2012AD Anthology

Severed Press seeks short stories for its new Apocalypse anthology, 2012AD. Stories should be based around the Ancient Mayan prediction of the world ending on December 21st 2012. Stories can be Horror, Dark humor, Monsters, Zombies, Sci-Fi, Biblical (Antichrist, four horseman ETC) Evil from other dimensions in fact anything goes.

Payment: Payment will be $0.01 word based on the final edited version. Rounded to the nearest hundred words, plus one Authors copy.

Stories for anthologies should be between 2000-8000 words and be submitted with a brief Bio and a synopsis of your story in standard form as an attachment to anthologies@severedpress.com please advise us if story has been published before.

The deadline for submissions are as follows:

2012AD - 15/04/09

TRIANGULATION: Dark Glass

Triangulation is an annual 125-150+ page short fiction anthology that publishes science fiction, fantasy, horror, and any other speculative fiction that caught the editors' fancy. Every year we have a theme: 2009's theme is "Dark Glass". We pay semi-pro rates and are available online at places like Amazon.com. We use Lulu.com as our printer, so if the publish-on-demand thing leaves a foul taste in your mouth, avoid us. We're a small outfit but we work hard to produce a quality product; Asimov's Science Fiction said we were "equal to any issue of your favorite prozine."

No, we don't get tired of mentioning that Asimov's said nice things about us.

We define "short fiction" as "up to about 5,000 words or so." We have no reason to impose hard and fast arbitrary word limits, but we are interested in publishing a wide variety of entertaining and literate stories, so the more space a story would take, the more it will need to impress us. If you have an awesome story that exceeds 5K then by all means send it; but be warned that if you're closer to 10,000 words, it will probably need to have the editorial staff cheering and high-fiving each other so much that the senior editor's roommate's poodle runs into the room to see what all the commotion is about. And that dog likes his naps.

We dig flash; there is no minimum word count.

We have no interest in getting more specific about the term "speculative fiction." Science fiction, horror, fantasy, magic realism, alternate history, whatever -- if there's a speculative element vital to your story, we'll gladly give it a read.

We love creative interpretations of our theme, "Dark Glass". Don't ask us what it means -- tell us what it means with a story that convinces us you're right.

We publish both new and established writers; the level of experience for the authors gracing our pages has ranged from "first time in print" to "Hugo winner." The majority of our stories usually wind up being from American authors, but we've had a number of international contributions; we're happy to consider work from anywhere in the world, just as long as it's written in English.

We will run mature content if we like the story. So make sure there's an actual story in that mature content.

We will gladly consider reprints. If the story ran someplace obscure, then it's probably new to our readers; and if it ran someplace high-profile, it's probably really good. Either way, we win!

No poetry. Sorry.

No fanfic, even if it's fanfic of a fictional universe that has passed into public domain. Cthulhu Mythos, I'm looking in your direction.

No thinly-disguised transcripts of roleplaying sessions, no settings obviously based on D&D or other such games. Don't get us wrong, we love to game ourselves -- which means our imaginations are probably too cluttered with elves and dwarves and orcs and the like as it is.

Submission deadline is March 31, 2009. All electronic submits must be sent by that time, all snail mail submits must be postmarked by that date.

Compensation:

We pay two cents per word (USA funds, rounded to the nearest 100 words, US$10 minimum payment) on publication and a single contributor's copy. The anthology will be published in late July of 2009. We purchase North American Serial Rights, and Electronic Rights for the PDF downloadable version; since we're cool with reprints, we really don't care whether we have firsties. All subsidiary rights released upon publication. Contributors will also have the option of purchasing additional copies of the anthology at-cost, exact price TBD.

How To Submit:

Electronic submissions make our lives easier. Please send your story to editor@parsecink.org. Please put your subject line in the format of "SUBMISSION: Story Title" so we can tell you apart from the spam.

We'll consider stories ONLY in the following formats:

• .odt (OpenDocument Text -- format used by the OpenOffice.org suite) -- preferred format
• .rtf (Rich Text Format -- generic document format that most word processors can create)
• .doc (MS Word -- we're not crazy about it, but let's face it, it's the one most people actually use)

Please use industry standard manuscript format. There's disagreement on some of the exact details of the "standard" -- we're cool with that. We're not testing you to see if you can follow each and every niggling detail, we just want a manuscript that looks professional.

If you absolutely positively can't use email, please send the manuscript (with either a SASE or a return email address) to:

Triangulation 2008
134 Orchard Dr.
Penn Hills, PA 15235

No hand-written manuscripts. We gotta draw the line somewhere.

Please, no multiple submissions; only send us one story at a time. We'll get back to you promptly, we promise.

Response:

Expect to hear back from us within two months or less. Feel free to start sending us nagging emails if you haven't heard from us after two months.

Please please please include a phone number in your manuscript header. (See "standard manuscript format" above.) If that's not feasible for whatever reason, please include an alternate email address. As much as we love email, it's not the most reliable technology in the world, and if something goes awry with your address, we're both going to wind up frustrated. (We've responded to every story we've ever received, but we know for a fact that at least a few of those responses got eaten by gremlins lurking in the Internet's many tubes.)

Eligibility:

The senior editor's policy is that, in order for the Triangulation anthology to run a story written by somebody listed in the credits page, the story must be so awesome that the thought of not running it gives him night sweats. Otherwise, writers who personally know or are related to the editorial staff should feel free to submit. We're not worried about nepotism; we tell our friends that their writing sucks all the time.

Please note that most of the editorial staff attends the Write or Die (WorD) critique group which meets every other Tuesday in Monroeville, PA. Also note that WorD is an open workshop. If you live in or near the Pittsburgh region and have ever wanted to force a market's editorial staff to give you detailed feedback on a story, this is your chance.

Who We Are:

Triangulation is an annual anthology produced by PARSEC Ink, the publishing wing of the PARSEC science-fiction association in Pittsburgh, PA. A new edition of Triangulation has been published every year since 2003 (save for a brief hiatus in 2006 when we changed over to an international format).

Triangulation shares an informal relationship with PARSEC's annual short story contest, and in past years Triangulation editors have been recruited as mid-round judges. Authors who do well in the contest may be offered publication in Triangulation solely at the discretion of Triangulation's editors. However, contest entrants are encouraged to also submit their work separately to the anthology. We see the contest stories very late in the process, so if we find a "near miss" that we could see running if the author fixed a few problems, there might not be enough time left for the author to fix them.

Horror Anthology 2009

Comet Press is seeking short stories for an extreme horror anthology to be published in the summer of 2009 (trade paperback). We are looking for your most gruesome, disturbing, and scary tales. Some dark humor is acceptable.

