Propertius Press

We are actively seeking submissions from Black, Minority, Indigenous, and other Persons of Color in all categories. By submitting in this category, you affirm that you are a Black or Minority person of color, including Indigenous persons. Please ensure your submission fits this category. Submissions in this category that are not from BIPOC writers will be rejected and you may be prevented from making further submissions if repeat infractions occur.

Please read the General Guidelines before submitting and follow all applicable directives therein. Tell us in query form the length of the piece, the theme, working title, and attach a 750- to 1500-word synopsis of your literary fiction work, novella, contemporary, urban, historical, fantasy, or other type of fiction. 

After reviewing your query and synopsis, we may request the first 3 chapters or 20k words of your manuscript, or we may request the full work. Please do wait until we make this request to send further information.

In addition, please tell us if you are submitting this work to other publishers, and we would appreciate being notified should you decide to contract with another publisher before we have made a final decision on acceptance of your work. If this happens, kindly withdraw your submission from consideration.

We will contact you within two to four months should we require more information. 

Generally we make a final decision on submissions in this category within eleven calendar months, although when there is a backlog of many submissions, it is not uncommon for us to take a year to two years to come to a final decision.

This category will close automatically when the submission cap is reached, or on May 15, 2023, whichever happens first.

We are actively seeking submissions by and about persons who identify as Trans and/or Non-Binary. 

We feel it is highly important to offer opportunities to trans and non-binary authors, readers, and the general public for works that describe how it is to live as trans and/or non-binary.

These books are often banned or removed from library and bookstore shelves because some unenlightened individuals, acting out of ignorance, fear, or some other troublesome attitude, complain or outright campaign against making this type of literature and story available to children, young people and even adults, thus denying all members of the reading public the chance to learn and enjoy reading about trans and non-binary people. It is especially disturbing to note that children who identify as either of these are being discriminated against and subjected to further harassment by adults who should know better. Propertius Press aims to help lift up these stories and voices in an effort to counteract the dangerous and disturbing forces that aim to silence trans and non-binary folk.

Please read the General Guidelines before submitting and follow all applicable directives therein. Tell us in query form the length of the piece, the theme, working title, and attach a 750- to 1500-word synopsis of your work. If it is intended to be illustrated, please let us know if you have ideas about this, or if you have already begun working with an artist. If so, please include samples or a link where we can view. 

After reviewing your query and synopsis, we may request the first 3 chapters or 20k words of your manuscript, or we may request the full work. Please do wait until we make this request to send further information.

In addition, please tell us if you are submitting this work to other publishers, and we would appreciate being notified should you decide to contract with another publisher before we have made a final decision on acceptance of your work. If this happens, kindly withdraw your submission from consideration.

We will contact you within three to four months should we require more information.
Generally we make a final decision on submissions in this category within eleven calendar months, although when there is a backlog of many submissions, it is not uncommon for us to take a year to two years to come to a final decision.

This category will close automatically when the submission cap is reached, or on August 1, 2023, whichever happens first.

We are actively seeking submissions from Black, Minority, Indigenous, and other Persons of Color in the Historical Fiction category. By submitting in this category, you affirm that you are a Black or Minority person of color, including Indigenous persons. Please ensure your submission fits this category. Submissions in this category that are not from BIPOC writers will be rejected and you may be prevented from making further submissions if repeat infractions occur.
Please read the General Guidelines before submitting and follow all applicable directives therein. When you submit. fill out the form completely. Your query should include the length of the piece, the theme, working title, and attach a 750- to 1500-word synopsis of your historical  fiction work.
After reviewing your query and synopsis, we may request the first 3 chapters or 20k words of your manuscript, or we may request the full work. Please do wait until we make this request to send further information.
In addition, please tell us if you are submitting this work to other publishers, and we would appreciate being notified should you decide to contract with another publisher before we have made a final decision on acceptance of your work. If this happens, kindly withdraw your submission from consideration.
We will contact you within three to four months should we require more information.
Generally we make a final decision on submissions in this category within eleven calendar months, although when there is a backlog of many submissions, it is not uncommon for us to take a year to two years to come to a final decision.
This category will close automatically when the submission cap is reached, or on July 1, 2023, whichever happens first.

