WRITERS’ NEWS
90 APRIL 2020 http://www.writers-online.co.ukA new Australian
literary award offers
an Aus$15,000 prize
for unpublished
fi ction or creative
non-fi ction, up
to 5,000 words,
on the theme of
‘Australian life’, by
writers resident
in Australia. The
winner of the
Furphy Literary
Award will also
receive a university
residency
opportunity and
chance to get
published.
There is no entry
fee and the closing
date is 30 April.
Website: http://www.
furphystory.com.auA Gallup poll
revealed that last
year the average
American visited a
library more often
than they went to
cinemas, concerts,
museums or sports
events. Not only
that, but as Gallup
noted, ‘Despite
the proliferation
of digital-based
activities over the
past two decades- including digital
books, podcasts,
streaming
entertainment
services and
advanced gaming - libraries have
endured as a place
Americans visit
nearly monthly on
average.’
‘Years of always
chasing your
quarry and looking
for a glimpse – for
one of those very
special moments
when you suddenly
see the full man.
It can be a story
detail or a snippet
you fi nd in the
archive.’
Journalist and
author Jack
Fairweather on
the fi ve years that
went into writing
the Costa Book of
the Year-winning
The Volunteer.FLASHES
Founded in 1999 in Portland, Oregon, Eraserhead Press is an
independent publisher of bizarro fiction, by which they mean the
weird, the surreal and the unclassifiable. In two decades they have
published over 400 books by around 150 authors, including Piers
Anthony, Carlton Mellick III, Brian Keene, Molly Tanzer, JF Gonzalez and Laura Lee Bahr.
From 1 April to 30 June, Eraserhead has an open window for submissions, and head
editor Rose O’Keefe will be looking for original novellas and novels, 20,000-100,000 words.
She says, ‘We want surprising, unique, well-crafted weird stories with compelling plots,
eccentric characters, and never-before-seen concepts. We want a balance of both plot and
character – we love weird characters with weird problems in weird places. We are looking for
exciting concepts that make people say “I have to read that!” and well-developed characters
they can fall in love with along the way.’ She adds, ‘We’re most drawn to darkly absurd tales
that are addictive to read and contain a strong emotional core. We love fiction that is both
heart-rending and fun. While it may or may not be funny, we are interested in more than
just a joke. If you can make us both laugh and cry or creep us out and draw us in, we will
love your book.’
Submit quality, original (in every sense) boundary-pushing weird fiction; no simultaneous
submissions, story collections, non-fiction, poetry or comics/graphic novels, reprints or
experimental formatting. Eraserhead Press pay a 50% net royalty on both print and digital on
worldwide print and ebook English-language rights. All other rights remain with the author.
Submit by email as a doc, docx or rtf attachment. In the body include an author bio and a
3-5 sentence summary of your book written like a back cover description. Also attach a one-
page synopsis of your novel or novella. All submissions will receive a response by 31 July.
Details: Eraserhead Press, PO Box 10065, Portland, OR 97296, USA; follow the full guidelines at https://
eraserheadpress.com/submissions/You bring your good thing
GLOBAL BIZARRO MARKET
Gary DalkinPersea Books is a New York-based publisher of literary fiction and creative
non-fiction. Co-founder and editorial director Karen Braziller and poetry
editor Gabriel Fried are pleased to receive enquiries from unagented
authors. They will consider literary fiction including short story collections,
creative non-fiction, memoirs, biography, literary criticism, and books on
contemporary issues – feminism, LGBTQI+, multicultural, etc. They will also
consider literary young adult fiction.
Most of all Persea is looking for the ‘fresh voice, a clear point of view, the
well-written work that will endure.’ They will publish debut books and stay
with an author through further works. Persea Books have published several
hundred titles to date, notably works by Anzia Yezierska, Christine de Pizan,
Pulitzer Prize-winner Oscar Hijuelos, Carl Friedman, Paul Celan, Nazim
Hikmet, Thylias Moss, and Laura Riding.
Queries should include a cover letter, author background and publication
history, a synopsis of the proposed work, and a sample chapter. Do not send a
complete manuscript. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable, but state that
this is the case when submitting, and notify right away if your book is accepted
elsewhere.
All submissions should be sent by email to [email protected] or by
post to Persea Books 90 Broad Street, Suite 2100, New York, NY 10004.
Allow at least five months for a response to a mail submission.
Email submissions will only receive a response if the editors are interested in
your proposal.
Full submission guidelines and contact details at on the website: http://www.
perseabooks.com/contactAim for the crown
GLOBAL LITERARY MARKET
Gary Dalkin