I am having such a blast working on a number of the young adult projects on our Spring 2011 list for the Sourcebooks Fire imprint. But our list for Fall is looking mighty slim. So I’m on the hunt-down–looking to acquire good stuff fairly quickly.
The YA market right now is incredibly competitive, so it’s imperative to have a hook to grab booksellers/media/readers in 2-3 sentences. Having an author with a track record or built-in fan base is also immensely helpful. The book needs a riveting plot with a fresh premise. I want to be completely absorbed in the world–whether it’s summer in the Hamptons, a dystopian future or 1880s London.
Right now only truly objective criterion is the word count: 60,000-90,000. I’m open to just about any setting and genre. The main protagonist should be older teens, and the book should have strong crossover potential to the adult market.
Submissions can be emailed to me at leah.hultenschmidt [at] sourcebooks.com. Please attach the ms and synopsis as separate Word documents and note in the subject line: YA – [Title].
Romantic Reading 
September 15, 2010 at 12:17 am
Hi, Leah! I have a completed YA manuscript which I would like to submit, but it is slightly over 90,000 words. Would you prefer I edit it down before I send it, or, if you’re interested, would you prefer to choose where to cut?
Thank you for offering the opportunity to submit!
Best wishes,
Paula
September 18, 2010 at 7:07 pm
If it’s within 5000 words, we can work with it.
September 18, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Great! I’m on another deadline this weekend but will send it the beginning of next week. Thank you for your response and your flexibility.
Paula
September 15, 2010 at 12:29 am
Hi Leah!
I have a completed YA MS, too. But it’s around 55,000 words. Should I add or go ahead and submit?
September 15, 2010 at 10:50 am
[…] For more info, go here. […]
September 15, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Ack. Any partials? :o( I’m fast. I’m begging.
September 16, 2010 at 2:41 pm
I second Ciar! My agent has a proposal for one very unique premised book ready to roll.
September 17, 2010 at 7:37 am
For unpublished authors, I really do prefer to see a full ms. Because I’m looking to acquire quickly, if I read the partial and like I’m just going to want the full right away.
September 15, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Wow, what a fantastic opportunity. My submission is heading your way now.
September 15, 2010 at 11:20 pm
I’ll second the question about partials. Would you be willing to look at something if it’s about 25k in? I’d hate to clutter up your inbox if you aren’t interested!
September 17, 2010 at 7:38 am
Hi Kelley – For unpublished authors, I really need a full.
September 16, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Hi Leah:
I have two completed YA mss. One is contemporary with 2 endings, 1st person boy voice and yes a dog’s voice – Hollywood version and the Nitty Gritty real life ending and it’s about 50,000…interested?
I also have a completed paranormal YA that’s 65,0000 and is book one of a three part series featuring teens in High School and the dark lure of the sea. She’s a lost Siren princess that wants nothing to do with the sea, unfortunately the choice isn’t hers. Books two and three feature her struggling through high school math while learning to swim through those dark murky oil slick oceans
September 18, 2010 at 7:09 pm
50,000 words is a little too short. As long as each story your trilogy can stand on its own, feel free to send it in.
September 17, 2010 at 12:06 pm
I love that you are giving extra time for us from your busy schedule, thanks. I have a YA ms of 63,000 I have been tweaking on AQ. It covers the hard topic of abortion. Interested?
September 17, 2010 at 10:27 pm
I would like to submit my 86,000 word YA urban fantasy. You mentioned a synopsis — I wondered if a brief synopsis would suffice?
September 17, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Three to five pages usually does the trick.
September 17, 2010 at 10:33 pm
Thanks for the quick response. I guess I better write a synopsis then.
September 17, 2010 at 10:45 pm
What about unpublished authors with partials that have a proven social media and blog following. A Huge one?
September 18, 2010 at 7:10 pm
I love that you have a great following. It’s definitely a big advantage. But I also need to know that you can finish a book. So please send in the full with all your credentials as soon as you have it ready.
September 18, 2010 at 12:24 am
Thank you for the opportunity. I have just submitted my YA paranormal romance BLUE LOTUS for your review. Do you respond to all submissions or just the ones that you are interested in?
