NatSec Press is an independent publishing house focused on national security and adjacent research. We publish books, handbooks, and research-led works addressing complex security challenges across policy, practice, and scholarship.
Our focus is on work that combines methodological rigour, strong evidence bases, and practitioner-led insights. We support authors whose work is grounded in careful research, informed by real-world experience, and written with practical relevance in mind.
I founded Nat Sec Press to address a clear gap in the publishing ecosystem, where high-quality, evidence-based work—particularly by experienced practitioners—often struggles to find a suitable publishing home. Such work frequently sits between traditional academic and trade outlets and, as a result, remains unpublished despite its contribution to knowledge and practical relevance. ~ Dr Nicole Matejic
NatSec Press is committed to intellectual independence and editorial integrity. We prioritise clarity, substance, and responsible handling of sensitive material, and publish work intended to inform and support professional practice, policy development, and institutional decision-making.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of books does Nat Sec Press publish?
Nat Sec Press publishes rigorous, evidence-based books that sit between academic scholarship and trade publishing. We are particularly interested in works with clear relevance to national security and adjacent fields, written for readers who engage with policy, practice, and decision-making.
This includes, but is not limited to, applied research, practitioner handbooks, policy-relevant analysis, and interdisciplinary work that translates complex ideas into accessible, usable insights. We prioritise originality, methodological soundness, and practical value over volume or trend-driven content.
In addition to non-fiction, Nat Sec Press is open to selected works of FICINT (fiction-intelligence) — fiction informed by real-world intelligence, security, and policy experience. These works are grounded in credible contexts and aim to explore complex national security issues through narrative, without sensationalism or trade-thriller conventions. FICINT titles are considered selectively and must demonstrate both narrative quality and substantive insight.
Do you accept unsolicited submissions?
Yes. Nat Sec Press accepts unsolicited submissions, provided they align with our publishing focus. We are particularly interested in rigorous, evidence-based work with clear practical relevance for national security and adjacent fields. Due to the size of the press, we review submissions selectively and may not be able to respond to every enquiry.
Do you publish eBooks and hardcovers?
Yes. Nat Sec Press publishes titles in digital (eBook) and physical formats, including hardcovers where appropriate. Format decisions are made on a title-by-title basis, taking into author preferences, account audience, use case, and distribution considerations.
What does an author-first model mean?
An author-first model means that Nat Sec Press is structured to prioritise the interests of authors rather than volume-driven publishing. Authors retain a meaningful share of revenue, clarity over rights and obligations, and visibility over how their work is edited, produced, and distributed.
In practice, this means transparent contracts, proportionate costs, more equitable profit sharing, and collaborative decision-making, while maintaining editorial standards and independence. The aim is not to shift all responsibility to authors, but to ensure that authors are treated as partners in the publishing process rather than inputs in a production pipeline.
Who owns title intellectual property (IP)?
Authors retain ownership of their intellectual property. Nat Sec Press typically licenses the rights necessary to publish, distribute, and promote a work, rather than acquiring full ownership.
The specific rights granted, their scope, and any limitations are set out transparently in each publishing agreement. This approach is intended to protect authors’ long-term interests while enabling effective publication and dissemination.
How are royalties calculated?
Authors retain the majority share of revenue, with royalties calculated as a percentage of net receipts after direct production and distribution costs. Specific royalty terms are agreed contractually for each title and are designed to be transparent and fair.
What editorial and review standards do you apply?
Nat Sec Press applies editorial standards appropriate to the type of work being published. All titles undergo substantive editorial review and are supported by external advisory or peer review. Review processes are proportionate, transparent, and designed to support clarity, rigour, and practical relevance.
Do you help market books?
Yes. Nat Sec Press supports the marketing and promotion of its titles through a small number of specialist partners with experience in national security, policy, and professional audiences. Marketing approaches are selected to suit the book, its intended readership, and the author’s objectives, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.
Where external marketing services are engaged, costs are discussed transparently with the author and agreed in advance. Nat Sec Press does not require authors to purchase mandatory marketing packages and does not pursue volume-driven or mass-market campaigns where these are not appropriate.
Do you help edit or write books?
Yes. Nat Sec Press provides editorial support across the development and production process, including structural and substantive editing, and manuscript refinement. The level of editorial involvement is agreed on a title-by-title basis.
Where authors are not in a position to complete a manuscript independently, Nat Sec Press can recommend experienced writers or collaborators for authors to work with directly. Any such arrangements are discussed transparently and agreed in advance.