Although we are accepting submissions, please note Scarlet Tie is a new publishing house and the main bookstore will not go live until early 2013. We accept submissions for novels, novellas, and novelettes. We will also consider book pitches from published authors.
Novelette: 7,500 - 17,500
Novella: 17,500 - 40,000
Novel: 40,000 +
Submissions must have gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgendered main characters. Although we welcome and encourage submissions of erotic and romantic fiction, we will also accept stories outside of those genres. All submissions must have strong plotlines and well developed characters. A HEA is not a pre-requisite.
Plot must outweigh sexual content. Less is more when submitting an erotic manuscript to Scarlet Tie.
All manuscripts must be emailed to submissions@scarlettiebooks.com and addressed to Meg Leigh. We prefer manuscripts to be sent in .doc (Word) format, but will also accept submissions in .txt or .rtf format.
Novelette: 7,500 - 17,500
Novella: 17,500 - 40,000
Novel: 40,000 +
Submissions must have gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgendered main characters. Although we welcome and encourage submissions of erotic and romantic fiction, we will also accept stories outside of those genres. All submissions must have strong plotlines and well developed characters. A HEA is not a pre-requisite.
Plot must outweigh sexual content. Less is more when submitting an erotic manuscript to Scarlet Tie.
All manuscripts must be emailed to submissions@scarlettiebooks.com and addressed to Meg Leigh. We prefer manuscripts to be sent in .doc (Word) format, but will also accept submissions in .txt or .rtf format.
All submissions must
* Be edited for grammar and spell checked. Please make sure your manuscript is as clean as possible before submitting it for consideration. Although we accept submissions in US English, please note books will be published in UK English.
* Be in Times New Roman font, 12pt, with single line spacing. Hard return between paragraphs. No paragraph indents.
* Include a cover letter with contact details, an author biography, and a concise synopsis.
* Include a word count, title, genre, author name at the top of the manuscript. A pseudonym is acceptable, but you must include your real name in the cover letter. Author real names/genders are kept in strict confidence.
* Must be addressed to the appropriate editor.
* Please only send the first four chapters. We will contact you for the rest of the manuscript if we require it. Please note, a request for the full manuscript does not constitute an offer to publish, but indicates we are interested to read more and consider your story further.
* If submitting graphic fiction, please check extra the extra guidelines below.
Manuscripts not adhering to these guidelines will be discarded unread. We do accept unsolicited manuscripts and welcome new authors. If you would like to submit more than one manuscript, please send a query email first.
We also accept and encourage storylines with darker or controversial plots, stories that are part of (or intended to be part of) a series, and will also consider republishing books that are out of contract.
We will not accept
Paedophilia: Adults engaging in sex with underage characters.
Necrophilia: Sexual interaction with corpses. This does not include the ‘undead’ as in vampires, etc.
Bestiality: Sex with animals. This does not include fantasy creatures like werewolves and shapeshifters.
Rape & Gratuitous Violence: The general rule is we will not accept rape/violence written for the sake of erotic titillation.
Bodily functions: Scat, golden showers, etc will not be accepted.
Grey Areas
We do understand some stories are of a darker nature and therefore topics like rape and violence can be grey area. As mentioned above, the general rule is we will not accept rape/violence written for the sake of erotic titillation.
In regards to underage characters we also understand it simply is not realistic to expect younger characters in relationships to wait until they’re over 18 before they have sex. In this instance we ask you to use your discretion. Please do not submit graphic sex scenes involving underage characters.
We accept the following genres:
Contemporary
Historical
Mystery/Suspense
Crime/Thriller
Fantasy
Sci-Fi
BDSM
Western
Horror
Romance/Erotica
Please allow 2-6 weeks for a response to your submission.
Graphic Fiction Submissions
The submission process for graphic (illustrated) fiction will go through a two step process. Manuscripts will be read for consideration by Meg Leigh. Should your manuscript pass through the submission process, you will then be asked to submit your artwork for consideration to our art director, Zathyn Priest. If both your manuscript and artwork are approved, you will receive an email with an offer of publication with Scarlet Tie Books.
If your manuscript passes through the submission process but your artwork does not, you may receive one of two responses
1) You may receive an email offering publication for your manuscript only.
2) You may receive an email with an offer to rework and resubmit artwork that has initially failed to pass through the submission process.
Please Note
* We will consider digital and traditional artwork.
* All artwork must be of a high standard.
* Do not format your manuscript with artwork placed in the body of the text.
* Follow the above submissions guidelines when submitting your manuscript.
* We will accept erotic artwork.
* If the artist is not the author of the manuscript, he/she will need to sign a release form.
* Royalties for graphic fiction with an author and illustrator will be discussed with both the author and illustrator when/if an offer of publication is made.
Please allow 2-6 weeks for a response to your submission.
* Be edited for grammar and spell checked. Please make sure your manuscript is as clean as possible before submitting it for consideration. Although we accept submissions in US English, please note books will be published in UK English.
* Be in Times New Roman font, 12pt, with single line spacing. Hard return between paragraphs. No paragraph indents.
* Include a cover letter with contact details, an author biography, and a concise synopsis.
* Include a word count, title, genre, author name at the top of the manuscript. A pseudonym is acceptable, but you must include your real name in the cover letter. Author real names/genders are kept in strict confidence.
* Must be addressed to the appropriate editor.
* Please only send the first four chapters. We will contact you for the rest of the manuscript if we require it. Please note, a request for the full manuscript does not constitute an offer to publish, but indicates we are interested to read more and consider your story further.
* If submitting graphic fiction, please check extra the extra guidelines below.
Manuscripts not adhering to these guidelines will be discarded unread. We do accept unsolicited manuscripts and welcome new authors. If you would like to submit more than one manuscript, please send a query email first.
We also accept and encourage storylines with darker or controversial plots, stories that are part of (or intended to be part of) a series, and will also consider republishing books that are out of contract.
We will not accept
Paedophilia: Adults engaging in sex with underage characters.
Necrophilia: Sexual interaction with corpses. This does not include the ‘undead’ as in vampires, etc.
Bestiality: Sex with animals. This does not include fantasy creatures like werewolves and shapeshifters.
Rape & Gratuitous Violence: The general rule is we will not accept rape/violence written for the sake of erotic titillation.
Bodily functions: Scat, golden showers, etc will not be accepted.
Grey Areas
We do understand some stories are of a darker nature and therefore topics like rape and violence can be grey area. As mentioned above, the general rule is we will not accept rape/violence written for the sake of erotic titillation.
In regards to underage characters we also understand it simply is not realistic to expect younger characters in relationships to wait until they’re over 18 before they have sex. In this instance we ask you to use your discretion. Please do not submit graphic sex scenes involving underage characters.
We accept the following genres:
Contemporary
Historical
Mystery/Suspense
Crime/Thriller
Fantasy
Sci-Fi
BDSM
Western
Horror
Romance/Erotica
Please allow 2-6 weeks for a response to your submission.
Graphic Fiction Submissions
The submission process for graphic (illustrated) fiction will go through a two step process. Manuscripts will be read for consideration by Meg Leigh. Should your manuscript pass through the submission process, you will then be asked to submit your artwork for consideration to our art director, Zathyn Priest. If both your manuscript and artwork are approved, you will receive an email with an offer of publication with Scarlet Tie Books.
If your manuscript passes through the submission process but your artwork does not, you may receive one of two responses
1) You may receive an email offering publication for your manuscript only.
2) You may receive an email with an offer to rework and resubmit artwork that has initially failed to pass through the submission process.
Please Note
* We will consider digital and traditional artwork.
* All artwork must be of a high standard.
* Do not format your manuscript with artwork placed in the body of the text.
* Follow the above submissions guidelines when submitting your manuscript.
* We will accept erotic artwork.
* If the artist is not the author of the manuscript, he/she will need to sign a release form.
* Royalties for graphic fiction with an author and illustrator will be discussed with both the author and illustrator when/if an offer of publication is made.
Please allow 2-6 weeks for a response to your submission.
WE ARE CLOSED TO GENERAL SUBMISSIONS