Bull Bay
an Imprint of Mid-State Publishing Company
Submissions Update:
Thank you for your interest, but we are unable to accept additional submissions at this time. We anticipate opening submission opportunities Q1 2027 for 2028 production.
ABOUT OUR IMPRINT BULL BAY:
Bull Bay is an imprint of Mid-State Publishing Company with a mission to produce entertaining books and related media for retail sale. Our focus is Southern fiction.
The name Bull Bay represents where we’re from. If you don’t know what a Bull Bay is, your privilege to say y’all is revoked. The state flower of Mississippi is a large, fragrant Bull Bay blossom from one of our beautiful Magnolia trees.
Bull Bay uses a traditional submission process to work with authors from and who write stories about Mississippi and the surrounding southern states. Our manuscripts and screenplays aren’t passed around an executive editorial board and rewrite panel that authors never meet, and they don’t end up oddly different from what the author originally wrote. Our story guides may provide a light touch for clarity now and then, but never a heavy hand. Each of us has a story to tell, and it’s best in our own Southern words. Y’all up in New York City wouldn’t understand.
WHO WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL TO:
Publisher Emeritus Sam N. Pitner: Born in 1926, Sam opened a bookstore in New Albany, Mississippi, in the 1950s. He went on to own newspapers and office supply stores in the state before retiring in 1990. He serves as an inspiration to those of us with a passion for sharing information in print. Reaching the age of 99 years, until September 4, 2025, he was one of the few remaining huggable World War II veterans.
Publisher and Editor David McCaw: Wearing the business manager Publisher hat, as he should in his position as the boss, David says ‘no’ more than ‘yes’ on matters of expense. Switching to his Editor hat, he says ‘yes’ more than ‘no’ on matters of creativity. It's best to see which hat he's wearing before asking the question.
Story Advisor Jimmie S.: Jimmie is as good as any editor out there with a very Mississippi Delta accent. But he’s not an editor. Yet. We're trying to convince him.
Production Advisor Paul G.: Paul advises us on production.
Proofreader Lela J.: Lela is quick to spell judgment without judgement.
Proofreader Mary G.: Mary makes sure we use the Oxford comma, comma, and comma.