Submission Guidelines

Carina Press, Harlequin’s digital-first imprint, is open to submissions.

Our mission is to connect readers with authors who write the stories they want to read.

Carina Press features books from talented authors in all genres of romance, science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, and more. If the book of your heart fits into a niche that has very little shelf space in a traditional bookstore, Carina Press is eager to read and potentially publish your story.

Want to find out more about Carina Press staff, editors and authors? See this page for links to us on social media.

Our submissions guidelines are below. If you have any questions, please first see our Submissions FAQ – if your question was not answered you can email us at submissions@carinapress.com.

WHAT WE’RE SEEKING…

Carina Press will consider most genres of adult commercial fiction (we do not publish inspirational, women’s fiction, family sagas or literary fiction). This includes shorter length stories between 15,000 to 50,000 words, genre novels between 50,000 to 100,000 words and longer and complex narratives of over 100,000 words. In other words, if your manuscript is 15,000 words or longer and is a commercial adult fiction story (that is not inspirational fiction, women’s fiction, family saga or literary fiction) we will consider it! We will not look at manuscripts under 15,000 words, nor will we consider YA, children’s books or non-fiction.

We publish a majority of romance but are also very interested in and publish science fiction, fantasy, futuristic, mystery, thrillers, horror, and niches such as steampunk, male/male, time travel, westerns and unusual historicals. If you have something new and fresh in a genre we acquire, we would be happy to read your story!

Important note: We do not require non-romance genre fiction books to have romantic elements. We read, acquire and publish non-romance with no romantic elements as well!

Your passion, quality of writing and voice is what will make your manuscript stand out and be considered for publication.

We are not acquiring young adult novels, inspirational fiction, women’s fiction, family sagas or literary fiction. Additionally, at this time Carina Press is not acquiring non-fiction or poetry of any kind.

Romance and Erotic Romance

We are seeking submissions in all subgenres and all levels of sensuality. We welcome everything from the very sweet to the incredibly sexy, featuring couples (or multiples) from all walks of life and sexual orientation, including same-sex romances. Romances should focus on the development of the relationship, as well as external and internal conflict; the heat level should be appropriate to the book and enhance the story, and the primary relationship in the book should offer a happily ever after (HEA) or happily for now in an emotionally satisfying manner.

The key element to a successful romance is characterization, creating a unique, believable hero and heroine who need to end up together in order to achieve the happily ever after. Alpha heroes remain popular.

Subgenres of romance we are seeking include, but are not limited to, historical, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, futuristic, contemporary, western, Egyptian, Roman, paranormal, erotic romance and fantasy.

Romantic suspense authors should also look at our mystery guidelines below

Miniseries have proven to be very popular with readers and Carina Press is looking for interesting twists on established, popular romance themes (marriage of convenience, cowboys, vampires, babies). We are interested in seeing your fresh interpretation on novels featuring astrology, pets – especially rescue animals – playing a role within the story as matchmaker or catalyst, and other unusual or fresh themes. The only limit is your imagination!

Please also see the science fiction, fantasy, steampunk and futuristic guidelines.

Science fiction, fantasy, steampunk, futuristic

Carina Press is keen to acquire manuscripts in this genre, both those that fall within the romance category and those that have only romantic elements or little to no romance. Under this genre, we are also very interested in space opera, cyberpunk and other similar genres and subgenres.

Erotica

Erotica, differing from erotic romance in not promising a happily ever after within the story line, will also be considered. The story must still contain good character and plot development, and the sexual content must be integral to the development of the story. No Penthouse Letters, please! No incest or bestiality.

Mystery

We are open to the full range of mysteries, from soft to hard including cozies, procedurals, historical mysteries, and contemporary PIs. We are especially interested in seeing mysteries in the 70,000 to 100,000 word range. A selection of our mysteries, thrillers and romantic suspense titles go to print via Harlequin’s Direct to Consumer Reader Service Suspense program and are also made available for sale in print on Harlequin’s main website.

Thrillers

Thrill us with your edge-of-the-seat suspense story. We are open to all types and very eager to find psychological, legal, medical, and political thrillers.

Horror

Scare us!

Interactive Fiction with Multiple/Alternate Endings

Do you have a 21st century way of telling a story that allows the reader to interact with the book and choose their own path through the story, with multiple endings available?

