GUIDELINES
Passion in Print is looking for:
Novels ranging in 65,000 words to 120,000 words
Single author collections of themed/related novellas totaling in 65,000 words to 120,000 words. Collections will include two to three novellas with word counts of at least 25,000 words each. No short story collections, please.
All genres are encouraged, but we have a special interest in vampires, science fiction, and mystery. We also have an interest in acquiring multicultural and interracial romance, older woman and younger man couplings, Rubenesque heroines, and BDSM (erotic romance only).
Stories must include well developed characters with believable motivations and intriguing plotlines. The romance between the main characters must be forefront. Hero or Heroine cannot be married, engaged or living with a lover/significant other (who is not hero or heroine) when the romance between main characters begins. We publish stories that are about the romance between a man and a woman, specifically. If the erotic story is a menage it will have to be either M/F/M or F/M/F, but at no part of the story can an intimate love relationship/sex scene be built around only F/F or M/M. No, M/M/F or F/F/M relationships or sex scenes. PIP publishes erotic romance, not erotic stories, our readers look for that HEA or at least HFN in our short stories.
A "Happily Ever After" or "Happy for Now" ending is essential.
At this time we do not accept previously published works.
Genres:
Paranormal – Vampires, shifters, magic, science fiction and fantasy.
Historical – Stories set in ancient times through WWII.
Mystery & Suspense – Murder. Mayhem. Heart pounding suspense.
Contemporary – Romance set in contemporary settings. Steamy or sultry, heartwarming or comedic.
Erotic Romance – Scorching hot romances. A significant portion of the story should be devoted to graphic and explicit sex scenes which further the romantic plot and characterization.
HEAT RATINGS
Tame: Mild sensuality, mild heat, occasional love scene, no graphic euphemisms
Racy: Moderate sensuality, moderate heat, increased frequency of love scenes, more graphic language.
Spicy: High level of sensuality, detailed love scenes, graphic description of anatomy and of sexual acts.
Scorching: Intense erotic scenes, may include BDSM and m/f/m or f/m/f ménage
PROHIBITIVE GUIDELINES
We're not alone among publishers of mainstream and erotic romance in saying that there's some story-telling that we just don't want to see. Check with other publishers' guidelines if you must, but among reputable presses there are prohibitions against these elements in a story:
• rape or incest presented to titillate the reader- although both are a fact of life and shouldn't be rejected as a plot element if they add to motivation and character development;
• underage sex presented in a positive light or on the page, ‘though it may figure in plot;
• content that demeans identifiable groups, ‘though hate is also a part of life and overcoming it can be a strong motivator;
• bodily functions in the nature of - but not limited to - golden showers or scat;
• necrophilia (‘though the very frisky undead don't count);
• bestiality (off-worldly and were-creatures have their attractions in shifted form, but the poodle and the Clydesdale are off limits).
SUBMISSIONS
Your submission will have three parts: a cover letter, a synopsis, and a partial or full manuscript. Each and every one of these items should be proofread and spellchecked. If you haven't shown that much respect for your presentation, you can't expect us to take it seriously either.
The letter: In your cover letter, include your real name, your pen name (if any), your manuscript's genre, heat rating and word count, your contact information, and a summary of your writing or publishing experience. (If you're a first-time author, say so. We won't hold it against you. All our authors had a first time.) Point us to your promotional website, if you have one. Tell us, for instance, to which writers' organizations you belong or in which writing contests you earned a prize or mention. Describe why you think your story should interest Passion In Print and its readers.
The synopsis: Give us a synopsis of your story. You might open it with brief descriptions of the major characters. Then, in one to three pages, detail the significant action in the story. A synopsis is not a blurb. Don't end the synopsis with a blurb-style teaser. Can Jack save Diane from the forces that threaten to tear their world apart? Word of advice: a coy conclusion to the synopsis is a guaranteed way to create a cranky editor. We need to know the story. All of it. Including the ending.
The partial or the full manuscript: The final component is the story itself. We'd prefer to see the first three chapters plus the final one. Prologue and epilogue do not count as chapters. For erotic romance submissions-if the first sexual encounter doesn't happen within the first three chapters, please forward the chapters up to and including the first sexual episode.
Send the cover letter, synopsis and manuscript to submissions.pippress@gmail.com.
FORMATTING
Frankly, we don't much care about formatting, except that we can accept only Word .doc, .docx or .rtf files, or Open Office files. Also, don't use orange six-point sans serif text on yellow background. Still, we've been reading most of our lives; we can adjust to exotic fonts and formats -but we'd rather not. Remember, though, that the easier the reading is, the better the editor's frame of mind. Also,make very, very sure that you have proofread and spellchecked your text. We take it as an indicator of your seriousness as an author if you haven't had sufficient respect for your own work to do at least that much to help it reach an audience.
MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS
Please don't submit your manuscript to Passion in Print if you're offering the same file to another publisher at the same time. We try to answer within three weeks of your submission. If you haven't heard from us by then, send a polite note to inquire about the status of your manuscript. We will return without comment the manuscript of an author who withdraws a manuscript that has been submitted elsewhere at the same time.
