
Looking for a publishing home for your novel? Acorn & Ink Publishing welcomes submissions from debut and established authors.
At Acorn & Ink Publishing, we believe every great story deserves the opportunity to find its readers.
We are an independent traditional publishing house founded by Kelly Lacey and Dwayne Mathers, with a passion for discovering talented writers, championing exceptional storytelling and building genuine, lasting relationships with our authors.
Our manuscript submissions are open, and we’d love to hear from you.
Whether you’ve just completed your first novel or you’re an established author looking for a new publishing home, we welcome you to explore what Acorn & Ink Publishing has to offer.
What Kind of Books Are We Looking For?
We’re always excited to discover compelling stories, unforgettable characters and distinctive new voices.
Acorn & Ink Publishing considers full-length fiction novels across a wide range of genres, including:
- Crime fiction and detective novels
- Psychological thrillers and suspense
- Contemporary and literary fiction
- Romance
- Fantasy
- Historical fiction
- Other full-length fiction genres
We welcome both standalone novels and book series, and submissions are open to debut and previously published authors.
Please note: We do not currently accept novellas, short stories or other short fiction. Our publishing programme focuses on full-length novels.
How to Submit Your Manuscript
We’ve kept our initial submission process straightforward because we know how much time and effort goes into preparing your work.
To submit your novel for consideration, please complete our official manuscript submission form.
You’ll need to provide three things:
1. The First Four Chapters of Your Manuscript
We’d love to get a feel for your writing style, characters and storytelling.
You do not need to send your entire manuscript at this stage.
2. A Brief Synopsis
Tell us about your story, its central characters and the main plot. A synopsis helps our team understand the direction of your novel.
3. A Short Author Biography
Introduce yourself! Tell us a little about who you are and your writing background. Whether you’re a debut author or have previously published several novels, we’d love to learn more about you.
Once you have these ready, you can submit your manuscript through our official online form.
SUBMIT YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO ACORN & INK PUBLISHING
What Happens After You Submit?
Every manuscript represents an enormous amount of creativity, dedication and hard work, and we never take that for granted.
Our team considers submissions carefully, looking at the writing, storytelling and whether a manuscript could be a good fit for our publishing programme.
Our current response timeframe is approximately three to four months.
We understand that waiting for a response can be difficult, particularly when you’ve invested so much of yourself in your writing.
We appreciate your patience while we work through submissions.
If your manuscript is of interest, we’ll contact you to discuss the next steps.
Can You Submit to Other Publishers at the Same Time?
Yes, absolutely!
We understand that finding the right publishing home is an important decision.
Authors are welcome to submit their manuscripts to other publishers and literary agents while waiting to hear from Acorn & Ink Publishing.
All we ask is that you let us know if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere so we can update our records.
Is Acorn & Ink Publishing a Vanity Press?
This is a question we’re sometimes asked, and we’re always happy to answer it.
No. Acorn & Ink Publishing is a traditional independent publisher, not a vanity press.
Our authors pay absolutely nothing to be published with us.
We do not charge submission fees, publishing fees or mandatory contributions towards the publication of an author’s work.
We believe authors should be paid for their writing, not asked to pay for the opportunity to see their books published.
When we offer an author a publishing contract, we’re making a commitment to their story and to building a genuine publishing partnership.
There are no hidden publishing charges or compulsory publishing packages.
Our authors receive 40% royalties on net receipts, as outlined in their publishing agreements.
Transparency, fairness and collaboration are at the heart of our approach.
Why Choose Acorn & Ink Publishing?
At Acorn & Ink Publishing, our authors are more than names on a book cover.
We’re passionate about creating a publishing environment where writers feel supported, respected and involved.
We recognise the trust involved in handing your manuscript to a publisher. It’s a decision that deserves care, consideration and open communication.
Our approach is personal and collaborative, with a focus on developing long-term relationships rather than simply publishing individual titles.
We want our authors to feel proud of their books and confident in the publishing team working alongside them.
Independent publishing. Exceptional storytelling. A home for authors.
That’s what Acorn & Ink Publishing is all about.
Frequently Asked Questions About Manuscript Submissions
Are your manuscript submissions currently open?
Yes. Acorn & Ink Publishing is welcoming submissions of full-length fiction novels.
Do I need a literary agent to submit?
Authors can submit directly to Acorn & Ink Publishing using our manuscript submission form.
Do you accept debut authors?
Absolutely! We welcome manuscripts from both new and established writers.
Do you accept book series?
Yes. We consider both standalone novels and series.
Do I need to submit my full manuscript?
No. We initially ask for the first four chapters, a brief synopsis and a short author biography.
How long will I have to wait for a response?
Our current response timeframe is approximately three to four months.
Can I submit to other publishers?
Yes. Simultaneous submissions are welcome.
Will I need to pay anything to be published?
No. Acorn & Ink Publishing is a traditional independent publisher. Our authors pay no publishing fees.
What royalties do your authors receive?
Our authors receive 40% royalties on net receipts, as outlined in their publishing agreements.
Ready to Share Your Story?
Perhaps you’ve spent years working on your manuscript, or maybe you’ve recently typed those wonderful words: The End.
Whatever stage of your writing journey you’re at, we know just how much your story means to you.
At Acorn & Ink Publishing, we’re always excited about the possibility of discovering our next wonderful author and bringing another unforgettable story into the world.
If you’ve written a full-length fiction novel and feel Acorn & Ink Publishing could be the right home for your work, we’d love to hear from you.
Manuscript submissions are open.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR MANUSCRIPT
For general enquiries about our publishing house or submissions process, please contact:
acornandinkpublishing@gmail.com
Acorn & Ink Publishing
Great stories. Great authors. Lasting partnerships.



