44 Calls for Submissions in April 2019 - Paying markets

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There are more than three dozen calls for submissions in April. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees.

As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from speculative fiction to poetry to personal essays.

NOTE: I post upcoming calls for submissions at the end of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions.

You can get a jump on upcoming calls for submissions by checking that page periodically. (I only post paying markets.)

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Spider Magazine (for ages 6 - 9). Genre: Contemporary and historical fiction and non-fiction for the theme “Indigenous Stories.” Payment: Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Polis Books: Both Sides – An Anthology of Border Noir. Genre: Fiction. Theme: “The border is a powerful place where countries collide. It’s a weird space of dreams, struggles, promises, lies, fear, and redemption. It’s a multicultural and bilingual space where people know that hustling to protect your loved ones or offer them a better life is a drive strong enough to blur ethical codes. Length: 100-word pitches; stories of 5,000-7,000 words. Send pitch only. Payment: $75. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction 300 - 1,000 words on theme of Reform. Payment: Pays for anthologies only. Deadline: April 1, 2019. See accepted genres.

Canthius. Genre: Poetry and prose from women and genderqueer writers. Payment: $15 per poem and $50 per work of prose. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Spider Magazine (for ages 6 - 9). Genre: stories, poems, short plays, and activities for the theme “Enchanted Forest.”  Payment: Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Spider Magazine (for ages 6 - 9). Genre: Contemporary and historical fiction, nonfiction, poetry, crafts, and recipes about the celebration or history of holidays around the world. Payment: Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word. Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum. Activities and recipes: $75.00 flat rate. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Ladybug  Magazine (for ages 3 - 6). Genre: Short stories, retellings of folk tales, rebus stories, poems, action rhymes, nonfiction, and songs about young children participating in their communities. Payment: Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Ladybug  Magazine (for ages 3 - 6). Genre: Contemporary and historical fiction and non-fiction for the theme “Indigenous Stories.” Payment: Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Electric Lit. Genre: Poetry, flash, graphic, and experimental narratives. Payment: $100. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Babybug  Magazine (for ages 6 months - 3 years). Genre: Stories, poems, action rhymes, and fingerplays about year-round outdoor play and exploration. What might a baby or toddler appreciate about the natural world in different seasons? Are there memorable games that can only be played at certain times of year? We’re looking for playful writing that the very young will want to hear again and again. Please keep manuscripts short—poems can be up to eight lines and stories up to six sentences. Payment: Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Cricket Magazine (for ages 9 - 14). Genre: Contemporary and historical fiction and non-fiction for the theme “Indigenous Stories.” Payment: Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Cricket Magazine (for ages 9 - 14). Genre: Contemporary and historical fiction, nonfiction, poetry, crafts, and recipes about the celebration or history of holidays around the world. Payment: Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word. Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum. Activities and recipes: $75.00 flat rate. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Cricket Magazine (for ages 9 - 14). Genre: Contemporary and historical fiction, biographies, and nonfiction about earning money or starting an enterprise. Payment: Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Cricket Magazine (for ages 9 - 14). Genre: Poetry for middle-grade readers. Poems can be serious or silly and on any subject of interest to thoughtful, curious, and outgoing children—such as nature, sports, music, books, friendships, self-reflection, families, school, historical figures and events, and goofy humor. Payment: Stories and articles: Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Orca. Genre: Flash, and short stories, and not-so-short stories up to 8000 words. Payment: $25.  Deadline: April 7, 2019. Orca is fee free for up to 100 submissions a month.

Gypsum Sound Tales: Colp – Big. Genre: Stories that feature at least one significantly-sized character or component. Length: 1,000-4,000 words. Payment: AUD5 for stories under 2,500 words; AUD10 for anything above 2,500 words. Deadline: April 11, 2019.

Mojo. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Payment: $15. Deadline: April 12, 2019.

Epoch Magazine is edited by faculty at Cornell University. Genres: Poetry in all forms, including the long poem; send up to five poems, fiction, essays, cartoons, screenplays, graphic art, and graphic fiction. Payment: $50 per poem, and $150 per short story, more for longer stories. Deadline: April 15, 2019. Snail mail submissions only.

Escape Artists: Cast of Wonders – Halloween, Dinovember, Winter Holidays. Genre: Speculative fiction for teens. Length: Up to 6,000 words. Payment: $0.06/word. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

Hinnom Magazine: Retro Weird Tales Edition. Genre: Horror, science fiction, and fantasy stories and poems from women. Stories should be Weird fiction and Cosmic horror. Payment: $0.06/word for prose, $65 for poems. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

Rattle: African Poets. Genre: Poetry. The poems may be written on any subject, in any style or length, but the poet must have been born in, or be a permanent resident of, an African country.  Payment: $100. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

The Rush. Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art. "We seek high-energy pieces that reflect the rush of life." Payment: "We’re delighted to be able to pay writers.” Deadline: April 15, 2019.