Here is the twist on this collecton: We will prefer to see stories set in various times of past history. Including a historical or notorious figure, or legendary beast connected with that period would be a bonus. Below are just some examples:

Old West, WWII Nazi Germany, Ancient, Pre-Columbian, Biblical Era, Medieval, Pre-civilization, etc.

With that said, if your story is great, but has a modern setting, we won't reject for that reason.

Reading period: From December 15, 2008–February 28, 2009 (or until filled).

Word length: 3,000–10,000 words.

Multiple submissions: Up to two stories per author can be submitted.

Payment: 1/4 cent per word, $25 max. Payment will be made upon publication.

Reprints: We may consider reprints, please send previous publishing information with submission.

Return Time: Rejections will be sent as soon as possible. Stories that make the first cut will be kept until the end of the reading period. Authors will be notified right away if their story makes the first cut, then the final stories will be selected at the end of the reading period.

Artwork: We are accepting submissions for cover art for this book. Either email your artwork in .jpeg format (300 DPI) as an attachment, or provide a link to the art online. Put “ARTWORK SUBMISSION: HORROR ANTHOLOGY” in the subject of the email. Payment is $25.00. Email to the address at the bottom of this page.

Title Contest: Send us your ideas for the title! If we use it, we'll send you a free copy of the book! Put “TITLE CONTEST: HORROR ANTHOLOGY” in the subject of the email. Send as many as you like in the email. Email to the address at the bottom of this page.

Attach the entire manuscript as an rtf attachment. First page of manuscript should include your name, pen name if any, address and email address, and word count. Please include that first page info in the body of your email along with a brief blurb summing up the story and a brief bio. Manuscript should be in a standard format—double spaced, standard font and size. First line of paragraphs indented using word processor function (not tabs), no extra spaces between paragraphs, except for scene breaks. Italics should be italized, bold in bold. No headers or footers are necessary. Put “SUBMISSION: HORROR ANTHOLOGY” in the subject of the email.

Email to Comet Press.

HIGHLIGHTS 2009 FICTION CONTEST

CATEGORY:
Contemporary world-cultures stories.

PRIZES:
Three prizes of $1,000 or tuition for the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua.

ENTRY DATES:
All entries must be postmarked between January 1, 2009, and January 31, 2009.

RULES:
No entry form or fee is required.

*Entrants must be at least 16 years old at the time of submission.

We welcome work from both published and unpublished authors. All submissions must be previously unpublished.

Stories may be any length up to 800 words. Stories for beginning readers should not exceed 500 words. Indicate the word count in the upper right-hand corner of the first page of your manuscript.

No crime, violence, or derogatory humor.

Entries not accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope will not be returned.

Manuscripts or envelopes should be clearly marked FICTION CONTEST. Those not marked in this way will be considered as regular submissions to Highlights.

SEND ENTRIES TO:
FICTION CONTEST
Highlights for Children
803 Church Street
Honesdale, PA 18431

WINNERS:
The three winning entries will be announced on Highlights.com in June 2009. These stories will become the property of Highlights for Children and will be published by Highlights. All other submissions will be considered for purchase by Highlights.

* We're sorry that we cannot consider contest entries from children under the age of 16. Young writers are welcome to submit their work for consideration elsewhere in the magazine. Guidelines are available on HighlightsKids. com.

Bylines 2010

We are now accepting submissions for Bylines 2010 Writers Desk Calendar and we invite dedicated, serious writers who have been published and paid for their work to submit an entry. All genres and disciplines are welcome.

Submission Guidelines

We're looking for succinct personal stories about the writing life. The oh-wow success tales, the naked truth about what motivates you, the heartache of rejection, the toughest lessons, the joy and pain of freelancing. Humor is good, so is pathos. Please avoid routine, trite, ordinary stories. Read the many insightful submissions in the current Bylines and you'll see what we mean. We strongly urge you to read these entries so you understand what we're looking for. Click on the links below for three examples of entries from previous Bylines.

Andrew Bill
Karuna Eberl
Nora Frances Horn

The best way to see what we're looking for is to obtain a copy of Bylines 2009. For order information, click on the "order Bylines" button at the left.

Writer's Bio
A few sentences about yourself. You're not dry and boring, so your bio shouldn't be either. Give us your accomplishments but round out your profile so our readers feel like they'd like to meet you for coffee. Or a beer.

Submission Length
The combined word count of your essay and bio should not exceed 300 words. We want room for your photo. However, don't send your photo yet. We'll let you know if your submission has been chosen and request your picture then.

Writer's Photo
If your submission is accepted, we will require a high resolution photograph. You may send a digital image as long as the resolution is 300 dpi or higher. If you do not have a high resolution digital image, please send us a quality snap shot that we may use. Please note, your photograph will not be returned. Do not send us your photo until you are notified that your submission has been accepted for the calendar.

Submission Method
Send your submission within the body of your email (NOT as an attachment) to: info@bylinescalendar.com. Include your full name, address, phone number, email address and website. Do not mail hard copies.

Deadline
Submissions must be received no later than February 1, 2009. Writers will be notified by April 15.

Fine Print
We reserve the right to edit submissions and bios chosen for Bylines but you will have the opportunity to approve any changes. Bylines has one-time use rights. Submissions and photographs will not be returned. We will accept previously published work; just let us know when and where it appeared. Writer agrees that pull quotes from their submission may be used on the Bylines web page, or in other marketing.

Writer Compensation
1. Exposure and promotion. Bylines is sold at bookstores nationwide and on the Internet. Your website and email address are listed in the calendar (with your permission), and we provide a link from our website to yours. If you're the outgoing type, we help arrange book signings at your local bookstore and/or interviews with your local media. We also send out hundreds of press releases. 2. You get one free calendar and discounts on additional purchases. 3. Money. It's only $5, but at least you can count us as a paying market. Remember, this is a labor of love, a tribute to writers and a break-even project.

Publisher
Sylvia Forbes
sylvia@bylinescalendar.com

Thoroughbred Time Fiction Writing Contest $750 First Prize

1) Entry must be fiction and pertain to an aspect of the Thoroughbred industry

2) Entry must be original material. Previously published work is not eligible. Entry submitted to a previous Thoroughbred Times Fiction Contest is not eligible.

3) Entry must be a maximum of 5,000 words, typed or computer-printed, and double-spaced on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper. Entry that exceeds word count is not eligible.

4) Each author may submit only one entry.

5) Author acknowledges that he or she solely owns the work and that the work does not violate or infringe on any copyright agreements and does not contain any libelous material.

