Call for Submissions: Samhain Publishing

Note: I am not putting out this call myself, so please do not send questions or submissions to me.  The appropriate contact info is included in the call.

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Call for Submissions: Samhain Publishing In a Bind Anthology

Tie them up, tie them down, use the ancient art of shibari or just plain old furry handcuffs, so long as someone’s being bound.

I’m very pleased to announce an open call for submissions for a new, yet-to-be titled Winter 2009 anthology. I’m looking for your super-hot bondage romance stories. Push the boundaries and push the bindings. I’m open to any genre, M/F, M/M, or multiples thereof. The only rule is bondage needs to be a main theme in the story and there needs to be a HEA (or HFN).

The anthology will include novellas from 20,000 to 25,000 words in length and will be released individually as ebooks in September 2009.

Submissions are open to all authors, published with Samhain or aspiring to be published with Samhain. All submissions must be new material, previously published submissions will not be considered. Additionally, manuscripts previously submitted, whether individually or for past anthologies, will not be considered either. Please be aware that manuscripts submitted to this anthology cannot be resubmitted at a later date unless by invitation from an editor.

To submit a manuscript for consideration, please include:

The full manuscript (of 20,000 to 25,000 words) with a comprehensive 2-5 page synopsis. Please include a letter of introduction/query letter. Full manuscripts are required for this as it’s a special project.

As well, when you send your manuscript, please be sure to use the naming convention Bind_Title_MS or Bind_Title_Synopsis. This will ensure that your submission doesn’t get missed in the many submissions we receive, and makes it easy for me to find in my ebook reader.

Submissions are open until April 15th, 2009 and final decision will be made by April 30th, 2009. Please send your submission to editor@samhainpublishing.com and include In a Bind Anthology in the subject line. Questions and queries can be addressed to Laurie M. Rauch (laurie@samhainpublishing.com).

 

My Favorite Book of Poetry

I spent the summer after my freshman year of college assistant teaching an English class for 5th and 6th graders through an organization that prepped underprivileged minority students to attend elite college prep schools.  We spent the summer reading (among other books) The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

Andrea, the head English teacher, was amazing.  She taught me to appreciate Cisneros’ work and  how to connect with others through literature.  I had read House on Mango Street in high school and didn’t like it then.  With Andrea, the book took on so many more layers of meaning.  I’ve since lost contact with her, but at the end of the summer, she gave me two gifts that I always keep handy: Loose Woman by Sandra Cisneros and the copy of Strunk and White that I still work from today.  I find myself reading Loose Woman in its entirety every year (if not every six months).

My favorite poem from that book: You Like to Give and Watch Me My Pleasure

You like to give and watch me my
pleasure. Machete me in two.
Take for the taking what is yours.
This is how you like to have me.

I’m as naked as a field of cane,
as alone as all of Cuba
before you.

You could descend like rain,
destroy like fire
if you chose to.

If you chose to.

I could rise like huracan.
I could erupt as sudden as
a coup d’etat of trumpets,
the sleepless eye of ocean,
a sky of black urracas.
If I chose to.

I don’t choose to.
I let myself be taken.

This power is my gift to you.

— Sandra Cisneros

 

Live Query Reviewing on Twitter

Thus far, I’ve avoided offering advice on query letters because there are already plenty of industry blogs out there that give quality information on that topic.  Besides, let’s face it, querying an agent is a lot like going on a blind date.  You can put your best foot forward (wear your best dress, flash your best smile) and still, for some reason,  the chemistry isn’t there.  There’s no spark.

Often my rejections are based on just that, the lack of a spark.  Your story sounds good, your writing seems strong, but it’s just not the project for me.   If I reject you it’s not the end of the world.  Just the end of our short date.  You wouldn’t want someone who had no attraction to your work as your agent anyway.  Trust me on that one.

Alright, that’s all I’ll offer in the way of query “advice.”   But if you’re curious about what I think as I review queries, I’m Tweeting my responses for the next 4 queries I review this afternoon.  Tweet, Tweet!

Twitter Username: Lifestyleagent

 

The Power of a Properly Placed. Period.

When I first joined the L Perkins Agency as an intern, Lori Perkins gave me an invaluable piece of advice: dust off and re-read your old copy of Strunk and White. No, really read it, even if you think that you’ve got that punctuation thing down.

So now, I pass that advice along to you, dear reader.  Read Strunk and White.  Love it.  Hold it close to your heart.  And actually use the lessons you find there.

My blog is an S&W nightmare, but don’t let your manuscript be one.  You’d be amazed how many partials I read where the author seems to have no clue what to do with quotation marks, and if you’re writing dialogue that can be a fatal flaw.  The meaning and art behind your prose can be completely sabotaged by horrible formatting.  You don’t want a potential agent cringing and reaching for a red pen as they read your partial.  Or worse yet, completely missing your intention.

Good thing is that this is one of the easiest writing weaknesses to fix.   Less than $10, S&W is cute, easily fits in your purse and can exponentially increase your odds of getting an agent.

 

What I’m Reading (For Pleasure)

I admit it, I’m guilty of blog fade. Posting on a regular basis, even to say that you won’t be able to post on a regular basis, is much harder than I thought.  Oh well….

I may not be blogging, but I’m still reading.  Right now, in those few stolen moments of “free time,” I’m reading  The Art of Possibility by Ben and Rosamund Zander.

The Art of Possibility is the latest addition to my self-help library.  I’m sucker for that genre,  though I never do what those books recommend.  Just reading them makes me feel like I’m doing something useful.   And watching yoga DVDs makes me feel more flexible.  That’s good enough for me.

 

Call for Submissions: “A Movement Based on Love”

Cleis Press, in response to the passage of Prop 8 in CA, has a call for submissions for a new book on gay marriage.

 

Updated Submission Guidelines

Hi all,

I’ve updated my submission guidelines to more accurately reflect my interests.  There’s a slight change in procedure included there as well.  Please make sure to look at my guidelines before you send your query along.

 

Putting it All In Perspective

Lori Perkins posted her take on the current trends in the publishing industry that gives a context for the latest news of freezes and lay-offs.  It’s a good read.  As in every other industry in this current economy, it’s time to tighten our belts.

Nathan Bransford’s Week in Publishing recap was a particularly fun read this week with the wonderful reminder (that other industry blogs seemed to forget) that publishers are still buying books.

ETA: Thanks Todd for pointing out the broken link.

 

What I Want To Read: A D/s Happy Ending

I would love to read a Dominant/submissive love story with a happy ending.  Think Carrie’s Story with all the romance left in (in contrast to how the plot unfolds with emotionally unavailable Jonathon).  Extra kudos if that romantic tale is based on your own true romance.

Now get writing!

 

Ravenous Romance Launches!!

Happy Birthday to Ravenous Romance!!  Take a look at the site, it’s steamy and stream-lined.

The editorial team includes my colleague, Lori Perkins.