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Posted: 22 Feb 2015 09:04 PM PST
 Harborlight
Books is own by the Pelican Book Group. They accept a wide range of Christian
Stories. You should check out their website. Most of their books are a 100%
off this month. Nice covers, nice titles, nice stories, nice price. If you
think you might like to write for them, you should download a few of their
free books to help you decide on what they like.
Right now they are having their Christmas Holiday Extravaganza.
Extravaganza titles are novelette
to novella length stories (between 15,000 and 25,000 words) to fill
twenty-four special slots each Christmas season. Stories may fit either the
White Rose Publishing (romance) or the Harbourlight Books (general fiction)
imprint, but must have a Christmas theme. Submissions must be received on or
before 1 May of each year in order to be considered for that year’s
Extravaganza.
Stories must be Christian fiction,
may be contemporary or historical, and may fall under any subgenre (e.g.
romantic suspense, sci-fi,) To submit, please use the submission form found
on our website. Be sure to note: CHRISTMAS SUBMISSION on the form.
Below are their general submission
guidelines.
Harbourlight Books
Guidelines
Please
read our guidelines and submission process carefully. Do not submit queries
that fall outside our guidelines, and do not submit your work in some fashion
other than that outlined here.
What we are seeking:
§ All stories must be
Christian fiction between 25,000 and 80,000 words.
§ Action-adventure
§ Mystery, (cozy or
other)
§ Suspense, crime drama,
police procedural
§ Family saga
§ Westerns
§ Women’s Fiction
The focus of a Harbourlight story
should be conflict experienced by the main characters. These stories
encompass protagonists who may, or may not, be spiritual at the onset, but
come to realize through the progression of the plot that faith is a necessity.
Protagonists should be layered, three-dimensional, people who struggle with
decisions on a regular basis, using their existent or burgeoning faith to
augment their growth both as individuals in the world and as Christians.
Remember, Christians are emboldened by their faith, not burdened by it.
Protagonists’ backgrounds do not have to be exemplary, but in the current
story line, protagonists must have already come to terms with those issues
which do not live up to Christian morality and virtue; their past immorality
should not be overtly displayed on the page, but should be the catalyst for
their internal conflict and growth.
Harbourlight books should convey
life as it is lived, or can be lived, by people of faith. Because life can be
humorous, mysterious, hazardous, and even a bit otherworldly, with angels
popping in at times, Harbourlight books can encompass a variety of elements.
The setting for Harbourlight books can be contemporary, historical or
futuristic. They may even feature supernatural elements; however, an element
of faith must be present in all Harbourlight stories without becoming
overbearing or preachy. (Please take note that supernatural themes are not
the same as paranormal themes. Supernatural themes must be limited to
Christian elements [e.g. Angels would be acceptable; a talking witch’s
familiar would not.])
Harbourlight books should be
character-driven stories that have an emotional rise and fall. Even a police
procedural should be conveyed through the observations and emotions of the
protagonists. Feel free to delve into sensitive topics (e.g. infertility,
terminal illness, infidelity), subjects that affect real people, but without
profanity or nudity. Although Harbourlight does not publish romance novels,
romantic tension between characters is encouraged as long as it does not
overtake the story.
Protagonists should be Christian,
or should be discovering Christianity. Elements of non-Christian faiths may
be present in the story, but issues which deny the essence of mainline
Christianity must not be conveyed as acceptable. (e.g. Denying the Trinity
[One God in Three Persons] or denying the divinity of Christ, etc. would not
work if conveyed as acceptable; however, showing someone struggling with
these beliefs, and then coming to realize the truth of Christianity, might
work.) Please specify in your query if your story includes elements of
non-Christian religious beliefs, and briefly describe how they are handled
within the story, and why they are essential to the plot.
We may publish what some would
call edgy, i.e. stories that fall outside current CBA guidelines, however,
please note that edgy doesn’t mean profane. It means gently colouring outside
the lines because the story demands it.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
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