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Audio / Events / Flat Amount / Pro / Reprints Allowed

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Taking Submissions: PseudoPod August 2022 (Limited Window)

Submission Window: August 12th – 21st, 2022
Payment: $.08/word for original fiction, $100 flat rate for short story reprints, and $20 flat rate for flash fiction reprints
Theme: General
Note: Reprints accepted

PseudoPod is always looking for quality fiction to feed our listeners. If you’re a writer with a short horror story that you’d like to hear narrated by one of our talented performers, we’d like to see it. Probably. When we’re open, you can send it to us through our Moksha portal. Check to see if we’re open by reviewing our schedule.

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Anthology / Events / Flash / Reprints Allowed / Semipro

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Taking Submissions: Troopers (Early Listing)

Submission Window: August 15th – 31st, 2022
Payment: .01 per word and .005 per word for reprints
Theme: Flash fiction featuring military and law enforcement science fiction
Note: Reprints Welcome

Troopers is a magazine of flash fiction featuring military and law enforcement science fiction. All stories in Troopers must feature a fictional military, paramilitary, or law enforcement entity in some meaningful way. Your main character doesn’t need to be a soldier, pilot, or future cop necessarily, but there must be elements of military or law enforcement present in the story. Your character doesn’t need to be human either, sentient space ships, robots, aliens, and the like are more than welcome. Paramilitary characters or groups are also welcome, such as mercenaries, space pirates, cartels, organized corporations with private militaries and/or guards, and other similar entities. We like stories with cool tech and that pack an emotional punch. We have a preference for stories that have a dark and gritty atmosphere and tone as well. We’re looking to push the boundaries of military sci-fi in the flash category and we can’t wait to see what you come up with!

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Anthology / Events / Reprints Allowed / Semipro

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Taking Submissions: The Science Fiction Tarot

Deadline: October 4th, 2022
Payment: 3 USD cents/word, reprints will pay 1 USD cent/word.
Theme: SF Stories in for each of the cards of the major arcana
Note: Reprints Welcome

The Science Fiction Tarot will contain 22 stories, one tale standing in for each of the cards of the major arcana and placing the anthologies word count at approximately 90-110K words. Stories of up to 7,500 words will be considered, but please be advised that submissions of 5,000 words and under will have the best chance to be selected.

Each author will be expected to submit a 1-3 word science fiction concept for a card, along with a story that exhibits that idea through character, plot or theme. Please have a clear archetype, setting, or SF subgenre and center your submission around the concept: the focus of the tale should be the idea conveyed, not tarot cards themselves.

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Articles / Reviews

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Epeolatry Book Review: What Remains when the Stars Burn Out by P.L. McMillan

Disclosure:

Our reviews may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the links in this article we may receive a small commission or referral fee. This happens without any additional cost to you.

Title: What Remains when the Stars Burn Out
Author: P.L. McMillan
Publisher: Salt Heart Press
Genre: Horror
Release Date: 31st March, 2022

Synopsis: From the lips of a dying woman to the ears of an overworked nurse, a word begins to haunt her and the city in which she lives.

An office worker is convinced she has contracted something highly contagious, but no one believes her.

Earth is on the brink of collapse, when scientists discover a new plane of reality. Could this be the salvation people are seeking?

A company’s revolutionary method of travel promises instant teleportation across countless light years but at a price.

What Remains When The Stars Burn Out is a vivid collection of twelve stories ranging from the morbid to the macabre, the sinister to the supernatural, the unearthly to the uncanny, which are sure to send a shiver down your spine.

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Trembling With Fear

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Trembling With Fear 08/07/2022

Howdy, writers. How has it been a month already since Steph stepped down? I have no idea where the time goes. But just because she’s not bringing you TWF every week doesn’t mean she’s not around: Steph’s had lots of great news for her books and poetry lately, so be sure to check out her website and follow her on the socials to keep up your support.

This new month brings dread for me personally: it’s my birthday at a yet-to-be-revealed point in August. The neverending march of time goes on. I don’t deal well with ageing – I’m one of those who obsesses over missed opportunities and what I haven’t yet done that I really should’ve done already – but the other half is treating me to a night of spooky theatre in London’s West End, so I can’t complain too much! Impending birthday action also means I’m being asked for present ideas from those back home. What’s been your favourite horror or speculative release this year? I’ll add them to the wishlist…

Enough about me, though. That’s not what this brief editorial is for. Trembling With Fear is all about YOU and your creepy, strange and wondrous brains. What have you got for us? Where do you want to take us? Remember, it’s now less than three months until Halloween! What better way to practice your scares than on the page?

