WOODSTOCK REVISITED

WOODSTOCK REVISITED

Seeking TRUE 850-1100 word stories. Adams Media pays authors $100 per story, plus one copy of the book. Literary Cottage offers prizes as follows: $75 first prize, $50 second prize, $25 third prize.

DEADLINE: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2008

No phone calls, please - Finalists will be notified by October 30, 2008

The Woodstock Festival, touting three days of peace and music in 1969, became one of the most unique and legendary events in world history. The festival materialized amidst highly controversial military conflict abroad and unnerving racial discord at home, and yet became a huge counterculture party, where hippies and ordinary youth mingled to celebrate and watch some of the most prominent musical artists of the 60s perform—JimiHendrix, The Who, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin, Santana, Jefferson Airplane, and many others. Lack of seating, downpours, oozing mud, food shortages, and poor sanitation failed to dampen the spirits of attendees, who blended, bonded, and got along swimmingly.

Woodstock Revisited will contain fifty stories written by people who attended the original, 1969 Woodstock Festival. Since all the books that preceded it have focused on the musicians, promoters, and staff, this book will be the first one that chronicles the audience’s experience in an up close and personal way. Our intention is to document the event itself, but to also provide a portrait of America as that tumultuous decade came to a close. Stories should be historical within the context of 1969 and yet unique to your experience.

Stories must be TRUE, 850-1100 words, vivid, and substantive. If you did not attend but know someone who did attend, you can write an “as told to” story. Please read the following to gain a sense of what we want, i.e., textural stories that together will offer a historical account of the actual event in the context of what was happening . . . and a few paragraphs about how it affected you and who you have become. Please touch upon the following:

*

Who you were then –economic and social background, educational level, hopes, dreams, aspirations. PLUS how you felt about the Vietnam War; were you participating in demonstrations; were you counter-culture or preppie; were you a hippie; were you following the straight and narrow, i.e., did your parents already have your life mapped out for you, or somewhere in between, what were your primary social concerns, were you into the music scene, etc.
*

Your Woodstock experience
o

Why you went
o

How you got there, the nitty-gritty details, obstacles, etc.
o

What you saw, felt, loved, hated, never forgot, changed your life, etc.
o

What it was like to experience physically, emotionally, spiritually
o

What, if any, long range effects in your evolution
o

What was retained; what was lost
*

How did music affect your life, how was music intertwined with social changes
*

What are your most poignant memories about the late Sixties & early Seventies
*

What major societal (or global) changes do you credit to the Woodstock Generation, and what fell by the wayside
*

What shaped your individual character, ideals, life
*

Paths your life has taken - Fits and starts? Surprises? Not what you planned?

Formatting Requirements:

Stories must be original, true, and in English.

STORY LENGTH: 850-1100 words

TITLE: Choose a unique title that applies to your story. Do not use "Woodstock" in the title.

POINT OF VIEW: First-person or third-person (no second person). If you know someone who attended, you may write an "As told to" story.

STYLE: Narrative nonfiction, creative nonfiction, literary nonfiction.

FORMAT: Times New Roman, 12 pt. Everything single-spaced, flush left, with one space between paragraphs, and only one space between sentences. Read all instructions below: Those not properly formatted may be returned unread.

* Send all stories as a separate WORD document. If you don’t have Word, send as a "Text" file, or as a last resort, embed the story into the body of the e-mail. Name file as follows: Your Last Name, Your Initial (DO NOT USE TITLE or "Hero")
* No headers or footers; No page numbers.
* Use one-inch margins: top, bottom, left, and right.
* Use 12 pt. Times New Roman; single-spaced with one space between paragraphs.
* Make Paragraphs flush left; NO indentations.
* Only use ONE space after a period.
* Do not put titles in all CAPS; Type your name as you want to be credited one space beneath title
* Do not put “The End” or a # symbol at the end.
* At the bottom of your document, please provide a tightly focused three-sentence bio that includes selected writing credits, but limit self-promotion to mention of a website. Humor is good. Link it to the story if relevant. Do not type in "Bio:" Sample: Susan Reynolds is a freelance writer . . ."

TONE: Stories must be uplifting and can be poignant, heartwarming, and/or humorous. Humor is not only acceptable, but encouraged.

