Puma
04-06-2008, 05:51 PM
WESTERN MARKETS Updated 4/2/2012 (at the bottom)
LITERARY AGENTS – listing western genre as one of their fiction interests as of October 6, 2011. (If you haven’t used agentquery, clicking on a name below will take you to that agents information on agentquery – not a lot. From there you need to look at that agent on their company’s website – sometimes what’s listed at agentquery does not agree with what’s on the website. Also, look for the agent in the AW Bewares and Background Checks thread and look them up on Preditors and Editors (http://pred-ed.com/) But, above all else, take your time and do your research. A too hasty query for a work that’s not ready loses that agent as a possibility for your work – and with so few agents looking at western, you don’t want that to happen.
From Agentquery http://www.agentquery.com/
Kim Lionetti (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=16), BookEnds, LLC (http://www.bookends-inc.com/) Gillette, NJ
Cherry Weiner (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=363), Cherry Weiner Literary Agency Manalapan, NJ
Gina Panettieri (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=409), Talcott Notch Literary Services (http://www.talcottnotch.net/) Milford, CT 06460
James Schiavone (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=604), Schiavone Literary Agency (http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/profschia) West Palm Beach, FL
Laurie McLean (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=905), Larsen Pomada Literary Agency (http://www.larsen-pomada.com/) La Honda, CA
Cori Deyoe (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=906) , 3 Seas Literary Agency (http://www.threeseaslit.com/) Madison, WI
Jacques de Spoelberch (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=995), J de S Associates.South Norwalk, CT
Peter Riva (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=1010), International Transactions (http://www.intltrans.com/) Gila, NM
Ann Collette (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=1074), Rees Literary Agency Boston, MA
Amy Boggs (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=1107), Donald Maass Literary Agency (http://www.maassagency.com/) New York, NY
James McGinniss (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=1124), McGinniss Associates Literary Agency (http://mcginnissassociates.com/) New York, NY
BOOK PUBLISHERS – Be sure to check out all publishers at Preditors and Editors (http://pred-ed.com/peba.htm) and at AW in Bewares and Background Checks. If you decide to submit, be sure to pay close attention to the publishers requirements for works and submissions.
Genre Novel “Rules” – set in the old west (west of the Mississippi), before 1900, three dimensional characters, strong plot with hero facing a conflict, do not rely on cliches. Length 45,000 to 75,000
http://www.writersrelief.com/blog/2009/06/genre-fiction-rules-find-out-if-your-novel-meets-publishers-and-literary-agents-criteria-for-publication/
Link to recently published westerns novels. A good way to research who published (and agented) them
http://www.ropeandwire.com/MainPages/western_writers.html
Condor Publishing – small publisher of adult westerns and children’s books - http://www.condorpublishinginc.com/
Running Press Book Publishers, Philadelphia (Longhorns, 2007 – gay cowboy, adult/adult western)
“MICHAEL MCGARRITY TO PEN EPIC WESTERN TRILOGY
New York, New York – August 15, 2011 —Brian Tart, president and publisher of Dutton, announced today the acquisition of a Western epic trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Michael McGarrity. Barney Karpfinger of The Karpfinger Agency made the sales of North American rights and Mr. Tart will edit. The first installment in the trilogy, Hard Country, is scheduled for publication in June 2012. (Penguin Group)
Black Horse Westerns - http://blackhorsewesterns.com/bhe7/ (Robert Hale, London)
Moonlight Mesa – specializing in fiction and non-fiction western books - closed to fiction 10/17/2011 http://moonlightmesa.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-voices-in-western-genre.html
Has published at least one western – Avatar Press (Streets of Glory) apparently publisher of comic books
Has published at least one western (Revenge of the Mountain Man, 2006) Kensington Publishing Corp.
Has published a contemporary western (Mineral Spirits) Bridge Works Publishing
INDIES - http://www.bookmarket.com/101publishers.htm (also has link for top “dependent publishers” Some of these below may only be non-fiction.
August House (http://www.augusthouse.com/), Ted and Liz Parkhurst, Publishers, P O Box 3223, Little Rock AR 72203; 501-372-5450; 800-284-8784. Fax: 501-372-5579. Email: ahinfo@augusthouse.com (ahinfo@augusthouse.com). Founded in 1980. Specialties: storytelling, folklore, regional and multicultural titles
John F. Blair Publisher (http://www.blairpub.com/), Carolyn Sakowski, President, 1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem NC 27103; 336-768-1374; 800-222-9796; Fax: 336-768-9194. Email: sakowski@blairpub.com (sakowski@blairpub.com). Founded in 1954, this independent family-owned company publishes about 20 titles per year. Specialties: fiction, regional.
Clear Light Publishers (http://www.clearlightbooks.com/), Harmon Houghton and Marcia Keegan, Publishers, 823 Don Diego, Santa Fe NM 87501; 505-989-9590; Fax: 505-989-9519. Email: clpublish@aol.com (clpublish@aol.com). Specialties: Native American, new age, Southwest cooking and culture.
