Third Estate Books

Submission Guidelines for Third Estate Books

Third Estate Books, publishers of Spectrum: An Autistic Horror Anthology and the forthcoming The Monologist, is proud to announce our first Open Submission period. From April 15-May 15, 2024, we will be accepting submissions for horror novels that give voice to the voiceless. Three books will be selected for publication in 2025.

We are looking for:

• works that align with the philosophy of Third Estate Books. Click here to read the vision statement.
• horror, and only horror. If you have any doubts if your book is horror, don't send it to us.
• previously unpublished novels. Do not send us previously published material. This includes self-published and traditionally published material.
• word ranges of 50k-100k. Anything more or less will be rejected outright.

We will not accept:

• works which promote or excuse racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, ableism, or any other form of discrimination.
• working with sexual harassers or abusers. If that statement makes you nervous, we're not the press for you.
• use of A.I. We are champions of the PEOPLE, not programs! Any writing that has been created with the use of A.I. will not be accepted. It will, in fact, be mocked.
• werewolf stories. Don't do it!

What should you send us?

• A query letter—one page maximum—in which you explain a bit about your story
  and why you think it's a good fit for Third Estate Books.
• The first three chapters of your manuscript in Shunn format, file formats .doc or
  .docx only.
• Trigger warnings are welcome but not required.

What do you receive if we publish your book?

• $300 payout prior to publication.
• 50% royalty rate on paperback, ebook, and audiobook sales.

Other odds and ends:

• Simultaneous submissions are ok.
• Multiple submissions are not ok. Choose your best work.
• Third Estate Books will endeavor to respond within three months. Please do not
  contact our staff for status inquiries until three months have elapsed since
  submission.