Guidelines for Authors

(click here for Guidelines for Illustrators)

Orca Book Publishers is presently seeking manuscripts in the following genres:

• Children’s picturebooks
• Orca Echoes: Early chapter books for ages 7-9
• Orca Young Readers: Chapter books for ages 8-11
• Juvenile fiction: Ages 9-13
• Orca Currents: For reluctant readers ages 10-14, with a reading level of grade 2-4.5
• Orca Sports: For reluctant readers ages 10 and up, with a reading level of grade 2-4.5
• Orca Soundings: For reluctant readers ages 12 and up, with a reading level of grade 2-4.5
• Teen or Young Adult fiction: Ages 12 and up
• Graphic novels

For our children’s books we are not seeking seasonal stories, board books or “I Can Read” books. At this time we do not publish poetry, adult fiction or nonfiction.

In General:

• At this time we are considering manuscripts from Canadian writers only.
• Please, no faxed or e-mailed queries or submissions.
• Inappropriate submissions that arrive without a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) will be disposed of.
• We are unable to offer any editorial comment unless we feel the work has potential for publication with Orca.

Complete picturebook manuscripts may be submitted without prior authorization. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) for reply and/or return of manuscript. If you are interested in submitting a novel, please send a cover letter, synopsis and three or four sample chapters. Again, a SASE must be included for a reply and/or the return of your material.

Manuscripts should be typed and double-spaced on one side only of 8.5 x 11" white paper. Submissions using coloured paper, handwriting or script fonts, or typed in ALL CAPITALS, are less likely to be given serious consideration. Do not bind your work in any way (paper clips are fine). A typed cover letter of no more than one page should accompany all manuscripts. Cover letters, synopses and the first page of manuscripts should include the author's name, address and phone number. Please keep in mind that an unprofessional-looking submission has the potential to prejudice even the most open-minded editor.

Picturebook and novel submissions are usually processed within twelve weeks. However, novel submissions can sometimes take up to four months. Please write or phone if you haven't heard from us by the end of these time periods. Please include a SASE.

If you are considering submitting to Orca (or any other publisher for that matter), it's a good idea to spend some time in a bookstore or library looking at the kind of books we publish. A quick read of three or four of our picturebooks or the back-cover copy of three or four novels will give you a pretty good idea whether or not your manuscript will be a good fit with our list. This kind of advance research will pay dividends in saved time and postage. Please browse our website to see what we publish BEFORE submitting. And while you are looking around, why not buy some books?

Picturebooks:

• Good stories, well told. Any lesson or moral should be secondary to credible characters, an engaging plot and strong writing. The point of view should invite the child reader into the story.

Picturebook manuscripts will typically be not more than 1,500 words. Unless you are a trained artist, no artwork should be included with picturebook submissions. Original art should never be included, nor should mock-ups. Complete manuscripts, no queries please, should be sent to the attention of Christi Howes, children’s book editor.

Orca Echoes, Orca Young Readers (also called chapter books) and Juvenile Fiction:

• Contemporary stories or fantasy with a universal theme, a compelling, unified plot and a strong, sympathetic child protagonist who grows through the course of the story and solves the central problem him/herself.
• Well-researched stories dealing with, or taking their inspiration from, historical subjects, but not thinly disguised history lessons.

Orca Echoes are 5,500 to 6,000 words. Young Readers are usually 13,000 to 18,000 words. Juvenile fiction manuscripts are usually 25,000 to 35,000 words. Orca Echoes are aimed at seven year-olds, Young Readers are aimed at eight- to ten-year-olds, and juvenile novels are aimed at nine- to thirteen-year-olds. Orca Echoes should be sent in their entirety to the attention of Christi Howes, editor. Young Readers and Juvenile novel submissions should include a cover letter, and should be sent with sample chapters to the attention of Sarah Harvey, editor.

