We are committed to working with dynamic authors and illustrators to create the very best books for children and to amplifying Indigenous voices in children’s books.
Swift Water Books only accepts manuscripts and art submissions by Indigenous creators. We are exclusively a youth-oriented imprint with accurate and authentic representation, open to considering picture books, chapter books, graphic novels and middle-grade and young-adult manuscripts.
Do you want to write or illustrate a children’s book, but aren’t sure where to start? Your local library will have many incredible books to inspire you and instructional books to help you get started, and both the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators as well as the Canadian Children’s Book Centre have many links and resources to help you turn your idea into a manuscript.
By making a submission, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to Penguin Random House Canada’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and that any submissions will be considered “User Submissions” for purposes of the Terms of Use and shall not be considered “commercial material” or “commercial activity.”
Manuscript Submissions
Are you interested in sending us your written work? Please take a look at our website and social media accounts to see the kind of books we publish and review our guidelines below.
- Please include a cover letter with your submission that articulates your tribal connections and/or Indigenous ancestry clearly and directly. We’d also like to know a bit about you, any writing experience you may have, a description of your project and what ages you think your project might be right for.
- We accept manuscripts in lots of different file formats, so send us whatever is easiest for you. Please note that we are unable to accept submissions by regular mail at this time. Keep in mind the following:
- For your picture book submission, send us the entire manuscript. Please note that we rarely take on original board books or rhyming picture books.
- For middle-grade and young adult fiction, we’d like to see the complete manuscript.
- For your nonfiction project, we’d like to see a complete outline and some sample chapters.
- We prefer that you don’t send your picture book manuscripts with an illustrator already chosen; if we publish your story, we’ll work with you to find some amazing illustrators who can help bring your story to life in the best possible way.
- We only publish for children, from picture books to young adult novels. Please do not send us textbooks, activity books or books that are only intended for adults.
- We only accept submissions written in English at this time.
- Please only send one project at a time. If you have multiple manuscripts, pick the one you think is best!
If you believe your work is a fit, email submissions@tundrabooks.com and include the imprint, book title and byline in the subject (e.g., Swift Water Books: The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson).
- Our editorial team will review your submission as soon as we can. Due to the high volume of submissions we receive, if you don’t hear from us within six months, please assume that we have decided not to move forward with your project.
Art Submissions
We strongly prefer digital submissions and links. We are not currently accepting physical postcards, but we will let you know through our social media accounts when we’re open again. Email us at art@tundrabooks.com and include “Swift Water” in the subject. In your email, please articulate your tribal connections and/or Indigenous ancestry clearly and directly. Do not mail us original artwork or your only copy of a manuscript or dummy; it will not be returned.
We receive a high volume of submissions, and unfortunately we’re unable to respond to all of them. If we like what we see, we’ll add you to our database of artists; when we find a project we think you’ll be perfect for, we’ll be in touch! Due to the high volume of submissions we receive, if you send us a finished project and don’t hear from us within six months, please assume that we have decided not to move forward with your project.