They publish eBooks and books in print. The print books appear to be print on demand, which is not unusual with a small publisher. They also have audiobooks available for many of their books, which is nice.

They are active on social media, and have genre-appropriate covers.

In 2022 when I first reviewed this publication, much, including the main page, was geared towards writers as well as readers, which made me nervous. Especially because some aspects of the page were very reminiscent of a vanity press. This is no longer the case, and they now are firmly focused on selling books on most pages of their website.

In January 2025, they went from having a vanity imprint, Ten Hut Media, to actively encouraging dual submissions to both Ten Hut Media and Severn River Press. While this is not the same as re-directing submissions from a traditional to a vanity imprint, it also was a not standard practice (or anything I’ve encountered before or sense).

For the sake of transparency, I’m going to be clear that an editor reached out to me from the press, after they moved away from having Ten Hut Media, and he shared some of the details going forward. As many long term readers already know, I generally try not to speak to editors directly, because sometimes what they say and what their website and authors say do not match. This does not appear to be the case here.

I think it’s clear that they want to move forward only as a traditional press. There have also been some good recent deals made by them and reported by Publishers Marketplace.

They are currently open to submissions till the 19th of November 2025. They are also open to an even larger range of genres than before. This is what they say about the reading period:

“We’re looking for page-turning, series-friendly fiction across mystery, thriller, historical fiction, romance, sci-fi, and more. This season we plan to sign 4–8 authors.” I like that they are upfront about the number of authors they plan to sign.

They also make it clear what they are looking for, in terms of authors:

• Authors who can publish 2 books per year (we’ll consider 1 book per year for the right project).
• Two-book initial deal with an option for at least two more in the series.
• Strong hooks, clear reader promise, and potential to grow into a series.

Overall though, they appear to do a good job, publishing consistent quality within a niche.

Unlike most presses they ask that you submit your complete manuscript along with your query letter.

To learn more, please visit their submission guidelines here. They have their own submissions portal, which is easy to use.

They are a very new journal, but they are paying authors ($50 per story, regardless of length), and they are offering the first issue for free, so it’s easy to get a feel for what they publish. I think their website is easy to navigate, they are putting real effort into promoting every issue, and the covers they design to reflect the stories seem great, so far.  They only publish 1 story per issue, and 4 issues per year, which means that for a new journal their acceptance rates would still be pretty low. The issues are available for free online, or 99 cents per download. An anthology containing all 4 stories will be published once a year.

They are not interested in English language reprints (including self publishing), but are open to work that has been previously published in another language and is now translated into English. Work must be science fiction or fantasy and they are open to most cross-genres. Their second issue will be a Western Fantasy story.

Your story has to be a readable font, ideally submitters will follow Modern Manuscript Format.

Stories should not contain graphic sex, gore, or excessive profanity. It must be submitted via their submission system. Simultaneous submissions are allowed

They try to respond to all submissions between six weeks and 90 days.

Do not submit any work that does not fit their submission guidelines.

The editor also goes into details in terms of what they are looking for if you scroll down on their submission guidelines, which you can see here.

Tired of the usual book signing event at the big box bookstore? Tired of sitting around waiting for an avid reader to show some interest in your display and perhaps even purchase an autographed copy of your book? Perhaps the big box bookstores aren’t the best option for launching your books. Have you considered setting up a stall at a local farmer’s market? Or even an arts and craft fair? Without the competition of multiple books by multiple authors, this might open the door to multiple sales and introduce you to a wider reading audience. I gave it a try ten years ago, and I see more authors doing this now than before. After all, when you think of it, your books fall within the categories of farmer’s market vendors and arts and crafts market vendors. Why? Because you created what you’re selling.

