**A note from Jill N. Noble, your friendly Senior Editor: Do you have a story that's completely different? Too dark for other publishers? Too controversial? Too unusual? A mix of so many sub-genres you're to the point of making up descriptions that defy the imagination? If so, I'd love to see it. Be true to yourself, be true to your characters, be true to your stories. I assure you, I don't shock easily!
Noble authors are the creme de la creme. They write the most unusual, real and honest stories, while still maintaining the integrity of a thoroughly engrossing romantic plot.
Erotica Guidelines:
* The guidelines for our erotica line are exactly the same as our primary erotic romance line, except they do not require a Happily Ever After or Happy for Now ending. See primary guidelines below.
YA Romance Guidelines (coming in October, along with a complete site redesign and appropriate new sub-domains and marketing for all lines):
1. YA Romance stories all involve primary characters between the ages of 16-21.
2. YA Romance stories explore all facets of a young adult's life -- including those some adults/parents might find a bit uncomfortable to examine. KEEP IT REAL.
3. YA Romance stories must address the consequences -- or potential consequences -- of behavior and choices in a realistic manner. DON'T SUGAR-COAT THE TRUTH, BUT DON'T PREACH, EITHER.
4. YA Romance stories can address any topic (sub-plot to the romance or as part of the romantic thread) a young adult might encounter in their life, including but not limited to, sexual orientation, sexual experimentation, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, drugs, drinking, peer pressure, school, gangs, etc. If you touch on any of these subjects, do not glamorize the consequences or the reality. Alternatively, again, do not "preach."
5. YA Romance stories . . . let's talk sex. The question is not how much sex/level of explicitness is appropriate for a YA novel, but rather, how much sex is appropriate for your story and your characters. Our instructions for this are the same as they are for every NRP story: Be true to yourself. Be true to your characters. These stories aren't about you (necessarily), or what you would want your son/daughter to do. They are about your characters -- their choices, their thoughts, their desires, their actions. The sexual content - the action, the language, the reactions - should all accurately and adequately and believably reflect your fully fleshed out characters. *The only caveat to this is no sexual relations between adults and minors.
6. YA Romance authors know their audience. They don't use language young adults wouldn't use, they don't "talk down" to their young adult readers, and they have an intimate knowledge of what it's like to be a young adult in today's world.
7. All sub-genres and genre mixes.
8. All story lengths - shorts, novellas, novels.
Standard submission guidelines (below) still apply.
Foreign Affairs Guidelines:
1. Foreign Affairs stories are all set in foreign (non-US) lands.
2. Foreign Affairs must contain at least one primary character from the foreign territory in which the story takes place.
3. Foreign Affairs may contain some non-English words and phrases, but because we primarily target English-speaking readers at this time, these stories must be written in English.
4. Various heat levels - from steamy to erotic.
5. All sub-genres and genre mixes.
6. All story lengths - shorts, novellas, novels.
Standard submission guidelines (below) still apply.
Sweetheart Line Guidelines:
1. Sweethearts are non-erotic romance stories with very strong romantic threads.
2. Little to no sexual content. The focus is on the developing romantic relationship and the underlying story.
3. All sub-genres and genre mixes.
4. All story lengths - shorts, novellas, novels.
Standard submission guidelines (below) still apply.
Standard Submission Guidelines: (
Note: To view special projects calls for submissions please visit here)
- Length: 10,001-29,999K novellas, 30+K words and up for novels. Naughty Nibbles are short stories and range between 3-10K words.
- Genres: This is the least of our worries. Seriously. If the story is great, we don't care if it's a historical set on Mars or a contemporary set in the cornfields of Nebraska.
- Sensuality Levels: Vary depending on the line (see Sweetheart, Foreign Affairs and YA for more details). For our erotic romance, we're seeking Scorching. Sizzling. Intense. Someone call 911, this book is smokin' hot. However, no sex for sex's sake. Every sex scene, no matter how graphic, must move the plot forward in some way. Please use honest, "real" language and descriptions that fit your characters' personalities.
- Content: We're open to anything...but remember, these are romance novels (unless you are targeting our erotica line). The level of passion between the main characters must be authentic and palpable. Other than that, feel free to explore any new, uncharted territory you can imagine, or re-do a well-worn plot in such a way as to make the story uniquely your own.
- Erotic romance submissions must have a HEA or HFN ending.
- Most importantly, we seek stories that touch the reader, and that contain characters they'll remember long after they've finished reading the book.
What we will NOT consider under any circumstances:
- Pedophilia. No sexual relations of any kind between adults and underage children.
- Necrophilia.
- Bestiality, in the traditional sense of the word. Werewolves and other make-believe creatures are acceptable.
- Incest.
- Snuff.
To submit your proposal please email a query letter with the following information: - Your full name and pen name, if applicable.
- Your email address.
- The name of your story, the expected length, and the genre.
- If your manuscript is incomplete, please give us an expected completion date.
- A brief description of your writing and/or publishing history, if applicable.
- In the body of the email, please also include a brief story outline. Describe only the major plot points, the black moment, and the story's ending.
- Please attach your partial manuscript (first 3 chapters), in .rtf form, only. If you are submitting a short story, it is appropriate to submit the entire manuscript. Manuscripts should be 1.5 spaced, and use Book Antiqua 12 pt serif font. When needed, please italicize, rather than underline, for emphasis.
- PLEASE, no simultaneous submissions. There's nothing more frustrating than taking six hours to read a story and offering a contract, only to find out the book has been contracted elsewhere.
Send your submission to submissions@nobleromance.com. You will receive confirmation of receipt within 48 hours, and you may expect a response on a partial or short story within 4 weeks. If you do not receive a receipt confirmation within 48 hours, or you do not receive a response on your submission within 4 weeks, please send a follow-up inquiry to submissions@nobleromance.com
Now for the important stuff. What's in it for you?
Noble Romance Publishing is a royalty paying publisher. To see a sample contract, please send your request to jill@nobleromance.com. Important: Please put SAMPLE CONTRACT in the body of your email.
As stated above, we also offer an advance against royalties. Advances are paid upon publication and are negotiated on an author-by-author basis.
So what do you think? Do you have what it takes? Are you ready to accept the challenge? Will you DARE TO BE DIFFERENT? We look forward to reviewing your submission!