Submission Policy
We are interested in reading novels under 85,000 words, novellas, and short story collections. Before you submit, be sure to read one of our books; too many authors do not familiarize themselves with our press, and they submit inappropriate manuscripts. Some practical guidelines:
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We rarely publish poetry except by authors with whom we have an established rapport.
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Mysteries are great, but they don't sell well for us, so please do not send us any.
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There are quite a few publishers of romance; we're only interested in the quirkier books of this genre.​ ​
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We love historical spec fiction and horror.
And please...
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Before submitting a story to us, please query with a synopsis of your manuscript, a bio, and why you think Lethe is a good home for your work.
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In your email us an example of a previously published Lethe title you have read that is similar to your manuscript. If it's clear you've never read any of our books, because you are providing examples based on length, subject matter, or cover look, I will know because I can and will ask questions about what you read. And if you have not read the book, well, I see no reason to read yours.
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We do not accept submissions that are also being considered by other publishers. If we read this in your submission email, our answer is a firm no. We are a small press and time is a precious commodity.