It's that time of the year again! Bindery's is hosting another round of Pitchfest which means submissions are open from April 9-11. This is an opportunity for un-agented authors to submit to imprints directly, such as our imprint Fantasy & Frens!

You can submit your pitch letter and manuscript to Fantasy & Frens for consideration through THIS GOOGLE FORM.

It feels like yesterday, which was only a few Pitchfests ago when I was reading manuscripts, and I found our second book, Crueler Mercies! And now I'll be on the hunt for our next book!

What am I looking for?

For this round of Pitchfest, I've adjusted my Manuscript Wishlist (MWSL) for authors and agents to reference. I changed up my MWSL to reflect the kind of book I want to publish for the next season. I'm looking for something darker. Something epic. Maybe a quest or grand adventure? Or dragons? You know how much I love a dragon 🐉

Here's my MSWL word for word, bar for bar:

Currently seeking: I’m looking for a manuscript that combines all the elements that make a truly unforgettable, immersive experience: epic adventure, dark undertones, intense political intrigue, and richly developed characters. The world should feel vast, detailed, and alive, with a history and mythology that deeply influence the present. I want to see the consequences of decisions play out across cultures, lands, and individuals—nothing is black-and-white.

Above all, I want to be swept away by a narrative that constantly surprises me. Whether through thrilling action scenes, gut-wrenching twists, or morally complex characters, the story should keep me engaged from start to finish, making me think long after I’ve turned the last page.

Literary Preferences: Commercial, character-driven fiction with complicated plotlines and in-depth worldbuilding

Resonant Themes: Vengeance, coming of age, power and corruption, moral ambiguity, change vs tradition, and tropes that include quests, coming of age, found family, murderous mommies, and reluctant heroes. Bonus if there are dragons 🐉

I'm excited to see what submissions this Pitchfest brings and I will be keeping you in the loop with the submissions that catch my eye! All Pitchfest submission updates will be posted as exclusive content for Sprite and Dragon Frens. Make you you upgrade your Bindery membership tier to get the latest publishing news!

Let's hope we find our next book Frens!!

Z⚔️