Velox Books: Horror Novels Gold Star Program Gold Star Free

Velox Books is seeking horror novels for Black Lantern, a new imprint dedicated to fiction that disturbs, unsettles, and lingers.

What we're looking for

Length: 50,000–100,000 words preferred. We may consider longer manuscripts when the length is justified by the scope and pacing. We are not reading novellas under 50k or anything above 150k.

High Concept: We're especially drawn to horror with a sharp, memorable premise: stories that can be described in a compelling sentence but unfold with depth, surprise, and emotional force.

Pacing & Hook: We favor stories that spark a clear catalytic event within the opening chapters and escalate stakes scene by scene. Slow-burn ambience is welcome, but only when paired with a strong narrative engine. Think a coiled spring, not a long walk.

Horror: Fresh, unnerving, eerie. We’re open to a range of horror traditions and subgenres: folk horror, psychological horror, supernatural horror, cosmic horror, sci-fi horror, weird horror, and beyond. Gore is welcome when it serves character, atmosphere, or consequence, but we’re not looking for stories where gore is the primary point. Think dread over shock.

AI Use: We are not seeking AI-generated manuscripts. Authors may use AI-assisted tools for proofreading, grammar, or revision support, but the writing, characters, voice, and story must be the author's own.

What we're not currently seeking

Genre/subgenre: Science fiction where horror is not the primary engine, including space opera, military SF, hard-SF tech manuals, and standard alien-invasion plots.

Content and format: Splatterpunk or torture-driven horror where gore is the main attraction; tidy morality plays; parody/pastiche; short-story collections; poetry; screenplays.

What we offer

Black Lantern is the dedicated horror novel imprint of Velox Books. The team behind Velox Books brings more than 15 years of independent publishing experience and has published over 200 books. We offer:

A modest advance against royalties
A 25% net royalty
Publisher-covered production and marketing costs, with no fees to authors

Simultaneous submissions

We accept simultaneous submissions. If your manuscript is accepted elsewhere while under consideration with us, please notify us promptly so we can close your file.

Category: Fiction
File type: .docx
Number of Full-length works: 1 full-length work
The file should include: Full Manuscript.

Anonymous submissions are not required.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Reprints are allowed. (We accept reprints, including work first published online, if you hold the rights. Note prior publication (where/when). You must be able to grant print/ebook/audio rights.)
Multiple entries are not allowed.
AI-assisted works are not allowed.

Quota: A quota has been set for this project. Submissions will close when it has been reached.

12%

Return to overview / See other calls

You are not logged in. You need to log in before you can submit. Sign up if you haven't already. (A subscription is not required to submit.)