Affirm Press welcomes submissions from authors and agents. Please follow our guidelines accurately. If you don’t, we’ll know you’re not serious.

We now only accept submissions for our general list on the first Monday of each month, and twice yearly on our children’s & teen list.

We accept general submissions to SS_Affirmpress-General_Submissions@simonandschuster.com.au and kids list submissions to SS_Affirmpress-Childrens_Submissions@simonandschuster.com.au. Please scroll down to see guidelines on what we’re looking for across our general and kids lists.

We know that the publishing industry is tough to crack, and we applaud the courage of every creator who’s out there trying/crying. Thanks, and here’s hoping we’re a good fit!

General submissions

Fiction submissions

We only accept Australian authors or authors based in Australia, and only manuscripts that haven’t been previously published.

We accept all literary and genre fiction. Please note, we don’t accept unsolicited short stories, poetry and/or novellas.

Via email, please attach only one document, titled ‘[Manuscript Title], [Author Name]’ and containing the following, in order:

A one-sentence pitch identifying the genre and hook (25 words maximum please)
Author bio and contact details (include previous publication credits)
Synopsis
First three chapters

Please use the email subject header: ‘Submission: [Manuscript Title], [Author Name]’.

Non-fiction submissions

For non-fiction, we are interested in most subjects that have a market as long as the manuscript is entertaining, engaging and likely to leave readers (and the world, even a teeny bit) better off for having existed.

If your book idea is non-narrative (relies on photographs or illustrations), just send us a pitch with some sample material and impress the hell out of us. Otherwise, follow the same directions as for fiction submissions above but also include a chapter outline after the synopsis..

Please resist the temptation to call, because we’ll only discuss submissions by email and never over the phone. Maximum one submission per author.

Due to the volume of submissions we receive, unfortunately we are unable to respond to everyone. If you haven’t heard back from us within six months of submission, please assume your manuscript is not right for us. While we’d love to be able to respond to each and every one of you, we simply don’t have enough hours in the day. Good luck!

Kids list submissions

We are always trying to manage the submissions process in the most effective way possible so we will now be inviting unsolicited submissions to the kids publishing program across all categories, twice a year:

First Monday of summer 2024 (Monday 2 December)
First Monday of winter 2025 (Monday 2 June)

If you’ve previously submitted with us, please note we have changed our guidelines for each category slightly, so please scroll down and read on.

We’re only able to respond to successful submissions. If you haven’t heard back from us within six months, you can assume we have declined.

Submissions should be sent to: SS_Affirmpress-Childrens_Submissions@simonandschuster.com.au

Picture Books and Board Books

We’re seeking original stories with a strong pitch. We publish bright, fun, quality books with humour and heart, so that’s what we’re looking for.

Send us your full picture book or board book manuscripts.
Consider how your manuscript would flow across a 24-page or 32-page picture book, or a 10-spread or 12-spread board book.
We accept submissions with and without illustration notes.
We generally prefer that illustrations are not included unless you are also an illustrator.
Include a short biography as well as a few sentences about your book, including the intended readership, the hook, which titles in the market your book is similar to, and what makes it different to others out there.

Junior and Middle Grade Fiction

We’re looking for new voices in these categories. We’re excited to read your manuscripts if you’re writing in the adventure and/or mystery genres, or if you’re writing contemporary, particularly angst and humour. We’re looking for standalone and series fiction.

Send us your full manuscript, or the first chapters of unfinished manuscripts.
Junior fiction manuscripts should be between 2,000 and 20,000 words and middle grade fiction manuscripts should be no more than 50,000 words.
Include a short biography as well as a synopsis of your book, including the readership, the hook, which titles in the market your book is similar to, and what makes it different to others out there.
Tell us if you imagine your book as the first in a series – any notes on your vision for the series (or a series outline, if you have one!) are most welcome.

Illustrators, Designers and Graphic Novelists

We’re looking for new and emerging illustrators, author-illustrators and illustrator-designers to work across all facets of children’s book illustration, from picture books to graphic novels, covers and internals for junior and middle-grade fiction

Send us a PDF of your folio and/or a link to your website or Instagram.
Include examples that show how you tackle character, movement, emotion, body language, landscape and a sense of narrative, as well as examples of the mediums you work with.
Include a short biography as well as a few sentences about your book or your illustration style, including the intended readership, the hook, which titles in the market your book is similar to, and what makes it different to others out there.
If you are an illustrator who has written your own picture book, we require your full storyboard and manuscript. Please consider how your story and art would flow across a 24-page or 32-page picture book, or a 10-spread or 12-spread board book.
If you are an illustrator who has written your own graphic novel, include a detailed synopsis, sample storyboard and sample finished art/pages.

Teen/YA Fiction

We’re looking for new voices in teen and young adult fiction, and we’re specifically seeking romance novels. We’re excited to read romantic fiction in any genre, from contemporary rom-coms to high-fantasy love stories and everything in between. We’re looking for standalone and series fiction.

Send us your full manuscript, or the first chapters of unfinished manuscripts. Your manuscript should be no more than 80,000 words.
Include a short biography as well as a synopsis of your book, including the readership, the hook, which titles in the market your book is similar to, and what makes it different to others out there.
Tell us if you imagine your book as the first in a series – any notes on your vision for the series (or a series outline, if you have one!) are most welcome.

Non-Fiction

We’re looking for writers who break down big ideas and/or encourage new ways of thinking for readers aged 6 and up.

Send us your full manuscript, or the first chapters of unfinished manuscripts. If you’re pitching a series, we require a series outline and a writing sample, if not a full or incomplete manuscript.
Include a short biography as well as a synopsis of your book, including the readership, the hook, which titles in the market your book is similar to, and what makes it different to others out there.