dr. Kaye,
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are pleased to invite you to consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection in the area of Decision Sciences. As part of our wider expansion as a publisher, we are now accepting book proposals in the categories of Life Sciences, Health Sciences and Physical Sciences, as well as our traditional base in Humanities and Social Sciences.
    We offer:
    • Fast, fair and friendly proposal review.
    • A handsome hardback printed book, as well as eBook formats.
    • Worldwide distribution via our international network of booksellers including Amazon, Blackwell, Baker & Taylor, YBP and Ingram.
    • Our titles are always in stock, with our unique, in-house Print on Time global distribution system.
    • An escalating royalty payment from the first copy sold – the more we sell, the higher the royalty rate.
    • We never charge a fee for publication.
    We work hard to give our authors a great publishing experience. We know we succeed most of the time because our authors tell us so, and because, in many cases, we have authors who have written two, three or more titles with us. But here are some things you may not know about us:
    • Our books have been endorsed by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney and “The world’s leading public intellectual” Professor Noam Chomsky of MIT, amongst many others.
    • We are always pleased to hear from first-time authors, but nearly 60 per cent of our monograph authors are full professors or associate professors.
    • In the past few years, we have published authors from 110 different countries. About 33% of our authors are based in the USA and the UK.
    • We are advised and guided by more than 1400 advisory board members across more than 250 different disciplines.
    You can find lots of information on our website ... where you can download a Book Proposal Form and review our Author Promises. Alternatively, contact me and I will be pleased to send a proposal form to you.. And we are always glad to add to our Editorial Advisory Board network across our publishing fields, including Decision Sciences. If this is something that you would like to learn more about, or apply to join, please do let me know. You can also find more details regarding this on our website.
    I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Adam Rummens
    Commissioning Editor
    ... Email: adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com, Social Media: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Blog
    About Cambridge Scholars Publishing (www.cambridgescholars.com): Cambridge Scholars Publishing (CSP) is an independent academic publisher, founded in 2001 by former lecturers and researchers from the University of Cambridge who felt existing publishing companies took too long to publish academic books, monographs, conference proceedings and textbooks. CSP has its own printing facility, now publishes 750+ titles each year in both electronic and print formats and is committed to providing a forward-thinking publishing service that champions original thinking, whilst ensuring we put our authors at the heart of everything we do. Our back list catalogue contains approximately 7,500 titles.
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing - Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727 Registered Address: Lady Stephenson Library, Welbeck Road, NE6 2PA
Soliciting in Life Sciences, Health Sciences and Physical Sciences
  • Sent: Feb 27, 2018, at 8:52 AM
    From: Adam Rummens [adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com]
    Subject: Further expansion for Cambridge Scholars
    Dear Dr. Kaye,
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now accepting book proposals in the categories of Life Sciences, Health Sciences and Physical Sciences, as well as our traditional base in Humanities and Social Sciences. This is part of our wider expansion as a publisher, which includes the recruitment of subject-based Editorial Advisory Boards, and the opening of new representative offices in Berlin and Barcelona, to add to our UK operational offices.
    We would be pleased if you would consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection in the area of Decision Sciences.
    We offer a fair, friendly and fast proposal review. ,,,
    You can find lots of information on our website ... . Alternatively, contact me directly ... .
    We are also developing Editorial Advisory Boards across our publishing fields, including Decision Sciences. If this is something that you would like to learn more about, or apply to join, please do let me know. You can find more details regarding this on our website.
    I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Adam Rummens
    Commissioning Editor
    Email: adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com, Cambridge Scholars Publishing - Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727 Registered Address: Lady Stephenson Library, Welbeck Road, NE6 2PA
Soliciting in Social Sciences and Humanities
  • From: Adam Rummens [adam.rummens=cambridgescholars.com@mmail1.co.uk]; on behalf of; Adam Rummens [adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com]
    Date: Wed 6/13/2018 11:18 AM
    Subject: Invitation to submit a book proposal in Social Sciences and Humanities
    Dear Dr Kaye,
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now accepting book proposals in Social Sciences and Humanities. To help guide our work, we have established more than 90 subject-based Editorial Advisory Boards in Social Sciences ... . We would be pleased if you would consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection. ... We work hard to give our authors a great publishing experience. We know we succeed most of the time because our authors tell us so ... .
    With over 7,500 publications, we are always adding new titles to the field of Social Sciences. ... [W]e are currently offering a time limited discount of 35% on all of our titles, which will expire at the end of June. ... I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Adam Rummens
    Commissioning Editor
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing publishes in Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. Established in 2001, our operational headquarters are in the historic Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, with representative offices in Berlin, Germany, and Barcelona, Spain. We maintain an office in the city of our foundation, Cambridge, UK. Cambridge Scholars Publishing Ltd is registered in England. Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727 ... Registered Address: Lady Stephenson Library, Welbeck Road, NE6 2PA
  • From: Adam Rummens [adam.rummens=cambridgescholars.com@mmail1.co.uk]; on behalf of; Adam Rummens [adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com]
    Date: Mon 7/30/2018 9:15 AM (and again 11:17 AM)
    Subject: Invitation to submit a book proposal in Social Sciences and Humanities
    Dear Dr Kaye,
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now inviting book proposals in Social Sciences and Humanities.
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing dates from 2001, when a group of graduates from Cambridge University decided to come together to start a publishing firm, intending to offer a different type of publication opportunity to a wide range of scholars, not just those from elite institutions. Over the years, we have grown and expanded, resulting in the restoration of our operational HQ, the historic Lady Stephenson Library in Newcastle.
    This year, we opened regional representative offices in Barcelona and Berlin, and we will soon be opening our first offices in Asia, based at the historic Zhejiang Gongshang University in Hangzhou, China.
    We would like to invite you to consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection. ... We offer a fast, fair and friendly proposal review. ... .
    To help guide our work, we have established over 100 subject-based Editorial Advisory Boards in Social Sciences and Humanities ... .
    I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Adam Rummens
    Commissioning Editor ...
  • From: Adam Rummens [adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com]
    Date: Oct 12, 2018, at 12:15 PM, Nov. 29, 2018, at 8:45 AM
    Subject: Invitation to submit a book proposal
    Dear Dr Kaye,
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now accepting book proposals in Humanities and Social Sciences, and we would be pleased if you would consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection.
    With more than 750 titles due to be released this year, and sales in more than 120 countries worldwide, Cambridge Scholars Publishing is one of the world’s leading academic publishers. We publish in all major fields of scholarly research and practice, namely Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Health Sciences. You can find more information on our website ... .
    We put our authors first in everything we do. We offer a fast, fair and friendly proposal review, and we aim to use this as part of the process to encourage and improve. Our titles are all published in handsome hardback, as well as eBook formats. We distribute worldwide via our international network of booksellers including Amazon, Blackwell, Baker & Taylor, YBP and Ingram. A title published with Cambridge Scholars Publishing will never be out of stock, with our unique Print on Time global distribution system. We offer an escalating royalty payment—the more we sell, the higher the royalty rate, from the first copy sold. We make no charge for publication.
    To help guide our work, we have established more than 100 advisory boards in Social Sciences, and more than 300 Advisory Boards across all our areas of publication. We are always pleased to consider additions to our Editorial Advisory Boards. If you would like to learn more, or apply to join one, please let me know.
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing was founded in 2001 by University of Cambridge alumni and faculty, and relocated to the historic Lady Stephenson Library in Newcastle upon Tyne a few years later.
    Though not connected to Cambridge University in any way, we remain proud of our roots, and maintain a representative office in Cambridge, the city of our foundation. This year, we also opened regional representative offices in Barcelona, Berlin, and Hangzhou, China.
    Please visit our website, where you can download a Book Proposal Form, and find out more information about our Advisory Boards.
    I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Adam Rummens
    Commissioning Editor
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing publishes in Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. Established in 2001, our operational headquarters are in the historic Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, with representative offices in Berlin, Germany, and Barcelona, Spain. We maintain an office in the city of our foundation, Cambridge, UK. Cambridge Scholars Publishing Ltd is registered in England. Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727
  • From: Adam Rummens [adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com]
    Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2019, 11:33:04 AM EDT
    Subject: INVITATION TO SUBMIT A BOOK PROPOSAL
    Dear Dr Kaye,
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now accepting book proposals in Humanities and Social Sciences, and we would be pleased if you would consider submitting a proposal to publish a book or edited collection.
    With more than 800 titles due to publish this year, and sales in more than 120 countries worldwide, Cambridge Scholars Publishing is one of the world’s leading scholarly publishers. We publish in all major fields of academic research and practice, namely Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Health Sciences. Our latest Newsletter has lots of information about Cambridge Scholars, including our home base at the Lady Stephenson Library, how we commission and select our titles, our unique ‘Print on Time’ system, and the chance to meet some of our publishing team.
    We put our authors first in everything we do. Cambridge Scholars Publishing offer a fast, fair, and friendly proposal review. Our titles are all published in handsome hardback, as well as eBook formats. We distribute worldwide via our international network of booksellers including Amazon, Ebsco/GOBI, ProQuest and Ingram. A title published with Cambridge Scholars Publishing will never be out of stock or unavailable, thanks to our unique Print on Time global distribution system. We offer an escalating royalty payment—the more we sell, the higher the royalty rate, from the first copy sold. We make no charge for publication.
    To help guide our work, we have established more than 450 Advisory Boards across all our areas of publication. We are always pleased to consider additions to our Editorial Advisory Boards. If you would like to learn more, or apply to join one, please let me know.
