#3 - What eBook publishers look for: Samhain Publishing and Total – E – Bound

Jess Dee on why she picked eBooks:
Truth is I targeted e-publishing because my first book was a category length novel and was simply too hot to submit to Harlequin. Now that I am familiar with the world of e-publishing there are so many other reasons why I continue to submit my stories to e-publishers. I don't have to wait as long to have my books published as I would with a New York publisher. Royalties are much higher, and they are paid on a monthly or quarterly basis. On a more personal note, I am very happy at Samhain. It is a fantastic company, and the editors I've worked with have all been outstanding. -Jess Dee

Annmarie McKenna on her reason for eBooks:
I chose eBooks because that's what I was reading at the time :) I like eBooks because there's such a broad range of genres to choose from--things you can't always find in print--and the immediate availability. When I'm wide awake at two in the morning I can download a book and read. I also like having 50+ of my favorites available on my sweet little SONY the second I want to reread. I chose to publish with Samhain because of the authors I saw writing for them and the buzz they were getting. -Annmarie McKenna

Samhain Publishing is now open to general submission of all genres.

All submissions must be new material to be considered for publication, no reprints. Once you’ve had a new work accepted by Samhain, you are free to submit previously published works to your editor for consideration. Only one manuscript at a time per author please! And, if the manuscript is being offered elsewhere simultaneously, please keep them informed of its status.
The preferred word count is 60,000 or longer, but they are quite happy to publish shorter works with word counts of no less than 12,000 and no more than 120,000. Samhain will consider manuscripts up 130,000 words, but only on the understanding that the book will have to be edited down to 120,000 or less before publication.
Any book that glorifies depraved or illegal acts will not be considered. No pedophilia, bestiality, racial intolerance, rape as titillation, necrophilia – no ick factors, please!

Royalty and Contracts: Samhain is a royalty paying eBook company that offers 40% of the cover price (as set by Samhain Publishing, Ltd) for a single-author eBook. The author is not required to pay any fees for editing or for publishing in either digital or print. Samhain Publishing is NOT a vanity publisher. Samhain’s contract requests full rights to the work, including both digital and print, is fully negotiable and available for review upon acceptance of your story.

How To Submit: All submissions must be sent by email as Samhain Publishing is primarily an ePublisher, and all our work is done through the internet. Samhain is not respond to any submissions sent via hard copy, nor will Samhain return submissions sent this way.
Samhain ask that you send a short query letter in the body of an email telling Samhain a bit about you. In separate documents, attach a minimum of 3 sample chapters and a full synopsis at least 2 pages in length and sufficient for the length of the story. There is no maximum length for the synopsis but it must be at least 2 pages, even if your story is only 12,000 words. To give your book the best chance of being accepted, please ensure that the synopsis details the whole plot and the end of the book, even if it is a surprise ending.

At the author’s discretion, you may send the whole manuscript as it will be requested if it passes the first review. Full manuscript is preferred. Please send the synopsis and chapters, or synopsis and full manuscript as two separate attachments, named with the title of your book.

Please format your work (manuscript and synopsis) as follows: When sending your manuscript/synopsis please name them: Title_Author initials_full/synopsis. For instance, if your name is Nancy Robinson and you’re writing a book called Naked in Dallas, you’d name your manuscript NakedinDallas_NR_full and your synopsis NakedinDallas_NR_synopsis. This helps our editors keep submissions organized.

RTF (Rich Text File) or .doc (Word Document) file (No .docx, please)
Author name and book title should appear on the first page of your manuscript and synopsis
1 inch margins
1.5 line spacing
Times New Roman, 12pt
Page Break before each chapter

The cover page of your synopsis must have your contact informationand the basic details of your story:
Real Name/Pen Name
Address
Contact Phone
Email Address
Working Title (include series name if applicable)
Word Count
Genre/s
Blurb (less than 200 words)

When you have your manuscript polished till you can see your own reflection, please send a short query letter and your submission to editor@samhainpublishing.com. Please allow up to 12-16 weeks for a personal reply. An auto responder will reply to let you know that your email has been received.