6) Each entry must be accompanied by a cover sheet that lists title of entry, author's name, mailing address, e-mail address (if available), and daytime telephone number. Do not include author's name and contact information on individual pages of entry.

7) Entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2009.

8) Send your entry to Thoroughbred Times Fiction Contest, P.O. Box 8237, Lexington, KY 40533-8237. For overnight packages and those that require a return receipt acknowledgment, send your entry to: Thoroughbred Times Fiction Contest, 2008 Mercer Road, Lexington, KY 40511.

9) E-mailed entries will be accepted and should be sent to fiction@thoroughbre dtimes.com
. Entry should be in a Microsoft Word document and sent as an attachment to the e-mail.

10) No fax entries will be accepted.

11) Thoroughbred Times will acknowledge receipt of entries via e-mail or mail.

12) Entries will be judged by an editorial panel selected by the editors of Thoroughbred Times. Decision of the judges is final.

13) By submitting an entry to the Fiction Contest, the author acknowledges that Thoroughbred Times is hereby awarded the first North American publication
rights, and compensation to the author will be as outlined below. Thoroughbred Times reserves the right to publish any and all Fiction Contest entries
in Thoroughbred Times.

14) First-place winner will receive $750 and the work will be published in Thoroughbred Times. Second-place winner will receive $375 and the work will be published in Thoroughbred Times. Third-place winner will receive $200 and the work will be published in Thoroughbred Times. Any Honorable Mention winners that are published will receive a cash prize.

15) Entries will not be returned.

16) Employees of and/or regular contributors to Thoroughbred Times are not eligible.

17) To obtain the results of the contest, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Thoroughbred Times Fiction Contest Results, P.O. Box 8237, Lexington,
KY 40533. For more information, contact Tom Law at (859) 260-9800 ext.125 or
fiction@thoroughbre dtimes.com.

http://www.thorough bredtimes. com/default. aspx

2009 Kathy Fish Fellowship

The winner of the Fellowship will receive $500.00, to be paid as follows: $100.00 on announcement of the winner, and $100.00 upon publication of each of the four issues in 2009.

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It seems that many awards in people's names are established posthumously. We're ecstatic that we can recognize Kathy Fish while she's still very much alive and kicking. As she stepped down as our Fiction Editor, we at SmokeLong wanted to recognize Kathy's enormous contributions to the magazine and to the writing community as a whole. In particular, Kathy has always been a great champion of new writers and has exhibited an uncanny talent for finding previously unpublished writers whose work just shines.

We want to foster that sort of commitment to new writers, and in that vein, we created the Kathy Fish Fellowship. All writers previously unpublished in SmokeLong Quarterly are eligible to apply. Following are the guidelines for application and the terms of the award itself:

Application Guidelines
1. Applications should be emailed to fellowship@smokelong.com.
2. Applications should include five samples of your flash fiction (stories of a thousand words or less). These samples may be unpublished or previously published in venues other than SmokeLong. We'll be reading these to get impressions of each applicant's writing. The writing samples should, as a whole, best reflect your ability, style(s), etc. Show us who you are as a writer through these samples.
3. Applications should include a few paragraphs (under a thousand words total) about what you hope to accomplish in the next year with your flash writing. Are there specific elements you want to improve? A larger story you want to tell through a series of flashes? Help us learn how we can help you realize your goals should you win this award.
4. Samples and paragraphs about goals, etc. should be included in the body of the email, rather than as attachments.
5. There is no application fee.
6. Application deadline is December 20, 2008.

Fellowship Awards
1. The winner of the 2009 Kathy Fish Fellowship will be considered a "writer in residence" at SmokeLong for each of the four issues to be published in 2009. Each issue will include one flash by the Fellowship winner.
2. The winner of the Fellowship will receive $500.00, to be paid as follows: $100.00 on announcement of the winner, and $100.00 upon publication of each of the four issues in 2009.
3. The winner will be announced January 20, 2009.

Again, this award is open to any writer not previously published in SmokeLong Quarterly. It is not restricted to writing program students (as we are all, in some way, students of writing), although we will certainly be distributing this announcement to various writing programs. We also encourage teachers of writing to pass this announcement along to their students.

We're looking forward to reading your applications, and we want to once again extend our deepest gratitude to Kathy for all she's done for SmokeLong and for writers of flash fiction. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Kath.

Previous Fish Fellows
2007: Beth Thomas
2008: Stefanie Freele

"Discovery" / Boston Review 2009 Poetry Contest

Deadline: January 16, 2009.
Judges: Mary Jo Bang, Terrance Hayes, and Mark Strand.
Four Prizes: $500

Complete guidelines:
Four winning authors will be awarded a reading at the 92nd Street Y in New York City (May 11, 2009 at 8:15pm), publication in the May/June 2009 issue of
Boston Review,
and $500.

1. The contest is open to poets who have not published a book of poems (chapbooks and self-published books included). Those who have a book contract at
the time of submission or who are subsequently awarded a book contract are not eligible for the contest if their book is scheduled for publication before
Fall 2009. Individual poems that have been or will be published in periodicals or anthologies may be submitted; however, at least two of the submitted
poems must be unpublished and under two pages in length.
2. Submit four identical sets of a typed ten-page manuscript. Each set is to contain the same ten pages in the same order. Include no more than one poem
per page. NO personal identification should appear on any of the poems; no copyright attributions for previously published poems should appear on the poems.
3. Photocopied manuscripts are acceptable. However, in the case of previously published poems, do not send photocopied pages of the periodical or book
in which the poem(s) originally appeared.
4. Please staple each manuscript; do not use paper clips.
5. Enclose one cover letter including your name, address and day and evening telephone numbers, as well as a list of the submitted poems in the order in
which they appear, with copyright attributions for published poems. Do not attach this cover letter to the manuscripts.
6. An entry fee of US$10.00 must accompany the submission. Please make checks (drawn on U.S. banks only) or money orders (in U.S. currency only) payable
to the 92nd Street Y, and attach them to your cover letter. DO NOT SEND CASH.
7. All poems must be original and in English (no translations) .
8. No contestant may submit more than one entry. No corrections can be accepted after receipt of the contest submission.
9. Entries must be received by January 16, 2009. This is not a postmark deadline. If you wish to receive confirmation of receipt of your manuscript, please
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard (not envelope) and allow several weeks for its return. Due to the large number of submission received, manuscripts
cannot be returned. Winners will be contacted by telephone by the end of February; all contest entrants will be mailed the names of the winners and of
the judges shortly thereafter.
10. No phone queries can be taken. If you wish to hear a recording of the guidelines, or to receive another set of these guidelines in the mail, call 212.415.5759.