Gem Guides Book Company, 315 Cloverleaf Drive #F, Baldwin Park CA 91706; 626-855-1611; 800-824-5118; Fax: 626-855-1610. Email: gembooks@aol.com (gembooks@aol.com). Publishes and distributes books on rocks and minerals, jewelry making, Western interest, Native America, outdoor recreation, and travel.
Gibbs Smith, Publisher (http://www.gibbs-smith.com/), Gibbs Smith, Publisher; Madge Baird, Editorial VP; 96 W Gentile Street, P O Box 667, Layton UT 84041; 801-544-9800; 800-748-5439; Fax: 801-544-5582. Email: info@gibbs-smith.com (info@gibbs-smith.com). Founded in 1969. Specialties: Western humor, cookbooks, Rocky Mountain regional titles, Native American, animals, architecture & design, nature, children's books, etc.
Golden West Publishers, Lee Fischer, 4113 N Longview, Phoenix AZ 85014; 602-265-4392; 800-658-5830; Fax: 602-279-6901. Specialties: regional, general. Only historical (and I'd say non-fiction), specialty is railroads
Johnson Books (http://www.jpcolorado.com/), Barbara Johnson Mussil, Publisher; Stephen Topping, Editorial Director, 1880 South 57th Court, Boulder CO 80301; 303-443-9766; 800-258-5830; Fax: 303-443-1106. Email: books@jpcolorado.com (books@jpcolorado.com). Specialties: regional, recreation, nature, archaeology, western history.
Mountain Press Publishing Company (http://www.mtnpress.com/), John Rimel, Publisher, 1301 South 3rd Street W, P O Box 2399, Missoula MT 59806; 406-728-1900; 800-234-5308; Fax: 406-728-1635. Email: mtnpress@montana.com (mtnpress@montana.com). Specialty: cowboys, geology, history, nature, regional, recreation.
Paladin Press (http://www.paladin-press.com/), Peder Lund, Publisher, Gunbarrel Tech Center, 7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301; 303-443-7250; Fax: 303-442-8741. Email: editorial@paladin-press.com (editorial@paladin-press.com). Founded in 1970. 600 titles in print. Specialty: military, guns, self-defense
The Permanent Press, Martin Shepard, Publisher, Noyac Road, Sag Harbor NY 11963; 516-725-1101; Fax: 516-725-1101; 631-725-1101. Email: shepard@thepermanentpress.com (shepard@thepermanentpress.com). Web: http://www.thepermanentpress.com (http://www.thepermanentpress.com/). Also Second Chance Press. Specialty: quality fiction.
Quill Driver Books (http://www.quilldriverbooks.com/), Steve Blake Mettee, Publisher, 1254 Commerce Avenue, Sanger CA 93657; 559-876-2170; Fax: 559-876-2180. Email: info@quilldriverbooks.coms (info@quilldriverbooks.coms). Also Word Dancer Press. Specialties: regional, history, writing, books for people over 50. Non-fiction only
Sourcebooks Inc. (http://www.sourcebooks.com/), Dominique Raccah, Publisher, 1935 Brookdale Road #139, Naperville IL 60563; 630-961-3900 #224; 800-727-8866; Fax: 630-961-2168. Email: dominique.raccah@sourcebooks.com. Founded in 1987. Imprints: Casablanca Press, Hysteria, Sphinx Publishing. Specialties: general, children's, romance, beauty, fiction, multimedia. The fastest growing independent publisher out there.
Travelers' Tales (http://www.travelerstales.com/), James O'Reilly, Editor and Associate Publisher, 853 Alma Street, Palo Alto CA 94301; 650-462-2110; Fax: 650-462-2114. Email: ttales@travelerstales.com (ttales@travelerstales.com). Founded in 1993, this company is owned by the same family who owns O'Reilly & Associates (see above). They have won the Lowell Thomas Award for best travel book three times in their five-year history. Specialties: travel (especially travel stories), travel humor, misadventure, romance, and food.
MAGAZINES
Roundup Magazine, the publication of the Western Writers Association – Membership in the Western Writer’s Association is limited to already published authors – minimum requirement for associate membership is three magazine articles or one novel. www.westernwriters.org (http://www.westernwriters.org/)
Wild West (bi-monthly) Weider History Group - www.historynet.com/magazines/wild_west (http://www.historynet.com/magazines/wild_west) Does not publish fiction (even fact based on actual events), only non-fiction
Cowboys & Indians - www.cowboysindians.com (http://www.cowboysindians.com/) – Does not appear to publish fiction but has previously had contests.
American Cowboy - www.americancowboy.com (http://www.americancowboy.com/) – Does not appear to publish fiction
True West - http://www.truewestmagazine.com/jcontent/# Does not publish fiction or poetry
Guns of the old West – magazine – only found subscription info on subscription agent sites
Persimmon Tree Magazine http://www.persimmontree.org/submissions.php – publishes fiction and non-fiction under 3500 words and twice a year poetry by women over 60, primarily those coming from the central states
Western Mule Magazine - www.westernmulemagazine.com (http://www.westernmulemagazine.com/) - nonfiction
Elbow Creek - www.elbowcreek.com (http://www.elbowcreek.com/) - fiction, poetry, etc. Pays $20 per item used. Stories between 1,500 and 10,000 words. Also some contests. Apparently has been inactive for a while but says it’s back. Old West
Prairie Times - www.prairietimes.com (http://www.prairietimes.com/) (eastern Colorado) Wants “clean” family-friendly stories
Post # 15 - Frontier Tales appears to still be an active website for western fiction. Don't think it pays anything, but ...