West Branch. Genres: Poetry, fiction, CNF. Payment: $50 per poem, 5 cents per word for prose. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

B Cubed Press: Tales from the Space Force. Genre: Fiction. Theme: Space Force.“Now that America has an official Space Force, we need to incorporate it into literature. What to do we want?  Camp? Satire? Bug Eyed Monsters? All good. We’ll do serious stories, too.  Mostly we want good stories. And if I am to confess, we want campy stories. We want the golden age of pulp to live again. … Ask yourself, what would an American Space Force do? Will there be a space wall around the International Space Station? Will NASA and the Space Force get along?” Length: 500-5,000 words
Payment: $0.02/word and royalties; for flash pieces and poetry, an option of a flat $25 fee. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

Mary. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and hybrid genres. Payment: $30. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

B Cubed Press: Alternative Apocalypses. Genre: Stories about endings, beginnings and change. "The apocalypse can be big or small, personal or world shattering. A political bent doesn’t hurt, but is not necessary. They will accept some poetry and thoughtful essays. They welcome humor and satire."  Payment: $0.02/word + royalties for fiction, $25 for very short fiction and poems. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

Translunar Travelers Lounge. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $0.03 USD per word with a minimum payment of $20. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

B Cubed Press: Alternative Bedtime Reading for Progressive Parents. Genre: Nursery rhymes, poetry, and stories that can be read and enjoyed by children of all ages. There is no lower word limit on poems or nursery rhymes. The work can be original or derived from fairy tales, bible stories, folklore, myths, or similar so long as acknowledgement is made. Payment: $0.02/word + royalties for fiction, $25 for very short fiction and poems. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

The Suburban Review: Detritus. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and comics on the theme of Detritus. “Waste and decay surrounds and absorbs you. It’s warm, thick, fertile. Breathe in the fetid excess and expose all the crawling, seething life forces. Write into the dark warmth and send us the best of your scum and grot.” Payment: $75-150 for prose and poetry, $100-200 for comics. Deadline: April 18, 2019.

Shooter. Genre: Poetry, fiction and CNF on the theme of Identity. "Send us stories, essays, reported narratives and poetry on anything to do with the sense of self, whether personal or cultural. What defines someone – character, actions, associations, appearance? Why is identity important? What happens when it’s threatened? We particularly seek content that addresses topical issues of gender, sexuality, race, nationality, religion and occupation but, as ever, the theme is open to wide interpretation." Payment: £25 per story and £5 per poem. Deadline: April 21, 2019.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories about Think Positive: Live Happy. Genre: True stories. "Your mind and thoughts are very powerful. Almost anything is possible if you think you can. You can dream big, overcome challenges, create the best life possible for yourself and turn adversity into opportunity. If you change your outlook and listen to your heart you can move forward and achieve the life you want. Each day holds something in it to be grateful for. How did you “think positive” and how did it change your life? Tell us your success story about using the power of positive thinking!" Payment: $200. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Darkhouse Books: A Murder of Crows. Genre: Cozy to cozy-noir crime stories, set in any time, from dinosaurs to the present, using the collective names of groups of animals which includes mammals, reptiles, fish, birds, and insects. Payment: 50% of royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2019. Some reprints accepted.

The Fiddlehead. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Payment: $60 CAD per published page, plus two complimentary copies of the issue. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

JMS Books: Fun in the Sun. Genre: LGBTQ+ romance stories set during the sultry summer months. Length: 12,000 words minimum. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

FIYAH. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry about Africa Diaspora. Length: Short fiction 2,000 – 7,000 words and novelettes up to 15,000 words. Payment: $150 per story. $50 per poem. $300 per novelette. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Nightscape Press: Nox Pareidolia. Genre: Horror/weird fiction. “Whether it be ambiguously supernatural or whether what exactly has or is happening is ambiguous, or any creative playing off of ambiguity could be interesting to see explored. But the element that is ambiguous must be intrinsic to the story.” Payment: $0.06/word. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Post-to-Print Publishers: From a Cat’s View. Genre: Stories written from a cat’s point of view. Payment: $25. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Martinus Publishing: This Never Happened! Alternate History Farce and Fantasy. Genre: Alternative history. "This collection will hold stories that are funny and outrageous, set in worlds where history differs from what happened in our own reality, with ridiculous consequences; tales that could not possibly have happened, or maybe they could have but they'd have just been absolutely hilarious." Payment: A share of profits. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Lethe Press: Hatchet Job. Genre: Horror. Payment: $0.04/word for original, $0.02/word for reprints. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Corona Books UK: The Third Corona Book of Horror Stories. Genre: Horror. Payment: Advance of £50 against royalties. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Split Lip Magazine. Genre: Fiction (flash and short stories), memoir, and poetry with a pop culture twist. Payment: Contributors to web issues receive $50 (paid via PayPal). Print issue contributor payment is $5 per printed page, minimum of $20, plus 2 contributor copies and 1 year subscription. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Catapult: Genre: Fiction under 1000 words. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Catapult: Genre: Personal essays, lyric essays, reportage, and unconventional prose which resists categorization. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

The Massachusetts Review. Genre: Poetry up to 100 lines. Submit up to six poems. Also fiction and essays. Payment: $50 for work published in a single issue. Deadline: April 30, 2019. Translations, including poetry, are accepted year-round. No fee for mailed submissions

Room Magazine is an established Canadian feminist literary journal. Yhey accept work by women (cisgender and transgender), transgender men, Two-Spirit and nonbinary people. They specifically encourage writers with overlapping under-represented identities to submit their work. Genre: Poetry, send up to five poems. Also accept fiction, creative non-fiction, and art submissions. Payment: CAD $50-$150, Deadline: April 30, 2019.

35 Writing Contests in April 2019 - No entry fees

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Spring has sprung! Writers rejoice! This month there are 35 writing contests, and none charge entry fees. Prizes range from tens of thousands of dollars to publication. As always, read the restrictions to make sure you qualify.

If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests. Most of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck!
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Alpine Fellowship. Genre: Pieces of any genre up to 2500 words on the theme of “Identity.”  Prize: The first place winner receives £3000 and an invitation to enter the symposium in Venice (two runners-up also receive the invitation). Deadline: April 1, 2019.