Mail contest submissions to:
"Discovery"/ Boston Review 2009 Poetry Contest, Unterberg Poetry Center, 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10128

http://bostonreview .net/about/ contest/

* * *

To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

For more about the author of this blog check out Theinkslinger.net.

Zoland Poetry Anthology

Submission Guidelines
Please submit no more than 10 pages of previously unpublished poetry per reading period.

Work may be submitted online: submission@zolandpoetry.com
or via mail to: Zoland Poetry / 384 Huron Ave / Cambridge, MA 02138

All submissions must include: Name, Address, Phone, & Email

• Fax submissions are not accepted.
• Simultaneous submissions are acceptable, if noted in the cover letter.
• Submissions will not be returned, though receipt of material will be confirmed,
  if a self-addressed, stamped postcard is provided.
• All poets will be contacted by May 1, if their work has been accepted.

Submissions will be accepted for the fourth Zoland Poetry annual beginning in early summer 2008 through March 15, 2009. We are no longer reading for the third annual, which will be out March 2009.

Payment Schedule
Payment for poetry submissions is $25/page with a maximum of $200. Zoland purchases First World Rights, non-exclusive one-time anthology rights, and the right to publish a selection of the work on the website. Copyright remains with the author. All authors and translators will receive two copies of the book, along with payment, which is made just after publication of the annual volume. Authors are responsible for proofing their respective pages from galleys.

Translations will be considered only if a letter, signed by the author or his/her agent granting rights to the translated work, accompanies the submission. Translators should also include brief biographical information about the author and hard copy of the original language text. Upon acceptance of the translation, electronic copy of the original language text will be requested for the website.

Contact
General queries: info@zolandpoetry.com

* * *

To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

For more about the author of this blog check out Theinkslinger.net.

MISCARRIAGE ANTHOLOGY

Catalyst Book Press is seeking literary essays telling personal stories of miscarriage, in particular emotional and spiritual ramifications of miscarriage or the transformations that occurred in people's lives as a result of undergoing or observing a miscarriage. We are looking for essays that reflect a diversity of experiences and outcomes. Authors of accepted essays will receive $50 for their stories and one copy of the publication.

Submissions can be sent by August 15, 2009 to editor Jay Gibson at jaygibson@catalystb ookpress. com or:

care of Catalyst Book Press
709 Masson Ave. Apt. A
San Bruno CA 94066

If you wish your manuscript returned, please include an SASE.

* * *

To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

For more about the author of this blog check out Theinkslinger.net.

Blue Mountain Poetry Contest

Thirteenth Biannual Poetry Card Contest
Deadline: December 31, 2008
1st prize: $300 * 2nd prize: $150 * 3rd prize: $50

In addition, the winning poems will be displayed on our website sps.com.
Please read the following, then scroll down to submit your poem.

Poetry Contest Guidelines:

1. Poems can be rhyming or non-rhyming, although we find that non-rhyming poetry reads better.
2. We suggest that you write about real emotions and feelings and that you have some special person or occasion in mind as you write.
3. Poems are judged on the basis of originality and uniqueness.
4. English-language entries only, please.
5. Enter as often as you like!

Poetry Contest Rules

All entries must be the original creation of the submitting author. All rights to the entries must be owned by the author and shall remain the property of the author. The author gives permission to SPS Studios, Inc. to publish and display the entry on the Web (in electronic form only) if the entry is selected as a winner or finalist. Winners will be contacted within 45 days of the deadline date. Contest is open to everyone except employees of SPS Studios and their families. Void where prohibited.

How to Submit

Simply complete the contest form below, or if you prefer, you may send your submission via snail mail* to:

SPS Studios Poetry Card Contest,
P.O. Box 1007, Dept. E,
Boulder, CO 80306.

Poetry Contest Submission Form

* * *

To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

For more about the author of this blog check out Theinkslinger.net.

Blue Mountain Press

Blue Mountain Press, the new book division of Blue Mountain Arts, is accepting manuscripts in the following categories: gift books, personal growth, teens/tweens, family, relationships, motivational, and inspirational. Mail manuscripts to: Blue Mountain Press, P.O. Box 4219, Boulder, CO 80306.

Request writer’s guidelines or e-mail queries to BMPbooks@sps.com

Dysfunctional Family Anthology

Almost everyone thinks their own family is dysfunctional, or at least has a dysfunctional member or two.

Chicken Soup for the Soul is looking for true stories and poems about your family. Stories can be serious or hilarious, or both, and should help readers understand that their families are not so different from those of other people. Many of us have the same in-laws, siblings, parents, etc.

Submit under your real name, but rest assured they expect most of you to use pen names for publication and change the names of family members to protect the innocent (or guilty!). They prefer stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words.

Here are some suggested topics, but they know you can think of many more, since there is no way we can think of all the ways that families can be dysfunctional:

Wedding woes
Compulsions
Holiday meltdowns
Mean or controlling family members
Crazy but lovable
Interventions and family meetings
Abandoning a family member, sometimes to preserve the rest
Funny foibles
Serious family issues such as abuse, mental illness, substance abuse
Reconciliations
Funeral flare-ups and estate issues
Acceptance
... Anything else that you think is interesting about your
dysfunctional relatives

They are not looking for stories about divorce or the normal trials and tribulations of raising children and teenagers.

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the
right to resell it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO
http://chickensoupf orthesoul. com/form. asp?cid=submit_ story.

DEADLINE IS JUNE 30, 2009. Book is tentatively scheduled for publication in fall 2009, in time for the next holiday season!

* * *

To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

For more about the author of this blog check out Theinkslinger.net.

Short Story Market - Familymaker

Familymaker, an online magazine currently in start-up production, is seeking freelance writers to contribute short, original narratives or queries on family-centered themes. Articles should be anecdotal, around 500 words, and based in personal experience, observation, or interview.

We seek to present a wide range of topics within the broad themes of parenting, family-building, practical concerns, challenges to expect, advice, suggested activities, and humor. Our expected audience will include, but not be restricted to, young families. We hope for positive and informative articles, human interest stories that share insights and experience.

Following is a brief list of suggested topics that we do have interest in, though it is not required that proposals, draft essays, or queries be specifically on these topics:
•Survival skills for hard economic times
•Stay at home Dads
•Pros and Cons of Home Schooling
•How recession may reshape family values
•Making an intercultural marriage work
•Teenagers' advice to their parents
•Planning for your future
•Adoption experiences
•Fostering children in need
•Preparing for family life
•The value of marriage
•Pitfalls and challenges

Submissions should be the author’s original material, and preferably unpublished. In the event that any submission is chosen for publication, compensation ranging from $30-$100 will be offered at the editor’s discretion. Payment will follow publication.

