FAQ

I have a question about:

Subscriptions

How do I order a subscription?

Use our secure online ordering service, or call us toll-free at (888) 732-6736, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. est, Mon–Fri; 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. est, Sat. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. To pay with a check or money order, you can print an order form and mail it to:

The Sun
Subscription Department
P.O. Box 5837
Harlan, IA 51593-1337

When will I receive my first issue of The Sun?

Please allow four to six weeks for your first issue to arrive.

I have questions about or want to cancel my subscription. How do I do that?

You can contact customer service online, or call our subscription department toll-free at (888) 732-6736, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. est, Mon–Fri; 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. est, Sat.

How do I change my subscription address?

If you're moving, we need six weeks’ notice to ensure uninterrupted service. (The post office does not automatically forward magazines.) Please use our online address-change form, or send your complete old and new addresses to:

The Sun
Subscription Department
P.O. Box 5837
Harlan, IA 51593-1337

I filed an address-change notice with my post office, but I'm not receiving my magazines. What's going on?

Magazines are sent second-class mail, which means the post office often won't forward them to a new address, even if you have a forwarding order on file. Please fill out our online address-change form, or send your complete old and new addresses to:

The Sun
Subscription Department
P.O. Box 5837
Harlan, IA 51593-1337

I missed a magazine. Can I get a replacement copy?

Because delivery time may vary, we ask that subscribers wait until the 15th of the month for their magazines to arrive. If you don’t receive your magazine by the 15th, send us an e-mail or call us toll-free at (888) 732-6736, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. est, Mon–Fri; 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. est, Sat. We’ll either replace the issue or extend your subscription — your choice.

I received a damaged issue. Can I get a replacement copy?

If you receive a defective issue, we'll replace it. Please send us an e-mail, or call us toll-free at (888) 732-6736, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. est, Mon–Fri; 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. est, Sat.

How can I give a gift subscription? Will you send a gift card?

We offer secure online ordering for gift subscriptions. Or you can call us toll-free at (888) 732-6736, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. est, Mon–Fri; 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. est, Sat. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, or we'll bill you later. To pay with a check or money order, you can print an order form and mail it to:

The Sun
Subscription Department
P.O. Box 5837
Harlan, IA 51593-1337

We'll send a card to the recipient, announcing your gift.

I received an invoice, but I already sent payment. What happened?

The invoice must have been mailed before your payment was received. Please recycle it; we apologize for the inconvenience.

When does my subscription expire?

Your subscription's expiration date is printed above your name on the back cover of your magazine.

Why haven't I received this month's magazine when it's already on the newsstands?

Once we mail an issue to our subscribers, the promptness of delivery depends on the U.S. Postal Service. Some parts of the country receive issues earlier, while other areas are slower to receive copies. Retailers receive their magazines through other channels. Because delivery time may vary, we ask that subscribers wait until the 15th of the month for their magazines to arrive.

I've heard that The Sun gives complimentary subscriptions to people who can't otherwise afford them. Is that true?

Yes, The Sun often gives free or reduced-rate subscriptions to prisoners, people with limited income, homeless shelters, women's shelters, etc. If you'd like to request a complimentary subscription for yourself or someone else, please send us an e-mail, or write:

The Sun
Attn: Molly Herboth, Circulation Assistant
107 North Roberson Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

How do I remove my name from The Sun's mailing-list rentals?

The Sun makes its mailing list available to organizations whose work may be of interest to our readers. If you'd like your name left off mailing-list rentals, send your request along with a recent mailing label to:

The Sun
Subscription Department
P.O. Box 5837
Harlan, IA 51593-1337

Alternatively, you can e-mail your request (make sure to include your full name and postal address), or call our subscription department toll-free at 1-888-732-6736, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. est, Mon–Fri; 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. est, Sat.

The Direct Marketing Association can place your name on a no-mail list, reducing the amount of unwanted mail you receive by up to 80 percent. Visit www.dmachoice.org for details.

Books

How do I order books?

You can order books online, or call our book department at (515) 237-3698, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. est, Mon–Fri; 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. est, Sat. (We regret that you cannot reach the book department via our toll-free subscription number.) To pay with a check or money order, you can print an order form and mail it to:

The Sun
Book Orders
P.O. Box 5837
Harlan, IA 51593-1337

I'm having a problem with my book order. Whom should I contact?

Please send us an an e-mail, or call our book department at (515) 237-3698, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. est, Mon–Fri; 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. est, Sat. (We regret that you cannot reach the book department via our toll-free subscription number.) Or write:

The Sun
Book Orders
P.O. Box 5837
Harlan, IA 51593-1337

What is The Sun’s return policy for books?

If your books were damaged during shipment or if you received the wrong books, they may be returned for a full refund (or exchange for the same book). The Sun will pay all shipping charges for these returns/exchanges.

For exchanges and general returns, partial refunds will be issued upon receipt of the returned books in their original condition. Partial refunds are for cover price only; The Sun will not pay shipping charges for exchanges or general returns.

To return a book for refund or exchange, you must contact our Book Sales Department in advance at (515) 237-3698 or send an e-mail. Please do not return books before contacting us.

Do you offer discounts to booksellers?

Booksellers receive a 40% discount. To place an order, please call (515) 237-3698 and identify yourself as a bookseller. Our book department is open from 8 a.m.–11 p.m. est, Mon–Fri and 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. est, Sat.

How much does shipping cost?

For U.S. orders: $4.95 for the first book; additional books are $2 each.
For Canadian orders: $6.95 for the first book; additional books are $4 each.
For international orders: $8.95 for the first book; additional books are $6 each.

How will books be shipped, and how long will they take to arrive?

The Sun ships books via the U.S. Postal Service. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.

Back Issues & Sample Copies

What's the difference between a back issue and a sample copy?

