SHADOW LINE PRESS

Publishers of Fine Mystery & Suspense
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WHAT WE PUBLISH


FICTION
 
 
 
WESTERNS

Exciting novels set in the Old West (before 1900 and west of the Mississippi River) with three-dimensional characters and strong plots. Historical accuracy is important, but should not eclipse the story.


HORROR

Suspenseful, terrifying novels with dark atmosphere and chilling plots.  Contemporary settings are preferred, but historical settings are possible if well done.  Supernatural horrors (ghosts, vampires, demons, monsters, etc.) are strongly preferred.  Please note that we are NOT interested in the following sub-genres: Dark Fantasy, Science-Fiction, or Erotic Horror.
 

THRILLER AND SUSPENSE

These are exciting, fast-paced novels filled with high tension and gripping characters. They should not contain supernatural elements. Thrillers are characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped villains. Literary devices such as suspense, red herrings and cliffhangers are used extensively.

 The thriller genre can include the following sub-genres, which may include elements of other genres:

  • ACTION-ADVENTURE: Often features a race against the clock, contains lots of violence, and an obvious antagonist. Traditionally (but not exclusively) aimed at male readers, often involving a quest or military-style mission set in exotic or forbidding locales such as jungles, deserts, or mountains.

  • CHRISTIAN SUSPENSE: A church or a religion is central to the main story line. These stories use real-life situations and believable characters without the use of vulgar or explicit language, while subtly applying Biblical truths to 21st Century plights.

  • CONSPIRACY THRILLER: The hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only he/she recognizes. These novels are often international in scope.
     
  • CRIME THRILLER: This particular genre offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. Thees stories often focus on the criminal(s) rather than a policeman. Crime thrillers usually emphasize action over psychological aspects. Murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, and double-crosses are central often ingredients.

  • DISASTER THRILLER: The main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, etc., or nuclear disasters as an artificial disaster.

  • ECO-THRILLER: The protagonist must avert or rectify an environmental or biological calamity, often in addition to dealing with the usual types of enemies or obstacles present in other thriller genres. This environmental component often forms a central message or theme of the story.

  • LEGAL THRILLER: The hero/heroine is a member of the legal profession, usually an attorney, who must confront enemies outside, as well as inside, the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives.

  • MEDICAL THRILLER: The hero/heroine are medical doctors/personnel working to solve an expanding medical problem before many lives are lost.

  • POLITICAL THRILLER: The hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government that employs him.These novels are often set in and around Washington D.C., and must display an insider's knowledge of the inner workings of government and the corridors of power.

  • PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER:Generally, the protagonist is a psychiatrist.  Often he/she is assisting a local law enforcement agency.  These books often explore the psychology behind the crime, and the mind of the criminal.

  • ROMANTIC SUSPENSE: This genre blends all of the elements of a page-turning thriller with a highly-charged, sensual romance.

  • SPY THRILLER: The hero/heroine is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or  terrorists.

  • SUSPENSE THRILLERS:  A dangerous criminal is on on the loose and it's the hero/heroine's job to stop him before more people are hurt or killed. This is generally not a type of whodunit; the question isn't the identity of the killer, but rather will he or she be stopped in time before killing again.

  • TECHNO-THRILLER: A work that usually focuses upon military action, in which technology (usually military technology) is described in detail and made essential to the reader's understanding of the plot.

MYSTERY

  • AMATEUR SLEUTH: The main character in the book is NOT officially working as a detective of any sort.  Generally he/she is pulled into a mystery by a friend or relative

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  • ETHNIC: The ethnic background of the main character is an important factor in the story and contributes significantly to the protagonist's ability to solve the crime.

  • HARD-BOILED:  Usually a professional sleuth, male or female, who takes on cases and solves them with with intelligence and violence. These stories frequently include casual sex and are considered gritty and socially aware.

  • HISTORICAL: The historical whodunit involves a crime (almost always a murder), and the setting has some historical significance. The "detective" may be a real-life historical figure or an imaginary character.

  • POLICE PROCEDURAL: Similar to a suspense thriller, but additional emphasis is placed on police methods, forensics and other means of tracking and capturing the killers.  Sense of authenticity is important, and all details must be accurate.

  • TRADITIONAL WHODUNIT: A complex, plot-driven detective story in which the puzzle is the key element of the story.

    There are many other genres and sub-genres in the mystery/thriller.suspense category. If you don't see yours listed above, don't fret. SUBMIT anyway and we'll be glad to take a look.
    NON-FICTION
  • TRUE CRIME: A genre in which the author uses an actual crime and real people as a point of departure. The crimes almost always include murder. They can be fairly factual or highly speculative and heavily fictionalized depending on the writer
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  • HOW-TO BOOKS: These can be books on writing in one of the above listed genres, or how-to-books and manuals for writers written by experts in the field. These can include books on investigations, weapons, forensics, poisons, etc.

    As in the fiction category, these subject areas are not set in stone. If you have any questions, simply SUBMIT your work and let our selection panel be the judge.