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing was founded in 2001 by University of Cambridge alumni and faculty, and relocated to the historic Lady Stephenson Library in Newcastle upon Tyne a few years later.
    Though not connected to Cambridge University in any way, we remain proud of our roots, and maintain a representative office in Cambridge, the city of our foundation. This year, we also opened regional representative offices in Barcelona, Berlin, and Hangzhou, China. ...
    I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Adam Rummens
    Commissioning Editor ...
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing publishes in Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. Established in 2001, our operational headquarters are in the historic Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, with representative offices in Berlin, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; and Hangzhou, China. We maintain an office in the city of our foundation, Cambridge, UK. Cambridge Scholars Publishing Ltd is registered in England. Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727 Cambridge Scholars Publishing - Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727 Registered Address: Lady Stephenson Library, Welbeck Road, NE6 2PA
  • From: Adam Rummens [adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com]
    Date: Oct 5 at 6:11 PM ET
    Subject: Invitation to submit a book proposal
    Dear Dr Kaye,
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now inviting book proposals to add to our Humanities and Social Sciences portfolio. We would be pleased if you would consider submitting a proposal for a book or edited collection. ... With more than 800 titles being released this year, and sales in more than 120 countries worldwide, Cambridge Scholars Publishing are one of the world’s leading scholarly publishers. ...
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing aim to put our authors first in everything we do. We promise: ... If you would be interested in being considered to join one of ou Editorial Advisory Boards in Humanities and Social Sciences, you can find more details, and an application form, here. I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Adam Rummens
    Commissioning Editor ...
Soliciting in Social Sciences
  • From: Adam Rummens [adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com]
    Date: Feb. 15, 2019, 4:26:11 PM EST
    Subject: Invitation to submit a book proposal in Social Sciences
    Dear Dr Kaye,
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now accepting book proposals in the field of Social Sciences. In 2018, we published more than 700 new titles—the most in our history. We established vibrant new portfolios in Life, Physical and Health Sciences, and continued to develop our established Humanities and Social Sciences portfolio, guided by more than 450 subject-based Editorial Advisory Boards.
    We hope you will consider publishing a monograph or edited collection with us. ... We work hard to give our authors a great publishing experience. We know we succeed most of the time because our authors tell us so, and because, in many cases, we have authors who have published two, three or more titles with us. We promise our authors:
    A fast, fair and friendly proposal review;
    Worldwide distribution to libraries and academics via our international network of booksellers including Amazon, Blackwell, GOBI/Ebsco, Proquest and Ingram—we sell in more than 120 countries worldwide;
    Publication in handsome hardback, as well as eBook formats;
    An escalating royalty payment—the more titles we sell, the higher the royalty rate, with royalties earned from the first copy sold;
    Print copies never out of stock, with our unique Print on Time global distribution system;
    Each title treated on its merits, and we specialise in interesting and niche research areas;
    No publication charges.
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing was founded in 2001 by University of Cambridge alumni and faculty, and relocated to the historic Lady Stephenson Library in Newcastle upon Tyne a few years later. Though not connected to Cambridge University in any way, we remain proud of our roots, and maintain an address in Cambridge, the city of our foundation. Last year, we also opened regional representative offices in Barcelona, Berlin, and Hangzhou, China.
    Please visit our website ... I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Adam Rummens
    Commissioning Editor
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing publishes in Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. Established in 2001, our operational headquarters are in the historic Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, with representative offices in Berlin, Germany, and Barcelona, Spain. We maintain an office in the city of our foundation, Cambridge, UK. Cambridge Scholars Publishing Ltd is registered in England. Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727
Soliciting in Library and Information Science
  • From: Adam Rummens [adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com]
    Date: Wed 4 Sept 2019 7:17 PM and Sat 7 Sept 2019 11:54 AM
    Subject: INVITATION TO SUBMIT A BOOK PROPOSAL
    Dear Dr Kaye,
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now inviting book proposals to add to our Humanities and Social Sciences portfolio. We would be pleased if you would consider submitting a proposal for a book or edited collection. To do so, please click here.
    With more than 800 titles due to publish this year, and sales in more than 120 countries worldwide, Cambridge Scholars Publishing is one of the world’s leading scholarly publishers. We publish in all major fields of academic research and practice, in Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Health Sciences. Our latest Newsletter features the in-depth story behind one of our books; the fascinating history of Sir William Haskell Stephenson, who commissioned our historic library head offices, and Lady Eliza Bond Stephenson, the inspiration behind the building (with a side excursion to James Bond, via the Dewey Decimal System!); plus the chance to meet two more of our publishing team.
    To celebrate our focus on libraries, we are pleased to announce a special call for proposals on any topics associated with Library and Information Science (LIS).
    Information is increasingly abundant in today’s environment. However, with this abundance comes increasing difficulty to distinguish the real from the fake, opinion from fact, and truth from propaganda. This makes the role of the custodian and curator of information increasingly vital.
    We would like to invite: Proposals for monographs on any issue related to LIS, including adapted PhD theses; Proposals for edited collections, including collections deriving from conference proceedings;
    Proposals for chapters.
    In addition, we are delighted to announce the launch of a specialist Editorial Advisory Board devoted to LIS, and would like to invite applications to this.
    To propose a book or edited collection in Library and Information Science, please click here ... . To propose or submit a chapter, please reply to this message with a chapter abstract; To apply to join the new LIS Advisory Board, please click here ... .
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing aims to put our authors first in everything we do. We offer a fast, fair and friendly proposal review. Our titles are all published in handsome hardback, as well as eBook formats. We distribute worldwide via our international network of booksellers including Amazon, Ebsco/GOBI, ProQuest and Ingram. A title published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing is never out of stock or unavailable, thanks to our unique Print on Time global distribution system. We offer an escalating royalty payment—the more we sell, the higher the royalty rate, from the first copy sold. We make no charge for publication.
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing was founded in 2001 by University of Cambridge alumni and faculty, and relocated to the historic Lady Stephenson Library in Newcastle upon Tyne a few years later.
    Though not connected to Cambridge University in any way, we remain proud of our roots, and maintain a representative office in Cambridge, the city of our foundation, as well as regional representative offices in Barcelona, Berlin, and Hangzhou, China.
    To submit a proposal, please follow the links above. Alternatively, reply to this email, and I can tell you more about what we do. I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Adam Rummens
    Commissioning Editor
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing publishes in Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. Established in 2001, our operational headquarters are in the historic Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, with representative offices in Berlin, Germany, and Barcelona, Spain. We maintain an office in the city of our foundation, Cambridge, UK. Cambridge Scholars Publishing Ltd is registered in England. Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727
Soliciting in Business, Management, Economics and Finance
  • From: Adam Rummens [adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com]
    Date: Nov 13, 2019, at 6:38 AM
    Subject: Invitation to submit a book proposal (plus a special call)
    Dear Dr Kaye,
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now inviting book proposals in the Humanities and Social Sciences. We would be pleased if you would consider submitting a proposal for a book or edited collection. We are delighted to continue to support long-form research dissemination in the Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as our other fields of academic and scholarly publishing, through the publication of monographs and edited collections. This is, and will remain, our core focus in the years ahead.
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing have grown to be one of the world’s leading scholarly book publishers. We produce books in all major fields of academic research and practice, in Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Health Sciences. Our latest Newsletter features the in-depth story behind one of our books; the fascinating history of Sir William Haskell Stephenson, who commissioned our historic library head offices, and Lady Eliza Bond Stephenson, the inspiration behind the building (with a side excursion to James Bond, via the Dewey Decimal System); plus the chance to meet two more of our publishing team.
    In addition to this Humanities and Social Sciences call, we are pleased to announce a special call for proposals on any topics in the field of Business, Management, Economics and Finance. Every kind of organisation benefits from good leadership and management – from businesses to charities; from schools to governments; and from research labs to performing arts centres. In recent months, many of our authors and Editorial Advisors have suggested that we develop a focused imprint of books in Business, Management, Economics and Finance (BMEF). This is one of the fastest-growing and most vibrant areas of global research and education, with an estimated 13,000 business schools worldwide. We will always listen carefully to ideas from our author and advisor community.
    Look out for more initiatives like this in 2020, our 20th year in publishing. ← Thanks for the warning.
    Linked to the call for proposals in BMEF, we will also be pleased to review applications to be an Editorial Advisor in fields associated with these disciplines. You can see information about our Advisory Boards here. ...
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing aim to put our authors at the heart of everything we do. ... Cambridge Scholars Publishing were founded in 2001 by University of Cambridge alumni and faculty, and relocated to the historic Lady Stephenson Library in Newcastle upon Tyne a few years later. Though not connected to Cambridge University in any way, we remain proud of our roots, and maintain a representative office in Cambridge ...
    To submit a scholarly book proposal in the Humanities and Social Sciences, or a proposal to the new Business, Management, Economics and Finance collection, please visit our website, ... . Alternatively, you can reply to this email for more information. I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Adam Rummens
    Commissioning Editor
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing publish in Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. Established in 2001, our operational headquarters are in the historic Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, with representative offices in Berlin, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; and Hangzhou, China. We maintain an office in the city of our foundation, Cambridge, UK. Cambridge Scholars Publishing Ltd are registered in England. Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727

