Submissions
We are interested in fiction with a distinct voice, a strong premise, fully realized characters, and something beneath the plot worth thinking about after the story ends.
Send us a finished story, not just an interesting idea.
Knappy Apps Publishing publishes novels and continuing fiction projects across a wide range of genres. We are open to books that fit comfortably within a recognizable category as well as books that combine genres in unusual ways.
What matters most is execution. We are looking for manuscripts with a clear narrative identity, purposeful storytelling, believable stakes, and enough control of voice and structure to sustain a full-length novel.
A strong concept can get our attention. A strong manuscript is what keeps it.
What catches our attention.
We publish across genres, but certain qualities matter regardless of where a book sits on the shelf.
We’re interested in
- Novels with a strong and recognizable narrative voice.
- Science fiction with meaningful human, political, technological, or social consequences.
- Mystery, thriller, and crime fiction driven by character as well as plot.
- Romance in which the relationship is emotionally consequential rather than decorative.
- Satire with a target, a point of view, and an actual story.
- Historical and alternate-history fiction with a convincing sense of cause and consequence.
- Black fiction, women’s fiction, and culturally specific stories told with confidence and specificity.
- Genre hybrids that have a clear reason for combining forms.
- Standalone novels with strong series potential.
- Ambitious series concepts with satisfying individual-book arcs.
Probably not for us
- Unfinished manuscripts presented only as concepts or outlines.
- Work that depends almost entirely on imitation of a currently popular author or franchise.
- Stories with a provocative premise but no developed narrative underneath it.
- Manuscripts that rely on shock value without character, purpose, or consequence.
- Projects that require us to guess what the book is trying to be.
- Nonfiction proposals presented as novels.
- Raw first drafts that have not received a serious author revision pass.
- Fan fiction or unauthorized use of protected characters, settings, or franchises.
What to prepare.
Keep the initial package useful and concise. We want enough information to understand the book without making the submission process more complicated than it needs to be.
Brief introduction
Include the book title, genre, approximate word count, whether the manuscript is standalone or part of a planned series, and a short introduction to the project.
Tell us the actual story
Include a clear synopsis that explains the central conflict, important character arc, major developments, and ending. A submission synopsis is not back-cover copy, so spoilers are welcome.
Opening pages
Submit the opening portion of the manuscript in normal reading order. Do not assemble isolated “best scenes.” We want to see how the novel actually begins and how it establishes itself.
Have the full book ready
The complete manuscript should already be finished and revised. If we request the full manuscript, you should be able to provide the version you genuinely consider ready for editorial consideration.
Tell us who is submitting
Include your name or intended pen name, a short author biography, publication history if applicable, and any information directly relevant to the project.
If there is more to come
For a planned series, briefly explain the larger concept, expected number of books if known, and whether the submitted manuscript delivers a satisfying individual ending.
The review process.
Publishing decisions depend on the manuscript itself, editorial fit, and the capacity of the current publishing list.
Initial Review
We review the submission package to determine whether the project appears compatible with the Knappy Apps Publishing list.
Sample Review
We evaluate the opening for voice, craft, pacing, character, narrative control, and whether the manuscript earns further reading.
Full Request
Projects that remain strong may receive a request for the complete manuscript and any additional information we need.
Editorial Decision
A final decision considers the quality of the work, editorial fit, publication strategy, and available capacity.
Submission does not guarantee publication.
Knappy Apps Publishing may decline a manuscript for many reasons, including editorial fit, publishing capacity, timing, market position, or simply because the project is not right for the current list.
A rejection is not an editorial evaluation of every aspect of the book, and we may not be able to provide individualized feedback on projects we decline.
Authors should retain copies of every submitted file and should never send irreplaceable original materials.
Know the books we publish.
The easiest way to understand whether your manuscript might belong on the Knappy Apps Publishing list is to spend some time with the catalog and the kinds of stories we already publish.