We all want our chance in the limelight, the opportunity to showcase our work, our cherished published book(s). Setting up a table at the local big box bookstore is the ideal setting to lure in readers. A vibrant display, perhaps even large presentation or display boards to highlight our image and the image of the book we’re currently promoting, will surely attract the general public. The big-name authors do it all the time and their fans line up for hours for that special, autographed first edition. But here’s the thing: we’re not all big-name authors. At least, not yet. So, setting up shop for hours in a bookstore, large or small, after doing everything within our power to advertise and get the word on the street, is like entering a lottery. The odds of your one book standing out amongst thousands of already established best-sellers is like buying a ticket in the next jackpot draw. Simply put there’s too many books, too many authors, and too much competition. It’s the same situation if you rent a table at a big book fair. What you need to get yourself and your book recognized is a venue that doesn’t normally showcase authors. Like a farmer’s market, or even an arts and crafts market.

I can’t claim the idea of showcasing my books in this venue as exclusively my own. After moving to the country, I connected with another author friend who lived nearby. She’d successfully launched her recent book at the local farmer’s market and encouraged me to try the same. I did. And it was a great success. Not only did my recent book sell well, but so did my earlier publications. That was only the beginning for me. I signed up with the local farmer’s market for the remainder of the summer. Some weeks were better than others, but overall, I did very well. The following year, I tried a different farmer’s market.

As Christmas approached, I tried another venue: the local Christmas arts and crafts markets. There was a fee to rent the space, but that was quickly made up for with the number of sales I made. I don’t go for the big markets that require an exorbitant space rental fee plus an exorbitant amount of insurance for my space, my products and liability for my potential customers. I find customers, especially those interested in my books (and other local authors, too), are more likely to attend the smaller markets than the big ones which usually require an admission fee.

Some things to consider when planning a farmer’s market or arts and crafts market appearance:

1. Farmers’ markets are traditionally held outdoors, though some do have indoor venues instead of or as well as the outdoor setting. Make sure you have sufficient cover, plastic sheeting to cover your books and a tent or canopy for more coverage. If an indoor setting is available, go for that, even if the space rental fee is a little more, it’s worth it. If there’s one thing you can never predict it’s the weather.
2. I keep my books in large plastic tubs and have only one copy on display – this is always my display copy and I only sell if all the copies in the tubs sell out. The plastic tubs provide additional protection if you’re assigned an outdoor space and the weather turns nasty.
3. Make your setup appealing. If you must bring your own table, don’t use a card table. For one thing, it’s too low as it’s meant for use when people sit around it. I have a long folding table which packs up for easy transport and makes a good surface (at a good height) for displaying my books. I cover it with a colorful tablecloth to make it look attractive. And I don’t just lay the books flat on the table. I’ve purchased book stands to add a three-dimensional display and I also have a shelf that I place on the table. This brings in those potential customers who might otherwise just walk right past your table.
4. Poster board displays of your books always attracts interest. And make sure you have business cards ready to hand out in case someone shows interest but doesn’t want to buy right away.
5. On the financial side of things, be prepared to accept multiple methods of payment. I accept cash, cheque, or e-transfer (which they do on the spot and show me the transaction). Cheques are a little riskier, but I figure it’s a risk worth taking if I get my books into a reader’s hands.

Be prepared to stand all day, to talk to people who hover near your table and, always, be pleasant, even when you get the blasé response, “I don’t read.” People who attend these markets love to chat and visit; not everyone will purchase your books, but they’ll all listen intently to your stories. And, who knows? Somewhere down the line, these intent listeners may pass on your information to other potential readers. Word of mouth.

The adventures of using these venues for promoting your books far outweigh the  ideal of being a superstar in a big box bookstore. That’ll come; at least, we all hope it will. Until we reach that pinnacle of success, our main goal is to get our books into the hands of readers. And this is one way to successfully do just that.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford is a country writer, living just outside the tiny community of North Gower, Ontario, near the nation’s capital. With degrees in art history, music and Canadian studies, the retired music teacher enjoys the quiet nature of her country home and the inspiration of working at her antique Jane Austen-style spinet desk, feeling quite complete as she writes and stares out the large picture window at the birds and the forest. She writes in several genres, including creative nonfiction, memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction. http://emilyjanebooks.ca