The Great American Think-Off. Genre: Essay on the theme: “Which plays a larger role in shaping one’s life: success or failure?” Entrants should take a strong stand agreeing or disagreeing with this topic, basing their arguments on personal experience and observations rather than philosophical abstraction. Essay should be no more than 750 words. Prize: One of four $500 cash prizes. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

The Marguerite and Lamar Smith Fellowship for Writers. Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians awards fellowships for writers to spend time in McCullers' childhood home in Columbus, Georgia. The fellowships are intended to afford the writers in residence uninterrupted time to dedicate to their work, free from the distractions of daily life and other professional responsibilities. Award: Stipend of $5000 to cover costs of transportation, food and other incidentals. Fellowship recipients will be required to introduce or advance their work through reading or workshop/forum presentations. The Fellow will work with the McCullers Center Director to plan a presentation near the end of the residency. Deadline: April 1, 2019. 

Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction. Restrictions: The writer must be Canadian, and an entry must be the writer's first or second published book of any type or genre and must have a Canadian locale and/or significance. Genre: Print books and ebooks of creative non-fiction published in the previous calendar year. Prize: C$10,000.00. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Small But Mighty. Restrictions: Children ages 7-11 and 12-15. Genre: Fiction and poetry. Prize: Writing supplies, certificate, and publication on website. Deadline: April 1, 2019.

The Waterston Desert Writing Prize. Genre: Literary nonfiction, desert theme. Prize: $1,500.    Deadline: April 1, 2019.

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. Now in its 18th year, this contest seeks today's best humor poems, published and unpublished. Please enter one poem only, 250 lines max. Prize: $2,250 in prizes, including a top prize of $1,000, and publication on Winning Writers. Deadline: April 1, 2019. See submission form HERE.

Go Ape Children's Writing Competition. Restrictions: Open to UK children aged 4-7 and 8-12. Parents/guardians are encouraged to enter on behalf of their child. Genre: Adventure stories. Stories must be between 100 and 500 words. Prize: Various prizes: gift vouchers, family holidays. Deadline: April 4, 2019.

Eliza So Finish-Your-Book Fellowship. Restrictions: There are two fellowships, one for immigrant writers, and one for Native Americans with affiliations to Montana. Genre: A novel, collection of stories, or memoir in progress (100 pages minimum) or poetry collection in progress (30 pages minimum). Prize: The fellowship includes room and board at Las Vegas' Writer's Block in the fall or winter of 2019, along with a $500 food stipend and $400 toward airfare. Deadline: April 5, 2019.

2018-2019 ELI Constitutional Environmental Law Writing Competition. Restrictions: Open to law students. Genre: Essay on any topic addressing developments or trends in U.S. environmental law with a significant constitutional, “federalism,” or other cross-cutting component. Prize: $2000.  Deadline: Monday, April 8, 2019.

Harold U. Ribalow Prize. Genre: Fiction on a Jewish theme, published books only. Prize: $3,000.  Deadline: April 12, 2019.

Monash Undergraduate Prize for Creative Writing. "The Prize is a significant literary award for new and emerging writers. The prize is open to both Australian and New Zealand university students, enrolled in either an undergraduate or honours degree. All types of creative writing will be accepted, including short stories, non-fiction narrative and narrative verse." Prize: $4000.  Deadline: April 14, 2019. 

2019 Parsec Short Story Contest - Noir. Restrictions: Open to non-professional writers. Genre: Speculative fiction. The theme for the 2018 contest is: NOIR. This can be conveyed in the setting, plot, characters, dialogue…the only limit is your imagination. The theme must be integral to the story in some way and not just mentioned in passing. Prize: $200 and publication. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

Scotiabank Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English. Books must be published in Canada in English between March 1, 2019 and April 30, 2019 to be eligible for the 2019 Prize. Must  be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

The Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize. Genre: Book-length translation of Asian poetry into English. Both translators and publishers are invited to submit titles. Book must have been published in previous year. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

William Saroyan Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to students in 1st grade through college.   Genre: Short story, 2 pages. Prize: $50 - $100. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

Hektoen International Grand Prix Essay Competition. Genre: Original essay that relates medicine to the humanities.1,600 words max. Prize: $3,000 for the winner and $800 for the runner-up. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

American Literary Translators Association Italian Prose in Translation Award. Genre: Translation of a recent work of Italian prose (fiction or literary non-fiction). Both translators and publishers are invited to submit titles. Book must have been published in previous year. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: April 15, 2019.

Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors. Created by the Missouri Humanities Council, the Warrior Arts Alliance, and Southeast Missouri State University Press, this series of anthologies preserves and shares military service perspectives of our soldiers and veterans of all conflicts and of their families. It is not only an outlet for artistic expression but also a document of the unique aspects of wartime in our nation's history. Genres: Poetry, Short Fiction, Essay, Photography, Interview with a Warrior. Prize: $250 and publication. Deadline: April 19, 2019 (postmarked).

Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Contest for Canadian Youth. Restrictions: Canadians, grades 7-12. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $400. Deadline: April 19, 2019.

Heroes' Voices National Veterans' Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to US veterans. Genre: Poetry on theme of "The Soldiers' Journey". Prize: $1000. Deadline: April 20, 2019.

Whiting Foundation Creative Nonfiction Grant. Restrictions: Open to US citizens and residents only. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Whiting welcomes submissions for works of history, cultural or political reportage, biography, memoir, the sciences, philosophy, criticism, food or travel writing, and personal essays, among other categories. Writers must be completing a book of creative nonfiction that is currently under contract with a publisher. Prize: $40,000. Deadline: April 22, 2019. 

Gary Fincke Creative Writing Prize. Restrictions: Open to undergraduates. Genre: Poetry and prose. Prize: $100. Deadline: April 26, 2019.

