Submissions Requirements
Friendly Reminder: Submissions that do not follow submission requirements will be automatically rejected.
We are seeking NOVELS (45k - 100k words) that have not been published previously in the genres listed below. We are not accepting trilogies, books in a series, or the first book of a series that cannot stand alone. We accept industry-standard word counts for your genre, no greater than 110k words.
We are happy to consider your manuscript without an agent, but we strongly suggest that you familiarize yourself with the publishing process and publishing contracts before you submit. Though we are indie-friendly, we do not have the time or the bandwidth to walk through all the aspects of publishing with individuals as often requested. We encourage all authors to research the different types of publishing to decide whether small press publishing is a good fit for you.
Please do not submit first drafts or unpolished manuscripts to us.
We generally publish the following genres (and genre blends), but each editor has their preference. Feel free to query the editor you believe best suits the genre you will be pitching to us. You can also peruse our catalog to see the types of titles we look for. BIPOC authors welcome and encouraged.
General List
Horror
Dark Fiction
Nonfiction
Dark Fantasy
Speculative Fiction
YA Horror
Great characters, dark/macabre elements, deconstructed tropes, literary themes, romantic subplots, hauntings, alternate history, ghosts, genre blends, strong polished prose
Fan-fics, previously self-published books, books that are part of a series, poetry collections, splatterpunk/shock horror, stories without dark elements, high fantasy, erotica, commercial, romcoms, hard sci-fi, personal memoirs, A.I. generated stories.
We DO NOT want stories that include graphic sexual assault or child abuse. Please do not submit these titles to us. If SA or CA is mentioned or "off-screen," please include a trigger warning in your query. Absolutely no CSA.
Meet the Editors
Cassandra Thompson
Publisher/Editor
What I'm looking for:
Horror (historical, folk horror, Gothic, feminist, "pink", Southern Gothic, elevated/literary,
horror by BIPOC authors)
Dark Fiction
Speculative Fiction
Historical Fiction
Women's Fiction
Nonfiction
I'm always on the hunt for new and unique stories written by people with a passion for storytelling. I love strong characters, literary themes, deconstructed tropes, and polished prose.
Please no slashers, splatterpunk, or SA/CSA.
Mathew Reyes
Lead Editor
What I'm looking for:
Dark Lit-Fic
Southern Gothic/Southern Weird
Historical Horror (the older the better)
Dark Romance (queer and trans only)
Decolonized/Feminist Western
*Bonus if any of the above is queer, trans, or BIPOC
Please no romantasy or any -mantasy, including queer, no vampires ever, no rellings of anything, no colonist or bigoted narratives
Lisa Morris
Editor-in-Chief
What I'm looking for:
Fantasy/Romantasy*
Romance*
Dark Romance/Horrorromance*
Dark Academia
Supernatural (witches and gods)
Horror Comedy
Pink Horror
Historical Fiction
Nonfiction (metaphysical or mythological topics)
*spice is good, but no extended or explicit erotica, please. LGBTQ+ and/or BIPOC a plus
Please no demons, omegaverse, fairy tale retellings or sci-fi/
Alma Garcia
Editor/Marketing
What I'm looking for:
Dark Fiction/Horror (folk, Gothic, cosmic/eldritch)
Psychological Horror
Latine Horror (cultural myth, urban legend, brujería, sociopolitical horror, generational trauma - preferably historical)
Tragedy/Tragic Romance
(preferably w/ cultural horror)
Feminist Fiction (by women for women)
LGBT+ Centered Fiction
*Romance w/ some spice is okay, but please no extended or explicit erotica. No slashers, no splatterpunk, no abuse/SA/CSA narratives.
Tiffany Putenis
Editor
What I'm looking for:
Fantasy
Romantasy
Romance
Historical Fantasy (with unique magical systems)
*Especially LGBTQ+ rep
Querying Guidelines
Friendly Reminder: Submissions that do not follow submission requirements will be automatically rejected.
Please send a query to the editor that best reflects your genre with the following information:
Book Title
Genre/Subgenre
Word Count
Any comparison titles
A short biography + socials
Publication history (if applicable)
Please include your website and social media links in your email.
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. If you do not hear back from us within 8 weeks, please consider it a pass.
Subject: TITLE/GENRE/WORD COUNT
Email: Query Letter + Trigger Warnings + Two Attachments: Synopsis & First 3 chapters
Q & A
Q: Will I have to pay for anything?
A: No. Quill & Crow is a small press, but we function traditionally. That means we will make you an offer, and if you accept, we will handle all costs. Royalty payments go out regularly; all this will be outlined in your contract.
Q: Will my book be edited?
A: Yes. We have a full editing team (of humans!) to ensure the final copy of your book is the best it can be, and we will work closely with you to make sure you're happy with the final result.
Q: Will I have to market my book?
A: You don't have to do anything, but authors who network and promote themselves sell well. That said, you're not alone. We've invested in your book and want you to do well. We create a marketing plan for each book and position it to sell. We also help research and schedule events/signings in your area, according to your comfort level. We consider publishing a partnership and enjoy working with our authors to make sure your launch is the best it can be.
Q: Do you use or accept A.I.?
A: No. We do not use A.I. for our covers and designs, nor do we use it for editing. We also do not accept any manuscripts created by generative A.I.
Answers to additional questions can often be found in your contract language and discussed with our E.I.C. after the offer. If you have any general inquiries, please contact Stef at s.contreras@quillandcrow.com