INFO TO INCLUDE: Each submission must include the following in the top, left-hand corner of the first page of the story file (not in the e-mail):

* Your full name, as you want it to appear in the byline
* Your mailing address
* Your phone number
* Your email address, if applicable
* Story word count
* Story title

DOCUMENT: Save your document as a Word file named as follows: “Last Name,Initial.doc” (example: “Reynolds,S.doc”) Do not save your story file as “Woodstock” as it may get lost in the shuffle. If you don’t have Word you can save it as a Text document, or as a last resort cut and paste the text into the e-mail. Word docs are strongly preferred.

NOTE: We do not publish magazine articles, fiction, poetry, profiles, eulogies, sermons, testimonials, letters, commentary, expository essays, persuasive essays, diatribes, academic papers, confessionals, erotica, pornography, or experimental literature. Stories with religious themes or references will only be published if religious beliefs are truly inherent to the story and delicately woven into the story (not as the focus!), and will be a very small percentage of accepted stories, as in less than 5 percent

Terms & Conditions:

Adams Media pays $100(each) for stories published in the book. Only one per volume, per author.

They also send authors one complimentary copy of the book upon publication.

Literary Cottage offers prizes to the top three stories: $100 for First Prize,$75 for Second Prize, and $50 for Third Prize, awarded upon publication.

Some previously published material is acceptable, if you own the rights and it was not on an Internet site. Include information as to where and when your story was published, including who owns the rights at the bottom of the story file.

A publishing agreement will be mailed to the Author of each story selected as a finalist. Adams Media purchases the book rights to this version of your story; author retains rights to publish the purchased version in an anthology containing solely their own work. The Agreement will spell out further details.

Due to the large volume of submissions received, we will acknowledge receipt of submissions, but after that we cannot report on the status of individual submissions (with the exception of finalists, who are notified in writing). The prize winning stories and the list of contributors for each volume are posted on the website upon the book's publication. Manuscripts are not returned.

How to Submit Your Story:

Electronic (emailed) submissions are preferred; mailed submissions are acceptable.

Write “Woodstock” in the subject line of the e-mail, and send the document as a Word attachment named as follows: “Last Name,Initial.doc” (example “Reynolds,S.doc”)

Do not save your story file as “Woodstock” as it may get lost in the shuffle. See titling information above. If you don’t have Word you can save it as a Text document, or as a last resort cut and paste the text into the e-mail. Word docs are strongly preferred.

E-Mail: (Strongly preferred): sreynolds@literarycottage.com

Or, send USPS regular mail to: Susan Reynolds, Literary Cottage, P. O. Box 1070, Pembroke, MA 02359. NOTE: No computer disks or CDs. SEND VIA USPS REGULAR MAIL. Please DO NOT send Certified, and DO NOT use Fed Ex, UPS, etc. as these packages cannot be accepted at this address and will be returned unopened.

Please direct questions and suggestions to: sreynolds@literarycottage.com.

Due to volume, we cannot accept telephone calls.

SAMPLE STORY:

Coming Around Again

Because our family was as divided as our country at the time (one brother had fought in Vietnam; the other threatened to move to Canada) and I was an antsy teenager, I leapt at any chance to escape the arguments at home and the sleepy town on the banks of the Allegheny River where we lived. Thus, I spent the summer of 1969 living with my sister, who had left home to become an airline stewardess, and her three female roommates, in a one bedroom apartment in Queens.

My sister didn't land an airline job so signed on as a secretary at Hertz Rent-a-Car in Manhattan, and soon after secured me a summer job taking reservations over the telephone. I would occasionally take reservations for visiting bands like Iron Butterfly or Jefferson Airplane or the Little Rascals, which caused much screaming when announced and led Rozanne and I, whenever we could scrape together a few bucks, to attend smoke-filled concerts at the Filmore East. When local radio stations in New York began advertising several outdoor rock concerts that summer, my sister, her boyfriend, our brother, Roy (the conscientious objector), and I were determined to attend one. Initially, we set our sights on Atlantic City, but at the last minute, Roy couldn’t get time off from his summer job to come, so we scratched those plans and opted instead to go to the Woodstock Festival, which was also being widely promoted.

