Crème of the Crop?

Do you have a novel written, but no publisher on the leash yet? Well, three-year-old independent British house Crème de la Crime has launched its second search for “unsung writing talent” in the crime and mystery fiction field. As the publisher explains:

Over the next few months, Crème de la Crime will seek submissions for Search 2007. This time at least FIVE part-novels will be selected by a team of experts--editors, authors, avid and discriminating crime fiction readers--and the authors will receive a detailed editorial report. Then at least TWO will be chosen for publication as part of Crème de la Crime’s 2008 list.

Crème de la Crime has previously issued books by Adrian Magson (No Sleep for the Dead), David Harrison (Sins of the Father), Maureen Carter (Baby Love), and others. It doesn’t promise to make new writers into immediate stars (“We don’t pay authors the unrealistic six-figure advances which make the headlines. You won’t see huge adverts for our books in glossy magazines and the weekend papers.”). However, the publisher does pledge “rigorous editorial support,” and in this age when too many novels get into print with too little editing, such support and quality control can be important.

Interested authors are instructed to “submit a 500-word synopsis and the opening 5,000 words of a crime novel which will eventually total 70-80,000 words. The work must be unpublished, original and not under offer to other publishers.” For more entry specifications, click here. And tell them The Rap Sheet sent you! But don’t delay, as the closing date for submissions will be February 28, 2007.