Previously released material

Carina Press will also acquire books that have been previously released, but for which the author has either retained digital rights or had rights revert to them. To submit previously published material, please follow the below guidelines and submit it to Angela James at: submissions@carinapress.com. If your books are not available for submission digitally due to publication pre-digital age, please send a detailed query letter to Angela in lieu of manuscript/synopsis.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Please submit queries for only completed, fully polished manuscripts. In the subject line of your query, please type your manuscript name, your name, and genre of the manuscript. Queries must include the following and will not be reviewed if any piece is missing:

  1. Brief, introductory query letter listing genre, word count and a short description of the book, as well as any pertinent information about the author, including both legal name and pen name and any writing credits.
  2. The full manuscript saved as an RTF file and attached, with file name TITLE_MANUSCRIPT where you substitute your book’s title in place of TITLE.
  3. 2-5 page synopsis of book that details character development, plot, and conflict/story resolution. Attach as an RTF file with file name TITLE_SYNOPSIS where you substitute your book’s title in place of TITLE.

Please be sure to put the following information on the first page of all files: manuscript name, author pen name/legal name, email address, phone number, genre, and word count.

Submissions should be sent to submissions@carinapress.com.

All submissions will receive an auto-response acknowledging receipt of submission. Please allow 12-16 weeks for an editorial response to your submission. If a response has not been received after 16 weeks, please follow-up with the submissions@carinapress.com email address. In the subject line of your query, please type your manuscript name, your name, and genre of the manuscript. (Example: Book X by Jane Doe, Steampunk). In the body of the email, please let us know the date it was submitted. It is also helpful if you email from the same email address your submission was sent from.


Submissions FAQ

  1. As Carina Press is a division of Harlequin Enterprises Ltd, how is it different?
  2. What are the advantages of digital publishing?
  3. Why should I choose Carina Press?
  4. What is DRM?
  5. How should I format my book?
  6. My genre isn’t listed in the submission guidelines, does that mean you won’t consider it?
  7. Will you consider my book young adult simply because my characters are young?
  8. Do you publish books set in places outside the US and Canada?
  9. Does my book have to have romantic elements or a specific heat level to be published by Carina Press?
  10. Do you accept unagented submissions?
  11. Do you accept simultaneous submissions?
  12. Can I submit to Carina Press if Harlequin has rejected me?
  13. Can I submit multiple manuscripts at one time?
  14. Will Carina Press publish my book into print?
  15. Do you pay advances?
  16. Can I create my own cover art?
  17. Who should I address my submission to?
  18. My book is in first person, is that okay?
  19. Will my manuscript be edited and copy edited?
  20. Will I be charged to publish my book with Carina Press?
  21. Do I have to live in North America to be published by Carina Press?
  22. Why did you select the name Carina Press?

  1. As Carina Press is a division of Harlequin Enterprises Ltd, how is it different?

    At the very basic level, Harlequin is a traditional print publisher with a robust digital-offering, while Carina Press is a digital-first publisher.

    Both the contract and distribution channels are very different:

    • The Carina Press contract does not include an advance or DRM, and authors are compensated with a higher royalty.
    • Unlike Harlequin there is no guaranteed series distribution (no standing order, no direct mail, no overseas translation markets).
    • Carina Press titles will be sold direct to consumers through the Carina Press website, and we’ll be securing 3rd party distribution with retailers such as Books On Board, Fictionwise and Amazon.

  2. What are the advantages of digital publishing?

    Our distribution model is strictly digital, which means we’re not limited by print bookstore shelf space — this gives us greater flexibility in the type of editorial we can accept from authors, and offer to readers.

    We’re also able to quickly get new books to market — if a genre is new and developing, we want to be there with books readers are eager to read.

  3. Why should I choose Carina Press?

    We view Carina Press as a joint effort between publisher and author — we’ll combine our editorial and marketing expertise with your passion for your story to make sure it gets into the hands of readers who will love it.

    As author, you have more control of your own brand and can help the success of your book; we’ll provide new authors with the tools to get started self-promoting in the digital space.

    Your book will always be available. eBooks never have to be restocked.

  4. What is DRM?

    DRM is Digital Rights Management, and DRM technologies control use of digital media by preventing access, copying or conversion to other formats by end users.

    Put simply, DRM stops you from being able to copy/share your eBook with another person or device, but does not prevent piracy.

