LIMITED SUBMISSIONS IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
During the months of September and October, I am limiting what I am looking for. For these months, I am only looking for single title contemporary romances and anyone wishing to write for the Harlequin lines.
If you write for another genre, please hold off to submit to me until November.
GREYHAUS IS CHANGING WHAT THEY WANT
Greyhaus is now looking for the following stories. Please email if you have questions!
Stories must be at least 75,000 words in length. The only exception are stories targeting category lines. Make sure your word count fits the exact line you are looking at.
Writers who are currently in the category houses and want to continue there and/or advance the career are in high demand here at Greyhaus.
Contemporary - Real romances set in present day. I want the stories real and not manufactured. I want this just like our friends around us that fall in love. We don't need a psychotic past but something real.
Women's Fiction - O.K. So apprently we have a little confusion out there regardng women's fiction. What I am looking for is a story that is character driven. I want a story about real people with real issues. The goal of this story is to simply follow the female journey and learn what it takes to be a female. The ultimate goal is to really allow the female reader to relate to the characters and be able to say, "hey, that happens to me." This should be powerful literature and I am not looking for a story that is simply lacking romance. Please focus on a single issue and don't wear the reader out with so many issues that it sounds like a soap opera. This is where the story needs to avoid being plot driven. If, for example, the story is about a woman learning how to work in a male driven profession, then show that. We don't need to add in illness, stalkers, deaths in the family and so on. Keep it focused.
Historicals - These will be open but I will be very honest, I am not ACTIVELY looking. My historical writers are doing amazing and I do not believe in having competing authors out there. I would love to see historicals that demonstrate a strong knowledge of the time period you are writing. I don't want writers that have to rely on very basic source books or Wikipedia level knowledge of history.
Paranormals - The paranormal element must be really strong and really take a central role in the story. This is part of the reason why the whole psychic thing really struggles. It tends to be used mostly used for fixing problems quickly or simply as a plot device. As far as my likes and dislikes, I am not a fan (right now) of the vamp and were stories. Along the same lines, angels and demons, tend to read as the same vamp and were stories just with different names. Impress me. If you are doing time travel, then make sure that the time travel plays a significant role and is believable.
Yes I will look at urban fantasy.
Right now (as of 10/26/09) I really want paranormals that are dark, deep and very original.
Romantic suspense - The romance must be the central theme. The characters should not have baggage and I want the story REAL. I want it believable. I want this border line thriller where we are really worried that the characters might not make it.
Category - This is the same that I had the last time. If you want to write for a category house you must:
a) Know the line you are targeting
b) Have at least one story in that line done
c) Have at least 2-3 more stories outlined and/or planned out for stories in that line.
Please also be aware that if I sign an author in a category line. We will ONLY submit to that house and if it is rejected, the contract will be over.
I am especially looking for writers for the Mills and Boon lines!
I am acquiring for the Steeple Hill Lines!
I am not acquiring for Carina Press!
Young Adult - I am actively acquiring stories for only Harlequin Teen line. Check out their guidelines and fire those stories off to me. I am really looking for stories that have a true and authentic YA voice. In other words, make sure you know how real teens talk and act, not imitations of those we see on tv. I am focusing only on this line to maintain my focus on romance and women's fiction.
WHAT I WILL CONSIDER
- Stories may be linked but please, be able to pitch them as stand-alones.
- Submissions after an established publisher has offered a contract. We might not be able to do much with the first one but subsequent deals with that publisher can certainly be entertained.
WHAT I DO NOT WANT
- Sci Fi- Fantasy - Inspirational (except for Steeple Hill) - Literary fiction - Futuristc - Erotica (although stories can be hot in any of the above
categories)
- Writers targeting e-pubs
- I tend to pass on stories that have been previously published. This is especially the case of writers that have self-published.
- I don't want stories that really fall in another genre. Just because it has a female in it doesn't make it "women's fiction."
ABOUT SCOTT EAGAN
Scott draws on his extensive background in education, writing and literature to assist the writers at Greyhaus. He has a BA in English/Literature, a MA in Creative Writing and a MA in Literacy.
Scott is also a writer (done mostly as a hobby) and is an active member of the Romance Writers of America.
Outside of his work at the agency, he continues teaching writing on a part-time basis, works as a stay at home dad and continues to be active in community work including serving on the National Alumni Board for the University of Puget Sound.
Scott Eagan
Agent
