Sword and Silk is open for submissions.
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.
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.
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.
Agents are still invited to send their submissions directly to EditorialDirector@SwordandSilkBooks. Please include the query letter, three chapter sample, and synopsis.
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.
Genres we are particularly interested in include:
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Gripping mystery/thriller (especially women sleuths)
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Ghostly paranormal (all levels of spice and romance)
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Horror novels with just the right amount of creepiness
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Contemporary Romance with unique concepts
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Adult Fantasy Romance with spice and whimsy
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LGBTIA+ and other intersectionalities in underserved genres such as fantasy and contemporary romance.
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#ownvoices (ND, chronically ill, disabled, BIPOC, etc) stories of all kinds woven into plots that pack a punch.
Age Ranges we love:
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New Adult Everything
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Adult Romance and Fantasy
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Young Adult Contemporaries with Grit or Quirk
Our Favorite Books of the Moment:
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A Court of Mist and Fury
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The Dark Artifices trilogy
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House of Leaves
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The Wicked King
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Outlander
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Gideon the Ninth
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The Midnight Library
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The Book Eaters
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A Deadly Education
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The Other Merlin
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The Princess and the Fangirl
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
How to Write a Query Letter in 7 Steps
via Reedsy