UPDATE: The Submissions cap for Historical Fiction has been reached. This category is closed. Thank you for your interest, and do check back after the first of the year to review our open categories at that time.

Please ensure your submission fits this category. Submissions in this category that are not Historical Fiction will be rejected and you may be prevented from making further submissions if repeat infractions occur.

Please read the General Guidelines before submitting and follow all applicable directives therein. Tell us in query form the length, theme, working title, and attach a 750- to 1500-word synopsis of your historical literary fiction work. We are especially interested in historical fiction that may be based on side characters of well-read literary fiction of the past, such as Jane Austen, the Brontës, L.M. Montgomery, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Louisa May Alcott, Kate Chopin, Samuel Clemens, Kenneth Grahame, L. M. Barrie, Lewis Carroll, Stephen Crane, Henry James, etc. In this category, we look for authenticity, a clearly formed plot, believable and interesting characters, originality, and at least a modicum of respect for the original source material.

After reviewing your query and synopsis, we may request the first 3 chapters or 20k words of your novel, or we may request the full work. Please do wait until we make this request to send further information.

In addition, let us know if you are submitting this work to other publishers, and we would appreciate being notified should you decide to contract with another publisher before we have made a final decision on acceptance of your work. The submission should then be withdrawn.

We will contact you within two to four months should we require more information.

Generally we make a final decision on submissions in this category within eleven calendar months, although when there is a backlog of many submissions, it is not uncommon for us to take a year to two years to come to a final decision.

This category will close automatically when the submission cap is reached, or on July 15, 2023, whichever happens first. Thank you for your interest in our small, independent, not-for-profit press.

Please ensure your submission fits this category. Submissions in this category that are not Cozy Mysteries will be rejected and you may be prevented from making further submissions if repeat infractions occur.

Please read the General Guidelines before submitting and follow all applicable directives therein. Tell us in query form the length, theme, working title, and attach a 750- to 1500-word synopsis of your fiction piece. In this category, we look for a clearly formed plot, believable and interesting characters, originality, and a tidy ending. We are not looking for violence, gore, or psychological thrillers. It is not necessary that your story be one in a series, but this is also not a drawback. Examples of cozies we like are written by Rita Mae Brown (Mrs. Murphy, Sister Jane series), Agatha Christie, Alexander McCall-Smith (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency), Simon Beaufort, Susanna Gregory, and Ellis Peters.

After reviewing your query and synopsis, we may request the first 3 chapters or 20k words of your novel, or we may request the full work. Please do wait until we make this request to send further information.

In addition, let us know if you are submitting this work to other publishers, and we would appreciate being notified should you decide to contract with another publisher before we have made a final decision on acceptance of your work. The submission should then be withdrawn.

We will contact you within two to four months should we require more information.

Generally we make a final decision on submissions in this category within eleven calendar months, although when there is a backlog of many submissions, it is not uncommon for us to take a year to two years to come to a final decision.

This submission category will close automatically when the submission cap is reached, or on August 1, 2023, whichever happens first. Thank you for your interest in our small, independent, not-for-profit press.

This is a General Fiction category for works of a literary bent. However, this category is all-inclusive of the different types of fiction - so long as it is literary. 

Works in this category should, most definitely, stand the test of time.

Please read the General Guidelines before submitting and follow all applicable directives therein. Tell us in query form the length, as well as the theme, working title, and attach a 750- to 1500-word synopsis of your literary fiction work. 

After reviewing your query and synopsis, we may request the first 3 chapters or 20k words of your novel, or we may request the full work. Please do wait until we make this request to send further information.

Please tell us if you are submitting this work to other publishers, and we would appreciate being notified should you decide to contract with another publisher before we have made a final decision on acceptance of your work.

