Red Herring Reads Editorial Standards – Book Submission Requirements
To maintain a high-quality experience for our readers and ensure every title we feature meets genre expectations, Red Herring Reads applies the following editorial standards to all book submissions:
Basic Submission Requirements:
- Must be a mystery, thriller, or crime fiction title (including subgenres such as cozy mystery, legal thriller, police procedural, psychological suspense, etc.)
- All submitted books must have a cover image that looks professionally designed and appropriate for the genre
- Author must agree to Red Herring’s Terms of Service and email opt-in if receiving promotional benefits
Content Quality Guidelines:
- Minimum of 5 reviews and an average rating of 3.5 stars or higher on Amazon (exceptions made for new releases at editor’s discretion)
- Proper formatting (no major layout issues on eBook readers)
- Proofread and professionally edited (no excessive typos, grammar errors, or missing chapters)
- A compelling book description that clearly communicates stakes and genre expectations
Content We Do Not Accept:
- Erotica, extreme violence, or content that is outside of Red Herring’s genre focus
- Books with misleading or clickbait-style covers or descriptions
- AI-generated books or content where the human authorship is not clearly established
Additional Considerations for Audiobooks:
- Must have a professional narrator (no text-to-speech or amateur narration)
- Clear audio quality and proper chapter formatting
- Link to Audible or major audiobook retailer must be included
Exceptions & Editor Discretion:
We occasionally accept debut authors or lesser-known titles that demonstrate exceptional storytelling, originality, or reader potential—even if they don’t meet all criteria. These are chosen as Editor’s Picks and marked accordingly.
Submission Tips:
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- Upload the highest-quality cover image available
- Double-check pricing will be live during the promo
- Use subgenre tags to help us categorize your book correctly (e.g., “cozy,” “historical thriller”)
- For series entries, make it clear if this is Book 1 or part of a larger arc