GENERAL FICTION MARKETS - be sure to check the main website
http://www.jbwb.co.uk/markets.html
Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine pays 7c a word on acceptance for stories to 14,000 words. Fiction with ghosts, futuristic theme or suspense must contain a crime or the suggestion of one. Contact: Alfred Hitchock Mystery Magazine, 475 Park Ave South, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA. Website: http://www.themysteryplace.com/ahmm/index.shtml (http://www.themysteryplace.com/ahmm/index.shtml) http://www.themysteryplace.com/ahmm/
(Also link to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
All Hallows magazine, published by the Bram Stoker Award-winning Ash-Tree Press, Canada wants ghostly tales in the classic tradition. Modern graphic horror/gore not required; suspense/atmosphere are. Preferred length, 3,000-5,000 words; work between 1,000-10,000 words considered. Well-researched non-fiction articles also needed. Visit www.ash-tree.bc.ca (http://www.ash-tree.bc.ca/) (e-mail: ashtree@ash-tree.bc.ca (ashtree@ash-tree.bc.ca)) or write to Ash-Tree Press, PO Box 1360, Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada V0K 1A0.
Playboy Regarded as one of the best paying markets for serious contemporary stories, mystery, suspense, humour, science fiction and sports stories. The average length of a Playboy story is 1,000-6,000 words, and they will not consider manuscripts longer than 7,500 words. Payment, made on acceptance, is usually $5,000; very short pieces are paid $2,000. Writers who submit manuscripts without including a self-addressed, stamped return envelope will receive neither the manuscript nor a printed rejection. Won't consider stories submitted electronically or by fax. Decision time: around eight weeks. Send submissions to Playboy Magazine, Attn: Fiction Department, 680 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
Stickman Review (www.stickmanreview.com (http://www.stickmanreview.com/)) is a new, online literary magazine that will be published twice yearly. Editors Anthony Brown and Darrin English welcome e-mail submissions of literary fiction (fiction@stickmanreview.com (fiction@stickmanreview.com)), non-fiction (nonfiction@stickmanre view.com (nonfiction@stickmanre%20view.com)) and poetry (poetry@stickmanreview.com (poetry@stickmanreview.com)). Although they do not rule out genre stories, the editors emphasise that this is a literary magazine, and their major interest is the quality of the literary style. Contact: Stickman Review, 2890 N. Fairview Dr, Flagstaff, Arizona 86004, USA.
Tin House (http://www.tinhouse.com/ (http://www.tinhouse.com/)) is a quarterly literary magazine that publishes fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. It accepts submissions from around the world. Non-fiction articles include interviews with literary figures and essays on writing and literature. Pays from $200 for short stories and $50 for poetry. Contact: Tin House, PO Box 10500, Portland, Oregon OR 97296-0500, USA for further information (enclose sae and IRC), or visit the website for fuller guidelines.
SHORT STORY CONTESTS
The Nimrod/Hardman Writing Awards (http://www.utulsa.edu/nimrod/awards.html) -- April 30, 2012
Prizes of $2,000 and $1,000 (with publication) for stories of no more than 7,500 words. NIMROD Literary Contest, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK 74104. $20 entry fee includes subscription. Contest Begins: January 1, 2012; Postmark Deadline: April 30, 2012; Poetry: 3-10 pages of poetry (one long poem or several short poems). Fiction: 7,500 words maximum. (Looking at the recent winners and submissions, this looks very possible for Western.)
Writecorner Press E.M. Koeppel Short Fiction Award (http://www.writecorner.com/award_guidelines.asp) -- April 30, 2012 (submit after 10/1)
Prizes of $1,100 and $100 for stories of no more than 3,000 words. Gainesville, FL 32614. $15 entry fee.
New Letters Awards for Writers (http://www.newletters.org/awards.asp) -- May 18, 2012 $1500 for an original short story not to exceed 8,000 words. Mail entries to: New Letters Awards for Writers, UMKC University House, 5101 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110-2499. $15 entry fee includes subcription. (also poetry and essay contest)
Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition (http://www.writersdigest.com/contests/)– November 15, 2011 for short short story, maximum 1500 words. http://www.writersdigest.com/competitions/short-story
$3,000 cash and a trip to New York (plus other prizes offered) $20 entry fee.
The Chelsea Awards for Short Fiction (http://www.chelseamag.org/awards/guidelines.asp) June 15, 2012
The literary journal "Chelsea" awards $1,000 and publication for a work of fiction, not to exceed 30 typed pages, or about 7,500 words. The editors welcome both traditional and experimental fiction. Mail entries to: Chelsea Awards Competition, PO Box 773, Cooper Station, New York, NY 10276-0773. $15.00 entry fee This appears to still be active
Indiana Review Fiction Prize (http://www.indiana.edu/~inreview/) – October 15, 2011 - $1000 honorarium and publication for story 35 page maximum length. Bloomington, $15 reading fee includes subscription.
