Guest Fest: Mocha Memoirs Press is Accepting Submissions

06/13/2012 Updated Submission information  at the end of this interview.

I'm excited that my Guestfest has begun.This week, I have a wonderful interview with Nicole Kurtz from Mocha Memoirs Press. I'm very excited to share that they're open for submissions.  I'd like to invite readers and authors to post questions for Nicole. She said that she'd be available to respond. 

Before I ask about Mocha Memoirs Press, can you tell me a little bit about your writing career?

MMP: My writing career began professionally in 1998. I have always been a reader and I wrote stories for myself since I was eleven years old. It wasn’t until one of my friends suggested I submit one of those stories that my writing creative writing careerbegan. My bachelor’s degree is in Rhetorical Writing, but my passion has always been creative writing. I loved mystery, science fiction and fantasy novels, so most of my earlier stories were in those genres. I received my first novel contract for Browne Candidate in 1999 and the rest, is history.

Can you tell the readers about Mocha Memoirs Press?  Is there a brand? What's the platform and readership?

 MMP: Mocha Memoirs Press was started in 1998 and derived from my personal frustration with not being able to find other speculative works written by people of color. So, I launched Mocha Memoirs Press Electronic Magazine of Fiction and Poetry. A big mouthful, but we published all types of fictional and poetic works from July 1998 until 2001. 

 Mocha Memoirs Press began publishing novels and novellas in July 2010, some nine years later.  My purpose was still the same—to provide an avenue for people of color who write speculative fiction to be published.  I also wanted to be the place where people can also purchase works.  We focus primarily on science fiction, fantasy, horror, and romance.

What's your affiliation with this publisher and how long have you worked with them?

 MMP: I’m the owner and publisher so I’ve been with it since its inception. I do have a cover artist, five editors, a marketing consultant, and two dedicated proofreaders.

Are they looking for submissions? If so, what types of submissions?

MMP: We are constantly looking for submissions.  We’re actively looking for submissions in the Beauty & the Geek series, an erotic romance series, and science fiction and urban fantasy stories are also needed. We’re currently looking for titles in the following genres: horror, science fiction, fantasy, and romance. We’re most excited about seeing stories in the subgenres of cyberpunk, steampunk, near-future sf, and space opera.

 We do publish paranormal romance, science fiction romance, fantasy romance, and dark fantasy romance. We’d like to see submissions in these areas as well. Our interracial romance titles have been very successful, so feel free submit those also.

If writers are interested in submitting are there guidelines or deadlines that they need to follow? If so, can you share where they would look for more details?

 MMP:  If writers are interested in submitting, they can find the full guidelines at http://mochamemoirspress.com/about

 The general guidelines are excellently written and edited stories between 8,000 and 30,000 words. Stories should be science fiction, fantasy, horror, or romance.

For submissions, how long does it take for an editor to contact writers i.e. is there usually a fast turn around?

 MMP:   I read all submissions, so the turnaround time varies. If there are a lot of submissions, it can take awhile for me to reply. If there aren’t, then the reply is much quicker.

Would you like to share any thing else about yourself or Mocha Memoirs Press?

 MMP:  I’d like to share that although we’re small. We’re not just another fly by night publishing company. Additionally, writers must understand that they will need to promote their works and be invested in advertising their stories too.

Nicole, thanks for agreeing to interview!

Nicole Givens Kurtz is the owner of Mocha Memoirs Press, LLC--an electronic publishing company specializing in science fiction, fantasy, horror and romance. She is also the author of the cyberpunk mystery series, Cybil Lewis Series. Strong heroines, dystopian settings and wicked action, Cybil Lewis is one kick azz protagonist. Find Cybil at http://www.cybillewisseries.blogspot.com. Sample Mocha Memoirs' titles at http://mochamemoirspress.com.

Update: 06/13/2012

Mocha Memoirs Press's Call for Submissions (31 Days of Steamy Mocha):

July is Mocha Memoirs Press's birthday month, and to celebrate, we're planning the 31 Days of Steamy Mocha. We need short erotic romance or steamy romance stories! The stories should be no more than 4000 words. Query if the story is longer. The topic of the stories should center around "mocha," or a coffee shop, and/or "memoirs."

Let your imagination run wild with these. They can be two dragons at a cafe sipping mocha, or the antidote to a witch's curse is mocha....or two people meet at a cafe, etc. Stories must be fun, hot, and romantic. The subgenre is open, but the larger genre should be romantic. Due to mochamemoirspress @ gmail.com by 6.23.12. Write STEAMY MOCHA SUBMISSION in the title please.