Q&A with Kate Cuthbert from Escape Publishing!

When Harlequin Australia launched a new digital only imprint  Escape Publishing , I decided to rope in the Managing Editor of Escape Publishing Kate Cuthbert to answer some questions.

You can also ask your questions in the comments and Kate would try to answer ...

Kate: Hi Everyone! Thanks so much for inviting me to spend some time with you.

Nas: Hello Kate, welcome to the home of romance readers and aspiring romance writers. Thanks for agreeing to satisfy our curiosity! To begin with when did the Imprint launch?

Kate: We officially launched Escape Publishing on the 14th of November with a fabulous waterfront party in Sydney. It was a fantastic night.





Nas: What type of stories are you looking for?

Kate: No one believes me when I answer this question! But I promise, I'm telling the truth: we want everything. As long as it has a romantic arc and an emotionally uplifting ending, I want to read about it.

If you're after my personal wish list, I'd love to see some Australian-set historicals, convicts optional.


Nas: Are you looking for a certain genre only?

Kate: Nope. See above. Honestly - everything, as long as it's a romance!


Nas:  Will you be taking submissions from Published authors as well? Or previously self-published ones?

Kate: Absolutely: previously published, self-published, debut. We're also happy to consider previously self-published novels.



Nas: Where can we get information on word count, genre, etc?

Kate: You can get a ton of information on our website, www.escapepublishing.com.au, but I can't reiterate enough that we're after everything: any romance story between 5000 and 250 000 words. More information on Submissions page.



Nas: Do writers get advances on signing?

Kate: Our publishing model doesn't offer advances, however we have very competitive royalty rates.



Nas: What percentage do authors get?

Kate: Our royalty rates are 50% from sales from the Escape Publishing website, 40% from third-party retailers.


Nas: Will Escape Publishing do marketing for the books?

Kate: Absolutely. Escape Publishing may be a small team, but we have the global Harlequin team behind us. We will be doing everything we can to make sure our authors enjoy international success.
Now my friends and aspiring writers, dust off your manuscripts(by the way, send to us for help in dusting off!) and submit!

Ask all your burning questions now ...

56 comments:

  1. Sounds like a team who are definitely worth checking out :)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jemi!

      Please do. Check their Submissions Page for more information.

      Delete
  2. Fantastic post Kate and Nas!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Polina!

      I tried. Thanks for coming by!

      Delete
  3. Sounds like a great house! I'll have to dig around & see if I have anything to send :) I wish I had an Australian-set romance--I got hooked on that niche after reading The Thorn Birds and love it!

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    1. Hello Meradeth!

      As Kate has said, they would love to see anything which has romance!

      Delete
  4. I don't write romance (well, I do, but for a younger age group), but I love the idea of stories in the Australian outback and convicts.

    Congrats on the new imprint!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Stina,

      If you have romance, why not submit as Escape is open to all types of stories.

      Delete
  5. I'd love to see some Australian historicals, too. Please! And some Australian SF. I'd really like to read science fiction romance with an Australian setting.

    Just putting in my wishlist to Santa Kate ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jenny,
      I happen to know that there is a sci fi coming up for release in the very near future. Not set in Australia, but it has an Australian protagonist :) And you will love it!

      Delete
    2. Hi Jenny!

      Serena should know, she edited it :)

      Delete
  6. Congratulations on the new imprint. It sounds fantastic! (Unfortunately, I'm a children's writer, so I can't take advantage of submitting my work. This will be great, though, for other romance writers!)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sherry,

      Thanks for reading along and for your comment. Please do spread the word of Escape Publishing to other writers you know of.

      Delete
  7. Hello, Kate and Nas!

    Will Escape Publishing eventually print books, or do you guys plan on sticking to digital only? :) Either way, I'm headed to your site for details.

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  8. Hi Celeste - This is actually one of the things that I really think differentiates Escape Publishing from other e-book publishers. We don’t think that print is the end goal. This suggests that print is privileged over digital, and that a print contract somehow legitimises a book. We don’t buy into that. Our books are with Escape because it's the best place for them.

    That's not to say that they won't - never say never, and all that, but that's not our end game.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kate for your answer.

      I hope your question is answered Celeste?

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    2. I agree that having a digital only book doesn't make it of lesser value. I just think a lot of writers like the idea of being able to hold their book and smell the paper hot off the press. It's a romantic idea, I know, lol. :) Thanks for replying. :)

      Delete
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  10. I know someone who'd be interested in submitting. Thanks for the info!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Theresa!

      Please do tell your friends about submitting to Escape Publishing!

      Thanks for coming by!