41 comments:

  1. The Commissioning Assistant at Cambridge Scholars sometimes goes by a different name. It's almost as if there's only a spambot there.
    --------------------------------------
    From: Helen Cryer [mailto:helen.cryer@cambridgescholars.com]
    Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2017 1:07 AM
    To: $NAME
    Subject: Neurology Books

    Dear Dr. $NAME,
    Firstly, please excuse this unsolicited email. I’m sure that like me you receive too many as it is and so I’ll keep it brief.
    I was recently appointed as Commissioning Assistant for Cambridge Scholars Publishing with a brief to expand the subject areas in which we publish books. As such I am in the process of developing a collection based in the field of Neurology. As I believe you already have some experience of academic and scientific writing, I wondered whether you would consider us as your publisher should you decide to put ‘pen to paper’ and write a book at some point in the future?

    We are also developing Editorial Advisory Groups to help ensure that we only publish high quality texts. If this is something that you would like to become involved in, please do let me know.
    As I promised, I have kept this message short, but would be delighted to talk or correspond more if you feel you would like to explore possibilities.
    Kind regards,

    Helen Cryer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If they really do not charge for publication, What's their angle/motivation?

      John S.

      Delete
    2. Is it so hard for you to imagine a world in which money is not the only "motivation"? I, for instance, would like to know what other private things apart from emails are people disposed to air in public, or how rude they can be to those who send them a polite invitation ...

      Delete
  2. Here's another of these generic requests from ASP:

    Dear Dr. XXXXXX,

    Firstly, please excuse this unsolicited email. I’m sure that like me you receive too many as it is and so I’ll keep it brief.

