NEW CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Authors, we’re looking for you!

Are you new to the writing arena and looking to publish your first work?

…or…

Are you already published and looking for new pastures?

Before you submit, please read our guidelines carefully.

Submitted material that does not meet these criteria will not be considered.

  1. Times New Roman 12 pt. Font
  2. Double spacing between lines
  3. 1-inch margins
  4. NO headers, footers or page numbers
  5. Word doc format only
  6. Author name, title, and email address on the first page only
  7. A letter about your book and why we, and the general reading audience, should be inclined to read it. This letter should be page two of your submission.
  8. If submitting a short story or novella, submit in whole.
  9. If submitting a novel, submit the first three paragraphs.
  10. Please note in your email and your cover sheet which of the categories listed below your book is submitted for.

DCL GOLD CROWN Submissions

Gold Crown Submissions are the basis of what DCL Publications were founded on. These stories focus on the regal, the wealthy, and the passions, comforts and tribulations of their lifestyles. Whether based in a historical period or modern day, a Gold Crown Submission story must be themed around a castle, manor house or mansion. We are accepting well-written stories with solid plots, well-developed settings, and characters that are fully developed. Your submitted story should fit into a specific genre and heat level; however, some crossing over of genres are allowed.

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DCL General Submissions

We are accepting submissions in all genres. For contemporary novels or short stories, we look for realism and full character development. Contemporary novels generally follow the protagonist’s life throughout events, whether longform or short. Truly unique, believable tales will get our attention. Sell it in your cover letter to us and make us yearn to read your work. 

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DCL General ‘Swept Off Your Feet’ Romance Submissions

We are lovers of romance and so are most of our readers. If you think you have what it takes to romance us, show us. For general ‘swept off your feet’ romances submissions, a Happily-Ever-After or a Happy-For-Now ending is a must. While the story can be fun and flirty, it must also be fully focused on the relationship between the protagonist and their intended love. They must be believable, they can be tearjerkers at times, and they must leave the reader feeling positive and happy. A ‘swept off your feet’ romance isn’t easy to write. Show us what you’ve got. Your heat level for a general ‘swept off your feet’ romance should remain moderate – no graphic erotic romance is accepted as a general ‘swept off your feet’ romance.

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DCL Erotic Romance Submissions

We do accept erotic romance, but we don’t accept smut. Erotica within a romance should serve a purpose. It should be plot based as well as plot essential. Strong language is accepted, as well as graphic encounters. However, keep in mind that your words are your power, so choose them wisely. While your characters may use certain words in acts of sexual nature, your author’s narration should stay true to the style of wording and writing that makes up the rest of the book. Sex in erotic romances is passionate; it is not pornography. The heat level in an erotic romance should be high.

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DCL Romantic Comedy Submissions

There’s nothing better than a funny, feel-good romantic comedy, and that’s just what we’re looking for in our Romantic Comedy Submissions. Your submission should grab our attention from the start. Show us who your protagonist is and make it both believable and entertaining. The romance should also be believable and feel natural – not forced. Some crossing of genres is allowed, with elements of life and all it presents, to help make your story full, but the true element of your submission should be its romantic comedy feel and nature. Your heat level in a romantic comedy submission should be between low and mid.

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DCL General Horror, Thriller, Sci Fi, or Fantasy Submissions

Scare us. Thrill us. Make us wonder and fantasize… Take our nightmare or our dreams and put them before our eyes… in words, of course! Be original. Give us something we’ve never read before. Something we’ve never thought of. Go deep and avoid the cliche revamps of common genre-numbing gimmicks that are out there and offer something new – something that only you can give. Build your story, create your suspense or mystery, and astound us.

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DCL Bete Noire Horror Line Submissions

The Bete Noire Horror Line ranges from short story to novella in length – under forty thousand words and over ten thousand words. The purpose of Bete Noire is to leave the reader feeling as if they’ve seen or experienced something that simply should not have happened. Something very scary… very shocking. Originality is the key. If you are going to write in a widely popularized genre like zombies or vampires, find a way to reinvent it or reimagine it in an original way. Thinking out of the box is the best way to handle this story line. Think technology. Think afterlife. Think of other realities, or imagine that really scary horrific ‘what if’ moment… There are endless possibilities and we would love to see what you can do. 

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DCL ‘King for a Day’ Novella Line Submissions

The ‘King for a Day’ novella line is a fun concept! It is an ongoing call for submissions with lengthy details. If you have a creative imagination and want to try your hand at the ‘King for a Day’ novella line, full details can be found here: https://thedarkcastlelords.net/project-series-name-king-for-a-day/

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TIME SENSITIVE * DCL ‘Toil and Trouble‘ Halloween Anthology Submissions * TIME SENSITIVE

Our upcoming Halloween romantic horror anthology ‘Toil and Trouble’ is now officially open for submissions, and will remain so until May 16, 2025 with a release date of September 22, 2025 – Fall Equinox. Full submission guidelines can be found here: https://thedarkcastlelords.net/call-for-submissions-toil-and-trouble/


We request all submissions to be as free of mechanical errors in punctuation, grammar, and spelling as possible.

We have editors on staff, but we will not rewrite your story for you.


For those wishing to submit previously published material: We do accept previously published works with the exception of submissions to anthologies (this does not include collections by a solo author), the novella line ‘King for a Day,’ or the horror line Bete Noire. Please note: we can only accept your out-of-print works if you hold the exclusive rights. Should we accept your previously published manuscript for publication, we will ask you to provide proof of rights.

 

Please send your query, synopsis and first three chapters of your manuscript to

booksubmissions@thedarkcastlelords.net 

If submitting to ‘Bete Noire’ Horror, General Horror, Fantasy, etc., or ‘Toil and Trouble’ Halloween Anthology, please send your query, synopsis and first three chapters of your manuscript to

jaeelbooks@gmail.com

 *Note: If submitting a short story, submit entire story, up to 25K, same guidelines as above.

Royalty rate is 25% of Gross for single author titles. Royalty rate is a share of 40% of Gross for multi-author anthologies and collections, or with co-written books. DCL Publication contracts generally last three years.

 

All published titles will be in eBook format. Some titles will be considered for Print and for Audiobook.