Please send draft essays on speculation, or queries, and brief biographical information, to the Managing Editor at kay@familymakermag. org

* * *

To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

For more about the author of this blog check out Theinkslinger.net.

An Anthology of Tales from the Graveyard

Writers and Artists Guidelines

Sam's Dot Publishing is looking for stories and illustrations for Potter's Field 3, a print anthology of tales from the graveyard.

This volume will be the third in the Potter's Field series. This anthology will be published on 1 May 2009 in trade paperback format with a color cover, and black and white interior illustrations. Potter's Field 3 will be edited by Cathy Buburuz and, to some extent, by Tyree Campbell.

Potter's Field 3 is not open to poetry.

Please note that horror fiction written in the third person stands the best chance for acceptance.

Send us a story that's never been told before, one that's atmospheric and highly entertaining, has fascinating characters, one that takes place in a unique location or time period.

Potter's Field 3 is the burial place for the indigent and the unidentified. Just about every city has one. There's a Potter's Field in the contemporary Michael Douglas movie, Don't Say A Word. Obviously, we're looking for works that are themed to graveyards in some way. However, it does not have to be a conventional graveyard. Let me give you one example: back during the days of the Black Death, bodies were crammed--yes, literally crammed--into mass graves underneath churches. Even today, in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, you can take a walking tour deep under the church and see walls of skeletons and dirt. Such a place would also qualify as a graveyard for the indigent.

We do not want gore, blood, splatter, slice-and-dice. Sure, it might be good fun to make balloon animals out of someone's intestines, or find out how long the heart will continue to beat after it has been ripped from the body with a runcible spoon. But that's not what we want. We want stories that will scare readers, not stories that will make them gag. This is not to say that someone in your story cannot bleed, or die. Just put a lid on the icky stuff.

A word about sex and extreme language. We don't mind it, necessarily, but the sex and/or colorful language must have a purpose.

Stories for Potter's Field 3 must be written in English. You may use King's English or American English [but don't mix them, please]. The word count of your story should be between 2000 and 8000 words. We will be somewhat flexible on the 8000, but the 2000 is pretty firm. Of course, story quality usually overrides word count limitations. Usually.

We are looking primarily for original stories. However, we will consider reprints. If your story is a reprint, be sure to let us know when you submit it. We will want to know the name of the publication [online or in print] in which the story first appeared, and when it first appeared. Also, you must currently own the rights to the story. We likely won't accept more than two reprints for Potter's Field 3 and unpublished stories stand the best chance for acceptance.

Submit your story in the body of the e-mail to GraveyardSubmissionNOSPAM@hotmail.com . Be sure to put Story Submission and the title of your story in the subject line of the e-mail. Be sure to include the following information in your e-mail: your name; your snail mail address; your story's word count; your story's title; a statement about which rights are offered; and a brief bio written in the third person [50-100 words, more about YOU, less about where you've been published].

Writers and Artists, please note: If you move, tell us. If you change e-mail addresses, tell us. It is your responsibility to let us know where you are so that we can communicate, as well as send your payment and contributor's copy.

Art submissions:

For the cover, we'd prefer a chilling image (in color), one that's in harmony with our theme (visit Potter's Field in The Vile Vineyard on this website to view the art we've published on the covers of the first two volumes).

The stories will require black and white illustrations. If you'd like an assignment, please send a link to your online gallery or submit a sample of your horror art to GraveyardSubmissionNOSPAM@hotmail.com It is expected that each illustration will occupy an entire page--no small stuff (but submit as a jpeg of less than 50k). If you wish to include a caption for the illustration, please do so. We will accept only four black and white illustrations for this anthology, and one cover illustration.

Submit one black and white illustration at a time as a jpeg of less than 50K in the body of an e-mail to GraveyardSubmissionNOSPAM@hotmail.com. Be sure to remove the NO SPAM from the address before sending your e-mail. Be sure to put Art Submission and the title of your illustration in the subject line of the e-mail. Be sure to include the following information in your e-mail: your name; your snail mail address; the title of your illustration; a brief bio [50-100 words, more about YOU, less about where you've been published].

Please Note: If you move, tell us. If you change e-mail addresses, tell us. Please. It is your responsibility to let us know where you are, so that we can properly pay you.

Your submission will most likely be responded to in less than two weeks. If you haven't received a response within two weeks, please send an email to GraveyardSubmissionNOSPAM@hotmail.com with a note that includes the date and title of your submission. Be sure to remove the NO SPAM from the address before sending your e-mail. We will remain open to submissions until the anthology is filled. We have no way of knowing how long that will take.

Payment:

In return for your accepted story or illustration, you will receive payment and one contributor's copy of Potter's Field 3, upon publication, to be mailed in May 2009.

Pay rates for original stories: $10.00

Pay rate for reprinted stories: $6.00.

Payment for cover illustration: $12.00.

Pay rate for original illustrations: $6.00 per illustration.

Contributors who live in the U.S.A. will receive checks. Contributors who live outside the U.S.A. have two payment options. One, they can receive cash in American dollars. Two, they can receive payment via PayPal. And yes, if they have a third option, we'll listen to it.

Contributors are also eligible to buy additional copies of Potter's Field 3 at 20% off the cover price, plus S&H at cost.

If you have questions about this anthology or these guidelines, please contact Editor Cathy Buburuz at GraveyardSubmissionsNOSPAM@hotmail.com or Tyree Campbell (Editor & Publisher) at tyr3403NOSPAM@yahoo.com. with Potter's Field Query in the subject line. Again, be sure to remove the NO SPAM from the address before sending your e-mail.

We look forward to working with you.

* * *

To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

For more about the author of this blog check out Theinkslinger.net.

Queer Dimensions

Open call for submissions for a Science Fiction Anthology to be published by QueeredFiction* (http://www.queeredfiction.com) *where genre is queered.
Deadline is 28 February 2009.


Exotic queer futures unfolding before alien eyes, queer cyborgs and androids in love and at war, augmented queer humans seeding the far flung stars … hard science fiction or realms of lighter pseudo-sciences where queer flowers bloom on strange new worlds; even if that world is our own. Your submission should be a short story between 4,000 and 10,000 words. We are
seeking fiction with positive images of queer characters. We're not looking for clichés. We do not want reprints. We are seeking first world rights for this anthology which will be published as an eBook and/or in Paperback format.



