Bardic Literary House
A small press for big imaginations.We're interested in original sci-fi, fantasy and horror by writers from Australia and NZ. We want to partner with emerging authors to bring their work into the world. See below for more info!
A small press for big imaginations.
About Us
It all started with a passion for reviving out-of-print sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Sure, anyone can dump a Project Gutenberg file online and call themselves a publisher, but we wanted more than that. We wanted to design the book. To take those old words and enshrine them in something sleek, modern, and awesome.That’s how Bardic Literary House began.Now, with hands-on experience in the end-to-end process - formatting, design, and short-run printing - we’re turning our attention to original works. Our goal is the same: to honour bold, imaginative writing with thoughtful design and proper care.At the moment, our focus is on emerging authors from Australia and New Zealand. If this sounds like you, scroll on!
A small press for big imaginations.
What We're Looking For
(scroll to the bottom for submission guidelines)
What kind of books do you publish?
We’re interested in original science fiction, fantasy, and horror, especially works with strong voice, bold ideas, or a touch of weird. Think: speculative fiction with grit, wonder, or teeth. Stories that feature Oceania in some way that feels authentic to the story are a plus.Do you only accept submissions from Australia and New Zealand?
For now, yes. We're focused on emerging voices from Australia and New Zealand, but we may open up more widely in future.Do you charge authors any fees?
Absolutely not. We’re not a vanity press. If your work is accepted, we handle the design, formatting, and printing. You’ll never pay to be published with Bardic.What do authors receive?
-Ten free author copies (plus the option to buy more copies at cost) shipped to your door
-A royalty split from the first book sold (to be negotiated)
-A book that’s been properly edited, designed and brought into the world with careDo you accept short stories or novellas?
At the moment, we’re only accepting complete novel-length manuscripts (75,000 - 100,000 words). But we may launch anthologies or zine projects in the future.How are the books sold?
We aim to use a multi-channel approach which involves:-Print-on-demand sales through our website
-Select independent bookstores in Australia/NZ (tbd)
-Global distribution of the physical book via international partners such as Booktopia
-Ebook availability through Amazon and other platformsWhat’s your response time?
We aim to reply to submissions within 8 weeks. Feedback may be provided but is not guaranteed. We're a small press, so thanks for your patience!Can I submit a story I've already published elsewhere?
For the moment, we're looking only to publish original works.What do you mean by emerging authors?
We're especially interested in authors who haven't yet published a full-length novel, but may have short stories or other work online or in print. Maybe you've queried agents or pitched to a big publisher and been passed over for being too weird, too niche, or not quite "market-ready." If your writing has spark and ambition, we’d love to see it.If I'm accepted, am I giving up the rights to my work forever?
No. We don’t believe in holding your work hostage. While the specifics can be negotiated, in most cases all rights revert to the author 24 months after publication.That said, we may ask to retain non-exclusive permission to continue selling the book through our website and in-store, if both parties are happy to keep it available. This helps ensure your work can still be discovered, even after the initial publishing window has closed.Do I have any say about the final book?
Yes. We believe in partnership. You'll have a say in layout and design, can suggest design directions, and you’ll always have the right to veto a cover you dislike. We want your book to feel like yours!That said, we do insist on one thing: the Bardic House logo will appear on the spine and back cover. Consider it our signature.Is there anything you don't want?
We’re currently only accepting fiction in the genres of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Within that scope, we’re open... but please ensure your work is entirely human-written. Bardic House is about celebrating authors, not algorithms.How do I submit?
Please send your submission to [email protected] with the email subject RE: Submission. Your submission should include a .doc or .docx file which contains the first 7500 words of your finished manuscript (the rest will be requested if you are shortlisted).In your email body please include:
-Your name or pen name
-The name and genre of your story (eg: hard sci-fi, low fantasy, psychological horror)
-Your location
-A short (200 word) bio about yourself.Due to time constraints, submissions not following the above format will not be read