    I was recently appointed as Commissioning Assistant for Cambridge Scholars Publishing with a brief to expand the subject areas in which we publish books. As such I am in the process of developing a collection based in the field of Zoology. As I believe you already have some experience of academic and scientific writing, I wondered whether you would consider us as your publisher should you decide to put ‘pen to paper’ and write a book at some point in the future?



    We are also developing Editorial Advisory Boards to help ensure that we only publish high quality texts. If this is something that you would like to become involved in, please do let me know.

    As I promised, I have kept this message short, but would be delighted to talk or correspond more if you feel you would like to explore possibilities.

    Kind regards,



    Helen Cryer

    ReplyDelete
  3. don't waste your time with them .....

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hah! They nearly got me. I received an e-mail with exactly the same text as above with "Zoology" replaced by "Environmental Science" and signe by "Helen Edwards". A robot, likely.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mine was from "Hannah Fletcher" and speciofied "key areas of hematology", but was otherwise identical.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I got Helen Cryer and "the field of Biodiversity and Conservation", a field that I'm not even part of. Spam-tastic.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dear Dr. S,

    Firstly, please excuse this unsolicited email. I’m sure that like me you receive too many as it is and so I’ll keep it brief.

    I was recently appointed as Commissioning Researcher for Cambridge Scholars Publishing (see below) with a brief to expand the subject areas in which we publish books. As such I am in the process of developing a collection based in the field of Transportation. As I believe you already have some experience of academic and scientific writing, I wondered whether you would consider us as your publisher should you decide to put ‘pen to paper’ and write a book at some point in the future?

    We are also developing Editorial Advisory Boards to help ensure that we only publish high quality texts. If this is something that you would like to learn more about, please do let me know.

    As I promised, I have kept this message short, but would be delighted to talk or correspond more if you feel you would like to explore possibilities.

    Kind regards,



    Adam Rummens

    Commissioning Assistant



    Web: www.cambridgescholars.com

    Email: adam.rummens@cambridgescholars.com

    Social Media: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Blog

    ReplyDelete
  8. Got one myself today. Helen Edwards. Exactly the same phrasing but for the discipline.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Has anyone considered that there may simply be more than one commissioning editor at CSP? I've had that sort of email from numerous publishers and imprints, some of which are predatory but many are well-known and highly reputable. I published in a CSP edited collection as a postgrad - it was fee-free and doulbe blind peer-reviewed. I don't know about their journals.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dear Helen ,

    I received an email's with their nice support for the book in area of physical sciences.Should I go with this?After reading several response I am confuse.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dear Dr. ,

    Firstly, please excuse this unsolicited email. I’m sure that like me you receive too many as it is and so I’ll keep it brief.

    I was recently appointed as Commissioning Editor for Cambridge Scholars Publishing with a brief to expand the subject areas in which we publish books. As such I am in the process of developing a collection based in the field of Biology. As I believe you already have some experience of academic and scientific writing, I wondered whether you would consider us as your publisher should you decide to put ‘pen to paper’ and write a book at some point in the future?



    We are also developing Editorial Advisory Groups to help ensure that we only publish high quality texts. If this is something that you would like to become involved in, please do let me know.

    As I promised, I have kept this message short, but would be delighted to talk or correspond more if you feel you would like to explore possibilities.

    Kind regards,



    Helen Cryer



    Web: www.cambridgescholars.com

    Email: helen.cryer@cambridgescholars.com

    Social Media: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Blog





    If you experience any difficulty reading this message, please send us an email to admin@cambridgescholars.com.



    Cambridge Scholars Publishing Ltd is registered in England. Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727



    Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this message do not necessarily represent those of Cambridge Scholars Publishing Ltd. The contents of this message are intended for the addressee only. They are confidential and may contain private information. Cambridge Scholars Publishing is not responsible for any damages resulting from the unauthorised use, forwarding or disclosure of this message, and will not be held liable for damages or loss caused by any viruses.



    About Cambridge Scholars Publishing (www.cambridgescholars.com):



    Cambridge Scholars Publishing (CSP) is an independent academic publisher, founded in 2001 by former lecturers and researchers from the University of Cambridge who felt existing publishing companies took too long to publish academic books, monographs, conference proceedings and textbooks.

    CSP has its own printing facility, now publishes 750+ titles each year in both electronic and print formats and is committed to providing a forward-thinking publishing service that champions original thinking, whilst ensuring we put our authors at the heart of everything we do. Our back list catalogue contains approximately 7,500 titles.




    ReplyDelete
  12. Same scheme to me (see below).
    My decision: their email --> Trash.
    FYI: I am not in the early stage, so I don't bother to publish a book if I don't have something reasonable.
    Your decision can differ...

    ---

    Dear Dr. ,
    Firstly, please excuse this unsolicited email. I’m sure that like me you receive too many as it is and so I’ll keep it brief.
    I was recently appointed as Commissioning Editor for Cambridge Scholars Publishing with a brief to expand the subject areas in which we publish books. As such I am in the process of developing a collection of books based in the field of . As I believe you already have some experience of academic and scientific writing, I wondered whether you would consider us as your publisher should you decide to put ‘pen to paper’ and write a book at some point in the future?
    We are also developing Editorial Advisory Groups to help ensure that we only publish high quality texts. If this is something that you would like to become involved in, please do let me know.
    As I promised, I have kept this message short, but would be delighted to talk or correspond more if you feel you would like to explore possibilities.
    Kind regards,

    Helen Edwards
    Commissioning Assistant

    ReplyDelete
  13. I highly recommend that this company is avoided at all costs. A few books will no doubt be sold in the initial print run but will then be forgotten about. There's absolutely no chance of selling enough to start earning from it - they may sell 30 (to your family and friends)when the commission wouldn't even start until 500. You have been warned, they're a horrible little company.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Same experience here, just received this week.
    Avoid**Avoid**Avoid**
    Dear Dr.,
    Firstly, please excuse this unsolicited email. I’m sure that like me you receive too many as it is and so I’ll keep it brief.
    I was recently appointed as Commissioning Researcher for Cambridge Scholars Publishing (further details below my signature) with a brief to expand the subject areas in which we publish books. As such I am in the process of developing collections based on key areas of Physiology. As I believe you already have some experience of academic and scientific writing, I wondered whether you would consider us as your publisher should you decide to put ‘pen to paper’ and write a book at some point in the future?
    We are also developing an Editorial Advisory Board to help ensure that we only publish high quality texts. If this is something that you would like to learn more about, please do let me know.
    As I promised, I have kept this message short, but would be delighted to talk or correspond more if you feel you would like to explore possibilities.
    Kind regards,

    Hannah Fletcher
    Commissioning Assistant

    ReplyDelete
  15. OK, well...First of all, Cambridge Scholars is not a journals publisher - they publish monographs and edited collections, so they don't really qualify under 'flaky journals'.

