Category:Blog, Editor's Corner

Avon Romance Submission Guideline

By: Tessa Woodward
March 19, 2010

Avon Romance Submission Guidelines

Your dream: To become an Avon romance writer!

Your desire: To figure out how to get started.
Your questions: Will all be answered here.

As a writer, your imagination allows you to create so many stories.  And at Avon Books, we are eagerly seeking those stories.  Our program allows us to publish the most unforgettable voices in historical and contemporary romance.

Your mission: to write the very best book possible.

Our goal: to find the perfect spot on the Avon list for that book.

Right now we are looking for romances in several areas–Historical Romance; Contemporary Romance, including romantic suspense, paranormal romance, women’s fiction, African-American Romance, inspirational romance, and Erotica.

So, don’t hesitate!  Here’s the information you’ll need to get started.  Now is the time to make your dream of becoming an Avon romance writer come true!

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

(90-000- 100,000 words)
At Avon, we’re seeking deliciously romantic historical novels for all parts of the list.  These are love stories set primarily in Great Britain before 1900, and they are filled with all the promise–and passion–that Avon readers expect.

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
(90,000-100,000 words)

We seek stories of emotional complexity, written by authors with unique voices. Books with humor, drama, romantic suspense -– all types and tones can be right for Avon. If your manuscript is exciting, electrifying and exceptional then we want to see it.

PARANORMAL ROMANCE

(90,000-100,000 words)

Vampires, and werewolves, and witches, oh my! We are seeking all types of paranormal romance, contemporary or historical. The darker the better.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ROMANCE
(90,000 words)

We are actively seeking romance with African-American heroes and heroines. These should be contemporary or historical love stories of approximately 90,000-100,000 words, set in the United States. If your manuscript has the unforgettable emotion, irresistible characters–especially the hero–and sizzling sensuality that are hallmarks of Avon romance, please send it right away.

AVON A

(60,000-90,000 words)

General commercial women’s fiction as well as quality non-fiction books that readers can relate to and get something out of. Both historical and contemporary stories are welcome. Some of our Avon A authors include Meg Cabot, Jacqueline Sheehan, and Tracy Grant.

INSPIRE

(60,000-90,000 words)

A new line of inspirational romances from Avon Books. These stories and their characters are primarily Christian, and promote traditional values and beliefs. They also are first and foremost stories of the heart, romantic novels about learning to trust, to open ourselves up to love, both to the men in our lives but ultimately to God. Set in America, contemporary settings as well as historicals will be considered, as well as romantic suspense and romantic comedy. There should be no alcohol, drug use or premarital sex for the main characters. For non-Christian characters, these subjects can be explored but primarily to show their destructive nature and how a virtuous life is the better path. Foul language should be avoided at all costs.

How To Submit A Manuscript

Please note Avon’s submission policy

To submit your romance or women’s fiction (only), please query first. You must query by e-mail. When you do so, please put QUERY in the subject line. Due to the overwhelming amount of Spam email we receive, subject lines that have manuscript titles often do not reach the editors. Your query should be brief, no more than a one-page description of your book. Do not send chapters or a full synopsis at this time. Also, please do not send attachments – THEY WILL NOT BE OPENED. You will receive a response — either a decline or a request for more material — in approximately six to eight weeks.

Please e-mail your query to avonromance@harpercollins.com.

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