From Secrets of the Sea to White Rose inspirational romance and horror from Samhain, this month’s call for submissions once again features a variety of outlets and heat levels.
Bono Books
Bono Books is an imprint of Decadent Publishing specializing in mainstream fiction, YA and non-fiction. We accept only one manuscript at a time per author. We DO NOT accept simultaneous submissions.
Word count is 3k-50k.
Romance submissions should be sweet. If you can see it on primetime network TV, then it’s acceptable for this site; PG-13.
Bono Books does not accept submissions that contain illegal sexual acts, bestiality (including un-shifted/shifted shapeshifter combinations), incest, pedophilia, glorified racial intolerance, necrophilia, or graphic rape for purposes of titillation – if it is an integral part of the story and not posed in a positive light it may be considered.
If you wish to submit your story to us, please send an email to the following address and request our submissions form: submissions@decadentpublishing.com
White Rose
White Rose is strictly ROMANCE. Although we take all romance sub-genre, every story must have romance as a strong element and in ALL lengths. This includes short stories.
- Short stories range between 10,000 and 20,000 words (ebook)
- Novelettes are between 20,001 and 35,000 words (ebook)
- Novellas are between 35,001 and 60,000 words (ebook)
- Novels are between 60,001 and 80,000 words (ebook & print)
As in every romance, the focus of a White Rose story should be the conflict between the main characters. These stories encompass protagonists who may, or may not, be spiritual at the onset, but come to realize that faith is a cornerstone of love. Protagonists should possess layered, three-dimensional, personalities. They should be people who struggle with decisions on a regular basis, using their existent or burgeoning faith to augment their growth both, together, and as Christians. Remember, Christians are emboldened by their faith, not burdened by it. Protagonists’ backgrounds do not have to be exemplary, but in the current story line, protagonists must have already come to terms with those issues which do not live up to Christian morality and virtue; their past immorality should not be overtly displayed on the page, but should be the catalyst for their internal conflict and growth.
White Rose books should convey life as it is lived, or can be lived, by people of faith. Because life can be humorous, mysterious, hazardous, and even a bit otherworldly, with angels popping in at times, White Rose books can encompass a variety of elements. The setting for White Rose books can be contemporary, historical or futuristic. They can be straight romances or include other factors such as mystery, suspense or supernatural elements, etc; however, an element of faith must be present in all White Rose stories-without becoming overbearing or preachy. (Please specify in your proposal if your story includes elements beyond simple romance. Also, please take note that supernatural themes are not the same as paranormal themes. Supernatural themes must be limited to Christian elements [e.g. Angels would be acceptable; a talking witch’s familiar would not.])
White Rose books should have an emotional rise and fall; however, the characters should not make love unless they are married, and then it should be behind closed doors. Feel free to delve into sensitive topics (e.g. infertility, terminal illness, infidelity), subjects that affect real people, but without profanity or nudity. There are no detailed love scenes in these accounts, but natural sexual tension is encouraged. We want to feel the emotion the hero and heroine feel for one another, not explicitly see the physical culmination of those feelings.
Protagonists should be Christian, or should be discovering Christianity. Elements of non-Christian faiths may be present in the story, but issues, which deny the essence of mainline Christianity must not be conveyed as acceptable. (e.g. Denying the Trinity [One God in Three Persons] or denying the divinity of Christ, etc. would not work if conveyed as acceptable; however, showing someone struggling with these beliefs, and then coming to realize the truth of Christianity, might work.) Please specify in your query if your story includes elements of non-Christian religious beliefs, and briefly describe how they are handled within the story, and why they are essential to the plot.
For more information, visit http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/write-for-us
Ruby Lioness Press is currently looking for submissions for its Christmas Anthology, Under the Mistletoe.
This anthology is open to all romance genres with a Christmas theme. Any heat level is welcome, including Ménage and GLBT. Stories must be romance with a HEA or Happily-for-now ending.
Stories should be:
â–ª 5,000-15,000 words
â–ª Times New Roman
â–ª 12pt Type
â–ª Double Space
â–ª .doc or .rtf format
For more information, visit http://rubylionesspress.com/
Secrets of the Sea
In keeping with Riptide’s nautical theme, we’re looking for gay and trans speculative fiction to launch our Seven Seas line and celebrate our one-year anniversary.
Seduce us with mermaids or selkies. Suck us in with sirens. Trap us in the Bermuda Triangle and terrify us with ghost ships, or maybe take us on a tour of the lost city of Atlantis. Give us sailors, pirates, adventurers, coastguards, fishermen, tourists, or scientists. Take us on a sweeping trip across the seven seas or make us claustrophobic on an off-shore oil rig. Sail us off the edge of the map to where the dragons be (yar!). Whatever you do, show us the myths of the ocean.
Length: 25,000 to 35,000 words -OR- 50,000+ words;
 Genres: Paranormal, horror, historical, contemporary, near-future. Fantasy is a possibility, but be prepared to wow us.
 Heat Levels: Any;
 Ending: Any;
 Orientation: Gay or trans;
 Submissions Due: April 1, 2012;
 Acceptance Letters Sent By: May 15, 2012 for novellas, June 1, 2012 for novels.
 Anticipated Release Date: October 30, 2012 through November 30, 2012.
Samhain Horror
Samhain is now accepting submissions for our line of horror novels. We are actively seeking talented writers who can tell an exciting, dramatic and frightening story, and who are eager to promote their work and build their community of readers.
We are looking for novels—either supernatural or non-supernatural, contemporary or historical—that are original and compelling. Authors can be previously unpublished or established, agented or un-agented. Content can range from subtle and unsettling to gory and shocking. The writing is what counts.
Our criteria:
- Between 12,000 and 100,000 words, for print eligibility minimum 50,000.
- A fresh premise that can be conveyed in a marketing hook of 2 – 3 sentences
- Believable, three-dimensional characters
- A gripping, suspenseful style
- Credible world-building that can make even the strangest creatures believable
- Within the horror genre, not fantasy or science-fiction, though borders often blur
To submit:
Email the complete manuscript and a full synopsis that takes the plot from beginning to end as two separate Word attachments.
In the body of your email include a brief description of the novel, estimated word count, and your publishing history (if any) such as previous books, awards, and quotes from other authors or reviews.
Include contact info, and if the manuscript is agented, please provide agent info as well.
Include the title of the novel in the email’s subject line.
Submissions should be sent to: horror@samhainpublishing.com For more information, visit http://www.samhainpublishing.com/submissions/
— Louisa Bacio
Author Details
Author Details
A Slice of Orange started in 2004 as a group of authors from Orange County, California. We have expanded to include authors from around the globe–from the UK, all across the US to New Zealand. Our authors include the multi-published and writers at the beginning of their publishing career. In addition to authors, we feature blog posts from editors, PR professionals, and cover designers.
The bright segments of the writing and reading community that make up one perfect entity—A Slice of Orange.
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A Slice of Orange started in 2004 as a group of authors from Orange County, California. We have expanded to include authors from around the globe–from the UK, all across the US to New Zealand. Our authors include the multi-published and writers at the beginning of their publishing career. In addition to authors, we feature blog posts from editors, PR professionals, and cover designers.
The bright segments of the writing and reading community that make up one perfect entity—A Slice of Orange.
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You are quite welcome. I usually end up having to cut some out with the newsletter to fit, so I enjoy posting it on the Slice, too. Usually hits the last day of the month. So … coming up again soon!
What a great post! Awesome of you to collect all this very helpful info and put it in this one place that we can all quickly reference. Thanks!
-Ger