Orca Currents - High-interest intermediate novels aimed at reluctant readers:

• These stories should have middle-school-appropriate story lines (family issues, humor, sports, adventure, mystery/suspense, fantasy, etc.).
• Strong plots, credible characters/situations and fine writing remain essential to this series. Please avoid awkward moralizing.
• The novels feature simple language and short, high-interest chapters. Protagonists are between 12 and 14 years old and should be appealing and believable.

Currents manuscripts should be between 14,000 and 16,000 words long, 12 to 16 short chapters. A chapter-by-chapter outline and one sample chapter should be sent to the attention of Melanie Jeffs, editor.

Orca Sports – High-interest sports action combined with mystery/suspense

• Interest level ages 10+
• Older protagonists (13+) to appeal to juvenile as well as teen readers.
• Strong plots, credible characters/situations and fine writing remain essential to this series. Please avoid awkward moralizing.
• The novels feature simple language and short, high-interest chapters.
• Sports action interspersed with mystery and suspense.
• Team sports.

Orca Sports manuscripts should be between 23,000 and 25,000 words long, with short, compelling chapters. A chapter-by-chapter outline and two sample chapters should be sent to the attention of Andrew Wooldridge, editor.

Teen or Young Adult Fiction:

• Issue-oriented contemporary stories exploring a universal theme, with a compelling, unified plot and strong, sympathetic protagonist(s).
• Well-researched stories dealing with, or taking their inspiration from, historical subjects, but not thinly disguised history lessons.

Teen fiction manuscripts range 45,000 to 50,000 words. Queries regarding teen or young adult fiction should be sent to the attention of Bob Tyrrell, publisher.

Orca Soundings - High-interest teen novels aimed at reluctant readers:

• These stories should reflect the universal struggles that young people face. They need not be limited to "gritty" urban tales. Can include adventures, mystery/suspense, fantasy, etc. There is a definite need for humorous stories that will appeal to teens of both sexes.
• Try to avoid "disease-of-the-week" potboilers or awkward moralizing.
• The novels feature simple language and short, high-interest chapters. Protagonists are between 14 and 17 years old and should be appealing and believable.

Soundings manuscripts should be between 14,000 and 16,000 words long, 12 to 16 short chapters. A chapter-by-chapter outline and one sample chapter should be sent to the attention of Andrew Wooldridge, editor.

Manuscripts can be mailed to:

Orca Book Publishers
PO Box 5626, Station B
Victoria, BC
V8R 6S4

Thank you for considering Orca Book Publishers, and good luck in your search for the right publisher for your work.

Guidelines for Illustrators

Orca Book Publishers accepts submissions from Canadian artists and illustrators who wish to work with some of Canada's best authors for young people. We require artists to illustrate full-color picturebooks and full-color covers for our fiction titles, including first chapter books, juvenile fiction and books for young adults. We also require illustrators for black-and-white interior images for the Orca Young Reader and Orca Echoes series. These are sketches, typically rendered in pencil, and are used to interpret the story.

Our publishing program varies in its scope from books with realistic situations and milieus, historic and contemporary, to humorous stories that tickle the funny bone.

When we review a portfolio we look for art that is either realistic, or abstracted and stylized to any degree, but executed in a professional manner, consistent with the high standards of children’s publishing in Canada. We look for accomplished drawing and execution in the chosen medium. The ability to create a believable, individual character is essential, as is the ability to understand, interpret and illustrate a literary text. Character development, consistency and accurate, thorough research are important. We always need to see images of children interacting and showing emotions. Conventional cartoon or animation styles are not needed.

Samples

Send samples of your work in a self-contained, labeled folder in the following formats:

• 4 to 8 copies, digital proofs, tear sheets, press sheets (Please be sure to include your name and contact information on each sheet.)
• 1 copy of any published book or set of folded and gathered sheets
• Any number of images on a CD in jpeg, tif or pdf format

Web portfolios are also accepted.

Do not send:

• Original art
• Any material that you need returned

Mail to:

Art Director
Orca Book Publishers
1016 Balmoral Road
Victoria, BC, V8T 1A8

Thank you for considering Orca Book Publishers. And good luck in your search for the right publisher for your artwork.

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