New Millennium Awards for Fiction, Poetry, and Nonfiction (http://www.newmillenniumwritings.com/awards.php) – November 17, 2011
$1,000 for best poem, $1,000 for best fiction 6000 words maximum, short-short fiction – 1000 words max, nonfiction – 6000 words, plus publication. Knoxville, TN $17 reading fee
Glimmer Train Open Fiction Contest (http://www.glimmertrain.com/fictionopen.html)– Quarterly, December, March, June, September
Prizes of $2,000, $1,000, and $600 for original, unpublished stories. All themes, 2000 to 20000 words. Submit online. $18.00 entry fee.
Mighty River Short Story Contest (http://www6.semo.edu/universitypress/mrss.htm) - & other – worth checking the website periodically
The Wilda Hearne Flash Fiction Contest (http://www6.semo.edu/universitypress/hearne.htm) – October 1 – check for 2012
Southeast Missouri State University Press -- 500 words max -- on any theme. Winner receives an award of $200 and publication in Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley. $15 entry fee.
http://www.ropeandwire.com/ Rope and Wire 2011 contest – 2500 and 4000 word categories. Prize on a sliding scale based on submissions. Deadline November 30, 2011. Entry fee $15. This looks like a good website / magazine for us to take a good look at.
Hillerman Prizes - http://wordharvest.com/contest.php (pretty sure there’s an entry fee for both of these)
Tony Hillerman Mystery Short Story Contest – deadline August 15, 2012, length 2,500 words – story must be set primarily in New Mexico
Tony Hillerman Prize – for first book length mystery set in the southwest by an author who has never published a mystery novel before. Deadline June 1, 2012
Crazyhorse Fiction Prize (http://crazyhorse.cofc.edu/) -- December 15
Crazyhorse literary magazine offers a yearly prize award of $2,000 and publication for a story of up to twenty-five pages. Submit online or send entries to: Crazyhorse, Poetry and Fiction Prizes, Department of English, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424. $15.00 entry fee includes subscription.
Added by Fruitbat down the thread -
I didn't see Duotrope listed on here, so in case anyone doesn't know about it, it finds exactly what you're looking for: :)
http://duotrope.com/index.aspx
FLASH MARKETS
http://www.newpages.com/classifieds/calls/ New pages classified has many links to journals looking for submissions of all types from flash to poetry to longer works – and a few of them do offer some payment
http://www.fanstory.com/contests.jsp Quite a few contests listed including one specifically for flash. Some interesting prompts for the stories
http://www.flashfictiononline.com/submit.html need to read page to see what they’re looking for – no profanity or erotica
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-59234.html and as so often happens, we wrap back around to AW
ETA: 2/27/2012 - Wily Writers - http://www.wilywriters.com/blog/?page_id=1234
Looking for "weird west" stories due in by 3/31/2012
INTERNET MARKETS
http://www.washingtonpastime.com/drupal/submissions (http://www.washingtonpastime.com/drupal/submissions)
Washington Pastime, online mag, they say they never get enough historical or western shorts (up to 3000 words). Their pay rate is questionable - token to professional payment based on their assessment. There is a thread in bewares and background checks on them - nothing bad, just mention of similarity in rejection letters and questions about the pay. ETA: saw in the bewares thread that someone was offered $2.50 for a story.
http://www.thewesternonline.com/subguidelines.html (http://www.thewesternonline.com/subguidelines.html)
The Western Online. Short stories up to 5,000 words. Payment is $5 per story. The payment may not sound like much, but sometimes even pubs with no payments help as far as establishing credentials. Not saying this necessarily will, but ...
http://www.frontiertales.com/submissions.php (http://www.frontiertales.com/submissions.php)
Frontier Tales Magazine for shorts and biographies western and "the interaction of the frontier with civilization". I didn't see anything on the website about payment.
http://www.whitecatpublications.com/
White Cat Publications. Submission link is an outlook express e-mail addy. mailto:editor@whitecatpublications.com (editor@whitecatpublications.com)
Flash fiction contest, deadline May 15, 2012, limit 1000 words, $50 for first, $25 for 2nd-4th.
Short Stories
We take stories up to 5,000 words in length, five cents per word up to 2,500 words. Reprints are paid out at one cent per word.
Flash fiction
Up to 1,000 words. $25 per story.
FICTION - NOVEL LENGTH
Regarding fiction, we are interested in novels involving the following genres: suspense and mystery, urban fantasy, science fiction, western and romance. No erotica or mindless violence. In your submission, please include a cover letter, 500 word bio, synopsis (including the ending) and the first three chapters. Please do not send the complete manuscript unless we request you to do so.
Good fiction, of course, is character driven, so we ask that you keep that in mind. The modern reader demands a brisk pace with an emphasis on shorter chapters, as well. Dense prose is a thing of the past and we’d like to do our part to keep it that way.
