Ebony Paradox

What is Ebony Paradox?

Ebony Paradox is a quality seal of excellence for independent dark-fiction authors.
Our seal recognizes strong literary craft, compelling storytelling, and powerful execution in dark-fiction narrative work. Authors who receive the Ebony Paradox Seal retain full creative and publishing control of their work.

Content Philosophy

Ebony Paradox exists to honor dark fiction that carries weight, purpose, and intentional craft. We believe darkness in storytelling should illuminate theme, deepen character, and challenge emotion — not exist for shock, exploitation, or gratuitous sensationalism. The Ebony Paradox Seal recognizes works that embrace shadow with meaning, integrity, and narrative strength.

What Ebony Paradox Is Not

Clarity and purpose, Ebony Paradox is not:

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• a publishing imprint

• a literary agency

• a bookstore or distributor

• an editing or management service​

Authors remain responsible for their own editing, publishing, marketing, and reader outreach.

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Ebony Paradox exists for one purpose:
to recognize exceptional independent dark-fiction writing.

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How the Ebony Paradox Seal Works

• Authors submit a completed manuscript for consideration

• The work is reviewed for quality, strength of craft, story execution, and genre appropriateness

• If approved, the author is notified via email

• An Ebony Paradox representative applies the official Ebony Paradox Seal to the bottom corner of the manuscript’s title page

• The manuscript is returned to the author *We do not retain a copy of your manuscript. Once a decision has been made, manuscript files are deleted from our records. Approved authors can request us to retain a copy for them: (as a backup source only) but only if the author requests it when they submit their manuscript for consideration. If the request to retain a copy does not come with the consideration request, the manuscript file will be deleted from my records. 

• No edits or content changes are made by Ebony Paradox

Each manuscript is evaluated individually.
Approval of one title does not automatically approve future works from the same author. 

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Benefits of Approval

Authors whose work earns the Ebony Paradox Seal may:

• display the Seal on the approved work

• request an Author Page on the Ebony Paradox website to showcase:

  • purchase links

  • new release announcements

  • event updates

  • reader engagement news

• list Ebony Paradox as the imprint only on approved works, if they choose (however we are not a publishing house)

Ebony Paradox is not a bookstore. Authors provide purchase options to their customers through their author pages and are solely responsible for those purchase options and contents of their pages. Authors remain solely responsible for their own marketing. 
Readers can purchase directly from the author through their provided links.

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Before You Submit Your Manuscript. 

Will It qualify?

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Below are the manuscript restrictions that will not be approved. If your manuscript contains any of these, do not send.

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The following types of content will not be approved under any circumstance & is not negotiable. 

• pornography, explicit smut, or content that “borders” on either

• excessive gore for shock value only, without meaningful narrative purpose

• sexual content involving minors, or any depiction of children in sexual contexts

• explicit depictions of child harm, child exploitation, or child torture

• sexual content involving animals

• explicit depictions of animal harm or animal torture

• extreme torture content that is gratuitous and not integral to narrative relevance.

Ebony Paradox reserves the right to decline any manuscript that does not align with the standards, values, or mission of the Ebony Paradox Seal.