Your submission should be via email to editor@queeredfiction.com with *Queer SF Anthology submission* in the subject line. Please embed/paste your short story within the body of the email and provide a brief author bio. Payment will be a 50% royalty split of eBook sales between contributors.


Queries welcome at info@queeredfiction.com or http://queered-fiction.blogspot.com/

The Devil’s Food Anthology of Horror.

The Monsters Next Door presents The Devil’s Food Anthology of Horror.

What we want:
Stories should be centered on humans as food for some type of monster. Stories should have a supernatural element. Classic monsters (vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc…) are okay, as well as new, creative and original monsters. The focus of the story should be the threat of being eaten; this should dominate the tone of the story. Gore, sex, and violence are fine as long as it is used to enhance the story and not merely for the gross out or the smut.

Stories should be 3000 to 7500 words in length, Times New Roman font, double spaced, two spaces after sentence ending punctuation. Please do not use headers or footers. Stories should be sent as .rtf or .doc documents. The author’s contact info should be on the first page of the manuscript as well as in the body of the email. A short synopsis should also be in the body of the email.

What we don’t want: Romance. Child abuse and rape (if it is vital to the story it should be implied, NOT vividly described). Serial killers who work for the Devil or God or any other religious icon. Sexy vampires. If you use vampires make them monsters, not the boy or girl next door. Overly comedic pieces. Fan fiction. Stories set in a time period pre-1900s (although, we would like to see a few Western settings). Experimental prose and second person accounts. Stories that read like diary journals. Reprints.

Terms and how to submit:
We will pay $25 dollars and a contributor’s copy for First North American serial rights for each story selected. Authors will be paid upon publication. All rights revert back to the author upon publication.

Send submissions to MonsterAnthology@yahoo.com as attached .rtf or .doc file. On the subject line, put DEVIL’S FOOD: your story’s title. If you do not receive confirmation that we received your submission within 10 days, feel free to query.

Multiple submissions are fine as long as they are in separate emails. Simultaneous submissions okay as long as it is clearly stated in the cover letter (aka body of the email).

Submissions will remain open until April 1, 2009. All submissions will be responded to by June 1, 2009. Do not query on your status until after that date. Publication date is scheduled for late summer 2009.

ANTHOLOGY: tough times

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times, Tough People
101 Stories about Overcoming the Economic Crisis and Other Challenges


Most of us have lost money and many are losing their jobs, homes, or at least making cutbacks. Many of us have also faced life-changing natural disasters such as hurricanes and fires, as well as health and family challenges. We are all going through difficult times, some with more dire
consequences than others.

Tough times won't last but tough people will. What is your story of tough times? Are you making changes in your life that reflect the times? Are you downsizing, making do with less, discovering new joy in a simpler life? Are you recovering from other challenges such as natural disasters, health problems, or the loss of a loved one?

We are looking for true stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both.

Here are some suggested topics, but we know you can think of many more:


Financial problems and solutions
Losing homes and jobs
Putting off retirement
Silver linings
Downsizing, simplification, "staycations" versus vacations
Families pulling together
Challenges of death, disease, and disability
Stories of courage from victims of crime, terrorism, and other abuses
Recovering from disasters such as fire, hurricanes, floods
Inspirational stories of overcoming obstacles and challenges
Putting things in perspective
Examples from nature - pets and other animals overcoming adversity
... Anything else that you think is interesting and inspirational and will
help other readers going through tough times and make them realize they are
not alone


If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. We will copyright your story in your name and you will retain the rights to resell it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoupf orthesoul. com/form. asp?cid=submit_ story


DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2009. Book is tentatively scheduled for publication in
summer 2009.

Short Story Competition

First prize: £1,000
Second prize: A Cross Sauvage fountain pen, worth over £100
Five runners-up prizes: excellent reference guides
All the prize-winning stories will be published next year in The Lady.


If you have always dreamed of having one of your stories published, now is the time to turn fantasy into reality by entering our Short Story Competition. We invite you to write a story in one of the following categories:

* COMEDY
* HISTORICAL
* MYSTERY

Prizes: You can make up your own title for your short story, which should be between 2,000 and 2,200 words in length. It must be printed double spaced, on A4 paper – on one side of the paper only. If you can, please include a floppy disk, on which your short story is saved, in a separate envelope, firmly secured to your print-out. Make sure that you keep a copy of your story as we cannot return either manuscripts or disks. Only one short story per person can be entered.
How to enter

Send your story in to: The Lady Short Story Competition, Editorial Department, The Lady, 39-40 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ER to arrive by 16 December 2008. Please include a daytime telephone number (and an email address, if you have one) with your details. All the winning stories will be published next year in The Lady .

First prize

The winner will receive a cheque for £1,000 from The Lady .

Second prize

Cross’ excellent range of pens includes the beautiful Cross Sauvage fountain pen, worth £115. Stylish and elegant, this luxury pen has a Giraffe design with a brown tourmaline finish. Call 01582-422793 (or visit: www.cross.com ) to locate your nearest stockist.

Prizes for the five runners-up

* The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2009 (A&C Black , £14.99) is an invaluable guide to the literary world. It offers advice on writing, copyright queries, societies, prizes and how to set up your own web page, and is recommended by The Writers’ Guild. Now it has been revised and updated, with a foreword by novelist Kate Mosse and advice including how to publish books from blogs, ebooks and writing for soap operas. (Visit the website: www.writersandartists.co.uk .)

* The 11th edition of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford University Press , £25) contains over 240,000 words, phrases and definitions and covers technical and scientific vocabulary as well as English from around the world. It has been updated with hundreds of new words and phrases, such as “sub-prime”, “social networking” and “carbon footprint”. (Visit the website: www.oup.com .)

* Writer’s Market UK 2009 (David and Charles , £14.99) has a foreword by Joanne Harris, the author of Chocolat . It is an annual resource for writers and one of the most comprehensive guides to writing and getting published today. Whether you are taking a writing course, dreaming of being published or have already been published this book has the latest information, listing over 4,000 publishers, magazines and other outlets for writers to approach. It is full of practical tips and recommendations from expert contributors and successful authors. (Visit the website: www.davidandcharles.co.uk .)

Horror Library Volume 4

Horror Library- Volume 4
Call for Submissions

Cutting Block Press is pleased to announce an open submissions period for the 4th Volume of its Horror Anthology Series, +Horror Library+, to be published in trade paperback during 2009.

