How to Submit to Avon/Harper Collins

Hello Fellow Writers!

I've completed my revision of my erotic romance "The Art Thief's Punishment" and I'm waiting to hear back from my critique partners before I send it off to Ellora's Cave. In the meantime, I figure I'll start another erotic romance. That way if EC likes my book I'll have something else ready to show them.

UPDATE (12/2011): I sold that book! It's Punishing the Art Thief and is available now at Ellora's Cave in case you're interested. Okay, back to the blog post!

ANOTHER UPDATE (2/10/2014): Three years after selling Punishing the Art Thief to Ellora's Cave, I got my rights reverted back to me, and I self-published the book with fresh edits, a new cover, and a much lower price! Check it out!

...and, back to the blog post ;) 

Someday when I write a longer book, maybe I'll try to get published with Avon/Harper Collins. The pic on the left is an example of an Avon book. Here is what I learned on Brenda Haitt's "Show me the money!" site:

Avon/HarperCollins
Average advance (first book): $19,700 Median: $8000
Average advance (subsequent books): $28,000 Median: $15,000
Advance range: $5000 - $100,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: $23,000 Median: $26,500 Range: $12,000 - $35,000

I found the submission guidelines for Avon Books, an imprint of Harper Collins, on their blog. See the original here.

Update (4/30/12): They changed their submission guidelines recently. Here's a link that will take you to the right place.
http://www.avonromance.com/avon-romance-submission-guidelines/


Update (8/1/12):  It seems that unagented submissions are all going through Avon Impulse now, their digital-first imprint. Here's their link: http://www.avonromance.com/impulse/ 

Avon Romance Submission Guideline

by Tessa Woodward

Avon Romance Submission Guidelines
Your dream: To become an Avon romance writer!
Your desire: To figure out how to get started.
Your questions: Will all be answered here.
As a writer, your imagination allows you to create so many stories. And at Avon Books, we are eagerly seeking those stories. Our program allows us to publish the most unforgettable voices in historical and contemporary romance.
Your mission: to write the very best book possible.
Our goal: to find the perfect spot on the Avon list for that book.
Right now we are looking for romances in several areas–Historical Romance; Contemporary Romance, including romantic suspense, paranormal romance, women’s fiction, African-American Romance, inspirational romance, and Erotica.
So, don’t hesitate! Here’s the information you’ll need to get started. Now is the time to make your dream of becoming an Avon romance writer come true!
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
(90-000- 100,000 words)
At Avon, we’re seeking deliciously romantic historical novels for all parts of the list. These are love stories set primarily in Great Britain before 1900, and they are filled with all the promise–and passion–that Avon readers expect.

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
(90,000-100,000 words)
We seek stories of emotional complexity, written by authors with unique voices. Books with humor, drama, romantic suspense -– all types and tones can be right for Avon. If your manuscript is exciting, electrifying and exceptional then we want to see it.

PARANORMAL ROMANCE
(90,000-100,000 words)
Vampires, and werewolves, and witches, oh my! We are seeking all types of paranormal romance, contemporary or historical. The darker the better.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ROMANCE
(90,000 words)
We are actively seeking romance with African-American heroes and heroines. These should be contemporary or historical love stories of approximately 90,000-100,000 words, set in the United States. If your manuscript has the unforgettable emotion, irresistible characters–especially the hero–and sizzling sensuality that are hallmarks of Avon romance, please send it right away.
AVON A
(60,000-90,000 words)
General commercial women’s fiction as well as quality non-fiction books that readers can relate to and get something out of. Both historical and contemporary stories are welcome. Some of our Avon A authors include Meg Cabot, Jacqueline Sheehan, and Tracy Grant.


INSPIRE
(60,000-90,000 words)
A new line of inspirational romances from Avon Books. These stories and their characters are primarily Christian, and promote traditional values and beliefs. They also are first and foremost stories of the heart, romantic novels about learning to trust, to open ourselves up to love, both to the men in our lives but ultimately to God. Set in America, contemporary settings as well as historicals will be considered, as well as romantic suspense and romantic comedy. There should be no alcohol, drug use or premarital sex for the main characters. For non-Christian characters, these subjects can be explored but primarily to show their destructive nature and how a virtuous life is the better path. Foul language should be avoided at all costs.
How To Submit A Manuscript

Please note Avon’s submission policy
To submit your romance or women’s fiction (only), please query first. You must query by e-mail. When you do so, please put QUERY in the subject line. Due to the overwhelming amount of Spam email we receive, subject lines that have manuscript titles often do not reach the editors. Your query should be brief, no more than a one-page description of your book. Do not send chapters or a full synopsis at this time. Also, please do not send attachments – THEY WILL NOT BE OPENED. You will receive a response — either a decline or a request for more material — in approximately six to eight weeks.
Please e-mail your query to avonromance@harpercollins.com.

Update (4/30/12): They changed their submission guidelines recently and no longer accept queries through that email. Here's a link that will take you to the right place.
http://www.avonromance.com/avon-romance-submission-guidelines/


Update (8/1/12):  It seems that unagented submissions are all going through Avon Impulse now, their digital-first imprint. Here's their link: http://www.avonromance.com/impulse/ 

Very exciting stuff! I've never written a novel that was 100K words long... but it is a goal worth reaching for. So far my books are in the 50K word range since they are targeted toward Harlequin/Silhouette.

Wish me luck, and good luck to you too!
Yours Truly,
Shoshanna Evers