Dragonblade Publishing
Dragonblade Publishing is a US historical romance publisher founded by multiple award winning, USA Today bestselling, ‘Indie powerhouse author’ Kathryn Le Veque, writes Gary Dalkin.
The ten-strong editorial team, overseen by senior editor Amelia Hester, is responsible for several imprints: the company’s ‘Original’ and main line of historical novels ‘with at least one sex scene and plenty of romance’; Sweet Dreams, ‘wholesome Historical Romance where passion beyond the bedroom door is left to the reader’s imagination’; Heart (LGBTQIA), Flame (‘the hotter the better’), Moonrise (‘historical fantasy romance’), as well as Contemporary, Legends, Lyons Den, and Medieval Romance.
Dragonblade will consider unsolicited submissions for many types of historical romance, which they define as any period pre-20th century (although oddly they list Edwardian as acceptable). (Though see below for exclusions.) They will accept time travel, and historical mysteries with romantic elements, as well as historical fantasy romance, though locations, countries, kings/queens, etc. must be real – which is to say, no imagined fantasy worlds. No inspirational/Christian romance, YA romance, contemporary romance, vampire/shifter romance, paranormal, urban fantasy, western or Amish romance. Many Dragonblade novels are set in the UK, giving British authors a competitive edge.
BIPOC, Ownvoices and LGBTQIA writers are encouraged to submit. All submissions regardless of subgenre must have a HEA (happy ever after) ending.
You must use the submissions form on the guidelines page at www. dragonbladepublishing.com/submissions/ Upload the first fifty pages/ three chapters of your manuscript as a PDF file attachment and include a one or two page query letter. (Completed manuscripts should be between 40,000-120,000 words.)
Any explicit sex scenes must be between consenting adults. No rape, illegal, or degrading scenes. If you are submitting a book with particularly explicit content include the ‘Flame’ line in your query/synopsis. Allow 6-8 weeks for a response.