RESPONSE TIME AND RESULTS
If you submitted a partial manuscript, the editor might request the full manuscript before making a final decision. Passion in Print tries to respond to every author within three weeks of the date of submission. We do not use form letters to reply. Each submission gets a thorough reading and the senior editor writes an individual evaluation. That kind of attention takes time. Even if your manuscript isn't suitable for Passion in Print, you'll have a professional evaluation in hand to help you improve your story. If Passion in Print declines your manuscript, don't take it personally. We might think your story is very good. But, if we don't have readers who buy your kind of story, it's not fair to you or Passion in Print to go to publication. Seek the best market and publisher for your story.
ACCEPTANCE
If your story is accepted for publication with Passion in Print, the publisher will contact you with details of an offer, including information about rights and royalties. Passion in Print Press is a royalty-paying publishing house and does not charge authors to publish their works.
Passion in Print is a print publisher, not an e-publisher. Just like MLR Press, all books at Passion in Print will be sold primarily in print. E book formats will also be available. Royalty rates are as follows: 15% on net for print and 50% on net for ebook/audio book. Our titles are carried in such outlets as Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com and independent bookstores in North America, Europe and South Africa.
Passion in Print offers an optional cooperative scheme for promotions and advertising that can extend your reach into the market. Each year, the publisher and other staff select a strategic handful of publishing and romance reader events at which they host booths. Authors are welcome to join them at these events. Additionally, the publisher tries to alert authors to online events and forums in which they may participate to promote their work.
EDITING
Having your story accepted doesn't mean that it goes to the printer with every precious word appearing just as you wrote it. We have a staff of story editors, line editors, proofreaders and artists who will all take a crack at helping you tell an even better story. If it's your first experience with publishing, you should know that the story editor has the final say about whether or not your book is ready to go to press. Work with your editors. They probably have a lot more publishing (and even writing) experience than you do. We really do want you to succeed.
PIP Themed Seasonal Submissions
Throughout
the year you can submit to specific themed short stories.
General
guidelines:
10K - 20K word count
Genre noted in each theme
Original stories only
Heat Ratings: Spicy/Scorching (only)
HEA/HFN
Note: Please adhere to the same guidelines as Open Calls’ submission style, formatting and PIP prohibitive standards.
Heroes & Bad Boys
We like them strong, tough and at times over the top. Give us your ALPHA MALES.
M/F or Ménage (M/F/M)
Any genre
In the subject line: Submission: Heroes & Bad Boys (include Title by Name)
Paranormal Pleasures
Things that howl, shift, claw and bite; take us into a world of animal instinct.
M/F or Ménage (M/F/M)
Any kind of shifter, vampire, dragons…as long as it makes sense. Example: No one wants to read about a cricket shifter. Consider the readers of your story—romance readers.
Any subgenre
In the subject line: Submission: Paranormal Pleasures (include Title by Name)
Mythology Madness
Zeus, Poseidon, Aphrodite…bring us the gods of pleasure and adventure.
You may use any mythological pantheon or one of your own creation. Think outside the box.
M/F or Ménage (M/F/M)
Any subgenre
In the subject line: Submission: Mythology Madness (include Title by Name)
Geeks & Lovers
Friends become lovers. The girl that was a dork becomes a sassy diva. Show us your “nerdy boys” turned “dirty boys”. We want them wire rimmed and digital drunk but in charge.
M/F or Ménage (M/F/M)
Any genre
In the subject line: Submission: Geeks and Lovers (include Title by Name)
Salute Me Baby
Does the thought of a soldier/warrior in any branch of service make you shiver? Perfect, because our readers love them too. So, suit ‘em up and show them off in an unforgettable romance.
M/F or Ménage (M/F/M)
Any genre
In the subject line: Submission: Salute Me Baby (include Title by Name)
Sensual Odyssey
Take us beyond this world to another planet or let us travel on a voyage from Earth with your characters.
Present day, futuristic time-frame or even an alternate universe.
M/F or Ménage (M/F/M)
Any subgenre
In the subject line: Submission: Sensual Odyssey (include Title by Name)
Spurs & Pearls
Everyone loves a sensual comedy where the city slicker finds themselves knee deep in a passel of mess on a ranch. Cowboys and Cowgirls that know how to saddle up and ride is what we are looking for and toss in an opposite heroine/hero completely out of their element to make the story fun and heavy on the sexual tension.
M/F or Ménage (M/F/M)
Any subgenre
In the subject line: Submission: Spurs and Pearls (include Title by Name)
Color Me Yours
The world is filled with many shades and cultures. We want interracial romances that share in the excitement and complexity of a hero and heroine from different races. However, race conflict cannot be the focal point or main obstacle that keeps hero/heroine apart.
M/F or Ménage (M/F/M)
Any genre
In the subject line: Submission: Color Me Yours (include Title by Name)
Christmas Kisses (Christmas)
The weather outside is cold and frightful, but inside it better be hot! We want holiday stories from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.
M/F or Ménage (M/F/M)
Any genre
Deadline: Must be in by 31 July for December release.
In the subject line: Submission: Christmas Kisses (include Title by Name)
Send the cover letter, synopsis and manuscript to submissions.pippress@gmail.com
*Note: PIP Authors submit directly to your editors.
