SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Fiction Imprint of Sophos Books



ABOUT OUR FICTION IMPRINT
As previously announced, we are launching a new fiction imprint in 2025, one that is dedicated to publishing compelling, bold, and unforgettable stories that resonate with readers worldwide. We, therefore, seek manuscripts that push creative boundaries while maintaining strong storytelling and emotional depth.
Categories
We are currently open for submissions in the following fiction genres
Literary Fiction
Historical Fiction
Romance & Women’s Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Christian Fiction
Speculative Fiction (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Afrofuturism, etc.)
Thriller & Mystery
We are particularly interested in stories with African perspectives, though we welcome fiction from writers of all backgrounds.
What We’re Looking For
At this stage, we accept unsolicited submissions directly from authors. You do not need a literary agent.
We accept submissions via email only. Your submission must include:
- A one-page synopsis (outlining the full story arc, including the ending).
- The first three chapters or up to 10,000 words (whichever is shorter).
- A brief author bio (including any publishing history, if applicable).
- Your contact details (email and phone number).
Manuscripts should be formatted as follows:
FILE TYPEMicrosoft Word (.docx) or PDF
LINE SPACING1.5
FONTTimes New Roman, 12pt
PAGE NUMBERS Bottom right corner

Send your submission to
submissions@sophosbooks.com
Subject Line:
Submission – [Book Title] – [Author Name]
If we are interested in your work, we will request the full manuscript within 6–8 weeks.
If you do not hear from us within this timeframe, you may assume your submission was not selected.
Note:
Due to the volume of submissions, we cannot provide individual feedback on unsuccessful manuscripts.