LITERARY AGENTS – listing western genre as one of their fiction interests as of October 6, 2011. (If you haven’t used agentquery, clicking on a name below will take you to that agents information on agentquery – not a lot. From there you need to look at that agent on their company’s website – sometimes what’s listed at agentquery does not agree with what’s on the website. Also, look for the agent in the AW Bewares and Background Checks thread and look them up on Preditors and Editors (http://pred-ed.com/) But, above all else, take your time and do your research. A too hasty query for a work that’s not ready loses that agent as a possibility for your work – and with so few agents looking at western, you don’t want that to happen.
From Agentquery http://www.agentquery.com/
Kim Lionetti (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=16), BookEnds, LLC (http://www.bookends-inc.com/) Gillette, NJ
Cherry Weiner (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=363), Cherry Weiner Literary Agency Manalapan, NJ
Gina Panettieri (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=409), Talcott Notch Literary Services (http://www.talcottnotch.net/) Milford, CT 06460
James Schiavone (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=604), Schiavone Literary Agency (http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/profschia) West Palm Beach, FL
Laurie McLean (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=905), Larsen Pomada Literary Agency (http://www.larsen-pomada.com/) La Honda, CA
Cori Deyoe (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=906) , 3 Seas Literary Agency (http://www.threeseaslit.com/) Madison, WI
Jacques de Spoelberch (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=995), J de S Associates.South Norwalk, CT
Peter Riva (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=1010), International Transactions (http://www.intltrans.com/) Gila, NM
Ann Collette (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=1074), Rees Literary Agency Boston, MA
Amy Boggs (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=1107), Donald Maass Literary Agency (http://www.maassagency.com/) New York, NY
James McGinniss (http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=1124), McGinniss Associates Literary Agency (http://mcginnissassociates.com/) New York, NY
BOOK PUBLISHERS – Be sure to check out all publishers at Preditors and Editors (http://pred-ed.com/peba.htm) and at AW in Bewares and Background Checks. If you decide to submit, be sure to pay close attention to the publishers requirements for works and submissions.
Genre Novel “Rules” – set in the old west (west of the Mississippi), before 1900, three dimensional characters, strong plot with hero facing a conflict, do not rely on cliches. Length 45,000 to 75,000
http://www.writersrelief.com/blog/2009/06/genre-fiction-rules-find-out-if-your-novel-meets-publishers-and-literary-agents-criteria-for-publication/
Link to recently published westerns novels. A good way to research who published (and agented) them
http://www.ropeandwire.com/MainPages/western_writers.html
Condor Publishing – small publisher of adult westerns and children’s books - http://www.condorpublishinginc.com/
Running Press Book Publishers, Philadelphia (Longhorns, 2007 – gay cowboy, adult/adult western)
“MICHAEL MCGARRITY TO PEN EPIC WESTERN TRILOGY
New York, New York – August 15, 2011 —Brian Tart, president and publisher of Dutton, announced today the acquisition of a Western epic trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Michael McGarrity. Barney Karpfinger of The Karpfinger Agency made the sales of North American rights and Mr. Tart will edit. The first installment in the trilogy, Hard Country, is scheduled for publication in June 2012. (Penguin Group)
Black Horse Westerns - http://blackhorsewesterns.com/bhe7/ (Robert Hale, London)
Moonlight Mesa – specializing in fiction and non-fiction western books - closed to fiction 10/17/2011 http://moonlightmesa.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-voices-in-western-genre.html
Has published at least one western – Avatar Press (Streets of Glory) apparently publisher of comic books
Has published at least one western (Revenge of the Mountain Man, 2006) Kensington Publishing Corp.
Has published a contemporary western (Mineral Spirits) Bridge Works Publishing
INDIES - http://www.bookmarket.com/101publishers.htm (also has link for top “dependent publishers” Some of these below may only be non-fiction.
August House (http://www.augusthouse.com/), Ted and Liz Parkhurst, Publishers, P O Box 3223, Little Rock AR 72203; 501-372-5450; 800-284-8784. Fax: 501-372-5579. Email: ahinfo@augusthouse.com (ahinfo@augusthouse.com). Founded in 1980. Specialties: storytelling, folklore, regional and multicultural titles
John F. Blair Publisher (http://www.blairpub.com/), Carolyn Sakowski, President, 1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem NC 27103; 336-768-1374; 800-222-9796; Fax: 336-768-9194. Email: sakowski@blairpub.com (sakowski@blairpub.com). Founded in 1954, this independent family-owned company publishes about 20 titles per year. Specialties: fiction, regional.
Clear Light Publishers (http://www.clearlightbooks.com/), Harmon Houghton and Marcia Keegan, Publishers, 823 Don Diego, Santa Fe NM 87501; 505-989-9590; Fax: 505-989-9519. Email: clpublish@aol.com (clpublish@aol.com). Specialties: Native American, new age, Southwest cooking and culture.
