American Reader Series

In lieu of an open submission period for the American Reader Series, we will be accepting short fiction submissions through the BOA Short Fiction Contest from April 1 - May 31, 2013. Please note that BOA does not publish novels. Unsolicted manuscripts sent outside of the open reading period will be recycled without response. Thank you.

Read the contest guidelines and download a submission form here:

[BOA Short Fiction Contest]

BOA Editions publishes short literary fiction through its American Reader Series. While aesthetic quality is subjective, the fiction that BOA publishes will be written by authors more concerned with the artfulness of their writing than the twists and turns of plot (i.e. the majority of genre writing such as mystery, science fiction, horror, etc.). As with our poetry, the first criterion for publishing any book will be its artistic excellence.

Our strongest current interest is in short story collections (and short-short story collections). We strongly advise you to read our first published fiction collections [I Carry A Hammer In My Pocket For Occasions Such As These] by Anthony Tognazzini, [Unlucky Lucky Days] by Daniel Grandbois, [Glass Grapes and Other Stories] by Martha Ronk, [Meat Eaters and Plant Eaters] by Jessica Treat, and [On the Winding Stair] by Joanna Howard, [Cradle Book: Stories & Fables] by Craig Morgan Teicher, In the Time of the Girls by Anne Germanacos, This New and Poisonous Air by Adam McOmber, To Assume a Pleasing Shape by Joseph Salvatore, and forthcoming The Innocent Party by Aimee Parkison and The Era of Not Quite by Douglas Watson (winner of the 1st annual BOA Editions Short Fiction Prize).

The American Reader Series will also remain a venue for works of prose about poetry and poetics.

American Reader Series Submission Guidelines

WE DO NOT ACCEPT ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS

Submit only one book-length, complete manuscript at a time. Page count is open, but 300 pages should be considered the high end.
Manuscript should be double spaced.
Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with sufficient return postage.
Send the manuscript Attn: Fiction Submission.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Note simultaneous submissions in your cover letter and notify BOA immediately should your submission be accepted elsewhere.
Include a cover letter with relevant publishing history.
In the case of literary fiction, include a brief synopsis or description of the work. Do not send a query. Send the complete manuscript.

Allow a minimum of four to five months for reply