September 18, 2010 at 7:10 pm
All submissions will receive a response. And I did get BLUE LOTUS. 😉
September 18, 2010 at 6:31 pm
I submitted my YA fantasy too. Thanks for this opportunity, Leah! Fingers crossed. 🙂
September 18, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Thanks Leah, for keeping us updated. I hope to have mine off to you tonight.
September 18, 2010 at 10:34 pm
Thanks for the opportunity, Leah. I sent you my YA Mystery, UNRAVELED.
September 19, 2010 at 4:29 pm
I recently submitted my YA thriller A Whisper To A Scream.. I am a two-time published author with a following already in place. I’ve already submitted my synopsis and manuscript but it did not say anything about a query on here. Should I submit a query letter too? I know sometimes query letters are necessary. Please let me know. Lauren H
September 20, 2010 at 10:06 am
Leah, I also checked out Sourcebooks submissions page. What is the difference between a single title and a single title series?
September 20, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Good question. Usually single title is the opposite of “category,” generally a Harlequin term. So single-title series would be a series of stand-alone books, like J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood or, dare I say it, the Twilight series. Typically single-title books are longer (90k words instead of 60k) and look to build the author as the brand.
September 20, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Hello Leah,
I just found out about this and am sending what is probably manuscript #2000 by now! I write YA paranormal and this is my most recent ghost story, Haunted. Thanks so much for the opportunity.
-Ophelia
September 23, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Hello Leah,
Just found out about your generous offer. I have a 92,000 YA fantasy (perhaps steam punk, some readers have said) which I have been sending around. I just recently trimmed it, re-edited it and it will be coming your way tomorrow.
It’s a wonderful story with some unique elements to it
September 28, 2010 at 10:37 am
Oh, dear. I have a speculative novel for teens, about 81 thousand words – but I have it out at the Adams literary agency right now, and gave them an exclusive. So I don’t think I can send it unless I hear from them. Maybe later, if they reject it?(But I’m hoping they won’t.)
September 29, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Thanks so much for the opportunity, Leah!
September 29, 2010 at 3:40 pm
I submitted my YA dystopian thriller this morning. Thank you in advance for looking at my submission!
September 30, 2010 at 12:14 pm
What a great opportunity! I’ll pass this info around, Leah. What about contemporary submissions? Are you looking for any of those?
Faye
September 30, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Hi, Faye! So great to see you. Yes, contemporary submissions are fine. But make sure you have a really good hook.
October 1, 2010 at 11:11 am
Thanks, Leah!
September 30, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Can we submit more than one manuscript? I’ve already submitted one but, I have another YA manuscript called Memoirs Of A Charity Girl that I’d like to submit.
September 30, 2010 at 9:01 pm
It’s best to wait until you hear about the first before submitting the second. If the first is passed on for whatever reason, you might be able to apply notes to the second submission before sending it in.
October 7, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Thanks for the opportunity, Leah. I’ve submitted my YA dystopian, THE LAST LIFE OF AVRILIS. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
March 13, 2014 at 8:13 am
The Concordia Lutheran Church Men’s Club will once again be selling Christmas trees and whretas this year. The tree lot is located at the Church-School, 4245 Lake Avenue. Christmas tree sales will begin on Friday, November 23rd. The lot will be open 12:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, except Saturday mornings, when it opens at 9:00 a.m. The proceeds from this fund raiser are used to support various projects and functions of the Concordia Church and school. A selection can be made from Scotch Pine, White Pine, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, and Blue Spruce. These trees were just cut a couple of weeks ago. Please come see how fresh they are. Decorated and undecorated whretas are also available. Your patronage would be greatly appreciated.
November 3, 2010 at 11:50 am
I recently was referred to you blog by another writer and I’m pleased to send you my YA novel. I hope it intrigues you.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Warm regards,
Gayle
January 27, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Hi…a bit late,
Are you still looking for the Fall list? I imagine it’s late for that, but wanted to check…
Also, wondering about how chaste/sensual Casa books prefers the story??
Thanks much,
Aniko
December 29, 2011 at 7:42 pm
Love Letters For Her…
[…]What I’m looking for in YA « Romantic Reading[…]…
September 19, 2012 at 11:52 am
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