Submission Guidelines
Before you send us a submission, it is important that you familiarize yourself with our publishing program. Please browse our website, download a copy of our current catalog, and review the guidelines below.
This page includes submission guidelines for authors. Illustrators, please see our Guidelines for Illustrators.
If you decide to submit a book proposal to us, please note:
- We are a children’s publisher. We do not publish adult works of fiction or non-fiction or poetry.
- We only publish Canadian authors.
- We do not accept submissions by mail or fax. Please only send us your digital submission using the CanSubmit system. No phone calls, please.
- In some cases, we would prefer that you query us with a cover letter, a synopsis, and/or several sample chapters rather than the entire manuscript (see specifics for each genre below).
- No editorial comment will be provided unless we are considering your submission for publication.
- In your cover letter, please include a brief summary of your book and how you feel it will fit with our publishing program.
- Include a short biography of yourself and any publication history, if applicable. Don’t forget to include your contact information.
- Include a general marketing plan (we are curious to know your thoughts on promotion and the target market for your book).
- For nonfiction queries, please include a detailed table of contents.
- Double space all materials.
- Indicate if your submission is a multiple submission. (We don’t mind at all. We understand that your time is valuable, as is ours. We only ask that you let us know if you decide to place your project elsewhere.)
- Due to high volume, we are unable to respond to each submission individually. If you have not received a reply from us within four (4) months, you should assume that we have decided that your project is not right for us at this time.
Please send your submission using the CanSubmit system:
- Go to https://cansubmit.com/Orca-Book-Publishers
- Upload the manuscript or query in a single document. Word or PDF preferred. Do not send links to shared online documents. For security reasons, these will not be opened.
- Additional digital images should be included in the uploaded document.
Good luck!
Orca Book Publishers is presently seeking manuscripts in the following genres:
- Board Books
- Picture Books
- Orca Echoes: Early chapter books for ages 7-9
- Middle Grade Fiction: Ages 8-13
- Orca Currents: For reluctant readers ages 10-14, with a reading level of grade 2.0-4.5
- Orca Soundings: For reluctant readers ages 12 and up, with a reading level of grade 2.0-4.5
- Graphic Novels
- Orca Footprints: Ages 9 and up
- Orca Think
- Orca Timeline
- Elementary and Middle Grade Nonfiction
Board Books
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Picture Books
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Orca Echoes
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Middle Grade Fiction
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Orca Currents
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Orca SportsWhile we are no longer publishing new titles for the Orca Sports collection, we are happy to consider submissions with a sport theme for Currents and Soundings. Please see the guidelines for those respective collections. |
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Orca LimelightsWhile we are no longer publishing new titles for the Orca Limelights collection, we are happy to consider submissions about performing arts for Currents and Soundings. Please see the guidelines for those respective collections. |
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Orca Soundings
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Graphic Novels
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Orca Footprints
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Orca Think
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Orca Timeline
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General Nonfiction
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