You want your manuscript read and I want to read it. There's nothing new here, and nothing that's not common sense. Editors are just people, after all, and those of us who actually read what is sent us must be able to read it.

You may submit your MS in hard copy or by email if it's easier for you. No faxed queries please. Hard copy should be printed on a single side, large enough to read, unbound, single or double spaced, with name, and page number on each page. Please don't use fancy fonts.

We are neither impressed by, nor accept submissions from literary agents. We accept manuscripts directly from writers and respond directly to them.

Mail to:

David W.St.John

Executive Editor

Elderberry Press, Inc.

1393 Old Homestead Drive

Oakland, OR 97462-9506

I read in a leather chair of evenings and I don't hurry, so please be patient.

Many agencies now charge reading fees. I have never charged a reading fee and never will.

Many publishers neither accept nor read submissions unless they come through an agent. We don't work with agents. We work directly with new and veteran writers.

Include an SASE if you would like your MS returned, and PLEASE don't forget to put your name, email, address, telephone number on your cover letter. (Believe it or not, I receive submissions without them.)

Please include a short author bio  and short synopsis. Nothing formal, just for my information. Don't spend more than ten minutes writing the synopsis as I am well aware how frustrating it can be to try and condense 500 pages into one and make it sound anything but a Danielle Steel novel. And Dear God, we don't need any more of those, do we.

Don't bother sending your MS express or overnight. I'm stacked up a week or more with submissions anyway. Save your money and send it flat rate priority mail. I'll get it in three days and it will only cost you $5.

And unless you've printed your manuscript on glass, there's no need to pack it in bubble wrap or those hellish peanuts—I'm entitled to a pet peeve, right?
 

I'm looking forward to reading your MS.

David W. St.John