We are happy to look at the first few chapters of any book that is ready for sale (if we want more, we'll tell you!); with all books, be sure to enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope for our reply and any materials you want returned. Enclose a résumé or press clippings if they strengthen or clarify your credentials to write about the subject you've chosen. You should hear from us within three months after we receive your materials. Submissions MUST include a phone number.

Yeah, it's a long time. Remember that generally a book sold today won't be on the shelves for a year!

Keeping with current professional practices, we do not charge reading fees. No reputable agency does.

DISCLAIMER—READ BEFORE YOU SUBMIT: This web page does not represent a solicitation of any kind. RMA IS not responsible beyond a good faith effort for the safekeeping or return of any material, solicited or not. We will ethically respect your intellectual property; it is generally not necessary or recommended to copyright your manuscript, because you own it by common law and it complicates rights matters upon its sale. The Postal Service makes mistakes so never mail your only copy of anything! Nothing on this page is meant as a contract, and no agreement should be inferred from this information. If you have legal questions, always ask a lawyer.

FICTION.

Please note the type of book you have written. Is it adult, teen, middle reader or early chapter book? What category is the story-science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, mystery (hard boiled, cozy, police procedural, pi, supernatural, romantic), southern, women’s, family saga, historical, etc. ?

Adult Fiction:

• Submit the first three chapters followed by a brief synopsis (a page or two) that gives away the ending and a one paragraph pitch that does not give away the ending.  
  
  

• If possible a one sentence summary (for high-concept books). For both paragraph and sentence think of a cover pitch or a blurb.
  
  

• In the cover letter include anything about you and your experience in writing or information that is pertinent to the book.

Children's Books

• Early reader. Send the entire manuscript with page breaks indicated.
  
  

• Illustrations are not necessary (and not recommended). Publishers prefer to team a beginning writer with an established illustrator to give the beginning writer a promotional boost.
  
  

• For books for older kids, see requirements for fiction and non-fiction. Include 20 to 30 pages cut and pasted into an email or included in the package for hard copy submissions.

Adult and Young Adult Fiction

• Your initial submission should consist of the first twenty to thirty pages of the manuscript ending at a chapter break, along with a brief (one to two page) synopsis that includes the beginning and ending.

• Send a detailed Table of Contents with a paragraph describing what each chapter is about, what it brings to the story or why this information is important.  
  
  

• Also write a one sentence high concept of the essence of the book. Then a aragraph pitch. Again, think cover blurbs.
  
  

• The sentence and paragraph pitches are put in your cover letter to grab the attention of the potential reader, whether that reader is an agent, editor or a consumer in the book store.
  
  

• Also include the first two chapters and the final chapter.
  
  

• The cover letter should include a pitch and your contact information and any personal information that is pertinent to your experiences and qualifications.
  
  

• For writing this book, all should be cut and pasted into the body of the email. We will not open attachments.

For hardcopy submissions the same information and chapters should be included for the type of book you are submitting.

NO PHONE CALLS, please.