Between the Lines publishes nonfiction books in the following subject areas: politics and public policy, social issues, activism and social movements, development studies, critical race studies, Indigenous issues, history, sociology, popular education, the environment, gender and sexuality, social work, labour, globalization, criminology, technology, media, and culture. 

Our books are widely adopted for academic use and some have won prestigious academic awards. However, BTL books remain accessible to a broad audience of engaged readers and our titles span both the academic and trade market.

BTL is proudly leftwing and the books we publish reflect our activist roots and our commitment to social justice struggles. BTL authors are academics, journalists, artists, and activists—all our authors hope their books will spark political and social change.

For examples of the kinds of books we publish, please browse our catalogue. Please note that we do not publish fiction, poetry, or children’s books.

Use of AI:

Note that Between the Lines does not publish works that were produced using generative AI, whether in whole or in part. This applies to text, images, and any other content intended for inclusion in the book. As part of our contract, authors will be required to confirm they have not used generative AI to create any elements of their book. 

Timeline for response:

Due to the large volume of proposals we receive, we will not respond to proposals that do not follow our guidelines or fit our publishing mandate. If we like your proposal, we will try to get back to you within two months, however, it may take up to six months for us to review and respond. 

Simultaneous submissions: 

We will accept simultaneous submissions, but we request that you advise us if this is the case and inform us right away if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.