Inside Triskelion Publishing with Gail Northman

Triskelion Turns Up the Heat in Both Print and Electronic Fiction Titles

Barb Webb, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Dec 15, 2006 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

Gail Northman

Date of Interview: November 2006

Executive Editor, Gail Northman, joined Triskelion Publishing in 2004. She acquires for the Fever line and all electronic book lines.

Gail, who resides in England, loves the outdoors and traveling to the US. She's a regular at the RT Conventions and has plans to add the RWA Conference to her itinerary.

Tell us your new and exciting developments at Triskelion Publishing.

There's a lot to tell and to keep track of when it comes to all the exciting things happening at Triskelion. We have a number exhilarating new lines like Allure which is our African American Multi-Cultural line. Also we now have Comfort Press featuring sweet traditional and inspirational romance, and on the other side of the coin we have Fever, a new line dedicated to Erotic Romance. We are continually adding to our lineup to reflect that our readers want to read.

We've also moved our print from trade to mass market paperback. We have a large distribution network working for us, including an independent sales force.

How can an author submit a manuscript to you for consideration?

An author can send us a query with a synopsis. The synopsis doesn't have to be length but it should be a run down of the premise enough to make us interested in reading more. As for pages, no more than three, but frankly if you can do it in less-wonderful!

Authors can find more information on our submission guidelines on our website www.Triskelionpublishing.com

What suggestions can you give an unpublished author when submitting work to you?

First and foremost, please follow the guide lines. Submit a clean a manuscript and make sure you know which line you are aiming for. Be sure that your query gives a clear picture of your story and who you are as a writer. Equally a synopsis should be free of errors too and focused on the story you are proposing.

What are some of the biggest mistakes you see in author submissions?

Not checking to see what we publish. We get a lot of manuscripts that are not suitable because they are not romance. A HEA for all stories is a must.

Another is lack of research. I like to see well researched novels regardless of genre. Get your facts right because there is always someone out there that is bound to point out discrepancies, and it reflects poorly on the writer.

What is your rejection rate? How many manuscripts do you purchase from new authors?

We are definitely a new author friendly publisher. Currently, approximately sixty percent of what we acquire is from new authors. As for our rejection rate that's a bit hard to say, I'm guessing around 30-40% of submissions we received are accepted. It really tends to change, sometimes we have a lot of publishable submissions flood in the door and other times we have a lot that are not suitable for one reason or another.

What is your submission turn-around time?

Right now, between forty-five and sixty days. It really depends on how many submission come through the door at once. We do try very hard not to keep an author waiting too long for a response.

What aspect of an unpublished author's work really catches your eye?

We look for unique plots, twists, and characters that call to you. Work that is well written with a good grasp of the genre. For example, Romantic Suspense should be a gripping on the edge of your seat ride, leaving the reader breathless.

I, personally, like stories that have a unique twist regardless of genre. I've read so many books I'm always on the look out for something NEW! I love cross genres the ones that are hard to categorize.

Is there anything else you'd like prospective authors to know?

Yes. We are actively seeking manuscripts for several of our lines, in particular Allure (Multi Cultural,) and After Hours (Sex doesn't stop at 40.) We are not actively seeking straight contemporary romance unless you are submitting to our Fever (Erotic Romance) line. We would like to see more stories about fairies, wizards, and other mystical characters-more of a Fantasy element in modern day settings. We call it Urban Fantasy. All heat levels are open for Urban Fantasy. The Heat level guides can be found on our website under FAQ.

Also, the best way to judge what any publisher wants is to read some books from the line you want to submit to. It's a good way of knowing if your manuscript is suitable. In addition, talk to authors published by that publisher and join the publisher's reading loops. It's basically doing your research, which is invaluable to any writer's career.

Published by Barb Webb

Author/ Freelance writer, Barb Webb is a Paper Crafts Expert, Cost Cutting Expert and one Internet-savvy Mom! In addition to being a Featured Crafting Contributor for Associated Content, Barb is the Paper C... View profile

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Inside Triskelion Publishing with Gail Northman

Triskelion Turns Up the Heat in Both Print and Electronic Fiction Titles

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