Events

Deadline: October 14, 2016 Payment: Royalty split and 1 contributor's copy Mocha Memoirs Press is pleased to announce that they will be publishing another Sherlock Holmes anthology with editor A.C. Thompson! So sharpen those pencils and get ready to write. “The game is afoot!”   Welcome back to Baker Street! Holmes and Watson are there to greet you once more with amazing tales of murder, mayhem, and mystery with a supernatural twist. This time the great detective and his stalwart companion will venture into alternate universes, histories, and futures to solve puzzling cases of the paranormal beyond the bounds of imagination.   In Curious Incidents: More Improbable Adventures, I am looking for stories that diverge from the original canon setting of Victorian England. The adventures should be paranormal in nature, but the universe is completely open. In fact, stories set in the traditional Victorian will not be considered. Some examples of alternate settings might be: steampunk, weird west, distant future, space, ancient world (ok, so I’d just really like to see if someone could do it…), dystopian, American noir, or even modern times (BE CAREFUL WITH THIS. I CAN’T PUBLISH SHERLOCK BBC FANFICTION!).   Word of warning:  Sherlock is a beloved character with a very distinct voice and manner.  We want to be sure that we keep and/ or expand on those attributes that have made him a literary icon. However, I am very interested in seeing diverse characters in starring roles (gender, ethnicity, etc.). The entire original canon is available on Kindle for FREE.  Take advantage.   This time, I’m a little more flexible with genre. I am looking for stories that will fall into the speculative fiction genre and all its subspecies (horror, sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk, magical realism, gothic horror, etc.). I’m even being adventurous this time and allowing...

Deadline: October 14th, 2016 Payment: $5 and a contributor's copy It's finally here: October's issue is now open for submissions! The theme prompts this time around are "macabre" and "Gothic". Here's the important part: October's issue is a flash-submission issue - this means that all non-fiction and fiction submissions are limited to a maximum word-count of 1000 words, and all poems are limited to a maximum of 1 page, up to 5 poems per submission. Art submissions remain unaffected. Happy writing/arting everyone - we can't wait to see what you have for us! Are you a poet? An essayist? A short story writer? An artist? If you have a piece you'd like to submit for the next issue of The Violet Hour, we want to see it! Send us an email to the address listed below and attach any written work in PDF or Word.doc format, and all artwork in jpeg format to submit it for consideration. With the exception of submissions for the open December anthology, don't forget to use at least one of the themes chosen for each issue. (For details about issue themes, launch dates and more, see the above "News & Events" posts.)       [email protected] Submission Periods The Violet Hour Magazine is published quarterly, with three themed issues (published at the end of April, August and October) and one anual open-themed anthology (published at the end of December). Submission periods for the issues are as follows: 1. December 15th to March 31st (for April issue) 2. April 15th to July 31st (for August/September issue) 3. Septebmer 7th to October 14th (for October issue - *IMPORTANT:   October is a flash-submission issue - see News & Events post for details.) 4. Submissions accepted throughout the year (for December issue) *Please Note: Submissions made to any of the themed issues that are not selected for publication in their relevant issue will not be automatically considered...

Deadline: October 15th, 2016 Payment: AUD$100 The Worlds of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Vol II Words required: 4500 - 10 000 words ( Deadline = 15th October 2016 -- firm) Payment for each story - AUD$100 Genres - any variation on the title is suitable. NOTE: This anthology is given away free as an e-book in many formats, and through amazon sold at cost price, or the minimum price amazon will allow. Usually what they make from any sale is what the cost price is for e-book and print. Altair Australia Pty Ltd, the publisher creates these works as a promotion for authors. Robert endeavours to get new and known voices out to a wider reading audience who may then buy something with these authors in, or a novel they have written. All authors are paid on day of acceptance, and the anthology is usually launched on, or before January 31 each year - 2017 To get an idea of what was in Volume I you can download a FREE copy from All submission need to be double spaced and sent as rtf documents, or .doc  no other formats will be accepted. No double space after full-stops. Double quotes for dialogue. No line space for paragraphs and paragraph indents not tab indents. If tab indents discovered then the work will either be rejected or asked to be resubmitted in the correct format. What is wanted: Original - (previously unpublished - NO REPRINTS) genre fiction that explores as well as entertains. Readers like to get involved with bright characters and strange worlds. They like to be frightened and unnerved and they like to see magic and fantasy worlds that are not a slightly different Tolkien or Martin. Read the FREE anthologies published in the previous 2 years and get a feel for what can...

