Deadline: August 31st, 2022
Payment: A small advance plus 50% of net royalties thereafter on both e-books and physical books. Also, 5 contributors copies.
Theme: Horror, Gothic, and dark fantasy.

OPEN JULY 1ST – AUGUST 31ST

We are open from July 1st – August 31st 2022 to general submissions for novellas (roughly 20,000 – 40,000 words) and novels (roughly 40,000 – 100,000) aimed at an adult audience.

What We’re Looking For:

We’re looking primarily for horror, Gothic, and dark fantasy. We love genre mixing, works that stray from the well-trodden path, or that offer a fresh perspective on existing tropes. We’re particularly keen to see work from BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and non-Western authors, and stories with elements of the following genres:

• Horror-romance / erotic horror
• Historical and Gothic horror
• Folk horror
• Hauntings, supernatural, and the occult

Sorry, but we’re NOT currently interested in:

• Science Fiction or high fantasy
• YA or childrens’ fiction
• Short story collections
• Series’

Rights and Compensation:

We ask for exclusive first publishing and electronic rights for a set period of 2 years following publication. Thereafter, all rights revert to the author, although the contract can be extended if both parties are happy to do so. All copyright remains with the author.

We offer a small advance plus 50% of net royalties thereafter on both e-books and physical books. Authors will also receive 5 free paperback copies of their book and the option to purchase further copies at cost price.

Exact details of the contract will be negotiated with individual authors, but we are happy to send you a copy of our sample contract on request.

What We Offer:

We provide full developmental and copy-editing, formatting, cover design, and a marketing plan for your book using social media, newsletters, advance-release copies, and industry contacts. Our 2022 releases have appeared on several industry lists such as Tor Nightfire’s All the Horror Books We’re Excited for in 2022, and we have good relationships with a number of blogs and reviewers.

Please consider carefully whether indie publishing is right for you. We work closely with our authors to invest in your book, however our marketing budget is small and we’re still a very new press. Your willingness to promote your own work will make a big difference to your overall sales. Always be sure to thoroughly research any press you consider signing with. And please feel free to ask us questions! You can get in touch at [email protected].

How to Submit:

Email your first three chapters or equivalent sample of pages as a .doc/.docx file (no .rtf or .pdfs please) to [email protected]. In the subject line, please include “Novel” or “Novella” as appropriate, your name and your story title. A short cover letter including the word count and a brief synopsis (not the full plot) of your story is much appreciated. Please see our submission guidelines for more information on manuscript formatting. Simultaneous submissions are very welcome.

We will aim to respond to submissions within 60 days of receipt. This may change depending on the volume of submissions we receive. If we need more time, we’ll let you know.

Via: GHost Orchid Press.