Sarabande Books is an award-winning independent literary press headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Established in 1994 to champion poetry, fiction, and essay, we are committed to creating lasting editions that honor exceptional writing. With nearly three hundred titles in print, we have earned a dedicated readership and a national reputation as a publisher of diverse forms and innovative voices. 

For more information, visit: www.sarabandebooks.org. 


Annual Submissions Opportunities

January 1 - February 15: Annual Prizes in Poetry, Short Fiction, and Essay

NEW! April 1 - 30: The Sarabande Chapbook Prize

July 1 - 31: The July Open (poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction manuscripts; translation proposals)

NEW! September 1 - 30: The Sarabande Chapbook Prize


Please submit your work to the appropriate category. If you are submitting a hybrid manuscript, please select the submission category that best fits your work.

Sarabande Books is seeking manuscript readers for poetry, essay, and short fiction. Each year, submissions to Sarabande’s annual prizes and open periods are read by a rotating panel of enthusiastic and highly-qualified manuscript readers in their respective genres. 

If you’re interested in joining our panel of readers, we invite you to inquire by completing the form below.

We are accepting readers on a rolling basis, so we recommend inquiring early! The inquiry form should take approximately ten minutes to complete. 

ELIGIBILITY

This opportunity is open to any reader of the English language who does not and will not have a manuscript under consideration with Sarabande Books through 2024. 

Sarabande Books