APARRI Book Fellows Program
Overview
The Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI) Book Fellows Program advances the scholarly and public understanding of AAPI religions by providing scholars the protected time, developmental editing, and peer community it takes to carry a book manuscript to publication.
Over eighteen months, fellows move through a structured cycle of manuscript workshops and developmental editing, culminating in completion of at least four draft chapters. The program will prioritize manuscripts that address either theme: stories of AAPI faith and life and/or AAPI religions and democracy.
What Fellows Receive
- Cohort Manuscript Workshops
Monthly virtual cohort meetings with structured feedback – March 2027–September 2028 - Expert & Peer Feedback
Substantive feedback from cohort peers and outside readers in your subfield - In-Person Writing Retreat
A three-day retreat (August 2027) with protected writing time - Developmental Editing
Dedicated developmental editor support before submission to strengthen structure, argument, and narrative - Publishing Pipeline Access
Sessions with acquisitions editors, a book proposal workshop, and guidance on contracts and peer review
- Funding
- $3000 stipend
- Developmental editor support
- Travel and lodging to attend the 2028 APARRI conference
- Those who complete and submit their manuscript to a publisher by December 2028 will receive external reader support and up to $3,000 in additional publication support funds.
- Community
A standing peer cohort, accountability structure, and long-term scholarly network
Eligibility
We welcome applications from faculty at any rank (assistant, associate, full, or contingent/non-tenure-track) and independent scholars working in Asian American and Pacific Islander religious studies.
Applicants must:
- Hold a doctoral degree.
- Be working on a book-length monograph in AAPI religions.
- Have a manuscript project that engages one of the two cohort focus areas — stories of AAPI faith and life, or AAPI religions and democracy.
- Commit to attending monthly virtual cohort meetings, the in-person writing retreat (dates TBD in Aug 2027), and the APARRI Conference (dates TBD in June 2028).
Application Guidelines
All applications must be submitted online and must include the following materials:
- Online Application Form
- Curriculum Vitae
Maximum five pages. - Book Proposal (no more than 15 pages, double-spaced, in Times New Roman 11-point font, inclusive of any footnotes or endnotes). Please use the following subheadings:
- Title
- Abstract (maximum 350 words)
- Description of Project
- Chapter Outline
- Scholarly Contribution
- Audience | Market
- Status of the Manuscript
- Timeline to Completion
- Bibliography (no annotation, maximum two pages)
- Draft Chapter
One full draft chapter (any chapter, not necessarily the first).
Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Strength and originality of the manuscript’s argument and contribution to AAPI religious studies.
- Addresses themes: stories of AAPI faith and life and/or religious pluralism and democracy.
- Feasibility of the proposed timeline.
Important: If selected, applicants agree to participate in the virtual meetings, the in-person retreat, and the APARRI Conference.
FAQs
No. Building relationships with the cohort is an important part of the experience. If selected, you are expected to attend all meetings–virtual and in-person.
APARRI will begin accepting applications on August 1, 2026. Completed applications must be submitted through the APARRI online grant administration system no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time, December 15, 2026.
No. Alterations are not permitted once an application has been submitted.
Notifications will be sent via email by January 31, 2027.
No. While APARRI hopes to provide resources to support as many worthy projects as possible, one individual may be awarded more than one grant.
The publication support covers up to $3000 of indexing and editorial support with APARRI-contracted providers.