We are pleased to announce the much-anticipated call for submissions for our new imprint, Harmattan, dedicated to promoting and publishing authentic African stories.

How to Submit Your Manuscripts

We seek original, engaging African narratives by new and emerging authors of African descent. We are particularly interested in the following genres: historical fiction, romance, crime, thriller, and literary fiction. Please note that we are only accepting full-length novels this time.

Kindly follow these guidelines to submit your manuscript:

1. Email Subject Line

Use “Submission (Harmattan)” as the subject of your email, and send it to submissions@gemspread.com.

2. Email Body and Attachments

• Your email should include a query letter introducing yourself and your work and a phone number to reach you. These should be in the body of the email, not attachments.

• Attach a one-page synopsis of your manuscript as a Word document. This should include all major plot points (including spoilers) and may include a brief description of the book's theme.

• Attach a sample of your manuscript as a Word document. This sample should consist of the first three chapters or the first 10,000 words, whichever is longer.



• Please ensure that the attached sample is formatted as follows: double-spaced, indented paragraphs, left-aligned, with no extra spacing between paragraphs. Use 12-point Times New Roman font on A4-sized paper.

Deadline

The window is open from 21 October to 22 November 2024

Feedback

We will only contact you if your work is shortlisted, and you should hear from us within two months of the deadline. Please check your email regularly during this period.

We look forward to reading your submissions!

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