We will contact you within six months should we require more information. If you have not heard from us within that time, you may contact us for an update.

Generally we make a decision on submissions in this category within eleven calendar months, although when there is a backlog of many submissions, it is not uncommon for us to take a year to two years to come to a final decision.

This submission category will close when the submission cap has been reached, or on May 15, 2023. Thank you again for your interest in our small, independent, not-for-profit press.

NOTE: PLEASE ENSURE YOUR SUBMISSION IS A NON-FICTION WORK. DO NOT SUBMIT IN THIS CATEGORY UNLESS YOUR SUBMISSION IS NON-FICTION (ESSAY COLLECTION, SCIENTIFIC WORK, PHILOSOPHY, HOME & GARDEN, ACADEMIC, HISTORY, ETC.). Biographies and Memoirs should be submitted in that category, not this one. If you don't see that category open, or if clicking takes you to a dead link, it means the submissions cap has been reached and you will need to wait until it opens again.  Please do check back frequently so as not to miss the next submissions window for the appropriate category that best fits your work.

Submissions in erroneous categories will be rejected, and those with repeated infractions may be blocked from further submissions.

Please read the General Guidelines before submitting, and follow all applicable directives therein. Tell us the subject matter, working title, and up to a 500-word synopsis of your project. You may submit a draft manuscript or finished piece. You may also send documentation for your research, including powerpoint slides, spreadsheets, images, and zipfiles. If you are submitting multiple files, all files must be submitted together in zipfile format as only one file is allowed per submission.

PLEASE NOTE: 

If your document contains hyperlinks you will be asked to remove them if it is accepted for publication. For what should be obvious reasons, hyperlinks do not work in a print book, and most ebook retailers also do not allow them in ebooks they sell. Hyperlinks may be included as text only in reference sections, end notes, etc. If you are unfamiliar with how to correctly cite web sources, please check the current Chicago Manual of Style, which we prefer due to its simplicity.

We also will require end notes rather than footnotes due to their incompatibility with digital readers. We will not be able to format your book for print or ebooks until these changes are made. We will provide an index for nonfiction books where appropriate, but you will be asked to proof the index. 

Simultaneous submissions are acceptable in this category.

We will contact you within six months should we require more information. 

Generally we make a final decision on submissions in this category within eleven calendar months, although when there is a backlog of many submissions, it is not uncommon for us to take a year to two years to come to a final decision.

This category will close on June 15, 2023 or when the submissions cap has been reached, whichever happens first. Thank you for your interest in our small, independent, not-for-profit press.

Please read the General Guidelines before submitting.

Tell us in query form the name of person who is the subject of your biographical work, as well as the theme, working title, and a 500-word synopsis of your submission. For persons who are not well known, please do tell us why you think the subject of the biography or memoir would be interesting to readers. For well known persons, tell us why your work adds to the general knowledge and is an important addition to what has already been said about them. In addition, please tell us the approximate word length of the work, and the intended audience for the finished biography or memoir: Adult, Young Adult, or Children. 

You may include up to four images of the subject matter in conjunction with your written submission. Images are not necessary but may be helpful in describing your subject. Please note that only one file is allowed per submission, and make note of the listed file types. However, you may also upload additional material, after submitting, in the Message Center.

Please note, and this is very important: Do Not Hyperlink within your document. Hyperlinks are fine for blog posts and belong on web pages, but if you're printing a blog post, the document must conform to printing and digital requirements. 

If your document contains hyperlinks, you will be asked to remove them if it is accepted for publication. For what should be obvious reasons, hyperlinks do not work in a print book, and most ebook retailers also do not allow them in ebooks they sell. Hyperlinks may be included as text only in reference sections, end notes, etc. If you are unfamiliar with how to correctly cite web sources, please check the current Chicago Manual of Style, which we prefer due to its simplicity.

