We invite unsolicited submissions, but please observe these Guidelines. We’re open to almost any genre except experimental work (not our audience), porn, and stories whose goal is to denigrate some specific individual or group. Though we love picture books and graphic novels, we are not set up to publish illustration-dependent works. We ARE very interested in seeing work from graduates of accredited Literature, English, or Creative Writing programs, but also great stuff from self-taught writers who have taken the time to learn the basics of the craft.

We have recently published well-crafted romance novels, tightly-written mysteries and thrillers, YA and adult fiction, memoir, and craft books.  Currently we have a full list of fiction through 2023, but we might welcome a thriller based on an extreme sport such as mountaineering, diving, caving, etc.  We are currently looking for nonfiction, vivid and well-written memoirs about interesting life events (not just complaining about family), and self-help nonfiction projects, especially on medical, psychological, or health topics.  Again, we’re not looking for poetry, middle-grade fiction, YA, or adult fiction at the moment.  Also, it’s a plus if the ms is below say 90,000 words.  We’re getting a lot of submissions that are WAY too long for the market! 

Please don’t submit a manuscript until it’s as polished and excellent as you can make it. We must turn down submissions that arrive riddled with typos from page one, or presented in unparagraphed chunks of dense summary, or are so poorly developed they read like a rough first draft or an outline. We are a publishing house, not a free editorial service. So don’t jump the gun! That just wastes everyone’s time.

NHP GUIDELINES FOR QUERIES

FORMAT: All submissions should be in in readable  10 or 12 point font, double-spaced, with reasonable margins and consecutive page numbers and no line breaks between paragraphs. It’s a good idea to put your name or the title in the header, too, as we do sometimes print out pages to read when the computer eyestrain gets too intense. We prefer MS Word files or PDFs, or you may embed your sample pages in the emailed query.  See our ADVICE page if you want specifics on format. But the format is still secondary to content!
PAGE/WORD COUNT FOR QUERY: In general, for unsolicited queries we prefer to see no more than one chapter, or about 25 pages maximum. For special open calls, follow the guidelines stated in that particular call for manuscripts.  See note above about submissions over 90,000 words!
SUPPORT MATERIALS: Along with the sample pages, please include a cover email that briefly addresses these issues:
A BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT that reveals pertinent writing experience or previous publications, and also (especially for nonfiction submissions) any related experience, such as relevant travel, subject specialties like medical degrees, or personal experiences with the challenges addressed in a work.
MARKETING INFO: Also include a paragraph on who you believe to be the TARGET AUDIENCE, and how you will actively ASSIST IN PROMOTING the published work — for example, through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc., and/or author websites or podcasts or blogs or review sites. We love IN-PERSON EVENTS at bookstores, conferences, and festivals, of course. Why? But even pre-pandemic, two thirds of all books were sold online. Writers with no internet presence will not have the visibility needed these days to make their books visible as well, and thus make themselves known to potential readers.
Submissions can be sent to:

Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Historical and Contemporary Fiction: elfairgrace@gmail.com

YA: elfairgrace@gmail.com

Audiobook Matters: edisonpenrow@gmail.com

Lifestyle, Thrillers, Mysteries, Nonfiction, Memoir, and Other: nhp@poyer.com

All other questions and comments can be sent below.

Our hardcover, trade paperback, ebooks, and audiobooks are distributed by Ingram, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Indiebound, Baker & Taylor,  AbeBooks, Target, Powell’s, Overdrive, Wordery, Books A Million, Follett, Audible, and many other outlets. Please order single copies through your local independent bookstore or chain bookstore, or through any online bookseller. For reduced prices on quantities of 12 or more of a single title, contact nhp@poyer.com.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Yours in the Word,

Northampton House Press.