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Sword and Silk is closed for unsolicited submissions.

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Please Note: Sword and Silk values diverse books. If you are an author who falls into that category, we will not ask you to identify your marginalization (as we know this can be harmful and unsafe to some), but we will ask that you put MARGINALIZED if you feel comfortable doing so.

 

Please take a moment to learn more about us here before submitting.

 

At the current time, we are not the best publisher for children's books, middle grade novels,
non-fiction, or poetry. We also are not the best place for short reads such as novellas or short stories.

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When you are ready, please submit your query using the following link:
https://QueryManager.com/SwordandSilk

 

If you have received a "like" from a pitch contest, please note the contest in the box on the form that says "If this query is a referral, who referred you?" and either provide a link to the liked Tweet or copy and paste the tweet in your query letter. 

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Once you submit you should hear from us within eight weeks.

If we then request more material, it may take longer for a final decision. 

Sword and Silk Wishlist

UPDATED August 3rd, 2022


We are always actively looking for books with relatable main characters who face struggles and hardship that can also be found in the real world. We love books that have themes of inspiration, perseverance, and overcoming the odds.

 

In particular, we’d love to see books that focus on or include the following themes:

  • Edge-of-your-seat thrillers, especially featuring female sleuths

  • Horror novels that keep us up all night

  • Tales with mermaids, sirens, or other water-based mythical creatures as main characters

  • A protagonist with a ghost sidekick or love interest

  • Books with settings outside of the USA

  • New adult/college stories dealing with all aspects of growing up, from difficult decisions to newfound freedom

  • Dark Academia mysteries that can comp to Nancy Drew or Riverdale

  • Anything #ownvoices

  • Stories that explore LGBTQIA+ topics, especially asexuality

  • Historical fiction injected with fresh new elements

  • Stories featuring or inspired by indigenous cultures, in a real-world or fantastical setting

  • Imaginative retellings of lesser-known folktales or fairytales

  • Dual POV contemporary romance with unique concepts

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Age Ranges we love:

  • New Adult Everything

  • Adult Romance and Fantasy

  • Young Adult Contemporaries with Grit or Quirk

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Our Favorite Books of the Moment:

  • A Court of Mist and Fury

  •  The Dark Artifices trilogy

  •  House of Leaves

  •  The Wicked King

  •  Outlander

  • Gideon the Ninth

  • The Midnight Library

  • The Book Eaters

  • A Deadly Education

  • The Other Merlin

  • The Princess and the Fangirl

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For more information on how to craft a query letter that sells,
check out these articles:

 

The 10 Dos and Don'ts of Writing a Query Letter
by Brian A. Klems for Writer's Digest

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How to Write a Query Letter in 7 Steps
via Reedsy

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Perfect Pitch: Resources + Query Tips
via Eric Smith

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