E-waste Scholarship. Restrictions: You must be a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Genre: 500- to 1,000-word essay about e-waste. Prize: $1000 scholarship. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

A Voice for Animals Teen Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to students between the ages of 14-18. Genre: Essays on an animal rights topic.  In the 16-18 year olds category, essays must be 800-1,000 words long and be accompanied by a photograph; in the 14-15 year olds category, essays should be between 1,400-1,500 words. One climate change prize (both age categories compete) will be awarded for an essay on how climate change affects a particular animal species. Prize: $500.   Deadline: April 30, 2019.

SA Writer’s College Short Story Award. Restrictions: Open to unpublished writers in South Africa. Genre: Short stories. Prizes: 1st – R 10 000; 2nd – R 5 000; 3rd – R 2 000. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Toronto Book Awards. Genres: All genres accepted. Restrictions: Submission "must evoke the city itself, that is, contain some clear Toronto content (this may be reflected in the themes, settings, subjects, etc.). Authors do not necessarily have to reside in Toronto. Ebooks, textbooks and self-published works are not eligible. Prize: A total of $15,000 CD will be awarded. Each shortlisted author (usually 4-6) receives C$1,000 and the winning author is awarded the remainder. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships. Restrictions: Applicants must reside in the U.S. or be U.S. citizens. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and no older than 31 years of age as of April 30, 2016. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $25,800.  Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Irene Adler Prize for Women Writers. Restrictions: Open to Canadian women. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Prize: $1,000 scholarship. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Friends of Falun Gong, Poetry Contest. Genre: Poem Submit one or two poems of no more than 50 lines each. Poems must encompass at least one of the following themes: Advocate for Falun Gong practitioner’s fundamental human rights. Expose the crimes against Falun Gong perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party. Share in the beauty, peacefulness and good nature of Falun Gong. Prizes: $500, $250, $100. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Daisy Utemorrah Award for Indigenous Authors. Restrictions: Open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writer currently residing in Australia. Genre:  Junior/YA full-length fiction manuscript intended for readers aged 8-18. Length: 40,000 and 100,000 words. Prize: A$15,000 and possible publication. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

“The Once and Future Moon” Contest. Genre: Short stories of 1000-5000 words about Earth's moon. Prize: Publication, £10, and contributor copy. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Lake Superior State University High School Short Story Prize. Restrictions: Open to high school students students residing in the Midwestern United States (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) or Ontario, Canada. Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $500 and publication.  Deadline: April 30, 2019.

OtherWordly Intergalactic Haiku Competition. Genre: Space-themed haikus. Prize: $150. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Al Blanchard Crime Award. Restrictions: New England residents only. Genre: Crime short story. Prize: $100. Deadline: April 30, 2019.

29 Fabulous Writing Conferences in April 2019

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Spring is here! There are some excellent opportunities to network, pitch your work, and attend stimulating workshops in April.

I strongly urge you to plan ahead if you are thinking of attending a writing conference. Many offer scholarships that can significantly reduce the cost. And all of the intensive writing workshops have application deadlines.

For a month-by-month list of conferences throughout the year see: Writing Conferences. (You will also find links to resources that can help you find conferences in your area on that page.)

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Rananim online classes Courses run for eight weeks from April through May. "Participants receive personalized feedback on assignments from their instructor, as well as responses from classmates on discussion board forums. All instructors are university professors and/or working professional writers, who have experience teaching at the Taos Summer Writers’ Conference. Classes are limited to 15 students who will engage in conversation with you and your work. Firm deadlines and feedback help keep you writing and improving your work throughout the class." International students accepted. Cost: $400 per class.

Beall Poetry Festival. April 3 - 5, 2019, Waco, TX. The festival features readings, panel discussions, and the Virginia Beall Ball Lecture on Contemporary Poetry. Participating poets include Mary Szybist, Donald Revell, Juan Felipe Herrera, Meg Tyler, and a Poetry Panel. All events are free and open to the public.

Tennessee Mountain Writers Annual Conference, Apr 4 - 6, 2019: Oak Ridge, TN. Speakers and session leaders include Richard Hague, Judy Goldman, Abigail DeWitt, and more!

IBPA Publishing University. April 5-6, 2019, Portland, OR. The Independent Book Publishers Association offers 30+ educational sessions including experiential learning labs, insightful keynotes, a gala book award ceremony, networking events, and so more! Cost: $195-$475.

California Dreamin' Conference for Writers. April 5 - 7, 2019, Brea, CA. Workshops, pitch sessions, critiques for romance writers.

Grub Street Muse and the Marketplace Conference. April 5 - 7, 2019, Boston, Massachusetts. The Muse and the Marketplace is a three-day literary conference designed to give aspiring writers a better understanding about the craft of writing fiction and non-fiction, to prepare them for the changing world of publishing and promotion, and to create opportunities for meaningful networking. On all three days, prominent and nationally-recognized established and emerging authors lead sessions on the craft of writing—the "muse" side of things—while editors, literary agents, publicists and other industry professionals lead sessions on the business side—the "marketplace."

Writing By Writers Manuscript Boot Camp. April 5 - 8, 2019. Tahoe City, CA. The Writing By Writers Manuscript Boot Camp is for the writer who has a full book-length manuscript (novel, memoir or short story collection) and would like to engage with a small group for a serious and productive response. The long weekend will include an intimate full manuscript workshop, craft talks, readings, an agent panel and individual agent meetings – the perfect pre-publication boot camp for any manuscript. Classes are limited to 5 participants.Tuition includes one three-day workshop, admittance to all craft talks, panels and readings, a one-on-one with an agent, all meals (dinner on Friday; three meals Saturday and Sunday; breakfast, and lunch on Sunday) and lodging in a single room for three nights. Vegetarian meals are available upon request.

