Deadline: August 15th, 2015
Payment: $25.00 (USD) and 2 Contributor Copies

Gothic Blue Books were short fictions popular in the 18th and 19th century. They were descendants of the chap book trade and are now a thing of the past. Burial Day Books is now open for submissions for Gothic Blue Book Vol. 5 to be available this October 31st 2015.

What was a Gothic Blue Book?
Gothic Blue Books were abridgements of full-length Gothic novels. The subjects of these books fell into one of two categories; the first being set in a monastery or convent and the second being set in a castle.

In terms of the physicality of the book, they were three and a half to four inches in width and six to seven inches in height, with a page count of thirty-six to seventy-two pages.

These little pieces of terror were popular at the time because they were affordable, a sixpence or a shilling each. Their cost affordability led them to be nicknamed Shilling Shockers or Sixpenny Shockers.

What are we looking for?
Original Gothic Blue Books typically took place in either a monastery, convent or castle. In years past we have asked for short stories that take place in one of these locations, or a modern day location such as a morgue, haunted house or cemetery. This year, we have added new location recommendations – hotel, inn, or bed and breakfast. The haunted hotel has a long, complex history in the field of horror and we look forward to your entries.

Please submit a short story or poem no longer than 3,500 words that follows one of the following:

A single mention or setting in one of the original Gothic Blue Book settings:
a) Monastery
b) Convent
c) Castle

A single mention or setting in one of the modern Gothic Blue Book settings:
a) Cemetery
b) Funeral home or morgue
c) Haunted house

2015 Addition:
a) A story or poem taking place in a haunted hotel, inn, or bed and breakfast.

In addition to the above, the story or poem must instill fear using a supernatural element – ghosts, ghouls, monsters, myth, folklore or legend. Extreme violence, sexuality, gore, and profanity will not be considered.

For inspiration look to Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Jorge Luis Borges, Shirley Jackson, Emily Brontë, or Neil Gaiman.

The collection will be published October 31st 2015 in eBook and traditional book format.

DEADLINE: AUGUST 15th 2015

If accepted you are giving Burial Day Books:

A. The exclusive first right to publish your story.

B. The right to republish the story in or in connection with Burial Day, including electronic or hard copy form, including in promotional material or compilations – provided that authorial credit is given in every instance of reproduction.

After your story appears on Burial Day and in the Gothic Blue Book you are free to republish your piece elsewhere as long as you communicate to potential buyers that they are buying your story as a non-exclusive piece.

Payment details:
$25.00 (USD)
Two (2) Contributor copies of the anthology

Click here to submit you story: Gothic Blue Book Submission

Via: Burial Day.