We had not pre-purchased tickets and had little real idea of what we would encounter. Nevertheless, we piled into a Hertz car and struck out at the break of dawn. As we approached,radio newscasters reported that the highways were jammed; by the time we arrived, cars had ground to a standstill on the highway leading to the concert site. Police were urging everyone to turnaround and go home. So, even more intrigued, we stopped at a local grocery store and asked if there was a back way in. There was, and eventually, we squeezed the car into a tight spot and eagerly joined the throngs of people weaving through the traffic jam, filling every inch of the two-lane road. Along with literally hundreds and hundreds of others, we formed a cavalcade of pilgrims on a spiritual journey to what was become not only the event of our generation, but a worldwide event of great import.

An electric feeling pulsed through my body; we were on the road to somewhere, en masse. Although I participated in communion at the Kittanning, Pennsylvania Baptist church my family attended, this was my first taste of real generational communion—these were my people, my contemporaries, my sisters and brothers, my friends. Shortly after we climbed over the fence, Roy and I became separated from Rozanne and Tom. I don’t remember how it happened, only that we later learned they kept inching their way towards the stage (Their faces are visible on the album cover.), while Roy and I maneuvered through the crowd until we found room to sit.

For the next eighteen hours, we sat amongst a burgeoning group of strangers—a sea of youth. The smell of marijuana wafted through the air so thickly we experienced a contact high. Although I was too timid and afraid to accept the offered tokes, Roy gamely indulged. I was still an uptight, “good girl” who had not yet broken free of parental and societal strictures. Plus, an announcer kept spreading the word that “the brown acid is bad,” and I was afraid that the marijuana cigarettes might have other drugs laced into the weed.

Despite this wariness, I felt oddly safe, immersed in my generation’s culture, one with the swelling crowd, and part of something so monumental, I couldn’t form opinions about what it was for a long time afterward. I felt like an amoeba in a far larger organism,symbiotic and minuscule. The music bonded us; our humanity engulfed us; oursense of global significance embodied and empowered us as a swaggering band of youthful dreamers. "The counterculture," as they called us, had a visual—450,000 yearning children, as one, portrayed credibility, voice, adrenaline, and vision. Our longings for peace, for change, for brilliant futures for ourselves as individuals, and for the human race as one were evident.

What I remember specifically is perching on an abandoned Maxwell House coffee can; sleeping curled into fetal position on a piece of shared cardboard that slid around in the oozing mud; and watching my brother accept marijuana and feeling jealous that he could let himself go while I felt a trembling need to maintain control. I remember the forcefulness of an omnipresent anti-war sentiment, the helicopters circling overhead, and the hint of paranoia and anger they generated. Was the government going to spy on us, threaten us, disband us, or gas us? I remember the cheers that arose when the announcer told us they were bringing us food, water, and medical supplies,and that someone on board had flashed a peace sign.

I remember the joyful, even jubilant, atmosphere that followed, crawling up a muddy hillside by grabbing outstretched hands, standing in long lines to use the foul-smelling portable toilets, being hungry, wet, tired, and thirsty. I remember hearing announcements about drug overdoses and the lack of food or water, and feeling like the outside observer I had already become, yet also feeling an emotional tide and feeling sustained by the group. Through it all, I remember the music and how it bound us together. One after another, musicians and groups played the songs that we already loved or would grow to love. They were our anthem, our identity, and the demarcation line from that of our parents. These were our troubadours, the truth-tellers, and the rebels we admired and emulated.

I remember grumbling when my brother decided we should probably look for Rozanne and Tom, walking through the chilled night air at 4 a.m., retracing our steps until we reached the car and crawled inside to sleep. I remember the trip home; our tongues wagging with tales; our recognition that we had all gone through something so extraordinary that going back to our everyday lives would not erase it. Our country was in turmoil, but 450,000 contemporaries came together to celebrate life, music, and joy and had the phenomenal experience of realizing that we were one. What I remember most is the sense that my generation could make a difference—that the world would soon become ours to ruin or to save.

