Lobster Press

I have a manuscript for a Christmas picture book. I found a publisher who mentions one of the things they are specifically looking for is picture books with a Christmas theme. It is a smallish Canadian publisher and they accept unagented material from Canadians. But the following is from their writer's guidelines:

Please note that Lobster Press does not respond to queries about the status of unsolicited manuscripts. We apologize for this. We will contact you only if we wish to publish your manuscript. Further, we regret that we are unable to return manuscripts, but recycle all materials.

So how long would I have to wait before assuming they aren't publishing my manuscript if they don't contact me unless they are??? They do accept simultaneous submissions, but my second choice of publisher doesn't. My second choice is not my first choice simply because they are not specifically looking for Christmas picture books.

Any ideas?

I know that unagented and unsolicited aren't the same thing. I only mentioned the agent thing because it seems like most U.S. publishers only take agented material, but it's a bit different in Canada. Lobster takes unsolicited materials too, but obviously don't reply unless accepted.

I haven't sent anything yet, but in their writer's guidelines they ask for the entire manuscript if possible. Since mine is a picture book, and short, that's what I'll send.

I'm not exactly a first-timer. I've had stuff published before, including a children's story in an anthology. I'm hoping that will go in my favour.

You are aware that you're too late for Christmas 2005 -- '06 or '07 is more like it for things being submitted now.

Yes, I am. I've had stories published in magazines before, and even they want seasonal stuff 6 months in advance, so I'm aware a book needs a lot of lead time.

As to the other questions, I only know what they say on their websites, so I suppose a trip to the library and bookstore is in order to see if I can find any of their books.