Taking Submissions: Cryptids from the Rock

Engen Books is now accepting submissions to the latest From the Rock anthology, for release in 2024. Editors Ellen Curtis and Erin Vance are accepting submissions for short fiction under 7000 words that focus on cryptids, animals whose existence permeate urban myths but are not recognized within the scientific community.  Popular cryptids include Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, Mothman, the Ogopogo, the Jersey Devil, and the Loveland Frog, but stories concerning lesser known cryptids or creatures of the writer’s own imagination are also welcomed.

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Stories for this collection might include close encounters with a cryptid, dealing with a cryptid hoax, be written as a horrifying ordeal, or as historical fiction. Writers are encouraged to let their imagination play, but we ask that you read the following carefully before submitting.

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As always, the From the Rock collections are intended to highlight the fantastic, varied writers Newfoundland and Labrador has fostered. When submitting, we request that authors indicate if they are current or former residents of the province, and if their story is linked to the province in any way (though it need not be). While we will accept submissions from across Canada and internationally, authors with a connection to the province are given preference for this series, and this information will be given to editors during the jurying process.

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As with all content at Engen Books, misogynistic, racist, ethnocentric, homophobic, or transphobic messaging will result in the submission being rejected and may result in the author being barred from future submissions. Authors should take care to avoid cultural appropriation or fetishization of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups and are responsible for avoiding the use of harmful stereotypes in their submissions. In an effort to support diverse voices and counteract the rise in culturally appropriative content being submitted, authors are invited to indicate if their work is representative of their lived experience or culture. While submissions are judged blind of name, editors will receive this information during the jurying process.

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The From the Rock anthologies are intended to be read by ages 12 and up, so with that in mind we ask that authors adhere to guidelines similar to a PG-13 movie rating. Cursing should be minimal, and slurs that target a character’s racial, sexual, or gender identity are prohibited.  Violence is allowed, but gore should be moderate. Sexual content should not be graphic or crude, and sexual violence is strictly prohibited. Smoking, alcohol, and drug use should be kept minimal or implied. Successful authors submitting stories with this content may be asked to edit their work to better fit within these parameters prior to printing.

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In an effort to streamline the review process, we ask that authors submit their stories by email to [email protected] as a .doc or .docx file, careful to adhere to the following guidelines. The email should include the author’s name and reliable contact information, relevant information regarding the author’s connection to Newfoundland and Labrador, relevant information regarding lived experience or culture, as well as the story’s title and a word count for the story. The story should be attached to the email, with the document name as the title of the story. The title should appear again at the beginning of the text, but we request that the author’s name not appear in the document, including in headers or footers, or in the name of the document. Submissions are juried blind, and the editors are only given information regarding representation where provided by the author.

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Submissions will be accepted until October 31st, 2023, at midnight Newfoundland Standard Time. We thank all interested authors in advance for their submissions.