WRITERS! AH! We need you!
Q: Why should you publish with us?
A: Because unless you're writing about the almighty Charlie Chaplin or possibly a talkie transitioner (such as Joan Crawford) it is extremely hard to get major publishers interested in silent subjects.
That leaves us indie publishers. While there are at least two other small publishers out there who publish silent film books, neither do so exclusively or with much love. One well known name in this field will take almost any writing, giving them an odd title collection (some of their books are highly recommended and well researched, while others are terrible and look like Hollywood Babylon mixed in with a 5th grader's book report.)
When we say 'love', we mean love! These publishers have no love for silents and thus do very little to promote these books. Some overprice their titles, while others bury their silent titles with little promotion or fanfare. Either way you'll be expected to cover all research costs and never see a penny for your work.
While we aren't wealthy enough to offer research costs (yet) we do have them beat at every other turn! Our books are reasonably priced (under $30), high quality printings and will be promoted both online and offline, particularly in our home market of Los Angeles, California.
And though we're newer, we have one goal in mind when it comes to our publishing: only the finest books allowed. That means all non fiction work must be well cited, researched and written in an interesting to read manner. All novels must be exciting and good enough for us to invest our time and money into. Unlike the other publishers we are sticklers for this. We love silents and we will do all we can to give silents a good name, which for us includes printing the finest quality books. Ever.
Q: What type of books do we publish?
A: Okay pay attention, we don't want any dang Bette Davis biographies in the inbox! Below is our publishing criteria, please make sure your project matches it
Non Fiction:
Silent Films
Silent Film Actors
Silent Film
Biographies
Memoirs (that are, somehow, silent film related)
Pictorial/Coffee Table Books
1910s/1920s related books (somehow tied into silent film)
Reprints
Criteria: Must be related to silent film in some form or way. All biographies or academic texts must be well researched and have a citations and notes section. Pictorial styled books must have all images properly sized (300 DPI) and cleared for publishing. All reprinted books must be public domain or have copyright clearance.
Fiction:
Historical Fiction
Alternative History Fiction
Anthologies
Criteria: All fictional books must be silent based somehow.
While we'll take all submissions that meet the above criteria we do have a wish list, and if your book is about one of the subjects on this wish list well...you're probably jumping to the front of the line.
Non Fiction:
*Any still unpublished Memoirs or writings (particularly those of Anita Page, any Ziegfeld Girls and Charlotte Shelby)
Well researched biographies on the following people:
Fatty Arbuckle
Douglas Fairbanks
Lon Chaney
Greta Garbo
Alice White
Anna May Wong
Bebe Daniels
Valeska Surrat (Suratt)
D.W. Griffith
Gloria Swanson
Barbara LaMarr
Renee Adoree
Theda Bara
Any Pictorials or Film related books about:
*Clara Bow
*Rudolph Valentino
*Vamps (a collection: Theda Bara, Nita Naldi, etc)
*Flappers (Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, etc)
*Gloria Swanson
*Theda Bara
Vaudeville and 20s Stars:
*Sophie Tucker
*Al Jolson
*Nora Bayes
*Fanny Brice
*Blossom Seeley
*Audrey Munson
If your book seems like the right fit for us please send a query letter to contact@1921pvg.com . No attachments please!