Queries received in total: 99
Length of query period: 30 days
Received as a result of an #SFFpit request: 10+
Received as a result of an #PitMad request: 5
During June, both WWP and our imprint Red Moon Romance were open to query letters. We've not counted the strictly-romance queries in the WWP stats we're sharing today; however, there was a substantial number of queries for sf-romance, fantasy-romance, or paranormal-romance, some of which came in directed to WWP and some to RMR, for that area of overlap, we've included the data in our shared stats.
As a general note: any query that comes in to WWP or RMR comes into the same inbox, read by the same editors. This means if a query is on the borderline between what each imprint does, all editors from both imprints take a look. If we decide we want to publish that project, then the editor and the author have a conversation about which press/imprint would be best for the title, but that's a consideration that comes long after the slush pile.
Not everything adds up to 99. There are two considerations to note: First, some manuscripts fit into multiple categories among the following lists, so the categories when totaled may add up to more than 99; Conversely, some queries didn't tick any boxes in a sub-set. Second consideration, this is not a precise gathering of data, not by a long shot.
All Queries
- Speculative fiction (as in, we couldn't specify further): 15
- Science fiction: 21
- Fantasy: 59
- Primary-world fantasy (e.g. contemporary fantasy, alternate history, urban fantasy): 35
- Second-world fantasy (e.g. high fantasy): 22
- Dimension hopping (e.g. portals between primary-world and second-world): 2
- Science-fantasy: 1
- Steampunk: 6
- Mystery/thriller: 4
- Fairy tale: 4
- Romance: 10
- Young adult: 23
- New adult: 9
- General adult (if not specified, general adult assumed): 67
About a half-dozen queries that tried to sell us on the idea that the story was for "all reading audiences" or "audiences of any age" or "readers age 15-100," to which we must ask where is the shelf labeled "age 15-100" at your local bookstore? When we ask what the intended audience is, we are asking whether it should be shelved with the young adult books or in the general (adult) genre shelves. Or on the occasion that there is a new adult section in the bookstore, if it should go there.
- Novel: 69
- Novella: 22
- Collection: 7
- Anthology proposal: 2
- To date, approximately 19% of queries received personalized rejections
Requested Manuscripts
Among requested manuscripts appeared the following traits and quantities. The percentage next to each category represents the percentage of all such submissions that were requested. For example 3 science fiction manuscripts of 21 science fiction queries were requested, or 14%.
- Speculative fiction (as in, we couldn't specify further): 1 (6%)
- Science fiction: 3 (14%)
- Fantasy: 12 (37%)
- Primary-world fantasy (e.g. contemporary fantasy, alternate history, urban fantasy): 8 (22%)
- Second-world fantasy (e.g. high fantasy): 3 (13%)
- Dimension hopping (e.g. portals between primary-world and second-world): 1 (50%)
- Science-fantasy: 1 (6%)
- Steampunk: 3 (50%)
- Mystery/thriller: 1 (25%)
- Fairy tale: 0 (0%)
- Romance: 4 (40%)
- Young adult: 4 (17%)
- New adult: 1 (11%)
- General adult (if not specified, general adult assumed): 11 (16%)
- Novel: 14 (20%)
- Novella: 2 (9%)
- Collection: 0 (0%)
- Anthology proposal: 0 (0%)
- Sarena Ulibarri: 6
- Laura Harvey: 6
- Cori Vidae: 3
- Trysh Thompson: 5
- Eileen Wiedbrauk: 0
Acceptances
Next Chance to Submit
We also have several upcoming anthology submission periods, including Sirens, the next anthology in Rhonda Parrish's Magical Menageries, August 15 - November 15, 2015, and Far Orbit Perigee, the third Far Orbit SF adventure anthology, opening January 1, 2016.
Check back for new releases -- the best way to get to know what a publisher is producing is to read the works they publish. And oh look, here's a visual list of the books we publish with links to where you can buy them. Convenient, eh?