Author bio and photo

This page explains what to put in your author bio, how long it should be, and what kind of photo we'll need if we publish your book.

Your bio for the submission

The submission form asks for a short bio. Editors use it to understand who you are and why you are the right person to write this book.

• Length: 100 to 150 words.
• Voice: third person ("Anita Rao is a poet…").
• Include:
  • where you live, and where you're from if it's relevant to the book
  • your writing experience: publications, prizes, residencies, courses
  • for non-fiction, your expertise or personal connection to the subject
  • anything that shows you can reach readers, such as a newsletter, a podcast, teaching or speaking
• Leave out: your full CV, your date of birth, and long lists of minor credits.

It's fine if this is your first book. Say what drew you to write it.

Example

Rohan Mukherjee grew up in Shillong and lives in Kolkata, where he teaches physics at a secondary school. His short stories have appeared in Out of Print and The Bombay Literary Magazine, and one was longlisted for the Toto Award for Creative Writing in 2024. The Glass Orchard is his first novel. It grew out of his years teaching in the hill schools of the north-east.

Your author photo

You don't need to send a photo with your submission. If we accept your book, we'll ask for one for the cover, our website and press.

• Resolution: at least 2000 × 2000 pixels, as a JPG or PNG, straight from the camera or phone (don't send a screenshot or a photo taken from social media).
• Framing: head and shoulders, with some space around you so it can be cropped square or portrait.
• Light: natural, even light. Avoid strong shadows, filters and heavy editing.
• Background: plain or softly out of focus.
• Recent: taken in the last two or three years.
• Rights: if a professional photographer took it, tell us their name for the credit and confirm we have permission to use it.

Next steps

You're ready to submit.