**This part I just copy and paste. The Samhain question would have been too much typing and par-a-phases. If you would like to view these page and see all the answers, just click on the title below:

**Samhain FAQs
Over several years of dealing with queries and submissions, we’ve found that some questions get asked more frequently than others. Here, in one helpful location, are answers to those questions. If you have a question, please look here first. If you don’t find your answer, or if you’re still confused, please feel free to email your question to us, and we’ll answer it as soon as we can.

Submitting to Samhain Publishing
1.1. Do I need an agent to submit to Samhain?
1.2. Does Samhain consider poetry/ recipe books/ autobiographies/ 'how to' books?
1.3. Does Samhain consider young adult romances?
1.4. At Samhain, you're only interested in erotic romances, aren't you?
1.5. My manuscript has a tragic ending but it's still a love story. May I send it to Samhain?
1.6. My manuscript is unfinished/ unpolished. May I send it anyway?
1.7. I'm not sure if Samhain would like my book. May I send just a query to begin with?
1.8. What plot elements are unacceptable to Samhain?
1.9. My manuscript was previously published. Will Samhain consider it for republication?
1.10. May I send a manuscript that I've also submitted to other publishers?
1.11. May I send several submissions to Samhain at the same time?
1.12. May I send the same submission simultaneously to different Samhain editors or different Samhain email addresses?
1.13. My manuscript is less than 12,000 words or more than 120,000. May I still send it for consideration?

Formatting and Submission Requirements
2.1. What is a blurb?
2.2. What is a synopsis?
2.3. Do I have to send at least a two-page synopsis with a short story?
2.4. Do I have to send a synopsis if I’m sending the full manuscript?
2.5. I don't have a synopsis. May I send an excerpt instead?
2.6. Samhain asks for three sample chapters. May I send chapters one, six and eleven?
2.7. I sent my manuscript as a WordPerfect file/ a .docx file. Why do I have to resend it in a different format?
2.8. I can't work out how to put my manuscript in rich text format or Microsoft Word format. Is it okay if I paste it straight into an email?

Hearing Back from Samhain Publishing
3.1. How long will I have to wait for a response?

Rejections
4.1. I previously submitted my manuscript to Samhain and it was rejected. May I resubmit it?
4.2. I previously submitted my manuscript to a Samhain anthology call and it didn't make the final cut. May I resubmit it?
4.3. I previously submitted my manuscript as part of a multi-author anthology and it was rejected. May I resubmit it individually?
4.4. You rejected my book, but didn't give me any feedback. May I email and ask the editor for advice?

Contracts
5.1. Will I have to pay to publish my book or for it to go to print?
5.2. What are your terms of contract? May I review the contract?
5.3. If I contract the first book of a series with Samhain, do I have to give you first refusal on subsequent books in the series?

Publication and Print
6.1. How soon after acceptance will my book release?
6.2. If Samhain accepts my manuscript will it be published as a print book as well as an ebook?
6.3. Can I submit my book and have it go straight to print?

Cover Art and Illustrations
7.1. My manuscript includes illustrations. Can they be included in the final published book?
7.2. May I provide my own cover art?

Money
8.1. Does Samhain offer an advance?
8.2. How are royalties paid?

Marketing
9.1. What will Samhain do to market and promote my books?

Submissions for Total-E-Bound

Total-E-Bound is a royalty paying, full-service ePublisher. This means that we do not charge fees for the author at any time. Total-E-Bound will edit your book, assign an ISBN number and create the cover art for your title. They pay a royalty rate of 40% of the RRP, based on our standard two year contract. However, there is also a flexible contract policy to enable the author to get the best out of the relationship. Our contracts are for both electronic and print rights.

