Opportunity: New Children’s Book Publisher – Gnome Road Publishing

Gnome Road Publishing

Children’s book author, Sandra Sutter, who has had her books featured here before, is the founder and owner of Gnome Road Publishing. She is working with a small team of consultants and volunteers who come from a variety of backgrounds and has a range of experience in the children’s book publishing industry. They are also parents, business owners, and all-around daily task-masters. Together, they are joined in the common goal of bringing stories to readers that will be treasured for a lifetime.

GRP is open to receiving manuscripts from unagented writers at various times of the year. Agents are welcome to submit material at any time using the submission email.

Their publishing contracts incorporate both advance and royalty payments.

For early picture books through chapter books/early middle-grade audiences: Little Gnome Books is open for submissions twice each year from January through March and from September through November.

For upper middle-grade and young adult audiences: Gnome Road will only be accepted twice each year in July and December.

SUBMITTING TO LITTLE GNOME BOOKS:

Little Gnome Books are for young and developing readers. This includes early picture books through chapter books/early middle-grade. Their audience attention levels and reading abilities are particularly important factors in what they choose to publish under the Little Gnome imprint. They want stories that are engaging, fresh, and fun, that enrich readers’ narratives about self and others, and that beg to be read time and time again (without causing an eye roll from caregivers). They focus heavily on RE-READABILITY.

To keep response times manageable, they only accept unsolicited submissions twice each year from January through March and from September through November.

They aim to make contact with authors or illustrators whose work they are interested in within thirty (30) days, so if you do not hear from then within that time, you may assume they have passed on the project.

Please send a query and your full picture book manuscript under 1000 words, not including sidebars or back matter, (up to 1500 for nonfiction), OR your query and the first ten pages of a chapter book or early middle-grade novel with accompanying plot summary, pasted into the body of your email to: submissions@gnomeroadpublishing.com.

Include the words “Little Gnome”, a dash (-), and the title of your manuscript in the subject line.

Here is an example: Little Gnome – MANUSCRIPT TITLE.

Gnome Publishing does not open attachments unless they have specifically requested them and they only accept electronic submissions. Do not send more than one manuscript within a single submission window. Comp titles are desired, but not required. They also appreciate a short bio in order to learn more about you.

Little Gnome’s wish list includes:

* Informational Fiction and narrative nonfiction (bonus for nature-themed and animal stories);

* Unique concept books, preferably with a narrative component and/or wordplay (bonus for poetry collections that encompass all three elements);

* HUMOR with purpose! (make our kids laugh without making us groan);

* Age-appropriate STEAM-themed books (bonus for anything about water, trees, or math);

* Creative, modern retellings of folktales, fables, and riddles/rhymes;

* Western U.S. and pre-Westward expansion history, places, and people (Authors/illustrators from marginalized or under-represented cultures and backgrounds with stories encompassing these times and places that can broaden and expand readers’ narratives are particularly encouraged to send work);

* Stories that question and inspire us to think outside-the-box;

* Untold/unknown stories of people or events from throughout the world and within distinct cultural settings (*own voices where appropriate, please);

* Character-driven stories with series potential (bonus for holiday themes);

* Character-driven early readers and chapter books with humor; and

* Early middle-grade with fantasy, adventure, and mystery elements.

Author-illustrators are encouraged to submit artwork with text in PDF format.

Illustrators may submit representative work in PDF format at any time.

We are open to rhyming texts; HOWEVER, the query must include a description of the intended rhyme scheme and meter. If you do not know what is meant by this, please submit something else.

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SUBMITTING TO GNOME ROAD:

All submissions for Gnome Road should be geared toward upper middle-grade and young adult audiences. We are not looking for adult books at this time.

We anticipate publishing only a select few titles under the Gnome Road imprint each year or two. We suggest submitting polished work that specifically fits our wish list so that you do not waste time preparing a submission package that will likely be rejected.

Additionally, unsolicited submissions for Gnome Road will only be accepted twice each year in July and December in order to keep review times reasonable and fair to all involved.

We aim to make requests for a full read within thirty (30) days, and if you do not hear from us within that time, you may assume we have passed on the project.

Please send a query letter, the first ten pages of your manuscript, and a plot summary pasted in the body of your email to: submissions@gnomeroadpublishing.com. Include the words “Gnome Road”, a dash (-), and the title of your manuscript in the subject line.

Here is an example: Gnome Road – MANUSCRIPT TITLE.

We do not open attachments unless we specifically request them. We only accept electronic submissions. Comp titles are desired, but not required. We also appreciate a short bio in order to learn more about you.

Gnome Road’s wish list includes:

* Historical fiction (particularly WWII era, settings in the American West, or those stemming from #ownvoices narratives),

* Dystopian/disaster settings that challenge worldviews,

* Time-travel (soft on Sci-fi elements), and

* Fantasy-adventure with strong female characters.

For information on what they are currently looking for, please visit their submissions page to see a list of desired projects and submission guidelines. Please note that each imprint has its own set of guidelines and open submission time periods. Wish lists are updated regularly.

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It’s always wonderful to have another opportunity for writers and illustrator to get their stories out in the world. Make sure you bookmark this for further consideration.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy