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Submission Requirements

 

*Submissions that do not follow submission requirements will be automatically rejected*

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We are currently seeking fiction NOVELS (45k - 110k words) that have not been published previously. We are not seeking Gothic fiction titles at this time. We are not accepting books that are part of a series or a first book that cannot stand alone. We are not seeking previously published books.

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Unagented Authors: We are happy to consider your manuscript without an agent, but we highly suggest familiarizing yourself with the publishing process and publishing contracts before you submit. Though we are indie-friendly, we do not have the time nor the bandwidth to walk through all the aspects of publishing with individuals, as often requested. We encourage any author to research the different types of publishing to make an educated decision whether small press publishing is a good fit for you.

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We are seeking adult fiction in the following genres (and genre blends):

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• Dark fiction

• Horror (see genres below)

• Southern Gothic fiction/horror

• Historical fiction (w/ dark elements)

• Historical horror

• Speculative fiction (w/ dark elements)

• Women's fiction

• YA Horror

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Things we are looking for: character driven stories, dark/macabre elements, Gothic themes, paranormal elements (please no more vampires; we're running out of room to store the coffins), deconstructed tropes, literary themes, romantic subplots, hauntings, interesting characters, alternate history, historical fiction, ghosts, genre blends, horror vibes, and strong prose. We accept industry-standard word counts for your genre.

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Things we are not looking for: fan-fics, previously self-published books, books that are part of a series (especially an already published series), poetry collections, short story collections, YA fantasy, splatterpunk/shock horror, stories without dark elements, high fantasy, slasher horror, erotica, commercial prose, romcoms, hard sci-fi, or personal memoirs. While we prefer historical fiction, contemporary and urban fantasy stories will be considered if they maintain a dark, time-ambiguous feel. 

 

IMPORTANT: We DO NOT want stories that center around sexual assault or child abuse. Please do not submit these titles to us. Please include trigger warnings in your submission if SA or CA is mentioned or "off-screen."

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Please use the email address below to submit your query. Please include the following information in the body of your email:

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• Book Title

• Genre/Subgenre

• Word Count

• Any comparison titles

• A short biography + socials

• Publication history (if applicable)

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Please attach the first three chapters of your manuscript and a full (1-2 page) synopsis to the email. If you need help writing a synopsis, please see the link below. Attachments should be in a Microsoft Word Document (.docx file) and follow the standard Shunn format.  In the subject line, please put TITLE / GENRE / WORD COUNT.  

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Send to: editorial@quillandcrowpublishinghouse.com

Subject: TITLE/GENRE/WORD COUNT

Email: Query Letter + Trigger Warnings + Two Attachments: Synopsis & First 3 chapters

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