SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Please note: As of September 1, 2010, Coffee House Press will only accept submissions during two annual reading periods: September 1 – October 31 and March 1 – April 30. Submissions postmarked outside of these two reading periods will not be considered or returned.

In addition, during the September/October 2010 reading period, Coffee House Press will not accept unsolicited poetry submissions. Please check this web page periodically for future updates to this policy.

Coffee House Press authors: Please contact either Chris Fischbach or Anitra Budd for additional details about this new policy.

Who Coffee House Press Publishes

Coffee House Press publishes emerging and midcareer authors. Nearly all CHP authors have had works published in literary magazines or other publications (a resume including a list of prior publications can strengthen your submission). Although prior publications are important, they are not a requirement; part of our mission is to present promising debut authors alongside previously published writers.

Recent CHP titles have included The Exquisite by Laird Hunt, Find the Girl by Lightsey Darst, I Hotel by Karen Tei Yamashita, and Fugue State by Brian Evenson.

What Coffee House Press Publishes

Coffee House Press publishes literary novels, full-length short story collections, poetry, and essays. CHP does not accept submissions for our anthologies. CHP also does not publish genre fiction such as mysteries, Gothic romances, Westerns, science fiction, or books for children. Please note: As of August 2010, Coffee House Press is not accepting unsolicited poetry submissions. Please check this web page periodically for future updates to this policy.

Since Coffee House Press produces relatively few titles each year, our books reflect the individual tastes of its small staff. CHP looks for writing that instructs, inspires, and/or entertains the reader, and that does so with a unique voice. CHP currently publishes fourteen to sixteen trade titles annually.

Coffee House Press highly recommends that you familiarize yourself with our books to see if your work and our list are compatible. Most independent bookstores and many libraries carry our titles. You can also browse through our online catalog.

How to Submit a Manuscript

Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with every submission or we will be unable to respond. Coffee House Press does not accept fax queries, or electronic/disc submission. We prefer to see samples (20-30 pages) with outlines before reviewing entire manuscripts. Our response time for samples is 4-6 weeks. The review process for full-length manuscripts currently takes 4-6 months, possibly longer. Manuscripts that seem appropriate for CHP are given several careful readings, and the final decision rests with CHP’s publisher, Allan Kornblum. We empathize with your anticipation and appreciate your patience when submitting your manuscript. Phone calls or letters of inquiry will not hasten the process. If you would like to know if your manuscript was received, please also include a self-addressed stamped postcard so that we can reply upon receipt.

Send submissions to:
Anitra Budd, Managing Editor

Coffee House Press
79 Thirteenth Avenue NE, Suite 110
Minneapolis, MN 55413

For Visual Artists and Photographers:

If you are interested in submitting your work, please bear in mind that Coffee House Press buys only a few images a year.

Send printed samples only to:

Linda Koutsky, Design and Production Manager
79 Thirteenth Avenue NE, Suite 110
Minneapolis, MN 55413