Deadline: October 15th, 2016 Payment: $20 Please don't query us about your story submission. We don't have the manpower to answer such queries. An editor will email you back as soon as possible with the decision about your story. This can take a few days, or, up to three months. We make every effort to get back to authors in a timely manner but we get a lot of submissions so sometimes it's not possible. A note on our editorial policy: before publication we may edit the story for length or readability. However, we always remain true to the spirit of the story. Issues are published at the end of February, May, August, and November. We have reading periods for each issue, though we never close to submissions. February closes January 15 May closes April 15 August closes July 15 November closes October 15 Please do not submit the same story more than once, and please submit only one story at a time. We consider any story between 250 and 7000 words with speculative fiction elements. We prefer science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre, but we're willing to push the limits of traditional forms of these genres. We do not consider poetry, stories with over-the-top sex or violence, serials, novels, fan fiction, or non-fiction. We don't accept multiple submissions; in other words, only submit one story at a time and wait for a response before submitting another. We accept simultaneous submissions as long as you let us know up front and tell us as soon as it's accepted elsewhere. We do not publish reprints, including anything that has appeared on a website. We pay $20 for each story we publish. We buy first-printing world exclusive rights for four months. Payment will be made shortly after publication using PayPal. We encourage...

Deadline: October 15th, 2016 Payment: $10 usd In Our Bodies (Body Horror): Submissions open 08/13/16-10/15/2016 What we are looking for: Body Horror. Specifically, stories to make our readers skin crawl. Mutations, disease, or  mutilation- we want it all! Pay $10 per story Word Count 2000-5000 words Anticipated Release Date 02/2017 Additional Stipulations: No reprints. No simultaneous submissions. We will hold all rights to reprints for one year from the date of publication.Must be able to return the signed contract (if accepted) within 15 days of receipt.) Payment for accepted submissions will be made within 15 days of receipt of signed contract. If you have an amazing story over 5k words that you believe will fit, we can consider  it for publication. However, if the story is accepted pay will not be increased for word count.  As with all of our work we do not accept erotica. Via: Disquieted Dreams.

Deadline: October 15th, 2016 Payment: $1 per author We're looking to get a new anthology going. Here are the terms. From Miskatonic Press Deadline: October 15th, 2016 Payment: To be discussed. Please contact us for information. Those Who Walk: Halloween Submissions open 08/25/16-10/15/2016 What we are looking for: Horror stories in the spirit of Halloween. Surprise us. We are not looking for extreme violence or erotica. Original short stories in the vein of The Shining, A Nightmare On Elm Street, etc. Your favorite Halloween treats whatever they may be. Surprise us. Word Count 2000-5000 words. Can be discussed. Anticipated Release Date 10/31/2016 Please send all submissions to [email protected]. For any further questions or information please contact us via email. Happy Halloween

Deadline: October 15th, 2016 Payment: POETRY: Up to 100 lines. Paid $0.25USD a line., MICRO FICTION: Drabbles are strictly 100 words. Titles should be no longer than 3 words. Paid $0.06USD per word., FLASH FICTION: 500 to 1000 words. Paid $0.02USD per word., SHORT STORIES: 1001 to 1500 words. Paid $0.03USD per word., SERIAL STORIES: 1000 to 2500 words per chapter. Total word count 4000 to 10000. Needs to be engaging, completed, and last two or four issues. Paid $0.03USD per word in segments. Helios Quarterly Magazine aims to publish quality fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and art that illuminates the darkness. HQM wants stories and poems that grab ahold of a reader from the opening lines all the way to the finish line. Works that push boundaries, are succinct, and well developed are smiled upon. READING PERIODS January 1-15 11:59PM EST (March Issue) April 1-15 11:59PM EST (June Issue) July 1-15 11:59PM EST (September Issue) October 1-15 11:59PM EST (December Issue) Anything submitted outside of these windows will be deleted unread. Artists and photographers can submit year round. UPCOMING ISSUE The secrets being kept from us reveal a world in of themselves. Science fiction has a long speculative history of new technology and species, the likes of which humanity has never seen. The horror genre always aims to excite and instill fear, with depictions of possessions and cruel vengeance. Fantasy literature can always teeter on the edge of a grim dark worldview. RE_ACTED wants stories that explore the dark side of human progression. What are the secrets we’ve erased from our families shared histories? What is the government, society, or even the universe itself trying to shield us from seeing? Open to submit between October 1- October 15 11:59PM EST FICTION, POETRY & NON-FICTION IDEAS Ghosts aren’t suppose to be real. What if the cemetery behind the...

