Bit odd this, not quite sure what to make of it - it's certainly an unconventional approach - but a publisher has initiated a discussion thread soliciting historical fiction manuscripts: http://www.amazon.co.uk/forum/historical%20fiction/ref=cm_cd_dp_rft_tft_tp?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx2ZSX7XQX5JZM8&cdThread=TxTP0ISLWP463N

The Publisher is Pen & Sword, which I've heard of. At the moment, they publish military history (non-fic). http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/

People are pitching their novels in the discussion thread.

Well, well, well. I wish him joy of the slushpile, mind you!

There's a flicker in the back of my head that they're edging towards "subsidy publishing" these days, but I might well be wrong, and would be happy to be contradicted.

but how awful to have your pitch and the subsquent rejection up on Amazon for all to see!!

Yes, I noticed that Freebird. But the guy does give his email address and invite writers to email him. Instead they chose to communicate openly through the discussion thread. So he is forced to respond in the same way.

yeah, I thought it was a strange way to submit work, to be honest. And they didn't say much about their writing credentials.