Gem Guides Book Company, 315 Cloverleaf Drive #F, Baldwin Park CA 91706; 626-855-1611; 800-824-5118; Fax: 626-855-1610. Email: gembooks@aol.com (gembooks@aol.com). Publishes and distributes books on rocks and minerals, jewelry making, Western interest, Native America, outdoor recreation, and travel.
Gibbs Smith, Publisher (http://www.gibbs-smith.com/), Gibbs Smith, Publisher; Madge Baird, Editorial VP; 96 W Gentile Street, P O Box 667, Layton UT 84041; 801-544-9800; 800-748-5439; Fax: 801-544-5582. Email: info@gibbs-smith.com (info@gibbs-smith.com). Founded in 1969. Specialties: Western humor, cookbooks, Rocky Mountain regional titles, Native American, animals, architecture & design, nature, children's books, etc.
Golden West Publishers, Lee Fischer, 4113 N Longview, Phoenix AZ 85014; 602-265-4392; 800-658-5830; Fax: 602-279-6901. Specialties: regional, general. Only historical (and I'd say non-fiction), specialty is railroads
Johnson Books (http://www.jpcolorado.com/), Barbara Johnson Mussil, Publisher; Stephen Topping, Editorial Director, 1880 South 57th Court, Boulder CO 80301; 303-443-9766; 800-258-5830; Fax: 303-443-1106. Email: books@jpcolorado.com (books@jpcolorado.com). Specialties: regional, recreation, nature, archaeology, western history.
Mountain Press Publishing Company (http://www.mtnpress.com/), John Rimel, Publisher, 1301 South 3rd Street W, P O Box 2399, Missoula MT 59806; 406-728-1900; 800-234-5308; Fax: 406-728-1635. Email: mtnpress@montana.com (mtnpress@montana.com). Specialty: cowboys, geology, history, nature, regional, recreation.
Paladin Press (http://www.paladin-press.com/), Peder Lund, Publisher, Gunbarrel Tech Center, 7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301; 303-443-7250; Fax: 303-442-8741. Email: editorial@paladin-press.com (editorial@paladin-press.com). Founded in 1970. 600 titles in print. Specialty: military, guns, self-defense
The Permanent Press, Martin Shepard, Publisher, Noyac Road, Sag Harbor NY 11963; 516-725-1101; Fax: 516-725-1101; 631-725-1101. Email: shepard@thepermanentpress.com (shepard@thepermanentpress.com). Web: http://www.thepermanentpress.com (http://www.thepermanentpress.com/). Also Second Chance Press. Specialty: quality fiction.
Quill Driver Books (http://www.quilldriverbooks.com/), Steve Blake Mettee, Publisher, 1254 Commerce Avenue, Sanger CA 93657; 559-876-2170; Fax: 559-876-2180. Email: info@quilldriverbooks.coms (info@quilldriverbooks.coms). Also Word Dancer Press. Specialties: regional, history, writing, books for people over 50. Non-fiction only
Sourcebooks Inc. (http://www.sourcebooks.com/), Dominique Raccah, Publisher, 1935 Brookdale Road #139, Naperville IL 60563; 630-961-3900 #224; 800-727-8866; Fax: 630-961-2168. Email: dominique.raccah@sourcebooks.com. Founded in 1987. Imprints: Casablanca Press, Hysteria, Sphinx Publishing. Specialties: general, children's, romance, beauty, fiction, multimedia. The fastest growing independent publisher out there.
Travelers' Tales (http://www.travelerstales.com/), James O'Reilly, Editor and Associate Publisher, 853 Alma Street, Palo Alto CA 94301; 650-462-2110; Fax: 650-462-2114. Email: ttales@travelerstales.com (ttales@travelerstales.com). Founded in 1993, this company is owned by the same family who owns O'Reilly & Associates (see above). They have won the Lowell Thomas Award for best travel book three times in their five-year history. Specialties: travel (especially travel stories), travel humor, misadventure, romance, and food.
MAGAZINES
Roundup Magazine, the publication of the Western Writers Association – Membership in the Western Writer’s Association is limited to already published authors – minimum requirement for associate membership is three magazine articles or one novel. www.westernwriters.org (http://www.westernwriters.org/)
Wild West (bi-monthly) Weider History Group - www.historynet.com/magazines/wild_west (http://www.historynet.com/magazines/wild_west) Does not publish fiction (even fact based on actual events), only non-fiction
Cowboys & Indians - www.cowboysindians.com (http://www.cowboysindians.com/) – Does not appear to publish fiction but has previously had contests.
American Cowboy - www.americancowboy.com (http://www.americancowboy.com/) – Does not appear to publish fiction
True West - http://www.truewestmagazine.com/jcontent/# Does not publish fiction or poetry
Guns of the old West – magazine – only found subscription info on subscription agent sites
Persimmon Tree Magazine http://www.persimmontree.org/submissions.php – publishes fiction and non-fiction under 3500 words and twice a year poetry by women over 60, primarily those coming from the central states
Western Mule Magazine - www.westernmulemagazine.com (http://www.westernmulemagazine.com/) - nonfiction
Elbow Creek - www.elbowcreek.com (http://www.elbowcreek.com/) - fiction, poetry, etc. Pays $20 per item used. Stories between 1,500 and 10,000 words. Also some contests. Apparently has been inactive for a while but says it’s back. Old West
Prairie Times - www.prairietimes.com (http://www.prairietimes.com/) (eastern Colorado) Wants “clean” family-friendly stories
Post # 15 - Frontier Tales appears to still be an active website for western fiction. Don't think it pays anything, but ...
