Roxane Gay Books prioritizes underrepresented writers and does so, proudly. Poetry is a vital art form we love, but we are not considering any poetry, without exception. Only non-fiction will be considered on proposal. I am not currently seeking YA, middle-grade, or children's books.

Historical fiction, Westerns and the like will be a hard sell and there are other imprints that are a better fit for those stories. I am not interested in police propaganda narratives. I am always open to being surprised but I will not likely be drawn to stories about sad white people marriages or autofiction. Most genres are welcome but my tastes skew to not only literary fiction but contemporary romance, and science fiction and fantasy. I will consider novels, short fiction, memoirs, essay collections, and nonfiction. I enjoy dark, gritty stories but I am also open to happy, joyful but unsentimental stories that reflect faith in the overall goodness of humanity. I welcome your so-called unlikable protagonists. I want books I simply cannot put down and that, when I finish, I can’t stop thinking about. I love literary fiction but your story has to have an interesting plot. I am looking for beautifully written, compelling books that challenge, delight, and entertain readers.

I am going to publish books I love from interesting writers. Please, please read these guidelines and follow them.

This imprint publishes three (3) books a year, so when submissions are closed to unagented writers, it is because my slate is currently full. ROXANE GAY BOOKS ACCEPTS submissions from both agented and unagented writers. ROXANE GAY BOOKS IS CLOSED TO UNAGENTED SUBMISSIONS UNTIL JUNE 15, 2023.

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