The Society of Biblical Literature has announced a copublishing venture with Brill Academic Publishers in which SBL will license production of all its hardcover titles to the Netherlands-based Brill and will switch to publishing only paperback editions of its new releases.
SBL, a publisher of academic works on the Bible and related literature, publishes 20 to 25 highly specialized titles a year. Brill, an academic house also focusing on religion studies, has U.S. offices in Boston. Brill will pay royalties to SBL on the sale of the licensed hardcover titles.
Rex Matthews, editorial director at SBL, told PW that the deal is "unique. We're acting as an editorial board for them, and there are no production costs for us. It's a win-win situation." SBL will continue to supply acquisition and editorial direction for the titles published through BAP, providing Brill with a respected list of scholarly titles with no up-front editorial costs. SBL will now have European distribution through Brill's channels with no production costs for its hardcover titles. The books will bear the names of both publishers, and the houses will cross-promote both editions in their catalogues and promotional material.
