Frequently Asked Questions
We get a lot of questions about our company, our books and about our publishing processes. On this page, we gathered all our frequently asked questions along with the answers. We hope you find what you need.
For Readers | For Agents | For Press | For Festivals and Events | For Authors | For Translators | For Lawyers | For Jobs
For Readers
How much is postage?
For all UK based orders delivery is just 99p. For European orders delivery is £8 and for the United States and Canada it is £20.
If I pre-order, when will I receive my order?
Your pre-ordered book will be shipped as soon as the book is published. For each title available for pre-order you can see the approximate publication date. As soon as we have shipped your order, you will receive an e-mail.Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we do. International shipping costs may vary depending on destination. You can see the price when you type your address at check-out.
What's your return policy?
While we hope you never want to return a book, we are, of course, happy to accept returns of any books that you've ordered incorrectly or if there are any defects. Please send an e-mail to info@parthianbook.com for details.
For Press
Are your authors available for interview?
It depends on the individual person, but usually our authors are more than happy to do interviews. Contact our publishing manager at carlyparthian@gmail.com.
Do you send out review copies?
Yes, we do. If you would like to be taken into consideration for commissioned reviews, please contact info@parthianbooks.com.
Where can I get updated on company news?
We post all our news, articles and blog posts here on our website under 'Carnival' and 'Events.'
For Festivals & Events
I want to go to one of your events. What should I do?
The date, time and location of the event will be listed on our Events Page. If the event is ticketed, it will say so. Unless the event-text says otherwise, you can buy tickets at the door.
Who do I contact if I am organising a festival?
Get in touch with our publishing manager at carlyparthian@gmail.com.
For Authors
Our submissions window is open to submissions from December 1st 2024 to December 10th.
Below is general information.
Please use this email address: parthiansubmissions@gmail.com If you send your manuscript outside of our reading periods then the chances are they will not be read as that account is only checked periodically.
Please send the first 30 pages in a word or PDF document, double-spaced and laid out in the standard template that professional publishers expect (for prose: indents for new paragraphs and in a legible font).
We usually aim to respond within twelve weeks but this can take longer at busy times / if we are sent a high number of manuscripts.
Please only submit one manuscript in this submission window. In the first instance, please familiarise yourself with our books and then submit.
What should I include when I submit my manuscript?
When submitting a manuscript, you must include:
- A concise but comprehensive synopsis of your piece of work (1-2 sides of A4 maximum). We need a full synopsis including endings / spoilers.
- The first 30 pages as an example of your style of writing.
- A cover letter which should explain why you believe your writing sits comfortably with the Parthian list, and what additionality and breadth it offers the list, and your publishing history to date, if you have one, including any related bursaries, residencies and prizes.
- An email address to contact you at.
- If you are sending poems or short stories please also note where you have had stories published in journals, magazines, websites and anthologies of note / or placed highly in competitions and the dates.
Should I send you the entire manuscript?
No, we only want the first 30 pages initially.
What should I include in the cover letter?
In the cover letter, you should describe your motivation for writing the manuscript, give some brief biographic information, detail your previous publishing history (if relevant), and describe why you think your manuscript matches Parthian's publishing profile and what makes it new.
What should I include in the synopsis?
The 1-2 page synopsis should describe the entire plot of your book, including the ending and spoilers. We will read all submissions - you should not use your synopsis to entice us.
Which address should I send my manuscript to?
The email address above.
Can I submit more than one manuscript at a time?
No. Please only send us one manuscript at a time.
When will I get a reply to my submission?
We aim to respond to all submissions within 12 weeks but as we are a small team this can take a little longer.
Do you accept poetry submissions?
Please note that we publish only a small amount of poetry each year and it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with our books before submitting to us to see if your work will be a good fit to our list.
We do not publish poetry pamphlets.
What should I include with my poetry submission?
If you want us to consider publishing your collection, you should:
- Include an up-to-date biography including a record of any previously published work (whether individual poems in journals or pamphlets and collections), any competition placings and key live performances (if you have these).
- Include a poetry sampler of around 15-20 poems. The sampler should provide a clear indication of themes and approaches, and be representative of the overall quality of your work.
- Please only submit one manuscript at a time.
Do you accept genre fiction?
No, we currently don't accept genre fiction. However, if you have a piece of literary crime fiction or fantasy that you think we would be interested in, contact our Creative Director Richard Davies at info@parthianbooks.com
Do you publish Children's Fiction or YA?
No, we do not publish Children's Fiction or YA.
For Agents
Do you accept submissions from agents?
Yes, we do. Please follow the guidelines listed in the section 'For Authors.'
For Translators
Do you publish translations?
Yes, we do publish translations. Contact us if you've discovered a text that you want us to consider, but please keep our publishing profile in mind. You can see what types of translated works we have previously published at Europa Carnivale.
Do you commission translations?
Occasionally. Send us a sample following the submission guidelines listed in the section 'For Authors.'
For Lawyers
Who should I contact about rights enquiries?
All rights enquiries should be adressed to Nikki Griffiths at nikkigriffiths21@yahoo.co.uk
For Jobs
Does Parthian Books take interns?
Parthian does accept interns. It has hosted several internships in the past with students both from the UK and other countries and you can read about their experiences here: Interns' Blog. Please keep an eye on our social media pages for future opportunities.