Shalini Nanayakkara, editor at the University of British Columbia Press, is pleased to present a virtual book publishing talk to the membership of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies on Wednesday, 25 November 2026, at 1 pm EST. The session will consist of a 45-minute presentation followed by a Q&A period. Graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty in the social sciences and humanities are welcome to attend.

The talk will focus on scholarly book publishing and will provide an opportunity to learn about the process of publishing with a university press in Canada. Topics of discussion include:

• What distinguishes university presses from other publishers
• How to locate the appropriate publisher for your work
• How to prepare a compelling proposal
• How to turn your thesis into a book
• The peer review process
• Sources of funding for scholarly monographs
• What to expect of your publisher and what your publisher will expect of you

If you are unable to attend but would like to set up a separate meeting to discuss a specific book proposal, please email Shalini Nanayakkara (nanayakkara@ubcpress.ca).

Shalini Nanayakkara is an emerging publishing professional, climate fiction storyteller, and artist. She has a B.A. from the University of Toronto and an M.A. from the University of British Columbia. Shalini brings a sales perspective to editorial work and enjoys supporting scholarship that brings fresh perspectives. She is currently an advising member of the Association of Canadian Publishers’ Higher Education committee and the Chair of the Association of University Presses committee on Equity, Justice, Inclusion, and Belonging.