    Second, and this is important, some people need to check their privilege. Academic publishing purports to be solely meritocratic. Those who work/worked in the publishing industry know it is not. The system is rigged. As a scholar from an emerging country, or - God forbid - a second or third tier western world institution it is fiendishly difficult to get published by a 'high-reputation' publisher. So those who are not in the privileged and fortunate position to be able to compete for a slot with OUP or Nature have what, exactly?

    Increasingly, they have the tempting option to pay a fortune to a 'Gold' OA publisher for a journal article, or pay to get a book published or self-published.

    Think about that for a minute. The academic publishing industry has long been criticised - rightly - for rentier profiteering and denial of knowledge supply to those outside the elite, well-funded library or endowment. Gold OA and pay-to-publish monographs do something more pernicious still - they close off the ACCESS to the published body of knowledge. Gold OA and pay-to-publish books means the wealthy and privileged get to tell their story to everyone, But who is telling the stories of those outside that gilded bubble?

    Cambridge Scholars do not charge to publish. They do not withhold royalties until 500 copies are sold (that was the previous regime). They do bring to the market, through all the usual reputed distribution channels, a DIVERSE mix of voices. so they are soliciting publications. Isn't that waht publishers do? Or should we sit there waiting for authors to present themselves to us, so we can turn them away and boast about our 97% rejection rates? So their messages are a bit clunky. Would you prefer something a little more slick? If you don't want to publish with them, don't publish with them!

    When a species gets inbred, it falls apart. We do it with our dogs, and create dogs who cannot breathe because their faces are flat (but don't they look cute though). We do it with our royalty, because royals didn't want to breed with commoners. Hence Hapsburg jaw and haemophilia. We do it with our power structures, because we wouldn't want women or people of colour at the top of our elite institutions (did you know there are more men called David than there are women as UK FTSE 100 CEOs). Doesn't the same apply to knowledge? Doesn't the knowledge gene pool get richer, not poorer, by stirring in just a few different voices?

    Sorry, but this is nothing more than good old-fashioned snobbery. Go and kick the corporate boards at RELX or Informa or Von Holtzbrinck if you want to change something. That's a bit harder than carping from the side-lines about a firm which is actually trying to make a success of addressing the need for diversity and inclusivity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Loved your comment!

      Delete
    2. I absolutely agree. I have published with established presses and have no problem with CSP, especially as I am now retired. People should read the books, not just the publisher's name. CSP is fast, efficient and produce quite attractive books. They ARE properly vetted, and it's NOT a vanity press. And, in case nobody thought it, OUP and CUP have published plenty of duds.

      Delete
  16. Dear Dr. xxxxx,
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now accepting book proposals in the categories of Life Sciences, Health Sciences and Physical Sciences, as well as our traditional base in Humanities and Social Sciences. This is part of our wider expansion as a publisher, which includes the recruitment of subject-based Editorial Advisory Boards, and the opening of new representative offices in Berlin and Barcelona, to add to our UK operational offices.
    We would be pleased if you would consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection in the area of Electrochemistry.
    We offer a fair, friendly and fast proposal review. Our titles are all published with a handsome hardback cover, as well as in eBook formats. We distribute worldwide via our international network of booksellers, including Amazon, Blackwell, Baker & Taylor, YBP and Ingram. A title published with Cambridge Scholars Publishing will never be out of stock, with our unique Print on Time global distribution system. We offer an escalating royalty payment—the more we sell, the higher the royalty rate. In addition, we never charge for publication.
    You can find lots of information on our website, www.cambridgescholars.com, where you can download a Book Proposal Form. Alternatively, contact me directly, and I will be pleased to send one to you.
    We are also developing Editorial Advisory Boards across our publishing fields, including Electrochemistry. If this is something that you would like to learn more about, or apply to join, please do let me know. You can find more details regarding this on our website.
    I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Helen Edwards
    Commissioning Editor
    Web: www.cambridgescholars.com
    Email: helen.edwards@cambridgescholars.com
    Social Media: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Blog
    About Cambridge Scholars Publishing (www.cambridgescholars.com): Cambridge Scholars Publishing (CSP) is an independent academic publisher, founded in 2001 by former lecturers and researchers from the University of Cambridge who felt existing publishing companies took too long to publish academic books, monographs, conference proceedings and textbooks. CSP has its own printing facility, now publishes 750+ titles each year in both electronic and print formats and is committed to providing a forward-thinking publishing service that champions original thinking, whilst ensuring we put our authors at the heart of everything we do. Our back list catalogue contains approximately 7,500 titles.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Smells fishy and it is not certainly fish, I have received AGAIN the same email with different area of research.

    Dear Dr....

    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now accepting book proposals in the categories of Life Sciences, Health Sciences and Physical Sciences, as well as our traditional base in Humanities and Social Sciences. This is part of our wider expansion as a publisher, which includes the recruitment of subject-based Editorial Advisory Boards, and the opening of new representative offices in Berlin and Barcelona, to add to our UK operational offices.

    We would be pleased if you would consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection in the area of Physiology.

    We offer a fair, friendly and fast proposal review. Our titles are all published with a handsome hardback cover, as well as in eBook formats. We distribute worldwide via our international network of booksellers, including Amazon, Blackwell, Baker & Taylor, YBP and Ingram. A title published with Cambridge Scholars Publishing will never be out of stock, with our unique Print on Time global distribution system. We offer an escalating royalty payment—the more we sell, the higher the royalty rate. In addition, we never charge for publication.

    You can find lots of information on our website, www.cambridgescholars.com, where you can download a Book Proposal Form. Alternatively, contact me directly, and I will be pleased to send one to you.

    We are also developing Editorial Advisory Boards across our publishing fields, including Physiology. If this is something that you would like to learn more about, or apply to join, please do let me know. You can find more details regarding this on our website.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Kind regards,

    Hannah Fletcher
    Commissioning Editor

    Web: www.cambridgescholars.com
    Email: hannah.fletcher@cambridgescholars.com
    Social Media: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Blog

    About Cambridge Scholars Publishing (www.cambridgescholars.com): Cambridge Scholars Publishing (CSP) is an independent academic publisher, founded in 2001 by former lecturers and researchers from the University of Cambridge who felt existing publishing companies took too long to publish academic books, monographs, conference proceedings and textbooks. CSP has its own printing facility, now publishes 750+ titles each year in both electronic and print formats and is committed to providing a forward-thinking publishing service that champions original thinking, whilst ensuring we put our authors at the heart of everything we do. Our back list catalogue contains approximately 7,500 titles.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think this kind of thing is the price we pay for our online visibility - and especially if a member of Linkedin, Academia.org etc. This is the email I got last week - it seems more sophisticated that some of the above examples and the writer appears to be real. The Advisory Board is not that impressive and nor are the titles in my area. As I am already an author with CUP and OUP, and a series editor with the latter I was not exactly tempted to respond!

    Dear Dr.....
    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now accepting book proposals in the categories of Life Sciences, Health Sciences and Physical Sciences, as well as our traditional base in Humanities and Social Sciences. This is part of our wider expansion as a publisher, which includes the recruitment of subject-based Editorial Advisory Boards, and the opening of new representative offices in Berlin and Barcelona, to add to our UK operational offices.
    We would be pleased if you would consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection in the area of Agricultural and Biological Sciences.
    We offer a fair, friendly and fast proposal review. Our titles are all published with a handsome hardback cover, as well as in eBook formats. We distribute worldwide via our international network of booksellers, including Amazon, Blackwell, Baker & Taylor, YBP and Ingram. A title published with Cambridge Scholars Publishing will never be out of stock, with our unique Print on Time global distribution system. We offer an escalating royalty payment—the more we sell, the higher the royalty rate. In addition, we never charge for publication.
    You can find lots of information on our website, www.cambridgescholars.com, where you can download a Book Proposal Form. Alternatively, contact me directly, and I will be pleased to send one to you.
    We are also developing Editorial Advisory Boards across our publishing fields, including Agricultural and Biological Sciences. If this is something that you would like to learn more about, or apply to join, please do let me know. You can find more details regarding this on our website.
    I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Leah McAteer
    Commissioning Editor

    ReplyDelete
  19. Dear Dr.,

    I am a Commissioning Editor for Cambridge Scholars Publishing (further details below my signature) with a brief to develop the subject areas in which we publish books. As such I am in the process of developing collections based on key areas of Building and Construction. As I believe you already have some experience of academic and scientific publication in this field, I wondered whether you would consider publishing a title with us. We are accepting proposals for monographs and edited collections.
    We offer a fast, fair and friendly proposal review. Our titles are distributed worldwide via our international network of booksellers including Amazon, Blackwell, Baker & Taylor, YBP and Ingram, in handsome hardback, as well as eBook formats. We offer an escalating royalty payment – the more we sell, the higher the royalty rate. Your book will never be out of stock, with our unique Print on Time global distribution system. And we never charge for publication.
    You can download a Book Proposal Form from our website. Alternatively, contact me and I will gladly send one to you and answer any queries you may have.
    We are also developing Editorial Advisory Boards across our publishing fields. If this is something that you would like to learn more about, or apply to join, please do let me know. You can see more details on our website.
    I look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind regards,
    Helen Edwards
    Commissioning Editor

    ReplyDelete
  20. It is easy, is a predator editorial. If you are a postgraduate student or PhD, don't be afraid to publish your work in a REAL journal. Don't waste your time, knowledge and work with this "editorials".

    ReplyDelete
  21. Linda Chalker-ScottMarch 27, 2018 at 12:25 PM

    Today's email from Leah McAteer touts their endorsements by Famous People:

    "Our books have been endorsed by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney and “The world’s leading public intellectual” Professor Noam Chomsky of MIT, amongst many others."

    I looked over both their offerings and advisory board members in life sciences. Both are thin and none are scholars in the US.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I too received a very detailed email! Don`t know weather its real or fake?

    Dear Dr. -------------,

    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are pleased to invite you to consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection in the area of Fisheries Science . As part of our wider expansion as a publisher, we are now accepting book proposals in the categories of Life Sciences, Health Sciences and Physical Sciences, as well as our traditional base in Humanities and Social Sciences.

    We offer:

    Fast, fair and friendly proposal review.
    A handsome hardback printed book, as well as eBook formats.
    Worldwide distribution via our international network of booksellers including Amazon, Blackwell, Baker & Taylor, YBP and Ingram.
    Our titles are always in stock, with our unique, in-house Print on Time global distribution system.
    An escalating royalty payment from the first copy sold – the more we sell, the higher the royalty rate.
    We never charge a fee for publication.
    We work hard to give our authors a great publishing experience. We know we succeed most of the time because our authors tell us so, and because, in many cases, we have authors who have written two, three or more titles with us. But here are some things you may not know about us:

    Our books have been endorsed by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney and “The world’s leading public intellectual” Professor Noam Chomsky of MIT, amongst many others.
    We are always pleased to hear from first-time authors, but nearly 60 per cent of our monograph authors are full professors or associate professors.
    In the past few years, we have published authors from 110 different countries. About 33% of our authors are based in the USA and the UK.
    We are advised and guided by more than 1400 advisory board members across more than 250 different disciplines.
    You can find lots of information on our website, www.cambridgescholars.com, where you can download a Book Proposal Form and review our Author Promises. Alternatively, contact me and I will be pleased to send a proposal form to you..

    And we are always glad to add to our Editorial Advisory Board network across our publishing fields, including Fisheries Science . If this is something that you would like to learn more about, or apply to join, please do let me know. You can also find more details regarding this on our website.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Kind regards,

    Leah McAteer
    Commissioning Editor

    Web: www.cambridgescholars.com
    Email: leah.mcateer@cambridgescholars.com
    Social Media: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Blog

    About Cambridge Scholars Publishing (www.cambridgescholars.com): Cambridge Scholars Publishing (CSP) is an independent academic publisher, founded in 2001 by former lecturers and researchers from the University of Cambridge who felt existing publishing companies took too long to publish academic books, monographs, conference proceedings and textbooks. CSP has its own printing facility, now publishes 750+ titles each year in both electronic and print formats and is committed to providing a forward-thinking publishing service that champions original thinking, whilst ensuring we put our authors at the heart of everything we do. Our back list catalogue contains approximately 7,500 titles.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have received exactly same mail from "Commissioning editor" as you may see below.

    Dear Dr. Cakmak,

    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are pleased to invite you to consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection in the area of Food Science and Technology. As part of our wider expansion as a publisher, we are now accepting book proposals in the categories of Life Sciences, Health Sciences and Physical Sciences, as well as our traditional base in Humanities and Social Sciences.

    We offer:

    Fast, fair and friendly proposal review.
    A handsome hardback printed book, as well as eBook formats.
    Worldwide distribution via our international network of booksellers including Amazon, Blackwell, Baker & Taylor, YBP and Ingram.
    Our titles are always in stock, with our unique, in-house Print on Time global distribution system.
    An escalating royalty payment from the first copy sold – the more we sell, the higher the royalty rate.
    We never charge a fee for publication.
    We work hard to give our authors a great publishing experience. We know we succeed most of the time because our authors tell us so, and because, in many cases, we have authors who have written two, three or more titles with us. But here are some things you may not know about us:

    Our books have been endorsed by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney and “The world’s leading public intellectual” Professor Noam Chomsky of MIT, amongst many others.
    We are always pleased to hear from first-time authors, but nearly 60 per cent of our monograph authors are full professors or associate professors.
    In the past few years, we have published authors from 110 different countries. About 33% of our authors are based in the USA and the UK.
    We are advised and guided by more than 1400 advisory board members across more than 250 different disciplines.
    You can find lots of information on our website, www.cambridgescholars.com, where you can download a Book Proposal Form and review our Author Promises. Alternatively, contact me and I will be pleased to send a proposal form to you..

