For all inquiries, please contact us at:

  • Address:  1525 Hulse Road, Unit 1, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742, USA

  • Email: Hetman@wingedhussarpublishing.com

  • Phone: 732-714-7000

 

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SUBMISSIONS TO WINGED HUSSAR PUBLISHING, LLC AND ZMOK BOOKS

Winged Hussar Publishing and Zmok Books are happy to review proposals, but under these guidelines: 

  • All queries and proposals should be sent to editorwhp@gmail.com.

  • We are accepting proposals for original full novels and short stories, but only in finished form – the ONLY EXCEPTION is when we ask for outlines. We will accept proposals for histories not yet completed, but not previously published.

  • If you are submitting a proposal for a novel in a licensed IP setting, please do not use an already created story that you’ve manipulated to fit into the game world. All IP-based novels need to be vetted with the game creator’s before they can be moved forward.

  •  Science-Fiction and Fantasy Novel Proposals will require a brief (two-three pages maximum) summary of characters, plot, and your intentions/inspiration, in that order; including with that the opening chapters (approximately 10,000 words). If you have a website, good-sized following on social media, or are generally active in the SF&F community already, we’d love to hear about that sort of thing too.

  •  History Book Proposals will require a brief (two-three pages maximum) summary of the topic, what you plan to cover, sources you will be consulting, and your background of why you are qualified to write on the proposed subject. If you have a website, good-sized following on social media, or are generally active in the history community already, we’d love to hear about that sort of thing too. All history books should be original to the submitter and all sources properly cited.

  • All submissions should be submitted in either RTF, DOC, DOCX, or PDF format. If we are interested in your proposal, we will then ask for a full plot breakdown or the entire, finished manuscript.

  • Please expect typically 10 weeks for us to read and respond to a proposal; more for a full manuscript.

***Please don’t just send us a complete manuscript without a proposal outlined above – they will be discarded without acknowledgment.***

What are we looking for in a sci-fi or fantasy novel?

  • An interesting story with compelling characters, first and foremost. While we respect Tolkien’s esteemed Lord of the Rings series, what we are not looking to publish is a journey novel. The sort of “epic adventure” we want to take readers on is one full of character development with a well-thought plot in new and engaging environments.

  • Archetypal characters are perfectly fine, as long as it doesn’t fall into the category of “trite.” It’s fine for there to be a queen who’s related to the main character… but let’s not have her follow the “evil queen” route as so many have before (ie, Cersei Lannister - or even Disney’s aptly-named “Evil Queen” from Snow White). We’re looking for stories that build on those archetypes but bring something unique to the genre.

  • Characters should be three-dimensional and feel like actual people - even in a setting that isn’t real. Compelling characters learn and grow through the story and the journey they embark on. We are not interested in publishing stories where the protagonist is instantly a master of all skills with no challenge to rise above. If you are submitting for a licensed IP setting, please remember that the characters belong to the game company first and foremost, and each company that we work with has different rules and restrictions for using already existing characters and/or factions. Please be prepared to change your outline in the case that the game company rejects the proposal.

  • We’re looking for original fiction that has the world thought out and feels lived in. Authors should consider areas such as religion, politics, local folk lore, heroes, and villains. These are all aspects of every day life that people of different backgrounds talk about and subjects that help to shape their personality. It’s important to remember that art should imitate life. On the subject of a licensed setting, please make sure you thoroughly read through available source material before you submit a proposal. Any new ideas or concepts to be proposed in the outline, please mark for the game master’s approval. Again, have a backup plan in case areas of your outline are rejected or need correcting.

What are we looking for in a historical book?

  • We want to make sure the historical books we are publishing are engaging and tell a story. One of the things that differentiate a good history book from a textbook is that it tells a story. While we don’t want to create drama where there was none or exaggerate history to unbelievable levels, we want to make sure the reader is enjoying what they’re reading and that they are engaging with the text.

  • Details and chronology are of the utmost importance, but please do not bog down the work to the point where it slows the pace of the read.

  • The work should stay focused on the topic and the premise of the book. If you’re writing about Napoleon, there shouldn’t be a chapter devoted to the delicious, but very off-topic Chicago-style hot dog.

  • What helps to set submissions apart is the availability of resources to use and provided graphic material.

  • It should go without saying, but in this day and age, it has to be said - all sources must be cited properly and should be reputable.

The Do’s and Don’ts:

  • We publish a variety of different genres - science-fiction, fantasy, alternative history, horror, espionage, yound adult, and children novels - either standalone or as part of greater series.

  • We will look at short works such as novellas, short stories, shot story collections, or non-fiction. We are open to talking about publishing graphic novels, as long as the author/illustrator has the rights to all images used. We do not have the capabilities or the team to currently produce graphic novels on our own.

  • We are not accepting poetry or plays. While we have expanded our library so that we publish a variety of different genres, we are not ready to explore either one of these two areas at present.

  • While we like to try and ensure that our books can be picked up and read by anyone of any age (to help foster the love of reading), the level of swearing and violence in a submitted work should reflect the source. Our general policy is that swearing should be kept to a “PG” rating and violence should not be excessive The Walking Dead’s Negan-levels of brutality. In fantasy and sci-fi settings, please either create terminology or lean on words in the genre that have come before for swearing - or if in a licensed setting, ask us what the game maker would like.

  • We publish in all English language territories, so minimally those rights should be available.  These rights cover print versions of books as well as e-books and audio versions.

Art Submissions
We DO NOT use AI artwork in any capacity! For all of our covers, Winged Hussar Publishing either uses existing art in public domain, art supplied to us by the game company in the IP we’re working within, or when we need original artwork we hire REAL people to create original art. We stand by and support artists, just as we hope people support our publications. If you are an artist looking to work with us, we’d be happy to discuss opportunities we might have. We commission artwork for black and white line drawings and maps, and colored covers. Please email us your contact information and include a portfolio for our consideration.