On this week’s trembling menu… Roxi Howitt brings us a tale of stormy nights in the middle of nowhere, with weird locals in a motel and a sense that something ain’t right. 

For the quick bites, we have three delicious offerings:

  • Stephane G Perahim’s Shut Up and Drive shows why you shouldn’t hitchhike
  • Nicholas Zielinksi’s My Eyes Stare Into Hers ponders the question of soulmates, and
  • Corinne Pollard’s Lava Cupid centres on a necklace that isn’t quite what it seems.

Enjoy this week’s talent – and be sure to share your own stories with us, too! You’ll find details on how to submit over here. 

Over to you, Stuart….

Lauren McMenemy

Editor, Trembling With Fear

As a Foodie whose wife works in the food industry, I love the idea of referring to our weekly reading as a menu. Though, let’s go fine dining here. This is a tasting menu that you get to enjoy every course being offered and don’t have to select a limited offering. Enjoy this week’s stories! *chef’s kiss*

On the site itself, we’re still busy working in the background in preparation for the new layout. So far, the database has been initially optimized which has sped it up about 25%. This is really noticeable on the backend and, I’m hoping, for all of you as well!

This was my last week for my current MBA class so by the time you read this, I’ll be done for a few weeks. I’ll be really upping what I’m trying to get done so hopefully there will be a few immediate changes that I’ll get to talk about! 

For those looking to support the site, we’ve recently launched a Ko-Fi and always have our Patreon going. We’re still recovering from losing a few Patreons as of late so any help is appreciated there.

As always, I hope you had a great weekend.

Stuart Conover

Editor, Horror Tree

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Articles / Reviews

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Epeolatry Book Review: Alien: Colony War by David Barnett

Disclosure:

Our reviews may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the links in this article we may receive a small commission or referral fee. This happens without any additional cost to you.

Title: Alien: Colony War
Author: David Barnett
Publisher: Titan Books
Genre: Space Horror
Release Date: 26th April, 2022

Synopsis: Political conflicts on Earth erupt into open hostilities between their colonies in space, with Xenomorphs as the ultimate weapon.

On Earth, political tensions boil over between the United Americas, Union of Progressive Peoples, and Three World Empire. Conflict spreads to the outer fringes, and the UK colony of New Albion breaks with the Three World empire. This could lead to a… Colony War.

Trapped in the middle are journalist Cher Hunt, scientist Chad McLaren, and the synthetic Davis. Seeking to discover who caused the death of her sister, Shy Hunt, Cher uncovers a far bigger story. McLaren’s mission, fought alongside his wife Amanda Ripley, is to stop the militarization of the deadliest weapon of all—the Xenomorph.

Their trail leads to a drilling facility on LV-187. Someone or something has destroyed it, killing the personnel, and the British are blamed. Colonial forces arrive, combat erupts, then both groups are overwhelmed by an alien swarm. Their only hope may lie with the Royal Marines unit known as “God’s Hammer.”

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Articles

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August 2022: Tarot Card Inspiration for…the End Times!

 

I took inspiration for this reading because of the current state of things, of course, and a little borrowed inspiration from all the talk of the Four Horse-people of the Apocalypse that seems to be floating around!

Curious about what fate could await your character(s) in your speculative, near-future novel or story? Read on!

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Anthology / Events / Royalties

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Taking Submissions: Dastardly Damsels

Deadline: September 15th, 2022
Payment: Royalties
Theme: Female, or female identifying authors with stories that include strong elements of horror. Your story does not need a female protagonist, but must feature a female symbol of strength

‘Dastardly Damsels’
This anthology is open only to female, or female identifying authors. Diverse voices are strongly encouraged!
Once upon a time, there was an expression that stated, ‘Damsel in Distress’. Poor gal. And wicked men were ‘dastardly’.
That was long ago, and the reason I selected such an unusual title for this anthology… Women are no longer the poor helpless creatures that history has often portrayed. It is our time to rise, grab the reins, and gain control of our own destinies!
For ‘Dastardly Damsels’, I am seeking stories that include strong elements of horror. Your story does not need a female protagonist, but must feature a female symbol of STRENGTH: a woman who overcomes abuse, a female serial killer, an alien who rules a planet, a story portraying Medusa… Think outside of the box. It can be told from any POV, and can take place in any time period. The horror can be blended with sci-fi, fantasy, or even romance!

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