Colrain Classic. April 5 - 8, 2019. Arlington, Vermont. "The Arlington Inn is a village estate built in 1847 that was later turned into a summer hotel in Arlington, Vermont. Today, the inn encompasses four buildings throughout four acres. This includes three buildings, 16 guest rooms and a restaurant. Located in the heart of The Shires of Vermont on The Shires By-Way, the Arlington Inn is just a short drive from Manchester and Bennington, Vermont; Massachusetts, and New York. Please note that we will make all reservations and arrangements for conference participants. Other details will be sent to all registrants along with the pre-conference materials." Here you will work with poet-editors Joan Houlihan and Martha Rhodes.

San Antonio Book Festival. April 6, 2019, San Antonio, TX. The San Antonio Book Festival is a FREE, annual, daylong event that unites readers and writers in a celebration of ideas, books, libraries, and literary culture. Featuring more than 80 nationally and regionally acclaimed authors, the Festival offers programming for all ages.

William Paterson University Spring Writer’s Conference.  April 6, 2019: Wayne, New Jersey.  Readings and workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The faculty includes Paul Lisicky.

Northeast Texas Writers Organization. April 6, 2019, Mt. Pleasant, TX. One-day bootcamp.

Rally of Writers Conference. April 6, 2019, Lansing, Michigan. Michigan authors and educators in 15 breakout sessions and workshops on all aspects of writing, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, the Nuts & Bolts of manuscript submissions, and more.

Spring Big Apple: From Inspiration to Finished Product. April 7, 2019, NYC, NY.  Conquering your fears of Queries and Pitches, Putting your emotions on the page.

Writing on the Door: Paths to Publication. April 12 - 13, 2019: Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. Authors, agents, editors, and publishers will present on a variety of topics from freelance writing for magazines, entering contests, submitting query letters, finding an agent and more!

Great Plains Writers Conference. April 12 - 14, 2019: South Dakota State University. "Intimate conversations about the writing craft."

Poetry at Round Top Festival. April 12 - 14, 2019. Round Top, Texas. The faculty includes poets Sherwin Bitsui, Vievee Francis, Forrest Gander, Marie Howe, Major Jackson, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, and Natalia Treviño. The cost of the conference is $150 ($50 for students) or $75 for Saturday only. Workshops are an additional $40. Private manuscript consultations are available for an additional $70.

New York Writers Workshop Fiction Pitch Conference. April 12 – 14, 2019: Ripley-Grier Studios (NY Spaces) 520 Eighth Ave (36th/37th), 16th Fl. Participants polish their pitches with the help of conference leaders who are members of the New York Writers Workshop faculty, then they present them to three different editors from major New York publishing houses. Editors provide feedback and may request proposals and manuscripts after the conference.

Writers' Day. April 14, 2019: East Longmeadow, MA. Workshops and seminars featuring Jane Yolen, Shahnaz Habib, and C. Flanagan Flynn.

Norwescon. April 18 - 21, 2019: Sea Tac, WA. Norwescon is one of the largest regional Science Fiction and Fantasy conventions in the United States.

Arkansas Literary Festival. Apr 25 - 28, 2019: Little Rock, Arkansas. "Prestigious award-winners, screenwriters, comedians, an expert witness, artists, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet are among the diverse roster of presenters who will be providing sessions." Free.

Idaho Writers Guild Conference. April 26 - 27, 2019, Boise, Idaho. Meet with agents, editors, and authors. Panel discussions, workshops, and a keynote speaker. Your registration - $195 for IWG members, $225 for non-members.

Chanticleer Authors Conference. April 26 - April 28, 2019: Bellingham, Washington. Sessions with a special focus on the business of being a working writer on topics such as marketing, publicity, platform, sales tools & strategies, publishing, production, distribution, organization, storycraft, editing, and more.

Monadnock Pastoral Poetry Retreat. Apr 26 - 28, 2019. Greenfield, NH.  Includes workshops, individual conferences, participant & mentor readings; hiking & kayaking (weather permitting). Each workshop uses dual mentors.

Writing By Degrees. April 27, 2019, Binghamton, NY. Event is organized by Binghamton University graduate students, and designed to create a community of creative writing graduate students. The conference will feature panels, readings, and presentations by accomplished keynote speakers as well as other events and informal gatherings. There will be representatives from journals to discuss their periodicals. They will also be holding a writing contest this year. (The next conference will be held in 2019.)

Writing in the Pines. April 27, 2019, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ. Choose from workshops in memoir, poetry and revision. Each workshop will meet for 6 hours and will offer craft discussion, writing prompts, writing time, sharing and inspiration.

North Carolina Writers’ Network Spring Conference. April 27, 2019, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina. Features intensive workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as publisher exhibits, on-site "lunch with an author" readings, and an open mic.

Western Reserve Writers' Conference. Apr 27, 2019, South Euclid, Ohio. This free one-day writing conference takes place at Cuyahoga County Public Library's William N. Skirball Writers' Center, located in the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch library. It features a choice of breakout sessions, a keynote address, and private sessions with editors. It occurs annually on the 4th Saturday in April.

Write Now! Apr 27, 2019, Raleigh, NC. One day writing conference hosted by Triangle Association of Freelancers.Sessions include screenwriting, financial tips for writers, pillars of freelance success, copyediting, trade pubs, column writing, publishing tips and more. Cost: $69; $59 for students with ID and seniors 65+; $80 at the door.

