Deadline: January 1st 2012
Payment: one contributor’s copy

edited by A.J.French

Submission Deadline January 1, 2012

I’m happy to announce that I am editing a new anthology, which will be published by Wicked East Press. Payment will be one contributor’s copy. In addition to the contributor’s copies, this anthology is offering pro rates for one story from an established writer, and $25 for three of the editor’s favorite stories. We believe this is equitable as the established writer will draw readers to the work which is excellent exposure.

The anthology will feature custom professional cover art, and I’ll be purchasing professional ad space once the book is in print. Review copies will go out, as well as copies to Ellen Datlow and other Best Of compendiums. The theme of this anthology is satyrs.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Dark fantasy and horror stories featuring a satyr as a main character or a character that is integral to the plot. Satyrs are mythical creatures from Greek Mythology that are half human, half goat. They follow Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, ritual madness, and ecstasy. They walk the line between the animalistic urges in us and the human capacity for thought. The human vs. the animal. Satyrs embody the two. For more on satyrs please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyr.
Urban satyrs or even just people dressing up as satyrs is of interest to me, as well.

While I am mostly seeking horror stories, such as Pan’s Labyrinth and Brian Keene’s Dark Hollow, I will also look at fantasy stories set in a fantasy world, as long as they are dark. Satyrs are often characterized by their insatiable hunger for wine, revelry, and sex, so a combination of all three is strongly encouraged, but isn’t necessary. Please feel free to be original with your satyrs, have them do and act however you please, or simply use their physical features as the blueprints for a monster. Mixed genres are also acceptable. This is an R-rated collection, so anything goes.

WHAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR:

Torture, child molestation, animal torture. Please, no. That being said, nothing flowery or float-y either. No wooden satyrs running around doing wooden things in a world where everything is just hunky-dory. There must be a darker, more complex angle to the story. Mr. Tumnus types are fine, as long as there is a darker element that balances his somewhat chipper disposition, such as the White Witch.

Looking for short stories in the 3,500-7,000 word range, but will consider stories from 2,500-10,000 words. Please put SUBMISSION, followed by the title of the story, and word count, in the subject line of your email. Refer to website for formatting requirements and attach your submission in .rtf format.

Send submissions and questions to: [email protected]

Submissions pasted in the body of email will be rejected, unread. No spaces between paragraphs, and half-inch tab indentations. No single quotation marks for dialogue (curly quotes). One space after periods instead of two. Open until filled. Only Unpublished work will be considered. Response time: approximately 30 days.

[via: Wicked East Press.]