Total-E-Bound is currently looking for manuscripts up to 100K+ in the following genres:
Action/Adventure, Bondage/BDSM, Comedy/Humour, Contemporary, Cowboy/Western, Fantasy/Fairytale, Futuristic/Sci-fi, Gay/Lesbian, Historical/Rubenesque, Ménage-à-trios’, Paranormal/Time-Travel, Thriller/Crime, Shape-Shifters/Morphers, Vampire/Werewolf.

Lust Bites is Total-E-Bound’s short stories that range between 10-15,000 words. They may be any theme or stand alone short stories. It all depends on what is running. All these submissions will be under the banner of ‘Lust Bites’. The guidelines:
-10,000 to 15,000 words
-Any genre
-Very erotic, the hotter the better (burning/melting)
Anthologies are released every quarter with a distinctive theme. Consist of five to eight short stories in each series. Royalties are the same but 10% for print to be divided equally and fairly between the authors of the anthology.

What they are looking for:

Gaymes - MM Anthology
Guidelines:
15K to 20K word count per short story/novella
We're looking for stories set around men playing games - any kind (but not the scrabble kind!!) - surprise us...but make it hot.
Heat Rating: Burning/Melting (see our book rating info)
The Submission deadline is 15th September 2009 for release in January 2010Submit the full story plus synopsis. When submitting, please enter "Gaymes Submission" in the email subject line.

Cougars and Cubs - Older Woman/Younger Man Anthology
Guidelines:
15K to 20K word count per short story/novella
Girl power for women - we want stories about ladies ignoring the age gap and finding love and lust with younger men.
Heat Rating: Burning/Melting (see our book rating info)
The Submission deadline is 1st January 2010 for release in May 2010Submit the full story plus synopsis. When submitting, please enter "Cougars Submission" in the email subject line.

Threefold - Ménage à Trois Anthology
Guidelines:
15K to 20K word count per short story/novella
Three is definitely not a crowd for this anthology! We want some hot MFM or MMF trios please.
Heat Rating: Burning/Melting (see our book rating info)
The Submission deadline is 1st May 2010 for release in September 2010Submit the full story plus synopsis. When submitting, please enter "Threefold Submission" in the email subject line.

Master Me - Bondage/BDSM Anthology
Guidelines:
15K to 20K word count per short story/novella
Masterful men dominating their submissive women in the best possible ways!
Heat Rating: Burning/Melting (see our book rating info)
The Submission deadline is 1st July 2010 for release in November 2010Submit the full story plus synopsis. When submitting, please enter "Master Me Submission" in the email subject line.

BoundShorts Seasonal Submissions Special themed short stories throughout the year. The guidelines:
-10k to 15k words
-Any Genre
-Specific themes
-Book Rating: Burning Melting

What they are looking for:

Voracious Vamps (Halloween 2009)
Vamps only please! We’re looking for lusty love bites from some downright dangerous paranormal hotties for our Halloween short stories collection – Voracious Vamps. This set of shorts will be eBook single releases.
Any combination of M/F, M/F/M, M/M/F, M/M
Submission deadline is 1st August 2009
Non-TEB authors should submit the full story plus synopsis.
Existing TEB authors should submit a synopsis to your Editor in the first instance.
When submitting, please enter "Submission: Voracious Vamps" in the email subject line.

Christmas Crackers (Christmas 2009)
Contemporary shorts for the Winter Season. Manuscripts should all be MF or MFM. This set of shorts will be eBook single releases.
Any combination of M/F, M/F/M, M/M/F, M/M
Submission deadline is 15th September 2009
Non-TEB authors should submit the full story plus synopsis.
Existing TEB authors should submit a synopsis to your Editor in the first instance.
When submitting, please enter "Submission: Xmas Crackers" in the email subject line.

Homecoming (Valentines 2010)
The season of love is with us and we're celebrating young love with a contemporary Valentines collection. These stories are all about love lost and love found: "If you love someone, let them go. If they return to you, it was meant to be. If they don't, their love was never yours to begin with..." We’re looking for 4 contemporary stories with any sub genre, 10,000 – 15,000 word count for these short stories please.
Submission deadline is 15th September 2009
Any combination of M/F, M/F/M, M/M/F, M/M
Non-TEB authors should submit the full story plus synopsis.
Existing TEB authors should submit a synopsis to your Editor in the first instance.
When submitting, please enter "Submission: Summer Seductions" in the email subject line.