  5. How should I format my book?

    We don’t have formal formatting requirements. We only ask that you double space and use a legible, plain black font. Please see our Submission Guidelines for full details on how to send your manuscript once completed.

  6. My genre isn’t listed in the submission guidelines, does that mean you won’t consider it?

    We are not acquiring young adult, inspirational fiction, women’s fiction, family sagas or literary fiction. If your book is a commercial fiction manuscript, but not one of those genres, we’ll take a look at it.

  7. Will you consider my book young adult simply because my characters are young?

    No. Age of characters alone will not make your book a young adult. We recognize in some genres, for instance fantasy, young protagonists may be featured in an adult-themed novel. In deciding whether you’re able to pitch your novel to us as adult fiction, please take into consideration both your targeted audience and the themes of your story.

  8. Do you publish books set in places outside the US and Canada?

    Absolutely. We’ve published books set all over the world, from Austria to Egypt to England. We don’t limit submissions based on where the book is set.

  9. Does my book have to have romantic elements or a specific heat level to be published by Carina Press?

    We do not require manuscripts that are submitted have romantic elements. We’ll continue to publish non-romance in a variety of genres. In addition, we do not have any sexuality or heat level restrictions or expectations. We publish a variety of books across heat levels, from sweet to erotic. In fact, erotic romance or erotica comprises only approximately 10% of what we publish.

  10. Do you accept unagented submissions?

    Yes.

  11. Do you accept simultaneous submissions?

    Yes. However, you cannot submit to Carina Press and any other subsidiary of Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. simultaneously (ie. Harlequin, Silhouette, MIRA, Luna, etc.) But you are welcome to submit a manuscript to us that is also under consideration at other publishers. We only ask that you let us know immediately if it’s contracted elsewhere, so we can let our editors know it’s no longer available.

  12. Can I submit to Carina Press if Harlequin has rejected me?

    Yes, you may submit a manuscript that has been rejected by any publisher, including Harlequin. There may be very good reasons why your manuscript will not fit into traditional print publisher’s program, but we have a great deal more flexibility and opportunities at Carina Press.

  13. Can I submit multiple manuscripts at one time?

    Yes. You can submit more than one submission to Carina Press. However, please do not send more than one book at a time in a series. (ie. don’t send books one and two in a trilogy or series, send just book one and wait for a response.)

  14. Will Carina Press publish my book in print?

    Though our main focus is and will continue to be digital publishing, we are utilizing some print rights and will continue to look for further opportunities in the future.

  15. Do you pay advances?

    No. Our author contract is strictly royalty based.

  16. Can I create my own cover art?

    As part of the Carina Press process, we take on the cover art for you. Every author provides us with as much info on their title as possible, and we work with a consistent group of artists to create covers that have a distinct Carina Press look and feel, while reflecting the genre and tone of the book. All covers are reviewed by our marketing team and the book’s editor before being sent to the author for their thoughts. Our goal is to create a cover that you’ll be proud to promote and that will attract great sales for your book.

    We ask that authors not send us prospective covers with their submissions, as we are unable to use author-produced covers.

  17. Who should I address my submission to?

    Submissions should be sent to submissions@carinapress.com and can be addressed to Angela James or Dear Editor. Your query does not need to be personally addressed, as there’s a team of freelance editors who read submissions. If you’d like to see which editors are specifically seeking certain genres, you can visit the editor bio section on our Facebook Page.

  18. My book is in first person, is that okay?

    Yes.

  19. Will my manuscript be edited and copy edited?

    Yes. Carina Press goes through the same rigorous acquisition and editorial development processes as traditional print publishers.

  20. Will I be charged to publish my book with Carina Press?

    No. Carina Press is not a vanity publisher and the author is not asked to pay for publication, editing, cover art or other services.

  21. Do I have to live in North America to be published by Carina Press?

    No. Carina Press authors live worldwide.

  22. Why did you select the name Carina Press?

    Carina is a constellation in the southern sky. Its name is Latin for the keel of a ship, and it was formerly part of the larger constellation of Argo Navis which represents the Argo, the ship from Greek mythology that carried heroes Jason and the Argonauts on their successful voyage to capture the Golden Fleece.

    We’re suckers for a great story, and Greek mythology is full of fantastic stories — when we came upon Carina, the sailing imagery really appealed to us (we even included sails in our logo). We’re sailing in a new, exciting direction into uncharted waters.