Ghostley Books
An Imprint of James Ward Kirk Publishing
A call for manuscripts–both novels and story collections.
There should be something dark about your novel or story collection. Your story may be set in any era past, present, future, or imaginary. Traditional as well as experimental narratives and non-narratives considered. Transgression should be depicted as evil and counterfeit to a higher good.
It is recommended that you purchase your own cover art of at least 300 dpi and nothing below the 1600 x 1066 pixel range, though the 7584 x 5055 px range works best for sharpness and clarity. If you do acquire your own cover art, you must also submit that art to Ghostley Books (not JWK Fiction) for approval after your ms. has been accepted for publication. Otherwise, cover art will be chosen for you. Inexpensive cover art can be found here.
Representative authors include Charles Dickens, George MacDonald, Anatole France, Arthur Machen, Nathaniel Hawthorne, William Morris, Ralph Adams Cram, Sabine Baring-Gould, J.S. Le Fanu, Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman, Edgar Allan Poe, Shirley Jackson, and M.R. James.
Representative ghostly storylines in film include The Lovely Bones [2009], The Changeling [1980], The Shining [1980], The Woman In Black [1989, 2012], Lady In White [1988], Carnival of Souls [1962], Lost Hearts [1973], The Others [2001], The Devil’s Backbone [2001], The Innkeepers [2011], The Haunting [1963].
If accepted for publication, your book will appear in print and electronic formats (ebook).
No reading fee, no publication fee, no purchase of books necessary, no social media marketing or business plan required of the author.
The Ghostley Books imprint publishes at least 12 books each year.
Novels 50K-100K words
Story Collections 50K-100K words
No Poetry (unless it is a part of the story or novel)
No advance. Royalties paid from net proceeds per contract.
No simultaneous submissions.
Yes, multiple submissions considered.
Reprints of books are considered only if the original is out-of-print with the publisher and you own the copyright. Stories for collections need not have been first published elsewhere.
Send your ms. in a Word .doc file to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Turnaround is likely no more than one day, barring unforeseen circumstances. Direct all questions to acquisitions editor Scáth Beorh via the above listed email address.
Put as the subject of your email GHOSTLEY ACQUISITIONS
Visit Beorh House for daily updates.