    And we are always glad to add to our Editorial Advisory Board network across our publishing fields, including Food Science and Technology. If this is something that you would like to learn more about, or apply to join, please do let me know. You can also find more details regarding this on our website.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Kind regards,

    Leah McAteer
    Commissioning Editor

    Web: www.cambridgescholars.com
    Email: leah.mcateer@cambridgescholars.com
    Social Media: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Blog

    About Cambridge Scholars Publishing (www.cambridgescholars.com): Cambridge Scholars Publishing (CSP) is an independent academic publisher, founded in 2001 by former lecturers and researchers from the University of Cambridge who felt existing publishing companies took too long to publish academic books, monographs, conference proceedings and textbooks. CSP has its own printing facility, now publishes 750+ titles each year in both electronic and print formats and is committed to providing a forward-thinking publishing service that champions original thinking, whilst ensuring we put our authors at the heart of everything we do. Our back list catalogue contains approximately 7,500 titles.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dunno how fake it is, but they sure are sloppy. I have published in several academic venues over the years, but do not have a doctorate. Yet, I got the "Dear Dr. X" intro.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I got one today from
    "James Brittain"
    Commissioning Editor.
    Thanks for the warnings.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Dear Dr XXXX

    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now accepting book proposals in Life Sciences. To help guide our work, we have established more than 30 subject-based Editorial Advisory Boards in Life Sciences, which you can see here.

    We would be pleased if you would consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection. You can download a proposal form here. Alternatively, contact me directly, and I will be pleased to send one to you.

    We work hard to give our authors a great publishing experience. We know we succeed most of the time because our authors tell us so, and because in many cases we have authors who have written two, three or more titles with us.

    We offer a fast, fair and friendly proposal review.
    Our titles are all published with a handsome hardback cover, as well as in eBook formats.
    We distribute worldwide via our international network of booksellers including Amazon, Blackwell, Baker & Taylor, YBP and Ingram.
    A title published with Cambridge Scholars Publishing will never be out of stock, with our unique Print on Time global distribution system.
    We offer an escalating royalty payment – the more we sell, the higher the royalty rate.
    We never charge for publication.
    We call these our Author Promises, and you can read more about them here on our website.

    We are always adding to titles published in Life Sciences. Below is a selection (you can find many more on our website):

    Agriculture, Climate Change and Food Security in the 21st Century

    Calculus in Plant Science

    Kin Recognition in Protists and Other Microbes: Genetics, Evolution, Behavior and Health

    Should you wish to purchase any of the above, or indeed any title from our website, we are currently offering a time limited discount of 35% on all of our titles, which will expire at the end of June. Please enter the code CSPJUNE35 at checkout to redeem your discount.

    If you have any questions, please do get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you.

    Kind regards,

    James Brittain
    Commissioning Editor

    ReplyDelete
  27. If you are an outstanding author recognized in the field of your profession, then maybe you are invited to be published in the best publishing houses of the world. If you are a billionaire then you recieve advertising of the most famous expensive super brands. And if you are an "ordinary" scientist you do not need to be "a picky bride" and remain an "old maiden"... Write and publish something good and you will get the positive resonance!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dear Dr Jadhav,

    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now inviting book proposals in Life Sciences.

    Cambridge Scholars Publishing dates from 2001, when a group of graduates from Cambridge University decided to come together to start a publishing firm, intending to offer a different type of publication opportunity to a wide range of scholars, not just those from elite institutions. Over the years, we have grown and expanded, resulting in the restoration of our operational HQ, the historic Lady Stephenson Library in Newcastle.

    This year, we opened regional representative offices in Barcelona and Berlin, and we will soon be opening our first offices in Asia, based at the historic Zhejiang Gongshang University in Hangzhou, China.

    We would like to invite you to consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection. You can download a proposal form here. Alternatively, contact me directly, and I will be pleased to send one to you.

    We offer a fast, fair and friendly proposal review. Our titles are distributed worldwide via our international network of booksellers including Amazon, Blackwell, Baker & Taylor, YBP and Ingram, in handsome hardback, as well as eBook formats. We offer an escalating royalty payment—the more titles we sell, the higher the royalty rate. Your book will never be out of stock, with our unique Print on Time global distribution system. Furthermore, we never charge for publication.

    To help guide our work, we have established almost 40 subject-based Editorial Advisory Boards in Life Sciences, which you can see here.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Kind regards,

    James Brittain
    Commissioning Editor

    Web: www.cambridgescholars.com
    Email: james.brittain@cambridgescholars.com
    Social Media: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Blog

    ReplyDelete
  29. One more to add to the collection--

    Dear Dr Tytell,

    Cambridge Scholars Publishing are now inviting book proposals in Life Sciences [mstat182.co.uk].

    Cambridge Scholars Publishing dates from 2001, when a group of graduates from Cambridge University decided to come together to start a publishing firm, intending to offer a different type of publication opportunity to a wide range of scholars, not just those from elite institutions. Over the years, we have grown and expanded, resulting in the restoration of our operational HQ, the historic Lady Stephenson Library [mstat182.co.uk] in Newcastle.

    This year, we opened regional representative offices in Barcelona and Berlin, and we will soon be opening our first offices in Asia, based at the historic Zhejiang Gongshang University in Hangzhou, China.

    We would like to invite you to consider submitting a proposal to publish a monograph or edited collection. You can download a proposal form here [mstat182.co.uk]. Alternatively, contact me directly, and I will be pleased to send one to you.

    We offer a fast, fair and friendly proposal review. Our titles are distributed worldwide via our international network of booksellers including Amazon, Blackwell, Baker & Taylor, YBP and Ingram, in handsome hardback, as well as eBook formats. We offer an escalating royalty payment—the more titles we sell, the higher the royalty rate. Your book will never be out of stock, with our unique Print on Time global distribution system. Furthermore, we never charge for publication.

    To help guide our work, we have established almost 40 subject-based Editorial Advisory Boards in Life Sciences, which you can see here [mstat182.co.uk].

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Kind regards,

    James Brittain
    Commissioning Editor

    Web: www.cambridgescholars.com [mstat182.co.uk]
    Email: james.brittain@cambridgescholars.com
    Social Media: Twitter [mstat182.co.uk] Facebook [mstat182.co.uk] LinkedIn [mstat182.co.uk] Blog [mstat182.co.uk]

    We have recently updated our Privacy Policy. Click here [mstat182.co.uk] to see it.