GENERAL FICTION MARKETS - be sure to check the main website
http://www.jbwb.co.uk/markets.html
Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine pays 7c a word on acceptance for stories to 14,000 words. Fiction with ghosts, futuristic theme or suspense must contain a crime or the suggestion of one. Contact: Alfred Hitchock Mystery Magazine, 475 Park Ave South, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA. Website: http://www.themysteryplace.com/ahmm/index.shtml (http://www.themysteryplace.com/ahmm/index.shtml) http://www.themysteryplace.com/ahmm/
(Also link to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
All Hallows magazine, published by the Bram Stoker Award-winning Ash-Tree Press, Canada wants ghostly tales in the classic tradition. Modern graphic horror/gore not required; suspense/atmosphere are. Preferred length, 3,000-5,000 words; work between 1,000-10,000 words considered. Well-researched non-fiction articles also needed. Visit www.ash-tree.bc.ca (http://www.ash-tree.bc.ca/) (e-mail: ashtree@ash-tree.bc.ca (ashtree@ash-tree.bc.ca)) or write to Ash-Tree Press, PO Box 1360, Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada V0K 1A0.
Playboy Regarded as one of the best paying markets for serious contemporary stories, mystery, suspense, humour, science fiction and sports stories. The average length of a Playboy story is 1,000-6,000 words, and they will not consider manuscripts longer than 7,500 words. Payment, made on acceptance, is usually $5,000; very short pieces are paid $2,000. Writers who submit manuscripts without including a self-addressed, stamped return envelope will receive neither the manuscript nor a printed rejection. Won't consider stories submitted electronically or by fax. Decision time: around eight weeks. Send submissions to Playboy Magazine, Attn: Fiction Department, 680 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
Stickman Review (www.stickmanreview.com (http://www.stickmanreview.com/)) is a new, online literary magazine that will be published twice yearly. Editors Anthony Brown and Darrin English welcome e-mail submissions of literary fiction (fiction@stickmanreview.com (fiction@stickmanreview.com)), non-fiction (nonfiction@stickmanre view.com (nonfiction@stickmanre%20view.com)) and poetry (poetry@stickmanreview.com (poetry@stickmanreview.com)). Although they do not rule out genre stories, the editors emphasise that this is a literary magazine, and their major interest is the quality of the literary style. Contact: Stickman Review, 2890 N. Fairview Dr, Flagstaff, Arizona 86004, USA.
Tin House (http://www.tinhouse.com/ (http://www.tinhouse.com/)) is a quarterly literary magazine that publishes fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. It accepts submissions from around the world. Non-fiction articles include interviews with literary figures and essays on writing and literature. Pays from $200 for short stories and $50 for poetry. Contact: Tin House, PO Box 10500, Portland, Oregon OR 97296-0500, USA for further information (enclose sae and IRC), or visit the website for fuller guidelines.
SHORT STORY CONTESTS
The Nimrod/Hardman Writing Awards (http://www.utulsa.edu/nimrod/awards.html) -- April 30, 2012
Prizes of $2,000 and $1,000 (with publication) for stories of no more than 7,500 words. NIMROD Literary Contest, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK 74104. $20 entry fee includes subscription. Contest Begins: January 1, 2012; Postmark Deadline: April 30, 2012; Poetry: 3-10 pages of poetry (one long poem or several short poems). Fiction: 7,500 words maximum. (Looking at the recent winners and submissions, this looks very possible for Western.)
Writecorner Press E.M. Koeppel Short Fiction Award (http://www.writecorner.com/award_guidelines.asp) -- April 30, 2012 (submit after 10/1)
Prizes of $1,100 and $100 for stories of no more than 3,000 words. Gainesville, FL 32614. $15 entry fee.
New Letters Awards for Writers (http://www.newletters.org/awards.asp) -- May 18, 2012 $1500 for an original short story not to exceed 8,000 words. Mail entries to: New Letters Awards for Writers, UMKC University House, 5101 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110-2499. $15 entry fee includes subcription. (also poetry and essay contest)
Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition (http://www.writersdigest.com/contests/)– November 15, 2011 for short short story, maximum 1500 words. http://www.writersdigest.com/competitions/short-story
$3,000 cash and a trip to New York (plus other prizes offered) $20 entry fee.
The Chelsea Awards for Short Fiction (http://www.chelseamag.org/awards/guidelines.asp) June 15, 2012
The literary journal "Chelsea" awards $1,000 and publication for a work of fiction, not to exceed 30 typed pages, or about 7,500 words. The editors welcome both traditional and experimental fiction. Mail entries to: Chelsea Awards Competition, PO Box 773, Cooper Station, New York, NY 10276-0773. $15.00 entry fee This appears to still be active
Indiana Review Fiction Prize (http://www.indiana.edu/~inreview/) – October 15, 2011 - $1000 honorarium and publication for story 35 page maximum length. Bloomington, $15 reading fee includes subscription.
