In a shrinking and overcrowded market is there really a need for yet another publisher?

We think so.

Here’s why:

1. Popular Protestant publishers often lack quality control and do not publish the sort of titles we think are necessary for the renewing and strengthening of the Protestant tradition.
   • The commitment to extensive peer-review of manuscripts is not standardized amongst most Protestant publishers. This is why we are an introductory member with the Association of University Presses. We believe their standards elevate quality.
   • The production of high-quality Analytic Theology and philosophical theology by any Protestant publisher is nearly non-existent. Some are even hostile to it. But we believe the retrieval of the scholastic mode of theology is important for the health and advancement of sound theology.
   • The retrieval and promotion of historic and contemporary Baptist literature is not a priority for most large publishers and lacks sufficient quality control and scalability for smaller publishers. Most often, re-prints lack the oversight of historical experts and the necessary guidance through introductions and footnotes that make such content lasting and useful to non-historians. Merely reproducing the original content with minor stylistic addendums is insufficient for the retrieval of the Baptist tradition. But we believe the Baptist tradition ought to be stewarded and available to both Baptist churches and the wider Protestant tradition.

2. University academic presses lack strong distribution practices, solid marketing, consistent orthodox content, and are poorly priced, making their volumes nearly inaccessible to the church. The original academic content that we produce rivals university academic presses such as Oxford, Cambridge, Routledge, Baylor, Princeton, and Brill but is priced at a level that is accessible, dispensing with outdated marketing models.
   • For example, And Was Made Man by Robin Le Poidevin retails for $80 and is written by an agnostic and promotes unorthodox Christology. Similarly, Christology and Metaphysics in the Seventeenth Century by Richard Cross is an important volume but retails for $100.

Hanover Press is committed to publishing books with the quality of a university press and the ecclesial focus of an evangelical publisher. Therefore, the Press publishes original Protestant single-authored volumes (including monographs and revised unpublished dissertations) and edited volumes. The Press also publishes re-prints of classic Baptist works with expert editorial guidance. Therefore, we seek to resource both the Baptist tradition and the broader Protestant tradition.

All published titles should evidence original contribution and independence of thought, coherent and compelling presentation in both style and structure, and exemplary methodological rigor and mastery of the subject matter material. Published authors are expected to hold terminal degrees in their field of research or significant compensating factors such as extensive peer-reviewed publications in the published area.

All published titles are consistent with the orthodox Protestant tradition—that is, what is held in common by the Second London Confession of Faith, the Orthodox Creed (1679), the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Three Forms of Unity, and the Anglican Formularies—and are written or edited by authors who confess the Nicene and Apostles’ Creed.

Proposals for revised editions of unpublished dissertations will receive the same publication experience as standard original volumes. Therefore, recent graduates ought to expect editorial requirements to prepare for publication. It is extremely rare for a dissertation to require no revisions. However, while revisions are often required, few publishers offer rigorous editorial oversight for monographs based on dissertations, which is a key benefit to publishing with Hanover Press.

Those considering dissertation proposals should consult our dissertation publication guide here.

• The Analytic and Systematic Theology Board of Hanover Press publishes several types of original Protestant academic theology: (1) Dogmatic theology and (2) Analytic and philosophical theology. All work should be sufficiently constructive. Example topics of special interest include (but are not limited to) works discussing the metaphysics of the incarnation, the nature of Christological impeccability, various virtues and vices, accounts of moral theology, Trinitarian models, theological anthropology, religious epistemology, theological psychology, and political theology. Traditional philosophical areas (language, science, law, etc.) are of interest if attuned to theological and pastoral concerns, etc. Traditional commentaries on Scripture, while of great value, are not part of the mission of Hanover Press currently.
• The Baptist Theology Board of Hanover Press publishes constructive and historical Baptist literature. Volumes seeking to defend various baptistic distinctives or provide historical work on Baptists are most welcome, as are re-prints of classic Baptists with academic editorial investment.
• The Confessional and Historical Theology Board of Hanover Press publishes historical theology of all eras of the Christian church and confessional theology that constructively interacts with a confessional Protestant tradition. We welcome works engaging the patristic, medieval, Reformation, and American periods, as well as those engaging the history of Protestant traditions and their theological beliefs. Purely historical works of various periods are not part of the mission of Hanover Press.

Hanover Press re-prints are committed to providing at least the following:

• New introductions: Extensive new introductions to both the original author, the original context, and the nuances of the original text.
• Modernized language and format: Archaic punctuation, words, and phrases are updated for the modern reader. However, the vast majority of the text is left unchanged. Text breaks and headings are updated.
• Updated bibliographic information: Footnotes are added with full bibliographic information on sources referenced in the original text.
• Context: Additional historical, biographical, and theological information is footnoted with relevant details for the reader.
• Updated indices: Scripture indexes and other appendices are added for research purposes.

Hanover Press is committed to producing university press quality content. As an introductory member with the Association of University Presses, we believe peer review is a necessary component of quality publications. Therefore, in addition to the editorial oversight of our Executive Editorial team, we maintain editorial boards made of Protestant scholars (senior and junior) and educated Protestant pastors from various confessional backgrounds. No book receives a contract without their expert feedback and approval. No original volume is published before their review and approval. Our editorial boards serve as a critical backbone for quality.

Hanover Press has three perpetual editorial boards: Analytic and Systematic, Baptist, and Confessional and Historical. Members have a range of expertise including (but not limited to): medieval theology and philosophy, metaphysics and logic, Baptist history, Reformation history, Patristic theology, political theology, and American religious history. Hanover Press also has occasional editorial boards, such as the John Gill Project editorial board.

Board members without a terminal degree are noted with (*). Members are as follows:

Yes. Hanover Press invites proposals for single-authored original volumes, edited volumes, and Baptist re-print volumes by those with terminal degrees. As a press committed to university quality, submissions by those without a terminal degree are not typically accepted. Such proposals must exhibit significant compensating factors such as extensive peer-reviewed publications in the proposal area or academic experience.

Submissions must complete the Hanover Press proposal form and be submitted to contact@hanoverpress.com

Download the proposal form for original volumes here.

Download the proposal form for re-print editions here.

Those considering dissertation proposals should consult our dissertation publication guide here.

Hanover Press understands the great investment from authors to trust us with their work and seeks to provide consistent and transparent steps throughout the publishing process.

Original volumes should expect a total timeline of 9-12 months for review and production. Re-print volumes can expect 6-9 months for review and production. All timelines are estimates.

Edited volumes follow the same process flow as original volumes.

Re-print volumes follow the same process flow as original volumes except they do not receive manuscript peer review (step 6). The Publisher provides the only editorial feedback.

Yes. Please review the guidelines here.