What are we looking for?

We are looking for un-agented authors who are writing in one of THREE commercial genres for us to launch and publish in 2025. We’re always on the lookout for fantastic stories, and we are looking to find the best new books for winter and summer 2025.

Debut authors are particularly encouraged to submit. 

A Christmas Murder

A standout Christmas Murder set at Christmas in any of the following genres: thriller, domestic noir, psychological suspense, locked-room murder, cozy mystery. 

Length: 70,000–120,000 words

UK or US setting.

A Twisty Thriller

We’re looking for a fantastic thriller with a unique hook that is full of by twists and turns. 

Whether it’s a pulse-pounding thriller packed with action, an intimate and intriguing domestic noir, or an utterly gripping and shocking psychological suspense, we want to see dark and twisty concepts with compelling characters and a readable voice that we can’t put down. 

Length: 70,000–120,000 words.

  • What you will get from a deal with Embla:
    • You will partner with an experienced team of editors and marketers who have between them worked across the best commercial fiction houses in the UK – both corporate and independent; both for digital-first and traditional imprints, and across all genres. They will work closely with you to bring your book to readers by packaging and marketing it most effectively to find the right home in the digital marketplace.
    • Your books will appear in all formats on publication day all around the world: in eBook, digital audio, physical audio and in print.
    • Together we will build your brand through energetic social media activity, dynamic pricing, collaborative retailer relationships and arresting digital advertising campaigns.
    • Your editor will work closely with you from start to end of your publication journey and will be on hand to offer the highest editorial rigour when working on edits and be a supportive champion of your project.
    • Your team will be working hard to make your book an Amazon Top 100 bestseller in the UK and US.
    • You will have the benefit of an outstanding dedicated marketing team who excel at creating tailored and highly impactful digital campaigns, and keep abreast of developments in the digital landscape to remain at the cutting edge of digital marketing.
  • Who are Embla?
    • We are a leading digital-first imprint set up in 2021, and part of Bonnier Books UK.
    • We are the home of bestselling authors Dandy Smith, Patricia Wolf, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, Laura Starkey, Becca Day, Lucy Coleman and PS Cunliffe.
    • We combine the agility of an expert digital publisher with the experience of Bonnier Books, a 200-year-old family-owned publisher.
    • We have sold 2.5 million copies so far.
    • 60% of our titles hit the Kindle UK TOP 100 bestseller list.
    • Over 20% of our list reaches the TOP 10 UK.
    • Our mission is to connect our books with readers globally and to drive long-term sales, building series and author brands over time. This is why we publish simultaneously across all formats and languages.

Please include:

About you | First Name| Surname| Email Address | Contact Number| Address | About Your Book | Title | Pitch (max 500 words) | Word Count | Genre | Manuscript | Synopsis