Because Midlife Stories Matter…

Empress Editions is on a mission to celebrate the rich tapestry of midlife with stories as dynamic and diverse as the women who live them.

We are especially seeking:

  • Rom-Com

    Something’s Gotta Give–era Diane Keaton, Book Club charm, or The Holiday with reading glasses.

  • Romantasy

    magical and lush, like Practical Magic meets Outlander (bonus points for dragons or spells cast after bedtime).

  • Auto-fiction

    Fleabag if she were midlife, wiser, and just as deliciously messy.

  • Humorous Midlife Fiction (is it a genre? It is now)

    Grace and Frankie meets Only Murders in the Building with a dash of wine at 4 p.m.

If your heroine is navigating love and life with a distinctive voice—snarky, intimate, clever, manic, or calm—we want her story. Bonus points if she’s juggling more than just romance: family dynamics, intergenerational relationships, friendships, or the occasional late-night existential crisis.

Authenticity is key. Bring us characters who reflect every hot flash and facet of our vibrant community—across race, class, orientation, disability, neurodivergence, and chronic illness—whose rag-and-bone hearts wrestle with internal conflict and emerge transformed. Humor? The drier and more unexpected, the better.

Please note before you submit:

  • We are NOT currently accepting: Memoir or general nonfiction (exception: business/leadership books for women navigating midlife).

  • Submissions are read personally—no interns, no AI. Plan on 4–6 weeks for a reply.

  • For agents: full proposals only (no pitch letters) and global rights acquisition only.

Submission guidelines:

  • Manuscripts should be 60,000–90,000 words (slimmer books = brisker sales).

  • Submit 20–50 pages of your completed, PDF-watermarked manuscript.

  • Include your contact info + a concise, 500-word synopsis.

  • Submissions welcome from both agented and nonagented authors 

If you don’t hear from us within 4–6 weeks, rest assured your submission has been reviewed with a developmental eye. Sometimes the right project simply needs the right editorial moment.

We remain a press dedicated to amplifying the voices of midlife women—voices too often silenced or sidelined by the patriarchy. While we gladly support men, our mission is to champion stories that embody women’s strength, wisdom, and creativity.

Coming soon: Our Hybrid Press Option — for authors who want their voice heard without navigating publishing alone, backed by the full Empress experience.

We can’t wait to read the voices of this next chapter.

Make f*cking way. 👑


Use “Submission” in the subject line.

By submitting your work, you confirm that you have read and agree to the guidelines above, and understand our review process.