Publish a Textbook with Linus Learning
An academic publisher since 2005. We turn your course — notes, slides, a manuscript, or an out-of-print title — into print, eBook and interactive ActiveBook editions, with an editor beside you the whole way.
Who publishes with Linus
Most of our authors did not set out to "write a textbook". They set out to teach a course better than the available book allowed.
You teach a course and have the notes
Years of lecture notes, slides and problem sets are most of a textbook already. Our editors and instructional designers help you shape them into one.
Start with what you have →You have a manuscript or a partial draft
Finished or half-finished, a manuscript is ready for an editorial conversation. We publish in print, as an eBook, and as an interactive ActiveBook.
Tell an editor about it →Your rights reverted, or your OER text needs interactivity
A title you own again, or an open text that students read passively, can become a living ActiveBook with simulations, checks and analytics.
See what an ActiveBook is →What makes publishing with Linus different
Courseware companies hand you tools. Traditional presses hand you a template. We bring 20+ years of editorial craft and the technology — one team, from manuscript to classroom.
- Interactive ActiveBook editions — simulators, calculators, animations and retrieval-practice checks inside the pages, on the web and in the app. About ActiveBook →
- Built on learning science — every feature maps to peer-reviewed findings on active learning and retrieval practice. The evidence →
- A named editor who knows your discipline and answers your calls, backed by learning scientists and a production studio. Why authors choose Linus →
- Print, eBook and ActiveBook from one manuscript — students choose the format; you write once.
- Accessibility to WCAG 2.1 AA on every ActiveBook, and LMS access through ActiveConnect with no access codes for students to type.
- 20+ years, 618 titles across the disciplines — and the academic network that comes with them.
Disciplines we publish in:
How publishing a textbook with us works
From concept to classroom: a transparent, collaborative roadmap — guided by editors who've been doing this for more than twenty years.
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The initial conversation
It starts with an idea. Tell an editor about the book in a sentence or two, or submit a formal proposal — a real conversation follows, not a form letter.
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Collaborative planning & scoping
We define the project scope, learning objectives and the interactive strategy together. Learning scientists and instructional designers join from day one.
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Content development & interactive design
The core creation phase. We specialize in transforming your existing materials — slides, videos, lecture notes — into the building blocks of your book.
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Quality assurance & launch
Rigorous reviews, user testing, accessibility certification and final preparations — plus a tailored marketing and launch plan built on our academic network.
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The living book: ongoing partnership
After launch you get tools for updates, engagement analytics and future iterations, so your work remains a living resource — not a dated edition.
Comprehensive author services
Everything between your manuscript and a student's mastery — handled by one team.
Instructional Design
We collaborate with you to blueprint interactive experiences that meet your pedagogical goals.
Content Editing & Development
We transform your lecture materials into interactive content with full editorial support at every step.
Media & Asset Production
Our team develops custom simulations, animations, videos, and graphics tailored to your subject.
Quality & Accessibility Assurance
Rigorous review ensures WCAG 2.1 AA compliance and a flawless experience for every learner.
Marketing & Distribution
We reach educators and institutions through our established academic networks.
Analytics & Ongoing Support
Engagement data and real-time content updates keep your work a living, evolving resource.
What we ask for in a textbook proposal
You do not need a finished manuscript. An editor can say a confident "let's talk" from the following — and the proposal template walks you through each item.
- Working title and a one- or two-paragraph description of the book.
- A draft table of contents — one line per chapter is enough.
- Intended audience and course level, and the courses that would adopt it.
- Comparable titles students use today, and how yours differs.
- Your background — the teaching and research behind the book.
- Manuscript status: idea, partial draft, or complete.
- Interactive ambitions (optional) — simulations, self-checks, media.
- A sample chapter (optional).
The success of my book Transforming Self: BodyMindSpirit is a testament of your unwavering commitment and expertise. Thank you.
Frequently asked questions about publishing a textbook
Do I need a finished manuscript to propose a book?
No. Many projects start from a course outline, lecture notes and a sample chapter. Tell us where the manuscript stands — idea, partial draft or complete — and we plan the development around it.
What formats do you publish?
Print, eBook and interactive ActiveBook editions, from a single manuscript. Students choose the format; you write once.
What is an ActiveBook?
An ActiveBook is an interactive textbook with simulators, calculators, animations and retrieval-practice checks embedded in the pages, available on the web and in the ActiveBook mobile app. It is designed around findings from the learning sciences, and it can be updated after publication. See the ActiveBook platform and the science behind it.
Who owns the copyright, and how do royalties work?
Copyright, royalties and every other commercial term are set out in your author agreement, and your editor walks you through them before anything is signed. We would rather discuss your specific book than publish a one-size-fits-all number — ask an editor and we will answer directly.
How long does it take to publish a textbook?
It depends mostly on where the manuscript stands and how much interactive content the book calls for. Once we have talked through your project, your editor gives you a realistic schedule for your book rather than a generic estimate.
Is there any cost to the author?
Talk to an editor about your project and we will explain exactly how it works for your book, including who does what and what, if anything, is expected from you beyond the manuscript. There are no surprises after the conversation.
Can I assign my own textbook in the courses I teach?
Many instructors do, and many institutions have a policy on it — typically requiring disclosure, departmental approval, or a royalty arrangement for your own students. Check your institution's conflict-of-interest policy; your editor can share how other authors have handled it.
Can I update the book after it is published?
Yes. An ActiveBook is a living book: content can be updated after launch, and engagement analytics show which sections students use and where they struggle, so future iterations are informed by real use.
How do students get the book?
Through campus bookstores and our online stores in print and eBook form, and — for ActiveBook editions — directly inside the university's LMS through ActiveConnect, with no access codes for students to type. Instructors considering a title for adoption can request a free desk copy.
Authors who publish with Linus
The success of my book Transforming Self: BodyMindSpirit is a testament of your unwavering commitment and expertise. Thank you.
The more complex the manuscript, the more reason to choose Linus.
The people at Linus have provided encouragement throughout my work. They have not been only colleagues, but true friends.
Ask an editor about your book idea
No proposal needed yet. Tell us what you teach and what the book would be; a publishing editor reads every note and replies personally.
Prefer to prepare first?
The Textbook Proposal Template & Checklist lays out everything we look for — nine short sections you can complete in an afternoon.
Get the free templateReady with a full proposal?
Use the online proposal form — four short steps, with room for a sample chapter.
Submit your book proposalOr write to info@linuslearning.com · (866) 493-4456
Your course is closer to a book than you think.
Two decades of academic publishing, a platform built on the science of learning, and an editor who answers the phone.
Ask an Editor