Apex closed to novel submissions
We are closed to novel submissions for our book line indefinitely.
- We are looking for dark SF/fantasy or horror novels.
- Submissions must be between 50,000 and 100,000 words.
- Use standard manuscript format
- Please send a query letter in the body of your email, and attach the first three chapters and a 1-page synopsis of the book as .doc or .rtf files. All three chapters should be a single attachment, with the synopsis as a separate attachment. Submissions containing other file types will not be read.
- Email submissions ONLY. Please send to apex.novels@gmail.com.
- No multiple submissions (i.e., only send us one query package at a time—don’t send the next until you hear back from us on the first).
- Simultaneous submissions are okay.
- Remember to include your contact information–including real name, pseudonym if applicable, email address, and phone number—in both your query letter and the manuscript.
Expected response times:
We will endeavor to answer all queries within one month. If your full manuscript is requested, it may take up to three months for a decision.
Some query letter tips:
Keep it brief and to the point. Just introduce yourself, tell us the genre and word count, and sum up the most important aspects of the story in a sentence or two. Previous publishing credits are great, but not having any won’t hurt your chances.
Compensation terms:
Our standard advance is $300-$500 based on marketability of your novel. Royalty terms are 7% of retail against advance. We ask for exclusive First World print rights for three years. We also ask for exclusive First World e-rights for five years (with royalty terms of 15% of retail against advance).
Questions? Don’t hesitate to email Apex editor-in-chief Jason Sizemore at jason@apexdigest.com.
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9 Comments
I posted this on our forum.
Cheers,
Thanks, Dale. :)
7% royalties? You’re kidding? Listen, I normally have a lot of respect for your company, but in my opinion, that’s unconscionable. There are authors out there who are desperate enough to be published that they’ll go for it, but that doesn’t make it right.
I’m sorry. But it just doesn’t.
I’m not sure why you find that ‘unconscionable’? That is 7% against retail. That’s rather standard.
If sufficient people tell me otherwise, then I will consider raising the royalty rate.
In all of my research, I must say you’re correct, sir.
It’s not standard. You can see here http://www.pw.org/content/publishing_book and on Author’s Guild that the standard royalty rate is at least 10% for the first few thousand and should increase late on.
Thanks for finding a trustworthy source for the information.
We’ve already changed our royalty payout to a base minimum of 10%.
The article should clarify, though, that standard payout rates vary based on book format.
http://www.authorsguild.org/services/legal_services/books.html
It might be moot now, but 10% is the standard for hardcover royalties. For trade and mass-market paperback, it’s in the 6% to 8% range depending on whether it’s export or domestic sales, number of copies sold, etc.
Since most first novels don’t earn out their advance (in general, it may be different for Apex), it may not make much difference.