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Deadline: March 1, 2021
“THE BEST NEW TRUE CRIME STORIES: PARTNERS IN CRIME”
I’m seeking original true crime stories for the fourth volume in my true crime franchise.
What I’m looking for:
Nonfiction, true crime accounts featuring lawbreaking couples who have joined forces to commit crime. These couples can be married, domestic partners, or lovers. Stories can take place anywhere in the world and be from any time period. I’m interested in material covering a wide range of criminal activity. First-person accounts are especially welcome from writers with a connection to their cases. Add something new to the story, a different viewpoint or angle. What makes these people tick?
Material must be meticulously fact-checked before submission, including dates, names, locations, etc. This is a nonfiction book, so it’s imperative that everything is 100% correct. To get an idea of the quality and variety of material I accept, please refer to the previous books in The Best New True Crime Stories series. Criminal subjects already covered in these volumes cannot be considered. No reprints or fiction.
Important: Query first with a brief pitch.
Word count: 4,000-7,000 words
One-time payment per story: USD $130, and 2 print copies of the book. Contributor fees paid approximately one month following publication. (Preferred payment method: PayPal.)
For: Non-exclusive rights, with one-year’s exclusivity from date of publication.
Deadline for submissions: March 1, 2021
(I select material on an on-going basis; writers who submit work in advance of the deadline often have a better chance of acceptance.)
Email: TheBestNewTrueCrimeStories @ gmail.com
(not case-sensitive)
Submission requirements:
Format: double-spaced Arial 12-point Word document (sent as attachment). Do not indent paragraphs; instead enter one space between them. No irregular spacing between words or sentences. No footnotes or endnotes. No photos/graphics. A bibliography is optional (if you choose to include one, format in Chicago Manual of Style.) American spelling and punctuation only (i.e. double quote marks, etc.). Include your legal name, postal address, and an author bio of up to 100 words written in the third person. No simultaneous submissions.
In the subject line of your email: True Crime submission.
If you don’t receive an acknowledgement within a week of submitting your material, definitely follow up!
The Best New True Crime Stories: Partners in Crime will be published in Winter 2022 by Mango Publishing Group, USA.