We also will require end notes rather than footnotes due to their incompatibility with digital readers. We will not be able to format your book for print or ebooks until these changes are made. We will provide an index for nonfiction books where appropriate, but you will be asked to proof the index. 

Simultaneous submissions are acceptable in this category but please tell us if you are submitting this work to other publishers, and we would appreciate being notified should you decide to contract with another publisher before we have made a final decision on acceptance of your work.

Generally we make a decision on submissions in this category within twelve calendar months.

A few words to folks writing their own memoirs:

Due to the volume of such pieces in the published world at large, we seriously doubt many publishers are, or should be, interested in yet another reminiscent piece of any period of the twentieth century by those in positions of privilege. We already know that, to quote a recent query, "gay used to mean you were the life of the party" and "hardware was nuts and bolts." We appreciate your military service in Vietnam and know there were a lot of drugs. We are looking for unique stories that do not preach and that show a genuine interest in life around us. While it may be uplifting and cathartic to write your story (and we encourage writing as self-reflection), unless it is very unique or written by a non-privileged individual, we are probably not the publisher for you. 

If you truly have a unique story, then please do submit it. Otherwise, you might consider co-writing with a friend who did not experience things the way you did: an immigrant, a person of color, a minority ethnic person or someone the system did not treat well, including those with mental and health challenges. Think about people the system silenced: those who loved someone of their same sex, or a different race, or please consider the lives of trans people. Do not attempt to tell their story: Let them speak.

This type of memoir in a purely historical context could be very interesting if it were inclusive of the points of view from people who, unlike yourself, were generally left out, discriminated against, or persecuted during that period of the twentieth century: immigrants, people of color, ethnic minorities, those of differing sexual persuasions and identities. The world needs those stories.

Perhaps you have a friend who can provide this point of view in counterpoint to your own experience. Perhaps there could be conversation and reflection within that story. That would be a book we would very much like to read. 

It's very common for people to reminisce about how the world used to be. It might be interesting and different juxtaposed with thoughts as a counterpoint to yours from members of other generations as well, such as Gen X, Millennials, or GenZ. Perhaps you might collaborate with one or more writers in your writing group from these generations. Photographs are also interesting and lend authenticity to memoirs and writings of this sort.

About song lyrics, poems, and other copyrighted works:

You will be responsible for obtaining copyright to any quoted lyrics or passages from copyrighted works, which can be expensive. Please be judicious in including them and be sure that they do contribute to the understanding and readability of the story. A line or two does not necessarily need copyright permission and could simply be credited; however, more extensive quotes definitely do. You will need to ascertain where your quoted sections fall in the legal realm and we will verify these.

This submission category will close when the submission cap has been reached, or on May 15, 2023. Thank you again for your interest in our small, independent, not-for-profit press.

Please read the General Guidelines before submitting, and follow all applicable directives therein. Tell us in query form the intended audience (Pre-Readers, Elementary, Middle, or High School/YA, whether or not your story in its present form is illustrated/intended to be illustrated, as well as the theme, working title, and a 250-word synopsis of your children's story, or 750-word synopsis of your Middle or High School/YA work. If you are submitting multiple files, all files must be submitted together in zipfile format as only one file is allowed per submission.

For picture books, a snapshot of up to three pages is all that is needed in addition to the above requirements. For other illustrated books, up to 3 images may accompany your submission. Images are not necessary for consideration in this category. Should you desire us to connect you with an illustrator, please let us know and we will be happy to do so.

Simultaneous submissions are acceptable in this category but please tell us if you are submitting this work to other publishers, and we would appreciate being notified should you decide to contract with another publisher before we have made a final decision on acceptance of your work.

We will contact you within six months should we require more information. If you have not heard from us within six months, you may contact us for an update.

Generally we make a decision on submissions in this category within eleven calendar months, but during times of major submissions backlog, it is not uncommon for us to take a year to two years to make a final decision.

This category will close when the submissions cap has been reached, or on May 15, 2023, whichever happens first. Thank you for your interest in our small, independent, not-for-profit press.