Submissions (Part 1): What We Look For

Excitement comes hand-in-hand with busyness here at Asteria Press, and the submissions window is no exception. When our submissions window is open there is a palpable sensation of potential and creativity between Wendy and I. We don’t know what is going to come through our door or how that is going to influence the course of our journey. Here is our take on what to look for in submissions as a small press.

What to look for in submissions

Wendy and I devote a lot of time and energy to Asteria Press. It is a labour of love, which makes it all the more important that we love every book we sign.

Knowing what books we want to see

This is the most important part of a submissions call. We want authors that align with our backlist, our ethos and our journey.

We are a cosy fantasy publisher with an edge. We want to see books that are set in familiar and homely settings. Just because we want low stakes, doesn’t mean we want no stakes. We like to explore the limitless nature of fantasy.

Our must-haves are simple, the manuscript must be:

1. Fantasy

2. Warm and comforting

3. Striking and original

Reaching the right authors

We don’t just sign books, we sign authors. Wendy and I are committed to putting our all into every element of publishing and championing the books we work on. We look for authors who are excited about independent publishers. We love authors who are brimming with enthusiasm and ideas.

A huge benefit of being a small independent publisher is that we can be responsive and risk-taking. Publishing is notoriously slow and stuck in its ways. We believe that there are very few “unmarketable” stories. What publishers tend to mean when they claim your story is “unmarketable” is “we don’t want to take a risk with seeking out that market.” This has left a huge portion of readers underserved and many authors underrepresented.

The easiest way to reach the right authors is to be loud about what you’re about!

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We hope you enjoyed the first instalment of our new Guiding Star content series. Whether you're an aspiring author, a new indie publisher, or just curious about the publishing world, come along with us as we share each step of the indie publishing process for our next cosy fantasy title. Packed with our learnings, tips and insights on editorial, design, and marketing, you’ll even have the chance to guide us in our journey as we bring our next publishing project to life.

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