    Cambridge Scholars Publishing publishes in Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. Established in 2001, our operational headquarters are in the historic Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, with representative offices in Berlin, Germany, and Barcelona, Spain. We maintain an office in the city of our foundation, Cambridge, UK. Cambridge Scholars Publishing Ltd is registered in England. Reg. No: 4333775; VAT No: 108280727

    Click here to Unsubscribe [mstat182.co.uk]

    ReplyDelete
  30. Ok I know cambridge Scholars quite well, and I'm a bit puzzled. They aren't a journals publisher (so don't have journals, flaky or otherwise) and don't charge for publication, so aren't predatory.

    It seems the thing everyone is sniffy about is the outbound prospecting for authors. I do find this Groucho Marx "they can't be any good as a publisher otherwise they wouldn't publish me" thing frankly bizarre. Why not ask people to publish, for goodness sakes?

    If you are lucky enough to sit in an elite institution courtesy of your education and upbringing and intellect - good for you. You - and I - are fortunate people. Maybe, if I may, think about being a bit more generous to those scholars who haven't had our privilege and fortune, and want to have a book published (and don't want to pay, or self publish) and won't - ever - get picked up by OUP.

    i'm a career publisher, and I have never understood the idea that we have to sit in our offices and wait for 'high quality' academics to come to us, and count our rejection rates carefully so we can show off about how many we turn away. I don't like that game, and I think it's time we changed it.

    Good wishes everyone, but maybe try and be a bit nicer, eh?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Anonymous,
      The blog is not limited to postings about publishers of journals. (See the page entitled "Genesis and Nature of This Blog.") Neither is it limited to "predatory" publishers. Indeed, the posting observes that CSP does not seem to deserve that sobriquet. Nice is good, but repeated spam is not. --DHK

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  31. The amount of hearsay and rumour about CSP is ridiculous, and unprofessional. Much of the criticism (like some of the above) presents no empirical basis for the criticism.

    In 2007 was approached by CSP after a conference, with a suggestion that we consider them as publisher. Yes, the letter was probably rather like that one above (ever had a clerical job?).

    As conference proceedings are difficult to place, we took a chance with them. They take NO payment, and they distributed the book very widely. It’s still in print and has now sold nearly 600 copies at full price. Not bad for a 790-page conference proceedings.

    Next time people comment on CSP on the basis of rumours and hearsay, ask why they aren't applying the same standard of proof that they would apply in the rest of their academic career. And why they're always anonymous on these forums?

    (comment reposted because of a typo)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Be careful, you are deceived!
    First you will be sent a letter with a very tempting sentence: "Cambridge Scholars Publishing are inviting book proposals in Physical Sciences ... In addition, we will never charge for publication". From the text of this letter, it would seem, it follows that a very solid publishing house offers you to publish a book for free and even to pay royalties, and the publisher gets profit when selling the book. The fact that you, at best, publish a book at your own expense, you do not learn at once. If you do not agree to pay for the publication, you will simply lose time, a lot of time, even if you are an experienced author and have well prepared the manuscript for publication. Extortion of money from the author is well disguised. Here is one of the options. It is obvious that any book written by the author must pass through the hands of a proofreader and editor, since it contains a number of typos, punctuation errors and style, inaccuracies in coding and a list of references. It is here that lies the catch. Your manuscript will be sent to the readiness team for publication. This command will find in the manuscript exactly 10 typos or other errors with the help of the spelling checker for a few seconds. Even the reference "J.P.Pierce" is a misprint, because there is no gap between the surname and the initials. You make the necessary corrections and send the manuscript again. The next 10 seals are sent to you. After a while you will be sure that only three cycles of inspections are allowed free of charge. Next, you must pay a certified proofreader, whose list is kindly provided by the publisher. If you are smart enough, you will guess that these proofreaders work in the state of the publisher itself. They do not receive payment for the amount of errors found in the manuscript, but for the volume of the text. Thus, the price rating fluctuates within the limits of "USD $ 0.012 per word - £ 15 per 1,000 words", so a 225-page book will cost you 400 - 750 £ only for proof-reading. If you consider that the publishing house offers you an author's fee of 5% of the sales volume, you quickly enough realize that you will be able to return the money you spent only for many years, especially since you do not have the opportunity to check how many copies of the book are sold by the publishing house, which already deceived you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear anonymous

      I was sorry to read your comment. It's a shame you use words like 'extortion' and 'deceived' - they aren't very helpful.

      If you (and others) have a moment, please take a look at my posting on the front page of this blog, which explains the philosophy behind Cambridge Scholars Publishing. One of the reasons we can be inclusive, and publish specialist titles which may not have a large commercial audience, is because our cost base is kept relatively low. We publish a good many authors whose first language is not English, and to maintain a language edit/correction service would be beyond us. In fact, every major publisher also does this. Look at Elsevier https://webshop.elsevier.com/languageservices/languageediting/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvavWx73l3QIVh7_tCh3ADwXZEAAYASAAEgJqmPD_BwE or Routledge/T and F https://www.tandfeditingservices.com/services/ and you will see they also use paid-for language editing.

      Cambridge Scholars Publishing do say clearly in their author contract that "The Author acknowledges that the Publisher does not perform proofreading services and confirms that she/he has proofread the Manuscript." If a manuscript fails an editing check, the author is asked to correct it. If it fails a second time, the author is again asked to correct it. If it fails a third time, the author is asked to engage a company-vetted proofreader who we know will deliver a publishable result.

      From a publishing process point of view, if a manuscript fails proofreading, that's an additional complication and an additional process, so the publisher does not like it to happen. If it continues to fail, it continues to take the time of our employees. So, again, the publisher does not want this to happen. So, a trusted third party is engaged, if the author wishes to proceed.

      Finally, a factul correction. Proofreading staff are external to Cambridge Scholars, and every transaction is made (as you will know, anonymous author) directly between an author and the proofreader, including all correspondence and all payment.

      Having said all that, I have recommended that this process be made more transparent and that the process, and any likely costs - if incurred - should be published on the website. JP

      Delete
  33. There’s nothing in the least bit predatory about Cambridge Scholars Publishing. They publish your book in a timely manner, charge you nothing and offer royalties from copy 1 onwards. What more do you want, dammit? You know you’ll never get onto the best-seller list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If this was the experience of a satisfied author, it is good to know. The Google+ profile for "Allen Scott" is blank. An Allen J. Scott is the author of the 2015 CSP book "Solway Country: Land, Life and Livelihood in the Western Border Region of England and Scotland." The biography in the CSP book states that "In 2012, he retired from the University of California at Los Angeles where he was Professor of Geography and Policy Studies and where he continues to hold the honorary rank of Distinguished Research Professor."

      Delete