South Carolina Novel Series

Manuscripts may be submitted on a rolling basis through the Hub City Press submission platform. Submissions are monitored year-round. Submitters will be contacted if their manuscript has been selected for further consideration for publication.

It is advised that submitters review the Hub City Press catalog to get to know the kind of books they publish. Your book does not need to be set in South Carolina, though setting is always something we are interested in for this series. We are seeking new and extraordinary voices from the American South who have written well-crafted, high-quality works. We are committed to spotlighting lesser-heard Southern voices representing diverse communities.

Eligibility

• The series is open to writers of all levels who have lived in South Carolina for at least one (1)  year prior to submission of their manuscript. (Residency will be verified before the winner is announced.)
• Submitters must not be affiliated with Hub City Press or Hub City Writers Project as a staff member or volunteer.

Guidelines

1. Hub City Press will accept typed manuscript submissions on a rolling basis.
2. Only manuscripts between 150 and 350 (single-sided) pages are eligible (or no more than 90,000 words).
3. Submission must be an original work of which the applicant is the sole author.
4. Manuscripts should be double-spaced, 12-pt. font, and set in Times New Roman or a comparable font. The submission manager, Submittable, will accept .doc, .docx, or .pdf formats.
5. We ask that writers submit only one (1) book at a time. Please wait for previous submissions to be considered or withdraw from consideration before sending in new work.
6. In most cases, we cannot accept manuscripts that have been previously published, including DIY or self-published titles.
7. Simultaneous submissions of the same manuscript to other publishers or contests are acceptable but please notify us through withdrawal of your submission if your manuscript has been accepted elsewhere. Manuscripts will only be taken during the open reading period and must be submitted through the online submission portal. Paper submissions will be destroyed.

Other Information

• There is no fee to submit your work!

2022

Lowcountry-based Robert Maynor received the prize in 2022 for his debut novel, The Big Game is Every Night. Hub City Press published the book in 2023.

2020

Maris Lawyer of Easley received the prize in 2020 for her manuscript, The Blue Line Down. Hub City Press published the book in 2021.

2018

Scott Sharpe of Eastover received the prize in 2018 for his manuscript, Whispering in the Wind, released by Hub City Press in 2019 under the name A Wild Eden.

2016

Brock Adams of Spartanburg won the 2016 First Novel Prize. His novel, Ember, was published by Hub City Press in September 2017.

2014

James McTeer‘s 2014 winning novel, Minnow, received starred reviews in Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews and favorable reviews in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Los Angeles Review of Books. The book is now in its second printing.

2012

Susan Tekulve won the 2012 First Novel prize with her book In the Garden of Stone. Tekulve’s book has sold thousands of copies and was reviewed in national magazines and journals. Her book tour included four states and several book festivals. Tekulve’s work is now represented by a New York agent.

2010

Matt Matthews of Greer was the winner of the 2010 competition. His book, Mercy Creek, was published in 2011. Brian Ray of Columbia was the winner of the inaugural novel competition. His book, Through the Pale Door, was published by Hub City in June 2009. Both books have been widely and favorably reviewed across the Southeast.