Crafting Successful Author Visits. April 28 - May 2, 2019, Honesdale, PA. School visits are a powerful way to get your book into the hands of readers. But how do you take what you’ve written or illustrated and turn it into an attention-grabbing presentation for kids? This workshop will give you strategies for creating and delivering engaging talks, information on developing materials for teachers and students, and guidelines for developing other promotional tools. Carmen Oliver and Jan Cheripko will advise you in the creation or revision of your presentation intended for a school audience. In addition to one-to-one feedback on your presentation, Jan and Carmen will accompany you to an on-site school visit during the workshop.

18 Publishers Accepting Picture Books - No Agent Required

Settling in to devour a good book  (credit: Max Pixel)

Updated 8/8/23

There are many children's book publishers that do not require an agent, which means children's book authors generally find it easier to break into publishing than those who write adult fiction and nonfiction. This holds true for juveniles of all ages, from birth to young adult.

Picture books are geared to children ages 3 - 8. Lengths can vary from 500 to a thousand words. In most cases, the author provides the text, while publishers arrange for an illustrator. (An exception is  made for author-illustrators.) Rarely do publishers take on both a writer and an illustrator.

You can find more children's book publishers that accept unagented writers here: Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts. All of these are traditional publishers.

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Albert Whitman & Company has been publishing award-winning children’s books since 1919. Albert Whitman’s special interest titles address subjects such as disease, bullying, and disabilities.  Submissions: Albert Whitman and Company currently has an open submissions policy. They read and review unagented manuscripts and proposals for picture books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult novels. Novellas accepted. Email submissions only. Note: They will not review any submissions that do not follow their submission guidelines.

Annick Press accepts submissions of picture books, middle grade fiction, YA fiction, and non-fiction for kids of all ages. "Our stories feature contemporary themes (even if the setting is historical) and aim to instill kids with the joy of reading." Read guidelines HERE.

Penny Candy Press publishes kids' books that reflect a wide range of authors and illustrators from around the globe. "We are not interested in perpetuating a publishing culture that ALL authors, illustrators, and readers do not have access to. While we will not exclude anyone from our catalog, we focus on underrepresented, unheard, or forgotten voices as part of our mission." They are open to submissions from January to March. Please read complete author guidelines here.

Levine Querido Founded in 2019 by Arthur A. Levine, Levine Querido is an independent publisher of children's books. Submissions: Picture Books: Query letter + the full text; Novels: Query letter + the first two chapters + synopsis; Other: Query letter + five page samples (five poems, five nonfiction pages, etc.); Illustration: Three sample illustrations via attachment, and links to online portfolios. Do not send full manuscripts. Read submission guidelines here. Will re-open in 2024.

Flashlight Press publishes books for 4 - 8-year-olds. Books must be under 1000 words, have a universal theme, and deal with family or social situations. Read guidelines here.

Free Spirit publishes books for infants to age 4 and picture books for ages 4 to 8 that focus on social skills and getting along, early learning, character education, self-esteem, and other topics related to positive early childhood development. They also consider fiction that relates directly to these areas of focus. Read guidelines here.

Holiday House specializes in hardcovers, from picture books to young adult, both fiction and nonfiction for ages four and up. They do not publish mass market books, including pop-ups, activity books, sticker books, coloring books, or licensed books. Submissions: Holiday House only responds if they are interested in publishing your manuscript. Please send the entire manuscript, whether submitting a picture book or novel. They do not accept submissions by email or fax. Read guidelines here. 

Pajama Press publishes picture books—both for the very young and for school-aged readers, as well as early chapter books, novels for middle grade readers, and contemporary or historical fiction for young adults aged 12+. PP also published nonfiction. Pajama Press is looking for manuscripts from authors of diverse backgrounds. Stories about immigrants are of special interest. See their submission guidelines here. Has submission periods.

Red Deer Press is a Canadian company that publishes books for children across the ages, from picture books to young adult fiction and non-fiction. Please read complete author guidelines here.

Ripple Grove Press is a new family-owned publisher based in Massachusetts. They are seeking picture books. Read submission policy. Has submission periods. Temporarily closed to submissions.

Sky Pony Press is the children's book imprint of Skyhorse Publishing. They publish picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA fiction and nonfiction. "We’re open to any genre and style, and we’re always looking for something new and different. We love original concepts, fresh voices, and writing that knocks us off our feet." See their submission guidelines here.

Second Story Press is a Canadian feminist press publishing books of special interest to women. Their list is a mix of fiction, non-fiction, and books for young readers. They look for manuscripts dealing with the many diverse and varied aspects of the lives of girls and women, as well as social justice, diversity, and children's empowerment. They not publish poetry, short story collections, traditional romance novels, rhyming picture books, or books with anthropomorphized animals. Canadian authors only. Read guidelines HERE.

Sleeping Bear Press is a publisher of quality children’s books. They specialize in picture books and middle grade novels. They accept both fiction and nonfiction submissions. Please read complete author guidelines here.

Immedium publishes picture books for ages 4-8 or 6-10. The general format is 32-pages with color illustrations. "Do not submit children's picture books which you consider to be complete with "finished art", since we want the flexibility to help improve and refine your concept."  Please read complete author guidelines here.

Nobrow Press publishes graphic novels, picture books, novels and novellas for YA and adults, as well as nonfiction. Flying Eye is their children's imprint. They require a brief synopsis of your novel as well as the complete first draft which should be sent as attachments. Manuscripts should be a minimum of 40,000 words and not exceed 90,000 words in length. Read guidelines here.

Princeton Architectural Press accepts fiction and general nonfiction picture books for children ages three to eight. They only review complete submissions, which include text and illustrations. Please send a low-resolution PDF of your proposal to submissions@papress.com. Read their guidelines here.

