Trade Contracts
In a trade contract, Hawkeye Publishing covers all publishing costs. The author receives 10% royalties of net profit.
These contracts are offered to manuscripts that are:
- Exemplary, original, and commercially viable
- Professionally edited before submission
- Requiring only light line editing and proofreading prior to publication
If you wish to seek our assistance you can engage one of our professional editors in a Structural Assessment.
Trade Contract Submissions
We accept trade contract submissions year-round from:
- Literary agents submitting on behalf of an author
- Authors previously published with Hawkeye Publishing
- Winners of the Hawkeye Manuscript Prize
Author-Assisted Contracts
In an author-assisted contract, Hawkeye Publishing and the author share publishing costs 50-50. The author receives 50% royalties of net profit. Unlike trade contracts, manuscripts in this model may still require further structural or line editing after signing.
Please note: This is not a fee-for-service agreement. We maintain a rigorous selection process because author-assisted books are published and distributed in the same way as trade titles. Our distributors expect exemplary books with bestseller potential, and our reputation is on the line when we accept a manuscript under this model.
Author-Assisted Contract Submissions
- We accept unsolicited submissions for author-assisted contracts from June 1 to June 30 each year.
- We also consider the longlist and shortlist from the Hawkeye Manuscript Prize for author-assisted contracts annually.
We Are Currently Looking For...
We Are Currently Looking For:
Young Adult Fiction
- Contemporary fiction addressing social and emotional issues, including mental health, identity, diversity, and authentic friendships or romances.
- Queer romance and LGBTQIA+ fiction (own-voices).
New Adult Fiction
- Romance-focused stories: contemporary, emotionally charged, slow-burn, or angsty.
- Coming-of-age and identity exploration, especially from diverse perspectives.
Adult Fiction
- Romantasy / Fantasy Romance: strong emotional arcs, high-concept hooks, tight pacing.
- Queer Adult Romance.
- Domestic Thrillers: female-led, high emotional stakes.
- Contemporary Women’s Fiction.
Non-Fiction
- Self-Help (written by qualified authors or on highly specific niche topics).
- Other non-fiction: biographies, history, business, politics, sport, true crime (considered if commercially appealing).
We Are Not Accepting...
We Are NOT Accepting:
- Educational, teaching, or curriculum-based works
- Poetry
- Short story collections
Submission Instructions
When submitting your work, please follow these guidelines:
Email to: team@hawkeyepublishing.com.au
Subject line: [Title] by [Pen Name] – [Contract Type] Submission
Email body:
- Address to Isabelle
- Include: manuscript title, genre, category, word count, and a short description/pitch (one paragraph)
Attachments:
1. A full one-page synopsis (not a blurb; must include all major plot points and the ending)
2. A one-page marketing plan (selling points, commercial viability, and your plans to promote the book)
3. The first three chapters of your manuscript, in Word or PDF format, double-spaced, size 11 or 12, in Arial or Times New Roman font
More Info
We thank all who submit unsolicited manuscripts to us, however due to the number of submissions we receive, you may only hear from us if you are shortlisted for publication. Shortlisted authors usually hear from us within three months.
We are best placed to assist Australian and New Zealand authors in terms of our publicity reach; we will however consider authors from other countries where the author demonstrates there is benefit in having an Australian publisher.
If you have any questions please get in touch via the Contact Form.