We're looking for the highest quality examples of all forms of Dark Fiction, running the gamut from traditional horror, supernatural, speculative, psychological thriller, dark satire, including every point between and especially beyond. No Fantasy or Sci-fi unless the horror elements are dominant. Read +Horror Library+ Volumes 1-3 to see what's already pleased us. Special consideration will be given those pieces that we find profoundly disturbing, though blood and violence on their own won't cut it. While we will consider tales of vampires, ghosts and zombies, we tend to roll our eyes at ordinary ones. They're just too plentiful. Your best bet is to surprise us with something that is different, while well conceived and tightly executed.

Guidelines:
Stories will range between 1,000 and 6,000 words, though we'll look at longer works of exceptional merit. In that case, query before submission. Buying 1st worldwide anthology rights. No reprints. Paying 1.5 cents per word, plus one contributors copy. For established authors, rates may be negotiable. Response time: three months or sooner. Deadline: We will accept submissions until filled.

SPECIAL OFFER TO AUTHORS WHO WISH TO SUBMIT
We’ve decided to make a VERY special offer to any author who wishes to purchase a copy of +Horror Library+ Vol 1 for the purpose of understanding what we are looking for and submitting something along the lines of what we want. We will not select our stories until near the end of 2009, so there is time.

The price - $8, shipping included in the continental US. Shipping is $5 to Canada and $8 anywhere else in the world. That’s $9 off the cover price - we’ve never offered it this low. We hope you submit to us, but that is not a necessary part of the deal. We figure the best way to find the stories we want is to get as many interested authors as we could to own a copy of it, before we begin selections.

HOW TO ORDER
Send Paypal payment to pinballdizzy@juno.com and accompany payment with this code in the subject line:
HL Vol 1 - SSO or (HL Vol 1 - Submissions Special Offer)

Manuscript format: -12 point courier font - standard margins - left side of header: name, contact info - right side of header: word count - top of first page: title, author Variances from traditional manuscript format: - single space, NO INDENTS - ONE EXTRA space between paragraphs - use bold, italics and underline as they are to appear in story Subject box: Short Story submission - title of story Attach story in MS Word Document or RTF (only) Please paste your cover letter in the body of the e-mail Submissions e-mailed to horrorlibrarysubs@yahoo.com

Jabberwocky

Co-edited by Erzebet YellowBoy & Sean Wallace

Published by Prime Books.

We are seeking short stories and poems for the fourth issue of Jabberwocky, scheduled for publication in July 2009.

The elements and bedrock of Jabberwocky can be largely described as the -ical approach: lyrical, whimsical, mythical, in all its forms, particularly short fiction, poetry, and illustrative. There are no boundaries, no restrictions, no genres. If you love the art of the written word, its structure, its flow, its language, I suspect you'll love Jabberwocky.

Original fiction only. No reprints. Multiple submissions accepted.

PAYMENT:
$.01 per word for fiction
$5.00 per poem
Payable on acceptance.

WORD LIMIT: 4000 words.

RIGHTS: First world English rights, non-exclusive world anthology rights, and non-exclusive audio anthology rights. Download the author-anthologist contract here.

READING PERIOD: 1 October, 2008 - 1 February, 2009
Our response time is 2 weeks.

Email your story in rich-text format (RTF) to us at jabberwocky.magazine@gmail.com. Include the title of the story in the subject of the email and a brief bio in the body of the email.

Please send queries to the same address. Thank you!

Opium5's Memoir Contest - Win $1,000

It's now time to officially reignite Opium5's 500-Word Memoir
Contest--this time judged by author and Oscar-nominee Tom Perrotta.

The rules? Easy. Write a memoir that is 500 words or less. The winning
story, along with a handful of finalists, will appear in Opium8 which
will debut in April 2009.

Enter, and tell the world so they can enter, too!

The Deadline: February 22, 2009
The Reward: $1,000, and publication in Opium8.
The Cost: $10 for a single entry; $17.50 for two
How to Submit: Go to Opium's new submissions system and enter! (If you
already have an account, create a new one here)
The Odds: We can't know this until all entries are in, but know that
we do publish many stories from our contests (7 appear in Opium7, 10
in Opium6, along with over 30 on OpiumMagazine. com ).

The Judge: Tom Perrotta has written six novels, including Election,
the New York Times best seller The Abstinence Teacher and Little
Children. Election became an acclaimed movie directed by Alexander
Payne, and Perrotta received an Oscar nomination for the screenplay of
Little Children

Greeting Card Writings and Anthology

Blue Mountain Arts is interested in reviewing writings that would be appropriate for publication on our greeting cards. We are looking for highly original submissions on friendship, family, special occasions, and positive living. We pay $300 per poem for all rights to publish it on a greeting card and $50 if your poem is used only in an anthology. Please note that we do not accept rhyming poetry.

To request a copy of our writer's guidelines, please send a blank email to writings@sps.com with "Send Me Guidelines" in the subject line.

To submit your work, send to editorial@sps.com (no attachments, please) or write to us at:

Blue Mountain Arts, Inc.
Editorial Department
Post Office Box 1007
Boulder, CO 80306

College Campus Chronicles

We are looking for true stories and poems about your experiences in college, whether you are in college now, or a recent graduate. Stories about everything from leaving home, to classes, to roommates, to personal growth, to funny moments, to travel abroad...anything you have done in college that you would like to share with other college students. The deadline for story submissions is December 31, 2008

Guidelines:

Recipe for A Winning Chicken Soup for the Soul Story

A Chicken Soup for the Soul story is an inspirational, true story about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. It is a story that opens the heart and rekindles the spirit. It is a simple, inter-denominational, living art piece that touches the soul of the readers and helps them discover basic principles they can use in their own lives. They are personal and often filled with emotion and drama. They are filled with vivid images created by using the five senses. In some stories, the readers feel that they are actually in the scene with the people.

Chicken Soup for the Soul stories have a beginning, middle and an ending that often closes with a punch, creating emotion rather than simply talking about it. Chicken Soup for the Soul stories have heart, but also something extra…an element that makes us all feel more hopeful, more connected, more thankful, more passionate and better about life in general. A story that causes tears, laughter, goosebumps or any combination of these. A good story covers the range of human emotions.

The most powerful stories are about people extending themselves, or performing an act of love, service or courage for another person.

Guidelines for a Chicken Soup for the Soul Story

1. Tell an exciting, sad or funny story about something that has happened to you or someone you know. Make sure that you introduce the character(s).

2. Tell your story in a way that will make the reader cry, laugh or get goose bumps (the good kind!) Don’t leave anything out — how did you feel?

3. The story should start with action; it should include a problem, issue or situation. It should include dialogue and the character should express their feelings though the conflict or situation. It should end in a result, such as a lesson learned, a positive change or pay-off.