Yeehoo Press is dedicated to publishing fun, enchanting, and socially responsible children’s books for audiences around the world. Their books are published and sold in simultaneous English and Simplified Chinese editions. Yeehoo Press has offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, California, and Shanghai, China. Yeehoo is a boutique press publishing 10 to 15 books per year.  They are looking for fictional and non-fiction picture books, both text-only and author-illustrator projects, aimed at ages 3-8.  Read guidelines here.

Hogs Back Books (UK) is a small publishing house that publishes picture books and YA novels.  Submissions: For children’s books aged 0-10 years, send a complete manuscript along with a cover letter. For young adult novels, include a synopsis and the first three chapters of your manuscript. Click here for details.

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2 New Agents Seeking Women's Fiction, Thrillers, Horror, Nonfiction and more

Updated 6/9/22

Here are two new agents expanding their client lists. Claire Harris wants psychological and commercial thrillers, serial detective stories, works of fiction inspired by actual crimes, mystery, suspense, cozies, anything involving serial killers, contemporary family dramas and nonfiction. Anne Tibbets is seeking thrillers, mystery, horror, women's fiction, and romantic suspense.

Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists.

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

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Claire Harris of P.S. Literary Agency

Claire received her B.A. in English from The University of Texas at Austin and attended the NYU Summer Publishing Institute. She enjoys the creative process of working with writers and collaborating closely with them throughout all stages of their careers. Claire is a thriller fanatic, candy addict, and a lover of all things creepy. Her favorite place to curl up with a good book is on a screened porch during a thunderstorm. She’s been on more ghost tours than she can count. Follow her on Twitter @claire_m_harris.

What she is seeking: In fiction, Claire wants psychological and commercial thrillers, serial detective stories, works of fiction inspired by actual crimes, mystery, suspense, cozies, anything involving serial killers, and contemporary family dramas. She is a lover of the dark and twisted, and she’s happiest when reading manuscripts with unexpected endings, especially those that stay with you for days. Having grown up in Wisconsin, Claire has a special love of stories set in the Midwest.

For nonfiction, Claire looks for a range of projects, including humor, celebrity memoir, lifestyle guides, pop culture celebrations, and illustrated books for adults. While she is interested in a variety of nonfiction projects, her passion lies in true crime.

How to submit: Query Claire at query@psliterary.com.

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Anne Tibbets of Donald Maass Literary Agency

Anne Tibbets is the author of multiple science fiction novels and a former screenwriter. She joined Red Sofa Literary as an Associate Agent in 2018. As an agent, Anne hopes to represent adult science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, and horror, with the occasional crossover YA. Bonus points if you combine genres. In her free time, Anne watches television, reads, games, and participates in a myriad of “Old Lady” hobbies. She lives in Los Angeles, but don’t hold that against her. She can be found on Twitter @AnneTibbets.

What she is seeking: 

• Adult Thriller: Domestic and/or Investigative
• Adult Mystery: Cozy, Amateur Investigator, and/or Police Procedural
• Adult Horror: Psychological, Non-western monsters and settings
• Women’s Fiction – Historical: sweeping, epic, romantic, and feminist
• Romantic Suspense: international thrillers and RomCom adventures
• Diversity: BIPOC, LGBTQ+, ability

How to submit: Use her query manager HERE.

4 UK Agents Seeking Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, MG, YA, Thrillers, Nonfiction & more

Updated 6/9/22

Here are four UK literary agents seeking clients. Rebecca Carter is looking for ground-breaking new literary fiction writers, as well as writers of upmarket crime and thrillers, and some children’s and YA authors. In non-fiction, she works mainly in the fields of history, politics, social and cultural commentary, design and technology, the environment and travel, often mixed together with memoir, and with a strong emphasis on quality of writing and storytelling.  Zoe Plant is looking for commercial, exciting middle-grade, young adult and adult fiction, including science fiction, fantasy and horror of all types.

Claudia Young is interested in all types of writing, in particular cooking and food journalism, comedy and travel writing, literary fiction, contemporary as well as historical novels, crime fiction and thrillers. Matthew Marland is  seeking nonfiction, crime, thrillers, historical fiction, literary and commercial fiction.

IMPORTANT: Always read the agency website and agent bio before submitting!

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

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Zoe Plant of The Bent Agency

"A Londoner by birth, I studied for my degree in Russian and Spanish at Cambridge and lived in Moscow for a year before making my way back to the UK to start my publishing career. I started out as an intern at the Bent Agency in 2014 and went on to spend five years working as a literary scout, scouring the UK market for the very best children’s and adult books to recommend to international publishers. I was named as one of the ’30 under 30′ publishing professionals to watch on the London Book Fair Trailblazer Awards shortlist in 2018. As an agent, I am delighted to now have the opportunity to work with talented authors to bring their books into the world, and I welcome submissions from authors based anywhere."

What she is seeking: "I am looking for commercial, exciting middle-grade, young adult and adult fiction. Across all age ranges, my favourite books are full of pace and plot, but have something quirky and fresh about them: a speculative or high-concept setting, an unusual twist or a voice that changes how I see the world. I particularly love fantasy, science fiction and horror, so am looking for these genres across both adult and children’s.

For middle grade and young adult fiction, I am on the hunt for action, adventure and worlds that I can fall in love with, no matter the genre. Whether it’s about spies, astronauts, zombies, or just an odd day at school, if it has a strong voice and a compelling setting I would love to read it.

On the adult side, as well as science fiction, fantasy and horror of all types, I’m looking for commercial crime and thrillers. I am open to anything—cosy or gritty, speculative, historical or contemporary, as long as it has a good hook and an inventive plot."

