Cobblestone Press, LLC

We are an electronic publisher of erotic romance and short story erotica seeking creative storytelling and original style. Because we at Cobblestone Press are selective about what we accept, we are looking for authors to set the standard of writing for this press; authors that show extraordinary ability to weave tales of romance through strong, unforgettable characters, plots that twist and turn with layers of conflict and emotion, and a style that sets them apart from other writers in the market.

Cobblestone Press is a full service publisher. There are NO fees for the author at any point during our publication process. Your book will be edited, assigned an ISBN number, and cover art will be provided.

Royalty rate is 35% of the cover price and will be paid on a monthly basis. We currently request electronic and audio rights.

We accept erotic romance and short story erotica. While we want our authors to feel free to be creative as possible we do insist on strong plots, fully developed characters, and a Happily Ever After ending. All sexually active characters in the manuscript must be at least 18 no matter the time period.

A complete manuscript is required at submission from all new authors.

Length Chart:

Vignette: 5,000-10,000 (Wicked Submissions only-- In House Authors Only)

Tryst™: 10,001-20,000

Novella: 20,001-40,000

Novel: 40,001-65,000

Manuscripts that depict any group of people in a negative, demeaning light will not be considered. No Exceptions.

A big no to the following: fan fiction, forced seduction, rape, incest, pedophilia, water play, brown play, knife play, or blood play, urethral sounding (i.e.- cock stuffing), sexual activities with or between minors, daddy/mommy fantasies, erotic asphyxiation, snuff, bestiality, felching, and necrophilia. (If you aren't sure-- please feel free to ask. We try to answer questions regarding our submission guidelines within 48 hours.)

If you are unsure of how to define purple prose. Check out this informative and hilarious article by Deb Stover: The Purple Prose Eater

We are currently accepting manuscripts from 10-65k in the following genres: Action Adventure, African American, Contemporary, Fantasy, Futuristic / Science Fiction, Gay (m/m only), Historical, Interracial /Multicultural, Ménage, Paranormal (Werewolf, Vampire, Ghosts, Magic, etc), Romantic Comedy, Time Travel, and Thriller/Suspense, Urban Fantasy

Line Submissions

In addition to regular genre submissions we are also currently accepting manuscripts for six lines.

*If you are submitting a novel for one of the lines, please put it in the subject of your email and in the cover letter.* 　

Tryst™ Submissions
Word Count: 10k-20k
The Tryst line is our signature short story line. These short, hot, and quick reads should stimulate the reader and the promise of a future.

Shifter™ Submissions　

Word Count: 10k-65k

The Shifter series at Cobblestone is dedicated to shape shifters of both genders. Get in touch with your wild side and let us take a look! We are interested in shape shifter romance that crosses over into all genres and heat levels.

Wicked™ Submissions (open to in house authors only)
Word Count: 5k-10k
Be wicked for us. We're looking for short story erotica with a very high level of sexual content within five to ten thousand words. HEA or romantic content not required. First and third person accepted (male or female POV). All genres considered.

Seasonal Submissions

Space is very limited! Mark your submissions accordingly so they will be routed to the proper place for consideration.

Octoberfest 2010
Word Count: 10k-40k
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Must be submitted by July 10, 2010

Shifters, vampires, ghosts, and everything in between. Octoberfest is about celebrating all things paranormal.

Naughty November
Word Count: 5k-40k
Genre: Ménage & BDSM
Must be submitted by September 1, 2010

We're especially interested in m/m/f ménage.

12 Days of Christmas 2010
Word Count: 10k-40k
Genre: Erotic Romance (Must be Christmas oriented)
Must be submitted by September 1, 2010

All genres welcome for this line. Fun and heart-warming tales are of special interest.

Formatting Guidelines

Use either Times New Roman or Courier New, 12pt. font
All paragraphs should be indented .5 (without tabs-preferred)Double Spaced
One inch margins
Attach the manuscript as an RTF file (no other format will be opened)
Include a cover letter in the body of your email. Discuss past publications, if any, future goals, and at least a paragraph blurb describing your book.
On the first page of your manuscript include in the upper left corner the following: Title of Manuscript, Word Count- Calculated by your word processor program, Genre (or Line), Full Name, Pen Name (if applicable), Mailing Address, Phone Number, and Email Address

Please submit full manuscript as an attachment to: submissions@cobblestone-press.com. Failure to properly format your manuscript can/will result in an automatic rejection. For help creating an .rtf file please check out the forum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Are you recognized by the RWA?
A. Yes – members of the RWA can review the full list of recognized publishers on the RWA Website.

Q. Do you accept multiple submissions?
A. Yes – but do let us know if the work is currently being considered by another publisher.

Q. What should I put in my cover letter?
A. Tell us about you, your work, and the material you are submitting.

Q. What is your current acceptance rate?
A. This depends greatly on the number of submissions during a given month; but a safe estimate would be about 5%.

Q. Do you accept submissions written in First Person POV?
A. Yes- we will consider material written in First Person (past tense only).

Q. Do you accept books from multiple authors?
A. Yes, but the authors will have to split the 35% royalty

Q. Do you accept anthologies?
A. Contact us directly and we can discuss it.

Q. How long will I have to wait for an answer on my submission?
A. Our current response time is roughly 90 days. At the time of submission, our system will automatically respond to let you know that the submission was received. IF you do not receive the automatic reply, it means that we did not get your email.

Q. Do I need an agent to submit to Cobblestone?
A. No, no agent is required.

Q. I write under a pen name, can you guarantee my privacy?
A. Absolutely. We will do everything within our power to protect your privacy.

Q. If my story is contracted, how long will I have to wait for publication?
A. This depends on the number of manuscripts contracted ahead of you, editing, and special events that are planned at Cobblestone. We like to see contracted manuscripts published within six months of contract.

Q. How many titles do you publish a month?
A. Our current schedule allows for 3 titles a week.

Q. How often does Cobblestone Press pay authors?
A. Monthly

Q. What rights does Cobblestone acquire?
A. Our standard contract electronic rights for five years. Our contract is renewable and can be negotiated if you acquire an agent. Print rights on full lengths are negotiated separately at the discretion of the publisher.

Q. Can I supply my own cover art?
A. No, we do not allow authors to provide cover art.

Q. How much say will I have in cover art design?
A. We have a staff of dedicated and talented artists that work closely with the author produce cover art that fits book. We pride ourselves on the quality of our cover art.

Q. Will my book be edited?
A. Of course! We have a thorough and professional editing staff that will do all they can to make your work shine. We will not compromise on matters of grammar and accuracy.

Q. Do you distribute your books to vendors?
A. Yes, we currently have contracts for distribution with Fictionwise, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks, Mobipocket, and Amazon Kindle.

Q. Why should I publish at Cobblestone Press?
A. We’re dedicated to producing quality. Everything about Cobblestone is designed to create a positive, creative, and attractive experience for both authors and readers. Our contracts are pro-author and demonstrate our dedication to the success of our authors while they are with us and beyond.