      Delete
    2. Hi Nas,
      I have already submitted my Australian historical and got a request for the full manuscript, so I am absolutley over the moon. Just waiting now with fingers and toes crossed.
      Great blog.

      Best wishes

      Margaret

      Delete
    3. Yay! Margaret!

      Super Congrats! Looking forward to reading your Historical soon!

      Delete
  11. Great interview. I'll be passing on the link!

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  12. Great interview, Kate. I love how you're spreading the word about this wonderful new line! The launch books were all wonderful reads. I love where Escape Publishing is heading :)

    Thanks for having Kate here as your guest, Nas.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Serena,

      Thanks for coming by and yes, you were at the launch party and read all the launch books, didn't you?

      Delete
    2. Yes I was and yes I did. And they're fabulous! (And so was the launch party!!)

      Delete
  13. Nas, thank you for interviewing Kate on your site. I've read other interviews on other sites on my phone but couldn't get the comments to work.
    I find Escape Publishing's aims fresh and exciting. I'm currently working hard on a steamy romance set in Fiji, which includes some interesting historical motifs. I'd love to set a story in the Queensland outback where I spent my childhood. Finally, I see a publisher who might be interested. Now I have my story idea for my next book!
    It is also exciting to see a publisher who will also promote authors. This is becoming rare, so this is another good reason to submit to Escape.

    Denise

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    Replies
    1. Hi Denise,

      I'm waiting eagerly to see your book published! A steamy romance set in Fiji, how could you go wrong? Lol!

      But I love your writing.

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    2. I hope you decide to submit to Escape, Denise, go for it!! I'm excited to have recently become an Escape Artist :)

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    3. Congratulations on becoming an Escape artist, Juliet! Looking forward to reading your story!

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  14. Great post, Nas and Kate. I'm really looking forward to submitting in the future. I have a friend who will be releasing with Escape in December, so very excited for her too. First I have a Christmas novella to finish and the third in my shifter series, but then watch out Escape there will be another Kiwi coming to call!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Mel!

      All the best with your novella! And yes, please we want to see you published by Escape Publishing!

      All the best to your friend for her December release by Escape Publishing!

      Delete
  15. Hi Nas and Kate. I have to say I love the logo of Escape Publishing... it's very attractive and quite modern. It draws me in. Cant wait to explore the line once it's up and running... especially since im the proud new owner of a Kindle heheeh

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    Replies
    1. Hi Tash!

      Yay! Lucky you, getting a new Kindle! So welcome to the world of Digital reading with leisure!

      Delete
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  17. Thank you for inspiring my to get back to work! I have a romantic thriller in the works and I am reworking right now. I'll bookmark this post and keep it in mind.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Rose!

      All the best with your writing! Thank you for reading and for your comment!

      Delete
  18. Good to know and nice to meet Kate!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lydia!

      Thanks for swinging by and reading this post!

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  19. It's interesting that Escape have offered a new market for short fiction. As a short fiction writer, I've recently been finding the market shrinking by the day. Escape has offered me hope, which I will be sharing with my fellow short fiction writers. Thanks, Kate.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Maria

      Thanks for coming along.

      All the best!

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  20. Oh, interesting! I hadn't heard of Escape before this!
    Good to know!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jennifer,

      Please do check out Escape Publishing's website and Submissions page (links above)and you'll find more information.

      Thanks for coming by!

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  21. Awesome. I enjoy variety and seeing new publishers and imprints in the scene.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Medeia!

      Submit your stories to Escape!

      All the best!

      Delete
  22. Wow, Nas! What an upbeat, encouraging company profile. Kate comes across as such an open spirit. Thank you so much for giving me the heads-up on this.

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  23. Hi Suze

    I'm glad you think so. Thanks for coming by!

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a great opportunity - thank you for the info!!

    All the best with everyone submitting or thinking of!! Good luck! Take care
    x

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    Replies
    1. Hi Old Kitty!

      Thanks for coming by and reading this post!

      Delete
  25. Thanks Nas and Kate. For a novel that's too short to be single title and has too many characters to be category, Escape is just perfect for me. Thanks for the chance!

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    1. Congratulations Bridget! Yay! Your debut release from Escape Publisher's is in the December batch! Releasing on 10th December.

      NO STRING'S ATTACHED is an awesome story and as Kate said, 'This sweet, funny, surprising story is set against the aftermath of the Boxing Day Tsunami. Mei Jing rescues Rod under extraordinary circumstances, and when they meet again years later, she remembers–he doesn’t. But the attraction is instantaneous. Mei Jing wants more from Rod than gratitude, and she struggles to find the right time to tell the truth. Will she be able to trust that he truly loves her, or is he just grateful to the woman who saved his life?'

      Doesn't it sound like something we all would like to read?

      Delete

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