Angel City Press Submission Guidelines

Before you submit a proposal to Angel City Press, please take the time to look through a few of the books we have already published; they provide by far the best illustration of the material we are interested in publishing. Our focus is on the cultural history of Los Angeles and the broader Southern California region.

We do not publish fiction, poetry, and consider memoir only under very specific circumstances; if your idea fits those categories, another publisher would be much more appropriate for your work.

That said, we are interested in proposals for books with a strong historical/nostalgic angle, with appeal in both the general book and specialty/gift markets and preferably aimed at two niche markets (for example, Hollywood and food, the West and American folklore, Southern California and people’s cast-off Kodachrome slides).

Submit proposals to angelcitypress@lapl.org

Your proposal should include the following:

  • Proposed book title and a brief summary of its content.
  • Proposed length of manuscript and quantity of illustrations, photos, etc.
  • Suggested table of contents
  • Introduction, a sample chapter and copies of selected artwork from the proposed book (do NOT send originals!)
  • A description of the audience for the book and examples of how you believe it should be promoted
  • Titles of other books to which your proposed book may be similar, and how your book would be unique in the marketplace
  • Author biography

It is perfectly okay to send a query letter in advance of a proposal.

In general:

  • ACP authors agree to provide all photographs/illustrations and full rights for their use.
  • ACP will respond to your proposal within two months.
  • Please do not send a completed manuscript, especially in lieu of a proposal
  • Please do not email to inquire about the status of your proposal; we will respond as soon as we are able.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What types of books does Angel City Press publish?

    Angel City Press publishes books with a strong historical or nostalgic angle that appeal to both general book and specialty/gift markets. We prefer books that target two niche markets (e.g., Hollywood and food, Southern California and folklore). Book content should be at least 60% photographic.

  • What types of books does Angel City Press NOT publish?

    We do not publish:

    • Children’s books
    • How-to books
    • Poetry (except in rare cases)

    If your idea falls into these categories, we encourage you to explore other publishers better suited to your project.

  • How do I submit a proposal?

    Submit your proposal to angelcitypress@lapl.org. Include the following:

    • Proposed book title and a brief summary of its content
    • Proposed length of the manuscript and quantity of illustrations or photos
    • Suggested table of contents
    • Introduction, a sample chapter, and copies of selected artwork (do NOT send originals)
    • Description of the audience and how you believe the book should be promoted
    • Titles of similar books and how your book is unique in the marketplace
    • Author biography