New Millennium Awards for Fiction, Poetry, and Nonfiction (http://www.newmillenniumwritings.com/awards.php) – November 17, 2011
$1,000 for best poem, $1,000 for best fiction 6000 words maximum, short-short fiction – 1000 words max, nonfiction – 6000 words, plus publication. Knoxville, TN $17 reading fee
Glimmer Train Open Fiction Contest (http://www.glimmertrain.com/fictionopen.html)– Quarterly, December, March, June, September
Prizes of $2,000, $1,000, and $600 for original, unpublished stories. All themes, 2000 to 20000 words. Submit online. $18.00 entry fee.
Mighty River Short Story Contest (http://www6.semo.edu/universitypress/mrss.htm) - & other – worth checking the website periodically
The Wilda Hearne Flash Fiction Contest (http://www6.semo.edu/universitypress/hearne.htm) – October 1 – check for 2012
Southeast Missouri State University Press -- 500 words max -- on any theme. Winner receives an award of $200 and publication in Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley. $15 entry fee.
http://www.ropeandwire.com/ Rope and Wire 2011 contest – 2500 and 4000 word categories. Prize on a sliding scale based on submissions. Deadline November 30, 2011. Entry fee $15. This looks like a good website / magazine for us to take a good look at.
Hillerman Prizes - http://wordharvest.com/contest.php (pretty sure there’s an entry fee for both of these)
Tony Hillerman Mystery Short Story Contest – deadline August 15, 2012, length 2,500 words – story must be set primarily in New Mexico
Tony Hillerman Prize – for first book length mystery set in the southwest by an author who has never published a mystery novel before. Deadline June 1, 2012
Crazyhorse Fiction Prize (http://crazyhorse.cofc.edu/) -- December 15
Crazyhorse literary magazine offers a yearly prize award of $2,000 and publication for a story of up to twenty-five pages. Submit online or send entries to: Crazyhorse, Poetry and Fiction Prizes, Department of English, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424. $15.00 entry fee includes subscription.
Added by Fruitbat down the thread -
I didn't see Duotrope listed on here, so in case anyone doesn't know about it, it finds exactly what you're looking for: :)
http://duotrope.com/index.aspx
FLASH MARKETS
http://www.newpages.com/classifieds/calls/ New pages classified has many links to journals looking for submissions of all types from flash to poetry to longer works – and a few of them do offer some payment
http://www.fanstory.com/contests.jsp Quite a few contests listed including one specifically for flash. Some interesting prompts for the stories
http://www.flashfictiononline.com/submit.html need to read page to see what they’re looking for – no profanity or erotica
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-59234.html and as so often happens, we wrap back around to AW
ETA: 2/27/2012 - Wily Writers - http://www.wilywriters.com/blog/?page_id=1234
Looking for "weird west" stories due in by 3/31/2012
INTERNET MARKETS
http://www.washingtonpastime.com/drupal/submissions (http://www.washingtonpastime.com/drupal/submissions)
Washington Pastime, online mag, they say they never get enough historical or western shorts (up to 3000 words). Their pay rate is questionable - token to professional payment based on their assessment. There is a thread in bewares and background checks on them - nothing bad, just mention of similarity in rejection letters and questions about the pay. ETA: saw in the bewares thread that someone was offered $2.50 for a story.
http://www.thewesternonline.com/subguidelines.html (http://www.thewesternonline.com/subguidelines.html)
The Western Online. Short stories up to 5,000 words. Payment is $5 per story. The payment may not sound like much, but sometimes even pubs with no payments help as far as establishing credentials. Not saying this necessarily will, but ...
http://www.frontiertales.com/submissions.php (http://www.frontiertales.com/submissions.php)
Frontier Tales Magazine for shorts and biographies western and "the interaction of the frontier with civilization". I didn't see anything on the website about payment.
http://www.whitecatpublications.com/
White Cat Publications. Submission link is an outlook express e-mail addy. mailto:editor@whitecatpublications.com (editor@whitecatpublications.com)
Flash fiction contest, deadline May 15, 2012, limit 1000 words, $50 for first, $25 for 2nd-4th.
Short Stories
We take stories up to 5,000 words in length, five cents per word up to 2,500 words. Reprints are paid out at one cent per word.
Flash fiction
Up to 1,000 words. $25 per story.
FICTION - NOVEL LENGTH
Regarding fiction, we are interested in novels involving the following genres: suspense and mystery, urban fantasy, science fiction, western and romance. No erotica or mindless violence. In your submission, please include a cover letter, 500 word bio, synopsis (including the ending) and the first three chapters. Please do not send the complete manuscript unless we request you to do so.
Good fiction, of course, is character driven, so we ask that you keep that in mind. The modern reader demands a brisk pace with an emphasis on shorter chapters, as well. Dense prose is a thing of the past and we’d like to do our part to keep it that way.