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Synopsis

COLLABORATE | READ | WRITE | CELEBRATE

Welcome to Pumpkin Vines Publishing and Illustration

Pumpkin Vines is more than just a publishing house; it's a haven for stories that breathe life into the unique landscapes of New England. As an independent literary press and custom illustration provider, we take pride in curating and crafting books for both children and adults that resonate with the rich tapestry of our region.

Please review the information at the bottom of this page before completing the form below.

Cowrite a childrens book by Katherine DeSilva

Prior to completing the form below.

Submission Preperation

Cover Letter: Write a cover letter introducing yourself and providing a brief overview of your manuscript. Mention any relevant publishing history or awards.
Synopsis: Write a concise synopsis outlining the key elements of your story. It should be under 200 words / Not more than 15,000 characters.
Author Bio: Write a brief author bio highlighting who you are as a person / writer. It should be under 200 words; not more than 15,000 characters. Do not include lengthy lists of awards. That information can be included as part of your cover letter if relevant.

How to Submit

Online Submission Form: Use our online submission form to submit your manuscript, cover letter, synopsis, and author bio.
Response Time: Our team will review submissions in 3-6 weeks. Manuscripts are requested and reviewed in July and August exclusively.
Do not drop off, email or send manuscripts prior to receiving a response to your synopsis submission.

Submissions

Manuscripts

Pumpkin Vines is open for manuscript submissions in fiction and children's books. We are particularly interested in children's literature, fiction mysteries, thrillers, and chapbooks with at least 50 peer-edited poems on a single theme. Unfortunately, we are not accepting submissions in historical fiction, memoir, romance, graphic novel, self-help, or non-fiction.

Our team will review your submission form, and if interested, we will reach out to you for additional information within 3-6 weeks. Full manuscripts will not be reviewed unless requested. Manuscripts are reviewed in July and August for the upcoming year.

Manuscripts will only be accepted as shared GoogleDocs or Rich Text (.rtf)
File Types NOT Accepted: .doc .docx .pdf .odt

Documents should have .5-1" margins and be set in Arial or Times New Roman 11pt type or similar. Decorative typefaces will not be reviewed.

Please review the information on this page before completing the form above.

Pumpkin Vines Manuscript Submission Guidelines

Overview
At Pumpkin Vines Publishing, we are passionate about discovering unique voices and compelling stories. We welcome manuscript submissions from authors across various genres. To ensure your submission aligns with our vision, please review our current preferences and guidelines.

We publish fiction narrative books that take place in New England exclusively. If your book could take place anywhere it must fall into one of these other categories:

Acceptable Genres

Contemporary Fiction Long Format (Novels over 70,000 words)
Contemporary Fiction Short Format (Novellas under 70,000 words)
Poetry at least 50 peer-edited poems on a single theme.
Children’s Literature

Themes & Topics

Mysteries
Thrillers
Suspense
Familial relationships
Relationship to the environment and/or conservation
Relationship to animals
Trauma or behavior and coping skills
Chronic illness

What We're Looking For

Engaging Narratives that take place in New England: We seek manuscripts with captivating and well-crafted narratives that can transport readers into the fiction world you've created in the North East.
Diverse Voices: Pumpkin Vines values diversity and welcomes manuscripts that explore different perspectives, cultures, and experiences.
Original Concepts: We are interested in fresh and original concepts. Whether it's a new take on a familiar theme or a completely unique idea, we want manuscripts that stand out.
Strong Character Development: Characters are the heart of any story. We look for manuscripts with well-developed, relatable characters that readers can connect with.
Innovative Storytelling: We appreciate innovative storytelling techniques. Manuscripts that experiment with form, structure, or narrative style are encouraged.
Social Impact: Manuscripts that address important social issues or provide thought-provoking insights are of particular interest.

What We're Not Looking For

Explicit Content: We do not accept manuscripts with explicit or gratuitous content.
Hate Speech: Pumpkin Vines Publishing has a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech or content that promotes discrimination.
Incomplete Manuscripts: Please submit only completed manuscripts. We do not review partial works or works in progress.
Genre Limitations: While we are open to various genres, we only accept children’s literature manuscripts in certain niche genres. We only accept contemporary fiction set in New England with a preference for North Shore, Cape Ann and the NH Seashore.
We are not accepting memoir, romance, historical fiction, graphic novel, self-help, or non-fiction.

Pumpkin Vines

Katherine DeSilva is 'Ipswich.Green'
Illustration, Stories, Games, Wearables & Household .

174 High Street
Ipswich Village, Suite 105

Ipswich, MA 01938

WHAT WE DO