Simile Press is looking for books that become somebody’s favourite book. Not just a competent read, not just a marketable premise — the kind of story that lodges itself in a reader’s mind and doesn’t leave. The kind that gets passed between friends with urgency.
We publish novels and single-author short fiction collections. The same principle applies to both: the only question we ask of a book is whether it works.
Always open — query any time
What We’re Looking For
We publish across a wide range of fiction categories. If your novel fits into one of the following, we want to hear We are open to all fiction — any genre, any approach, any setting. We are not chasing categories. We are chasing stories that earn a reader’s time and reward it. A story can be set anywhere, in any kind of world, told in any kind of voice. What it cannot be is dull, hollow, or safe.
We specifically welcome submissions in the following:
- Novels — 50 000 to 120 000 words. Any genre or approach.
- Single-author short fiction collections — a cohesive body of short fiction by one writer, with a reason to exist as a collection rather than a pile of stories.
- Children’s fiction — for readers aged 8 to 12. Not picture books. Stories with genuine heart, real stakes, and enough respect for young readers to take them seriously.
- Teen and young adult fiction — for teenage readers, with all the complexity that deserves. No talking down. No tying everything up too neatly.
What We’re Not Looking For
- Erotica or sexually explicit content
- Work that exists primarily to demean, dehumanise, or harm
- Picture books
- Work previously published in full in any print or digital form
Word count guidelines apply to adult fiction. Children’s and YA fiction will be assessed on their own terms — if your manuscript falls outside standard ranges, tell us in your query and we will consider it on merit.
If your book resists easy description, use your query to tell us why. We would rather read a good explanation than miss a good book.
Who Can Submit
South African writers only — whether based in South Africa or living abroad. If South Africa is home, or has been, this call is for you.
No restrictions on experience level or publication history. Debut authors are as welcome as established ones.
Submissions accepted in English and Afrikaans. The natural inclusion of vernacular phrases, dialogue, and passages from any South African language is warmly welcomed. Write the way your characters actually speak.
How It Works: Profit Share
After production costs are recovered, every rand of profit is split 50/50 between Simile Press and you. Payments are made bi-annually alongside a full, transparent sales and cost report. No ceiling on what you can earn.
For a ful explanation see our Publishing Model page.
Your Rights
Your book is yours. It remains yours.
By publishing with Simile Press you grant us exclusive publication rights worldwide in print and digital formats for the duration of our agreement, the right to translate between English and Afrikaans for an additional edition in consultation with you, and the right to use excerpts for promotional purposes.
All other rights remain with you — translation into other languages, adaptation, audio, and all subsidiary rights. We will never pursue or sell those rights without your explicit written consent and a separate agreement.
If a title goes out of active distribution or our agreement ends for any reason, your rights revert to you cleanly and promptly.
How to Submit
Simile Press reads submissions on a two-step basis. Your first submission is a short query through the online form below — not your full manuscript, not a lengthy proposal, just enough for us to understand what you have made and whether it is likely to be right for us. We aim to respond to all queries within 14 days. If we would like to read further, we will ask for the full manuscript, proposal, or sample pages as appropriate. You will never be asked to send more than we need at each stage.
No attachments at this stage. No reading fee. Just the form.
Thank you — your query has been received.
Simultaneous Submissions
We accept simultaneous submissions. If your book is accepted elsewhere before we respond, please notify us immediately.
Response Times
Query responses within 14 days. Full submission responses within 90 days. If you have not heard from us after 100 days, send a polite status enquiry. We respond to everything.
Simile Press is Simile Press is an independent publisher based in Johannesburg, South Africa, committed to quality fiction, transparent author agreements, and shared success. One book at a time, on terms worth agreeing to.