How to submit: Send your query to plantqueries@thebentagency.com  Include the title of your project in the subject line of your email. Then paste the first ten pages of your book in the body of your email (not as an attachment, please).

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Rebecca Carter of Rebecca Carter Literary (UK)

Before becoming an agent, Carter was editorial director at Chatto & Windus and then Harvill Secker, publishing books ranging from Roger Deakin’s Waterlog, early in her career there, to Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus shortly before she left to become an agent. She also led the publication in English of Irène Némirovsky’s Suite Française.

What she is seeking: In fiction, she is looking for ground-breaking new literary fiction writers, as well as writers of upmarket crime and thrillers, and some children’s and YA authors. She has very varied taste in fiction, enjoying the spare and the dark as well as the rich and linguistically playful; the big family drama alongside the smaller prose poem; the bitingly contemporary as well as the reflectively historical; novels set in worlds already familiar, as well as those opening up different, distant lives and places. In non-fiction, her curiosity and tastes are similarly broad but she works mainly in the fields of history, politics, social and cultural commentary, design and technology, the environment and travel, often mixed together with memoir, and with a strong emphasis on quality of writing and storytelling.

How to submit: Currently closed to queries.

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Claudia Young of Greene & Heaton Ltd

Claudia Young joined the agency in 2009. Claudia also works closely with radio and television production companies, and the speakers and presenters side of the agency.

What she is seeking: Claudia is interested in all types of writing, in particular cooking and food journalism, comedy and travel writing. Claudia loves literary fiction, contemporary as well as historical novels, crime fiction and thrillers.

How to submit: Submissions should be sent by email to submissions@greeneheaton.co.uk. Please attach a synopsis and the first three chapters (or about fifty pages) in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Mention the name of your preferred agent in the subject line of your email. Children’s or YA submissions should also be clearly marked in the subject line.

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Matthew Marland of Rogers, Coleridge & White

Matthew Marland joined Rogers, Coleridge & White in 2016 after working at Conville & Walsh. He has a BA and MA in English Literature. Matthew works closely with Natasha Fairweather, Peter Robinson, and Peter Straus, and is also building his own list.

What he is seeking: Nonfiction, crime, thrillers, historical fiction, literary and commercial fiction.

How to submit: Send a query to matthewm@rcwlitagency.com For fiction send the first three chapters or approximately the first fifty pages of the work to a natural break, and a brief synopsis. Non-fiction submissions should take the form of a proposal up to twenty pages in length explaining what the work is about and why you are best placed to write it.

2 New Agents Looking for Kidlit, YA, Romance, Literary and Commercial Fiction and more

Updated 6/8/22

These two new agents are actively seeking clients. Heather Cashman is currently seeking submissions for middle grade and young adult. For fiction, she’ll consider all genres and loves a good genre splice. For non-fiction, anything that takes her back to those days in the library when she wanted to learn about someone, something, and somewhere new. Cecilia Lyra is actively seeking literary and commercial adult fiction that feature diverse, layered characters and unexpected plot twists. 

IMPORTANT: Always read the agency website and agent bio before submitting!

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

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Heather Cashman, Associate Literary Agent of Storm Literary Agency

Heather has always loved meeting authors and working on their books as a collaborative partner. She was a professional editor for Cornerstones Literary Consultancy, editing middle grade, young adult, and adult books. She’s also helped authors by working as Managing Director of Pitch Wars, #PitMad, and Pitch Madness, as well as being a Pitch Wars mentor.

Before becoming an associate agent at Storm Literary Agency, Heather interned for three years at The Bent Agency and Entangled Publishing. She’s helped authors from the pre-query stage to acquisitions, and she’s also worked as a freelance editor and consultant for traditional and non-traditional publishing. She’s excited to continue helping authors as their agent.

What she is seeking: Heather is currently seeking submissions for middle grade and young adult.
For fiction, she’ll consider all genres and loves a good genre splice. For non-fiction, anything that takes her back to those days in the library when she wanted to learn about someone, something, and somewhere new. For all writing, Heather enjoys unique characters formed from their own experiences in a unique world. The characters need to feel real with a distinct voice from the first line. Thematic elements and strong character arcs are a must. She loves commercial fiction that has a literary flair and inclusive books that bring us together as citizens of the world.

How to submit: Please email (only) to: heather.stormliteraryagency@gmail.com with "Query TITLE OF MANUSCRIPT" in the subject line of your email. (No need for the quotes.) For middle grade and young adult, send the first twenty pages in the body of your email below your query letter and signature. If interested, she'll contact you for the full. Links to social media platforms are appreciated.

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Cecilia Lyra of PS Literary

Cecilia holds a Master’s Degree in Banking and Financial Law from Boston University and is completing a graduate certificate in publishing. In 2016, she bid adieu to her life as lawyer and professor of law to become a writer and a literary agent. She blames this heretical career move on her nine-year-old-self, who was bitten by the reading bug and began to dream of the day when she would work with books. When she isn’t devouring novels—or dessert—Cecilia can be found drinking wine, writing her own novels, and snuggling with Babaganoush, her adorable English bulldog. Follow her on Twitter @ceciliaclyra

What she is seeking: Cecilia is actively seeking literary and commercial adult fiction that feature diverse, layered characters and unexpected plot twists. As a feminist, Cecilia loathes the term women’s fiction — it’s just fiction — but, for the purposes of clarity, that is her favorite genre. Cecilia is also looking for unique and compelling narrative nonfiction and memoirs (think: nonfiction that would be perfect for book clubs). She is particularly passionate about representing under- or misrepresented voices and stories that contribute to a larger cultural conversation. Do not send a manuscript where the dog dies — Cecilia can’t handle it.

How to submit: Queries should be directed to query@psliterary.com.