Originally sent query letter to Avon Romance but submission guidelines have now changed

Creative_Solitude · Oct 7, 2011

I submitted a query letter to Avon Romance (A-A contemporary romance, 90,000-ish words in length) in early July of this year. They stated, as per their original instructions, that one should wait at least six to eight weeks before receiving a response to their query letter. I have been patiently waiting for a response--any response--good or bad, for almost 12 weeks. Truthfully, I wasn't expecting any type of response anytime soon because I know these things usually take even longer. But out of curiosity I decided to check the submission guidelines website to see if I missed any pertinent information regarding response times etc., only to find out that they no longer accept queries or submissions to the original avonromance@harpercollins email address, which is the email address they originally stated to send query letters to. Also, they have completely changed their submissions guidelines / format since my original query. Now, instead of simply sending a query letter, they want writers to submit their full manuscript by uploading it to their site via http://www.avonromance.com/impulse/

So my question is, what do I do now that the rules have changed? Do I resubmit using the new method? Do I simply send a follow-up letter re my first query? Do I do nothing at all? Do I forget about them altogether? Feeling a bit frazzled over here and unsure how to proceed.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Undercover · Oct 7, 2011

Maybe just inquirer about your first submission and just state in the email, "I noticed the guidelines have changed, should I resubmit?" type of thing? Not sure either. But it has been 12 weeks. That's usually (from what I know) is a good time to nudge. Good Luck!

Creative_Solitude · Oct 7, 2011

Hi Undercover. Thanks for responding and for the advice. If I went the route you suggest, I am unsure where to even send an inquiry. They state they don't want queries sent to [email protected] anymore so I don't know if that includes follow-up emails as well or or if they are strictly forbidding queries to that email address only.

Soccer Mom · Oct 7, 2011

I would gently nudge and ask if you should resubmit. If you get no response, then I would resubmit. That stinks as you've been waiting 12 weeks. Hopefully you'll get a response from the nudge and they will tell you that your ms is still under consideration.

ETA: I would send it to the same address.

Undercover · Oct 7, 2011

Soccer Mom said:
I would gently nudge and ask if you should resubmit. If you get no response, then I would resubmit. That stinks as you've been waiting 12 weeks. Hopefully you'll get a response from the nudge and they will tell you that your ms is still under consideration.

ETA: I would send it to the same address.

What Soccer Mom said, and I would use the same address too.

I have done that before sometimes just to ask a question (not to Avon, but) to other publishers. They usually respond pretty quickly to questions. They might even have a contact email or Facts and Questions, maybe? I haven't been to the Avon Romance site in a while so I'm not sure.

Creative_Solitude · Oct 7, 2011

Thanks so much, guys /gals! I did as you both suggested and sent off an inquiry email asking them whether or not I should resubmit my query using the new submission guidelines.

CDancourt · Oct 7, 2011

Undercover said:
Maybe just inquirer about your first submission and just state in the email, "I noticed the guidelines have changed, should I resubmit?" type of thing? Not sure either. But it has been 12 weeks. That's usually (from what I know) is a good time to nudge. Good Luck!

This

Deb Kinnard · Oct 7, 2011

Creative, may your work find favor!

Creative_Solitude · Oct 11, 2011

Thanks Deb! I have not yet received a reply for my follow-up inquiry. I'll wait a little longer and then probably resubmit via the new guidelines.

TheWordsmith · Oct 16, 2011

Since you sent to one email address and they have since changed, not only the address but requirements, send them what they now are requesting to the new email. Note in your cover letter that you sent a submission previously on whatever date and note the old email address. Outline everything you sent in the original submission. State that, in attempts to follow-up on that previous submission, you noticed that their submission requirements have changed and, in order to accomodate their current requirements, you are sending the full ms and whatever other attachments per their current guidelines.

This serves multiple purpose. 1) you are giving them what they now are asking for; 2) you are letting them know that your original submission may have been lost in their change-over; which will 3) make them more likely to move your submission closer to the top of the pile.

Evangeline · Oct 22, 2011

Why don't you tweet the editors? @EsiSogah and @ErikaTsang are pretty active on Twitter.

Creative_Solitude · Oct 23, 2011

Hi Evangeline. Good suggestion. I had no idea they were active on twitter. I'm not that great with Twitter though. Guess i should go figure it out, eh? lol Thanks!

Evangeline · Oct 26, 2011

Creative_Solitude said:
Hi Evangeline. Good suggestion. I had no idea they were active on twitter. I'm not that great with Twitter though. Guess i should go figure it out, eh? lol Thanks!

You should, since many publishers (and agents) are politely requesting that their authors jump into social media. Plus, it an easy way to stake your name out on Google searches.

ChelseaWriter · Sep 21, 2012

Bumping this thread to ask -- does anyone have an idea of Avon Impulse's turnaround time? I just submitted my manuscript and was curious. I think they're non-responders, if it's a rejection?

Evangeline · Sep 21, 2012

ChelseaWriter said:
Bumping this thread to ask -- does anyone have an idea of Avon Impulse's turnaround time? I just submitted my manuscript and was curious. I think they're non-responders, if it's a rejection?

Three months or so, the last I heard, and yeah, non-response if it's a No.

Melinda505 · Oct 26, 2012

Does anyone know where to locate the actual submissions requirements and procedures for Avon Romance? (The paperbacks, not Impulse). Thanks.

VanessaNorth · Oct 26, 2012

They say they are non-responders, but I've always gotten a response from them--including responding to my email asking they withdraw a sub (contracted elsewhere) with a form rejection.

ARoyce · Oct 26, 2012

Melinda505 said:
Does anyone know where to locate the actual submissions requirements and procedures for Avon Romance? (The paperbacks, not Impulse). Thanks.

Looks like you need to submit through the Avon Impulse form, whether you're submitting to print or Impulse. See their guidelines posted on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/avonromance/app_208195102528120

Ralyks · Nov 18, 2013

I'm curious: The Avon Impulse guidelines on the website say they want novels of 50,000-60,000 words, yet when you use the submission form to submit your manuscript, they let you select the word count from the following options: 10-25K, 25-50K, 50K-100K. I wonder then if they will consider other lengths? I was considering submitting a 36K novella.

Evangeline · Nov 19, 2013

Ralyks said:
I'm curious: The Avon Impulse guidelines on the website say they want novels of 50,000-60,000 words, yet when you use the submission form to submit your manuscript, they let you select the word count from the following options: 10-25K, 25-50K, 50K-100K. I wonder then if they will consider other lengths? I was considering submitting a 36K novella.

Based on what a few Avon editors have said in blogs or in Tweets, they are looking for full-length books (50-60k+).

Ralyks · Nov 20, 2013

Thanks.

Originally sent query letter to Avon Romance but submission guidelines have now changed

Creative_Solitude

All the world's a stage...

Undercover

I got it covered

Creative_Solitude

All the world's a stage...

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

Undercover

I got it covered

Creative_Solitude

All the world's a stage...

CDancourt

Deb Kinnard

Creative_Solitude

All the world's a stage...

TheWordsmith

practical experience, FTW

Evangeline

Twirling in a glass of champagne

Creative_Solitude

All the world's a stage...

Evangeline

Twirling in a glass of champagne

ChelseaWriter

Evangeline

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Melinda505

VanessaNorth

Purple hair, not prose.

ARoyce

Hopeful romantic/hopeless pedant

Ralyks

Untold stories inside

Evangeline

Twirling in a glass of champagne

Ralyks

Untold stories inside