Back-issue orders include your choice of issues from The Sun's archive. Sample-copy orders include an issue of The Sun (our choice), a current brochure, and copies of our submission guidelines.

How do I order back issues or sample copies of The Sun?

You can place your order online, or call us at (919) 942-5282, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. est, Mon–Fri. We require prepayment for back issues and sample copies; we accept Visa, MasterCard, or American Express.

If you prefer to pay with a check or money order, please print an order form and mail the completed form with payment to:

The Sun
Back Issue Orders
107 North Roberson Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

How long will it take to receive my back-issue or sample-copy order?

Please allow three to four weeks for delivery.

Do you offer any discounts for bulk orders?

We offer a 10% discount for orders of ten or more back issues that are still in print.

Is there a way to search your archive for a specific piece, or for work by a particular author?

Try our site-search engine. If you don't have any luck, send us an e-mail, or call the editorial office at (919) 942-5282, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. est, Mon–Fri. We can help you locate work by author or title.

We also publish a Back Issues List (PDF format), which provides a summary of the contents of every issue in The Sun's archive. To request a paper copy, write:

The Sun
Back Issues List
107 North Roberson Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

What should I do if I have a problem with or question about my back-issue order?

Send us an e-mail, or call our editorial office at (919) 942-5282, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. est, Mon–Fri.

Contacting The Sun

How do I contact The Sun?

For subscription orders or questions, address changes, missed issues, damaged issues, or mailing-list removal requests, call The Sun's Subscription Department toll-free at (888) 732-6736, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. est, Mon–Fri; 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. est, Sat. You can also send an e-mail or write:

The Sun
Subscription Department
P.O. Box 5837
Harlan, IA 51593-1337

For book orders or inquiries, call The Sun's Book Department at (515) 237-3698, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. est, Mon–Fri; 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. est, Sat. (We regret that you cannot reach the book department via our toll-free subscription number.) You can also send an e-mail or write:

The Sun
Book Orders
P.O. Box 5837
Harlan, IA 51593-1337

For general inquiries, editorial correspondence, questions about back-issue or sample-copy orders, reprint requests, or to contact a staff member, please call our Editorial Office at (919) 942-5282, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. est, Mon–Fri. You can also send an e-mail or write:

The Sun
107 North Roberson Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 932-3101 fax

How do I contact a staff member?

Send us an e-mail, and let us know whom you’re trying to contact. We’ll forward your note to that person. Or call the editorial office at (919) 942-5282, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. est, Mon–Fri.

How do I send a letter to the editor?

We love getting mail. (Of course, we reserve the right to edit.) Send your letter online, or write to:

Correspondence
The Sun
107 North Roberson Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 932-3101 fax

How do I contact an author or photographer whose work is published in The Sun?

In order to protect the privacy of our contributors, we do not distribute their phone numbers or postal addresses. We will be glad to forward first-class mail to a contributor for you. Please send your correspondence to:

(Contributor's Name)
c/o The Sun
107 North Roberson Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Submission Guidelines

How do I submit writing, interviews, or photographs for consideration?

We welcome unsolicited submissions; we do not, however, accept submissions via e-mail or fax. Please see our complete submission guidelines for information about how to send us your work.

Should I send a query before submitting my work?

We discourage queries unless they are for interviews. We prefer to see complete manuscripts or photographic prints, as it is difficult for us to judge the appropriateness of a piece based solely on a description.

I forgot to include an SASE with my writing submission. Can I send one to you now?

Because The Sun receives more than 1,000 manuscripts a month, we unfortunately aren't able to match your writing submission with a separate SASE. We suggest that you resubmit your work with an SASE. We apologize for any inconvenience.

What is The Sun's standard review time for writing submissions? Photography submissions?

Our manuscript-review process takes from three to six months, sometimes longer. We receive more than 1,000 writing submissions each month; unfortunately, it's impossible for us to track each one, so we are unable to tell you the status of your submission. Our photo-review process generally takes up to three months.

I submitted a piece for Readers Write. Did you receive it, and was it accepted?

Unfortunately, we cannot track individual Readers Write submissions, and we are unable to answer questions regarding the status or receipt of your work. If your work is going to appear, you'll hear from us prior to publication.

Other

Where can I pick up a copy of The Sun today?

Please see our newsstand list for retailers in your area that carry The Sun. However, not all newsstand information may be up-to-date, so before you make the trip to the store we suggest that you call to verify that copies of the magazine are in stock.

How can I get permission to reprint something that appeared in The Sun?

If you want to reprint something in a book, publication, or newsletter, please e-mail us, or call our editorial office at (919) 942-5282, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. est, Mon–Fri, and ask for Andrew Snee.

If you want to reprint something for academic or personal use, please send your request to:

(Contributor's Name)
c/o The Sun
107 North Roberson Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

In order to protect the privacy of our contributors, we do not distribute their phone numbers or postal addresses; however, we’re glad to forward first-class mail to a contributor for you.

Whom should I contact for more information about The Sun's events?

We prefer that you contact the retreat center directly for information about a particular program. See our events page for details about upcoming events and contact information. If you have further questions, please send us an e-mail, or call our editorial office at (919) 942-5282, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. est, Mon–Fri, and ask for Angela Winter.

I'm having trouble viewing PDFs in your online archive. What should I do?

Please upgrade your Acrobat Reader software to the latest version from Adobe. It's available as a free download from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html. Once you've upgraded Acrobat Reader, restart your computer, and then try viewing the PDFs. If you still experience problems, send us an e-mail.

I have a question that's not covered in this FAQ. Whom should I contact?

Please send us an e-mail, or call our editorial office at (919) 942-5282, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. est, Mon–Fri.

What is The Sun’s ISSN number?

ISSN 0744-9666.