Sultry Solstice (Summer 2010)
Bring out your fairies, elves and all things fantasy for our summer collection. We’re looking for stories based around the summer solstice and they must have a distinct fae feel to them (wings optional!) with a bit of Pagan and Celt thrown in for good measure! ;) We’re looking for 4 of either M/F or M/F/M. 10,000 – 15,000 word count for these short stories please.
Any combination of M/F, M/F/M
Submission deadline is 1st March 2010
Non-TEB authors should submit the full story plus synopsis.
Existing TEB authors should submit a synopsis to your Editor in the first instance.
When submitting, please enter "Submission: Sultry Solstice" in the email subject line.

Feral (Halloween 2010)
CATS! Or more precisely cat shifters. We’re looking for some feral fellas to sweep their lovers off their paws for our Halloween short stories collection.We’re looking for 4 x 10,000 – 15,000 word count for these short stories please.
Any combination of M/F, M/F/M, M/M/F, M/M
Submission deadline is 1st June 2010
Non-TEB authors should submit the full story plus synopsis.
Existing TEB authors should submit a synopsis to your Editor in the first instance.
When submitting, please enter "Submission: Feral" in the email subject line.

Yule Be Mine (Christmas 2010)
Contemporary shorts for the Winter Season. Give us lots of snow and mountain hideaways for our dreamy Christmas get-away!
Any combination of M/F, M/F/M, M/M/F, M/M
Submission deadline is 1st July 2010
Non-TEB authors should submit the full story plus synopsis.
Existing TEB authors should submit a synopsis to your Editor in the first instance.
When submitting, please enter "Submission: Yule Be Mine" in the email subject line.

Manuscript Requirements
What we look for in submitted manuscripts.
-Creative storytelling and original style.
-Weave tales of erotic romance through creating strong, dynamic and intelligent characters that your readers will remember.
-Plot driven erotic romances that illustrate the relationship between key characters, ideally with a happy ending, but if not it should be promising.
-Varying degrees of sex throughout the story, with lots of opportunity for erotic exploration, interwoven with levels of tension and passion (take a look at our book rating info)
-Meaningful and expressive language that is explicit, but suitable for the storyline.
-Writers who have a unique and new approach and a writing style that sets them apart from the rest. You must have a true talent for storytelling with an erotic slant.
-Accept gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual stories.

What we ask for in submitted manuscripts.
Only accept electronic communication. So, it's essential that you send your script to us in e-format and only accept the following:
-Detailed synopsis of your book
-First 3 chapters and end chapter (short stories, please send in the whole manuscript)
-Send in 1 inch margins, 1.5 lines spacing, standard 12 pt font. Book Antiqua preferred.
-Generally we accept any size of story from 10,000 to 125,000 words (see our book length info)
-Language - Please send in British English

Books will be published only if author owns all rights
Include your name, pen-name and contact e-mail in the Query Letter and Synopsis
Send the submissions package to subm...@totalebound.com.

Publishing Rights
Your submission must have full rights available, including both digital and print. If not, please don’t send it to us.

What's not acceptable
We're pretty open when it comes to creativity (we certainly don't want to stifle it), and will look at most story lines, but…we do have our limits!
NO paedophilia. Don't even dare go there!
NO rape as titillation. We accept that it may sometimes be used as part of a plotline, especially supporting character development, but definitely not for the use of getting your rocks off!
NO bodily functions - i.e. watersports, toilet play - eeeew!
NO necrophilia. The dead definitely don't do it for us - of course, we don't count the bloodsucking undead variety!
NO bestiality. This does not apply to shape-shifters and might not apply to certain breeds from a sci-fi perspective.