4. Above all, let it come from your HEART! Your story is important!

What a Chicken Soup for the Soul story IS NOT:

1. A sermon, an essay or eulogy.

2. A term paper, thesis, letter or journal entry.

3. About politics or controversial issues.

4. A “My Grandma Just Died, and Let Me Tell You What A Wonderful Person She Was” or “Let Me Tell You About My Disease or Operation” or “I Gave a Bum Some Money, Aren’t I Incredible?” or “Why My Mother Is the Best Mother” or a personal testimony that may mean nothing to the reader.

Story Specifications

1. It is preferred that all submissions are sent via our website by clicking here. In the future all submission will need to be entered in this way but if, for now, you need to send your submission by postal mail or fax please use the address and fax number provided below. Please know your stories and poems have the best chance of being used if you submit them through our website.

2. Stories and poems should be non-fiction, ranging in length between 300-1200 words.

3. No anonymous or author unknown submissions please.

4. Send only one copy of each submission.

5. We do not return submissions, so please don’t send the original.

6. Please submit only stories or poems that have not been previously published. The only exception to this is if your work has only been published in a small local publication with limited circulation.

If the story or poem you wrote is published by us, you will be paid $200 upon publication of the book plus you will receive ten free copies of the book your story or poem appears in.

The only way to receive an acknowledgment of your submission at this time is by submitting through our website, by clicking here . By submitting through the website, you will be taken to an acknowledgment screen on our website directly after hitting “send”. This screen will inform you that the story has been accepted into our submission process. We strongly encourage you to submit stories online as it is both the fastest and easiest way to process and review your submission. If you do not have Internet access at home, you can always visit a local library.

It can take up to three or four years for Chicken Soup for the Soul books to develop. Please be patient, as this is an important, yet time-consuming process. If your story is chosen for a future edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul or any other projects, you will be notified and your permission to print it will be requested. Please know that we never publish anything without written permission from the author.

Feel free to submit more than one story or poem. Please do not send us any book manuscripts, unless through a literary agent, as these will be automatically discarded

You can submit your story 3 different ways:

Internet: www.chickensoup.com

Please know your stories and poems have the best chance of being used if you submit them through our web site.

Mail: Chicken Soup for the Soul
Attn: Story Submissions
PO Box 700
Cos Cob, CT 06807-0700

Fax: 203-861-7194

Tales of Biblical Terror

Call for Submissions - She Nailed the Stake Through his Head - Tales of Biblical Terror
Call for Submissions

Seeking short stories for the Dybbuk Press anthology She Nailed the Stake Through His Head: Tales of Biblical Terror (working title).

What I'm looking for: Short stories primarily, ideally between 1000 - 12000 words. All stories must be based in some way on Biblical stories. Actually have a familiarity with the Bible. I may consider poems if they are particularly good but I hate 99% of all poems I read. This is primarily a horror anthology so the creepier the better. In many of these stories, you really don't have to work too hard to make them horrific.

Shouldn't be said, but please don't send me stories that are so ungrammatical and clumsy in their execution that they hurt to read. Style counts. Style counts a lot. I am a great fan of authors with great style. I'll read Tanith Lee's 5th grade essay on why she wants a pony before I even think of picking up another Dan Brown book for any other purpose beyond hurling it at the wall.

Suggested:
Retellings of Biblical Stories from the perspective of another character.
Kiastic Storytelling
Deconstructionist Commentary akin to Rashi
Biblical stories retold in different literary styles (high adventure, Victorian, Romance, Mystery, etc.)
Modern stories told in the Biblical style (Best use Robert Alter's Art of Biblical Poetry and Art of Biblical Narrative if you want a crash course)
Parodies of Prophets
"Queen Esther vs. The Brain Eating Penis Monster from Outer Space" (note that just sticking this title on a lame story is not going to endear you to me. Write a story that would justify this kind of title and I'm interested)
Biblical Movie Parodies (kind of a tough one considering that this genre gave us Lot freeing the slaves of Sodom, Edward G. Robinson playing Aaron in full gangster mode, splatterpunk Jesus and Richard Gere disco dancing in a diaper)

Basically if you're sticking with Biblical tales in Biblical times you have about 1500 years to work with. Empires rose and fell in this time.

Lists of Some books that may Help:
Torah Study 101
Ibn Ezra
25 Jewish Books
Bible Study Sampler
Outrageous Tales from the Old Testament

What I'm NOT looking for:

Normally this is the place where I say that I don't want any vampires, werewolves or ghosts but if you can stick a vampire into a King David story or put zombies in Ancient Assyria then I actually want to see it.

One Caveat to the last note: I read The Last Days of Jesus the Vampire. I thought it was a very clever idea that was poorly executed. Regardless, I'm not going to be terribly enthused with "Jesus was a vampire" stories.

Primarily, no preachiness. If your story is nothing more than an excuse to get on a pulpit, I'm not interested. That cuts all ways. The Left Behind series would have been fun in a goofy crazy way if it didn't keep stopping to tell the reader that JESUS IS LORD (then again, it's audience wouldn't have made it a bestseller.) But that also goes for atheist stories.

And please, no stories about how all the goddess worshippers were beautiful earth mothers until the mean old monotheists came along and killed everyone. I read enough of that Starhawk crap during my collegiate hippie phase.

I should also note that I've been publishing a lot of books geared toward adolescent males recently - splatterpunk, tough guy fiction, etc. - and I'm getting a little sick of the lack of decent female characters. So stories with strong women characters (there are plenty in the Bible - Sarah, Jezebel, Yael, Devorah, Rivkah, Esther, etc.) will make me happy.

I'm also 99% certain that I won't like your Adam & Eve story. Don't know if anyone writes these things anymore. I suspect that they've been ridiculed into the historical dust bin, but just in case, please don't send yours my way.

Format: Attach as either a .doc or an .rtf. DO NOT send .docx attachments. All .docx attachments will be deleted unread.

Pay: $50 advance against equal share of royalties to be paid out no later than publicatoin.

Reading Period: December 1 - December 31, 2008. All stories submitted before December 1 will be deleted unread! And yes, I do mean BEFORE December 1. I might extend the deadline for after December 31 if I don't find enough stories to fill an anthology (I'm shooting for between 8 and 12. I can go as low as 7.) I'm putting out the call for stories now because I want interested parties to write their stories and revise them before submitting them. I don't want trunk stories with cover letters trying to explain why your vampire is a Christ figure.

Reprints: Yes, I will take reprints, but let me know if it's a reprint or not when you submit.

Send to: tim_lieder (AT) yahoo - .rtf or .doc format only. If you want to put it in the body of the text, well go ahead.