We also currently handle submissions to Proxima Books, which is a separate imprint of Salt Publishing, specialising in science fiction and fantasy writing (non-romance).
Please see below for each series’ guidelines. What writers should submit in the first instance will follow at the end.
Red Velvet – 50-60K in length
Sexy, sophisticated romance with feisty heroines and believable Alpha males. Contemporary and paranormal categories. Millionaires acceptable but not necessary. British settings and characters welcome.
After Dark – 55-65K words
Passionate, scorching romance and erotic romance. Open to unusual and daring storylines. Contemporary and paranormal settings.
Embrace Historicals – up to 150K
A broad range of women’s fiction with a historical setting, including category-style romances, generational sagas, romantic epics, and relationship novels. Please note, these books do not need to be romances, though they should all carry elements of romantic involvement. Lengths will vary according to sub-genre.
Embrace Regency – 70-100K
This dedicated series is for Regency and Georgian romances only. These may be traditional, comedy-of-manners romances or employ a wider-ranging, more fantastical approach. Short romances should be no more than 75k, while others may fall between 75-100K. Unusual settings and characters are positively encouraged, so long as the writing is exemplary and the period well-observed. Time-travel and paranormal storylines are acceptable. Bold sensual content is generally preferred to ‘sweet’ romance.
Proxima Books – science fiction and fantasy, length variable
Our editors are currently seeking submissions of quality alternative fiction for Proxima Books, including eclectic variations on science fiction, fantasy, alternative history, heroic or anti-heroic adventure, magic, horror, Gothic, supernatural, mythic or urban fantasy, and any blurring of the above sub-genres. A brief synopsis is required for all submissions, but for complex works over 50,000 words, please include a detailed synopsis, plus a glossary or list of dramatis personae where appropriate. Please note these are not romances.
Please Note: Novellas are welcome across all series and categories, from 20K up to 40K
What to Submit
Your first 3 chapters and a synopsis, or the full ms and synopsis if submitting a novella.
Please include a writing-specific CV or account of your writing history, a few lines about the book, including word count and which line you are targeting, and why your submission would suit Embrace.
All submissions should be by Word doc (not docx). RTF will be accepted, though Word is preferred. Other formats may be rejected. Please include your title, or an abbreviation of it, and your surname in each file name, attaching the synopsis separately.
To improve your chances of acceptance, keen attention should be paid to rules of punctuation, spelling and good writing generally before a manuscript is submitted.
For advice on formatting your manuscript correctly, please see Preparing your Manuscript.
Submissions by email only to jane@embracebooks.co.uk
There are no automatic acknowledgements. Manuscripts will be acknowledged individually, in order of receipt. Response times are currently short. The sooner you send, the quicker you should hear back. If you do not hear back within six weeks, please query.
Please note, Embrace Books is a digital-first publisher.
All titles will be sold digitally. Selected titles will also be presented in a print edition. 40% royalties are offered on home downloads, 35% on other sites, 7.5% on print (where applicable). Rights are for 3 years’ duration. Payments quarterly.
More information here.
This blog is no longer updated. Please instead visit Writers For Diversity for new opportunities for women/ LGBT writers and writers of color. Thank you.
