Deadline: September 30th 2012
Payment: This anthology is a paying market, paying shared royalties based on sales.

Cruentus Libri Press is pleased to announce its forthcoming anthology, now open for submission.

Under the Knife is a horror anthology set beneath the harsh, clinical lights of a hospital, doctor’s surgery or any other medical setting. From the polished steel of an operating table to the rusty blade of an impromptu war-zone amputation, we are looking for stories that completely subvert the Hippocratic Oath: First, do no harm.

WHAT WE WANT

Medicine, surgery or some related field must be the cornerstone of your story but, beyond that, we’re not too bothered. We’re just as happy to consider tales that involve medieval herbalists or New Age homeopathy as we are stories of surgeries gone wrong or doctors with a deep, dark secret.

WHAT WE DON’T WANT

Cybernetic implants. Whilst it is certainly a form of surgery and can undoubtedly lead to an horrific outcome, we consider such fare to fall into the camp of science-fiction, rather than horror.

This is a horror anthology intended for an adult audience. Whilst we have no qualms about including sex, violence and swearing in the stories, don’t make it gratuitous – ask yourself whether the scene in question adds to the story or if it is simply there to shock.

THE RULES

First, check out our Writer’s Guidelines and, specifically, that part pertaining to Anthology Submissions. They should tell you all you need to know about sending us your work.

Word Count: 2500-7500 words. Whilst we will accept some leeway in this word count, don’t be sending us flash fiction or novellas, as they will be returned unread.

Reading Period: 01 July 2012 to 30 September 2012.

Reprints: Yes

Multiple Submissions: No.

Simultaneous Submissions: We understand that writers want to find a home for their work and, as such, we have no problem with sending you story to other markets as well as our own. We ask only that you inform us if your story gets accepted elsewhere before the end of the reading period, so that we can remove it from our slushpile.

Payment: This anthology is a paying market, paying shared royalties based on sales. Please see our royalty guide here for details.

Rights: Cruentus Libri Press request One Time Print and Electronic Publishing Rights for each story published. This means that, once your story is published with us, thereafter it can only be marketed as a reprint. This can limit the number of markets that will accept it, as many publications will not accept reprints and those that do may offer a reduced pay rate as a consequence. Please bear this in mind when submitting your story for inclusion in this anthology.

Once you’re satisfied with your entry and you’re sure it meets the guidelines, submit it as an attachment to [email protected]

[via: Cruentus Libri Press.]