Deadline: October 20th, 2016 Payment: $25usd Seeking authors with a penchant for the Twilight Zone, X-Files, Dark Mirror, Alfred Hitchcock, Night Gallery, and Something Wicked This Way Comes. Buy the ticket and step into the last Carnival you will ever attend! Authors, let your darkest ideas and fantasy unite at the Carnival of Madness. Psycho-thrillers invite their audience to be a part of the nightmare that you create! So….Wanna go for a ride? Participating Authors so far: Bill McCormick, Virginia Carraway Stark, Dutch Walden… 5k up to 7K Word Count per story. $25 contributor payout and a contributor copy of “Carnival of Madness.” Deadline for submission is October 20th with a release date in time for a dark and thankless Thanksgiving!! Please send submissions to: [email protected] [email protected] Via: Azoth Khem Publishing.

Deadline: October 21, 2016 Payment: A variety of prizes you can see below. Open your creative veins and enter the I CAN TASTE THE BLOOD FLASH FICTION CONTEST for a chance to win CASH PRIZES and have your submission PUBLISHED in I CAN TASTE THE BLOOD, the new anthology from Grey Matter Press. BACKGROUND I CAN TASTE THE BLOOD is the latest release from Grey Matter Press and features five disturbing visions from five diverse authors that include Josh Malerman, John F.D. Taff, Erik T. Johnson, J. Daniel Stone and Joe Schwartz. The authors’ sole inspiration for their work was the cryptic message scrawled on a graffiti-scarred bathroom wall that read, simply: “I can taste the blood.” Now it’s your chance to do the same and reap some awesome rewards. Enter the I CAN TASTE THE BLOOD FLASH FICTION CONTEST and three lucky winners will receive cash prizes and have their stories published alongside those of the contributors in all digital versions of I CAN TASTE THE BLOOD sold at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and digital booksellers worldwide. READERS HELP DETERMINE THE OUTCOME Readers will play a crucial role in selecting contest winners. Helping to influence the outcome, readers will vote for their favorite submissions. The three pieces receiving the most votes will be named the Reader’s Choices. Each of these submissions automatically advance and will receive one point in the overall judging, effectively making the voting public — your friends, your family and your colleagues — members of the juried panel. JUDGING SUBMISSIONS In addition to those pieces selected as Reader’s Choices, Grey Matter Press will assemble a jury to review all submissions. The members of this jury will included the contributors to I CAN TASTE THE BLOOD and Grey Matter Press editors. Each member of the jury...

Deadline: October 25th, 2016 Payment: Contributor's Copy Note: I apologize on the short call, just stumbled across this publisher. Hopefully someone has something socked away for it if interested. Note #2, reprints allowed Submission Period: September 25th-October 25th   Word Count:    100-25,000 Theme:      Due to the popularity of our Princess Fairy Tale Anthology, we are opening submissions for another fairy tale theme. For this anthology, we are looking for stories that focus on strong heroines. We want to see stories of damsels who save themselves instead of waiting for a man to do the job for them. We want Rapunzel to find her own way out of the tower, the little mermaid to shove that dagger into the prince's heart and win back her life, Snow White to shove that poisoned apple into the queen's face... you get the idea. All genres and styles are accepted as long as the story is based on an actual fariy tale. The fairy tale does not have to be well known; we love reading the obscure ones just as much as Snow White and Cinderella. We will not publish erotica in our normal monthly issues, but we do know that this is a very popular genre, which is why we are going to accept erotica submissions for anthology publication.  However, please do not send us: Incest (step relations are fine), underage, or necrophilia (exception being supernatural anthropomorphic creatures/undead). No excrement/urine play. THESE EXEMPTIONS GO FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS FOR EVERY ANTHOLOGY. NO EXCEPTIONS.   Response Time:  Please allow up to two weeks. After that, if you don't hear from us then feel free to give us a little nudge.   Payment: Compensation for the anthology will be one paperback print copy as well as a PDF. Editing: Yes, your story will be edited if we decide to accept it. After we go through and...