Emerging Poet Submissions

Kelsay Books is celebrating National Poetry Month by waiving our Alabaster Leaves reading fee for select manuscript submissions received in April 2026. Manuscripts must be previously unpublished in book form.

Does Your Work Qualify?

Qualifying submissions contain no more than 40 pages of poetry. At least 20% of the poems are previously published.

Additionally, the author must not have a previous Kelsay Books collection published or currently accepted by any of our imprints. The author must have no more than two collections out or forthcoming with another publisher or self-published. Publication of individual poems in The Orchards Poetry Journal is not disqualifying.

How to Submit

To have your qualifying submission considered by us, please send it with the subject line that follows, instead of the one on the Alabaster Leaves page. The subject line you should use is: MELUSINE

Please follow the rest of our guidelines on the Alabaster Leaves page.