Due to the state of the economy, we are sticking to our backlog of in-house projects for the foreseeable future and are not accepting submissions at this time.
Singing Moon Press is a non-traditional, low pressure micropublisher based in South Dakota. We cater to eccentric, enthusiastic authors with an interest in telling a good story. As our authors are responsible for their own promotion they are expected to provide an established audience, not necessarily from their writing, and a marketing plan with their submission. I.E. Since we are very small we cater to authors who are anti-corporate with a personality able to attract a cult following. We view our books as tie-ins to our authors’ other work or interests. We leave it up to our authors’ personality and their schedule how to promote their work and are open to crazy ideas.
We will never tell anyone a weekend book signing is more important than time with their family.
Fiction submissions and picture books must be lyrical, well-researched, multicultural, non-preachy and socially relevant without being trendy. Previously self-published work is ok, massively edited nanowrimo novels are ok. We will take a good idea badly executed by a friendly person over the perfect manuscript of a delicate genius every time if you are willing to edit for six months, but we would prefer a perfect manuscript by a friendly person who understands how to use the Chicago Manual of Style and created something more interesting than a "proven" fill-in-the-blank Joseph Campbell plot.
Two sure ways to get rejected:
1. Summing up your manuscript as “Harry Potter in Space”, “Star Wars in the Middle Ages”, “The Wizard of Oz meets Spy Kids” or telling us your story is based on your WoW characters. We are not a large corporation looking for a franchise. We are a group of friends who want to reward you for being original.
2. Being a jerk. If we don’t have fun chatting with you we won’t send you a contract.
Query January to the end of March by email through the current address listed at singingmoonpress.com at that time. It may be a good idea to lurk or get to know the staff and the talent through their books, websites and on MySpace.
Wants:
offbeat or unconventional fantasy
dystopian or humorous science fiction
unusual (sci fi, fantasy, paranormal) romance
writers from SD in any genre for a proposed regional line (one per year)
novels of any genre starring talking animals, particularly feline mystery. (We would REALLY LIKE a humorous feline mystery series! REALLY! )
65,000 words or more for novels, 28 pages of artwork and corresponding text for picture books.
We plan to publish four books a year, three by talent already signed and one or two by a previously unsigned author for that year's holiday season. Authors must understand it takes ten years of hard work to create an overnight success. Plan to edit extensively and do not plan to quit your job.
We are not a typical publisher so we don't have a typical contract. All authors receive the same contract.
Benefits:
$100 advance against royalties
5% of wholesale for base royalties, step increases to 20% ceiling depending on sales
Ebook and Kindle editions
10 free copies, author discount
Control over $300 promotional budget
10% or more of publisher profits are given to established charities approved by the author
Bonus royalties based on publisher profits are paid for blogging, social networking, public appearances and legal publicity stunts.
Authors and illustrators keep merchandising rights and are permitted to resell discounted copies at the retail price.
International returnable release.
Entry in trade contests. Picture listing in Bowker's. Registry at Library of Congress.
Open to legal US residents only for accounting purposes. We are xenophiles; it's the numbers that are the problem.
We understand that self-promotion often involves a fair trade. If we offer a contract and you would like to suggest an artist with appropriate previously-created work for use in the cover design we license for $100 flat rate, no royalties, return a digital copy of the completed cover design to the artist for their portfolio and will link to their website or shops. We have someone on staff who does cover layout to our printer's specs so we no longer offer full layout work.
P.S. The Work-for-hire positions have been filled. We no longer have the time to ghost write memoirs. We won't do vanity services and we don't do self-publishing packages. (We publish people who actually want their books in stores.)
Who I'd like to meet: eccentrics, writers, eccentric writers
Staff:
Senior Editor: Jen Serrano, SD
Associate Editor: Kelly Reum, SD
Associate Editor, Juvenile: Mary Petrie, NY
Editorial Assistants, Picture Book Team: Kimberlee and Kellee Kagarise, MT
Tech: E. Serrano, SD
Artist: DoAn
Readers: Linda and Judy Spoo
Junior Reader: Nicole
Thanks for the add, I love your idea of giving back to charities with your business. I had that very same idea myself a couple of years ago, but I haven't started a business yet. Anyway I thought I'd share one of my favorite live action Loki videos to liven up your page.
