Submission Information for Authors
Love Finds You™ Inspirational Romance Fiction
In the fall of 2008, Summerside Press™ launched the Love Finds You™ fiction series, which features inspirational romance novels set in actual cities and towns across the United States. Beginning in 2009, we will release 12 titles per year. These will be full-length novels, with a word count of around 80K words (or 320 pages). The stories may be historical or contemporary.
One goal of the Love Finds You™ series is to give readers a taste of local life across America, so each novel should draw on the compelling history or unique character of a real town. Plot details should remain reasonably faithful to the town’s history, geography, and/or atmosphere. Additionally, each story in the series should make a clear connection to the name of the town in which it is set. For example, a story titled Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio might feature revenge as a central theme.
Although Summerside Press™ will provide clear content boundaries, authors will be allowed the creative leeway they need to develop excellently-crafted fiction. Please refer to our Fiction Guidelines for more information regarding the goals and criteria for the line.
Submission Guidelines
Agented queries should be directed to:
Rachel Meisel
Senior Fiction Editor, Summerside Press™
rachel at summersidepress dot com
Agents: We would prefer “from scratch” proposals designed specifically for our project. (Please do not send existing manuscripts that have not been modified for the Love Finds You™ series.) Submissions must include: a brief (1-paragraph) overview of the novel, a long (2-3 page) synopsis, and at least three sample chapters. Please submit proposals in a single Word document and e-mail as an attachment to Rachel Meisel.
Summerside Press Historical Romance
Summerside Press™ is pleased to announce the launch of our premier line of historical romance fiction! Set against the backdrop of days gone by and featuring both domestic and international locations, Summerside’s historical romance line combines the excitement of history with the tenderness of heart-stirring romance. Be swept away by stories of men and women finding love during the turbulent days of war, on the gentle prairies of the American West, or amid the glitz and glitter of old Hollywood.
Submission Guidelines
Agented queries should be directed to:
Susan Downs
Senior Fiction Editor, Summerside Press™
Susan at summersidepress dot com
Agents: Submissions must include: a brief (1-paragraph) overview of the novel, a long (2-3 page) synopsis, and at least three sample chapters.
Please submit proposals in a single Word document and e-mail as an
attachment to Susan Downs.
WHEN I FALL IN LOVE™ Nostalgic Inspirational Romance
Strangers in the Night... Some Enchanted Evening...
Love Me Tender... Unforgettable... When a Man Loves a Woman...
Unchained Melody... Groovy Kind of Love... Blue Moon...
Do you remember the love song that was playing in the background when you experienced your first kiss? Can you still sing the lyrics to the tune you and your first love dubbed “our song”? If so, you are going to love Summerside’s newest fiction line—WHEN I FALL IN LOVE™.
Building on the success of our Love Finds You™ regional romance series, Summerside Press is expanding its inspirational romance fiction offerings to include a new twist to the bestselling romance genre—romance with a nostalgic beat. Each book in the When I Fall in Love™ inspirational romance line, to be set in the 1920s through the 1970s, will carry the title of a familiar love song and will feature new, original romance stories set in the era of its title song’s release. The first two books in Summerside’s When I Fall in Love line—Janice Hanna Thompson’s Love Me Tender and Julie Cannon’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas—will launch in the fall of 2010 followed by six new releases in 2011.
Submission Guidelines
Agented queries should be directed to:
Susan Downs
Senior Fiction Editor, Summerside Press™
Susan at summersidepress dot com
Agents: Please check with the editor to see if the proposed song-title selection is on our list of upcoming titles before submitting a project for consideration. Submissions must include: a brief (1-paragraph) overview of the novel, a long (2-3 page) synopsis, and at least three sample chapters. Please submit proposals in a single Word document and e-mail as an attachment to Susan Downs.
Fiction Guidelines
While these serve as guiding principles for fiction published by Summerside Press™, books will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Questionable content that is central to the progression of the story might be tolerated, but gratuitous content is subject to omission or revision.
- Realistic: The novel does not sacrifice realism in order to tell a feel-good tale.
Characters speak, think, and act naturally; relationships feel realistic and authentic; settings are accurately depicted; and plotlines are believable.
- Relevant: The novel engages and relates to readers, so that its message is applicable and meaningful.
The novel is not afraid to honestly depict some of the real issues people face in this world, explore moral gray areas, or tackle themes of sin and redemption, but it does so from a biblical perspective in which God’s truth prevails. It does not sugarcoat the struggles of the Christian faith, but it does not engage in wanton depictions of sinful lifestyles.
- Wholesome: The novel is free of offensive language and gratuitous descriptions of sex and violence.
The novel may acknowledge that the physical aspect of romantic love is designed by God to enhance intimacy between a man and a woman, but references to sexual relations are not explicit. Furthermore, they either: 1) take place within a marital relationship, or 2) reflect the consequences of extramarital sexual relations from a biblical standpoint.
- Positive: The novel is constructive and affirming. It ends on a note of hope and optimism.
The story conveys a positive view of both romantic love and Christianity, but without becoming preachy, trite, or unrealistic.