Prior to Woodstock, absorbed in the quagmire of my life and restricted by my penchant for passive observation over active participation, I had attended peace demonstrations and often stood warily on the sidelines, watching others raise signs, make speeches, chant slogans, and taunt "the establishment," as we called them. After Woodstock, I moved more freely into the throngs, even planted myself on the floor of a local university library during a “sit in,” and told my mother I was spending the weekend at a friend’s house when, in actuality—a short time after four students were killed at Kent State—I piled into a broken-down Chevy Impala with seven other girls and drove to Washington, D. C., where I saw, for the first time in an up-close-and-personal way, soldiers lining the streets of Washington, their guns trained on us. Buoyed by the strength in our numbers and the memories of Woodstock, I gathered my generation’s ideals to my heart and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with students shouting for an end to the Vietnam War.

I was never a hippie—not even close—unlike my sister who wore ratty jeans, I neatly pressed my bellbottoms. But I was an idealistic dreamer who went on to become a reporter, a field where ideals served me well. Rozanne and Roy—who was a hippie briefly—became teachers, molding young souls in important ways. For years afterwards, whenever we got together, we gleefully reminisced about Woodstock. But it wasn’t until Iwas living in Paris in 2003 that I had another “Woodstock moment.” I had only been in Paris a few months and did not speak the language, but had a few Parisian friends who were attending the anti-war demonstration leading up to the invasion of Iraq. So there I stood, surrounded by several hundred thousand people whose language I did not speak. The air was electric, the mood jovial despite the reason we had gathered.

As we waited for hours for the march to begin, new arrivals came in droves, inching ever closer, tightening our personal space to a few inches. The crowd swelled, the lines of police multiplied, and feelings intensified until someone put a huge speaker on the roof of their truck and blasted, "We Are Family" . . . and then it happened, my “Woodstock moment.” Suddenly all barriers disappeared and the music brought the entire crowd together, as one . . . and I felt just as I had felt thirty-four years earlier, in a muddy field on Max Yasgur’s Farm.

To this day, memories of Woodstock make me yearn for those heady days when the youth of America took up the sword. Woodstock wasn’t a dream, it happened, and like the photograph of our planet from space, it affected the way many of us viewed the world and our place in it. The phenomenon of Woodstock created waves in world consciousness, and the seemingly boundless creativity that had taken root throughout the decade blossomed. For no less than that, it’s worth remembering and honoring, and perhaps more importantly because many young people today yearn for a similarly empowering experience. Oh, if we could rise again in solidarity and strength, we could once again transform the world.

Arcane Distortions

A DVD anthology of strange fiction presented in animation, film noir, and photo/art montage sequencing.

Animators and film makers – Submit your completed shorts in AVI format. OR send samples in order that we may consider your tallents for creating new work based on selected short stories.

Wirters – Please send only stories which you feel are easily transformable to animation or film. 1000 – 3000 is best – script preferred but not necessary. In the subject line: "arcane".

We review all year round with a maximum two month reply time. Upon acceptance of any work we will request first world rights or in some cases non-exclusive permission. If the work you with to submit has been previously published or is in any way comparable to somebody else's work, please query first. We are a royalty publisher.

John Varcoe – Submissions Editor
submissions@crossingchaos.com

Holiday Related Stories

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!

Lilley Press would like to do a special release of holiday related novellas and maybe a short story collection or two! For this particular call, we do NOT want longer novels as we could not get them ready in time. So, what are we looking for?

Word length: 25-40,000 words max. We will also accept short stories for a possible multi-author collection and collections of short stories by the same author.

We want strong plots and characters and all stories must relate to/feature the holidays. Authors must be willing to move very quickly on edits to help get the works out in time.

DEADLINE: August 25, 2008.

Follow all our other guidelines below when submitting. Please note that your submission is for the Holidays Release in your subject line.

Lilley Press is a Canadian Small Press which publishes both eBooks and print. Please read and follow these guidelines carefully as not doing so will lengthen the time it takes for us to consider your work, and could result in a rejection of your work.

All submissions must be new and unpublished works. Lilley Press does not accept reprints from new authors.

Lilley Press accepts only one manuscript per author at a time. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but if your manuscript is being considered elsewhere, please let us know and keep us informed about its status.

We will consider novel and novella length works of fiction from 15,000 – 100,000 words, but prefer to see works in the 60,000 word plus range. We want strong plots and characters.

Lilley Press publishes the following Genres:

• Paranormal Romance
• Speculative Fiction such as Magical Realism, Cyberpunk, Fantasy, Science Fiction, etc
• Mainstream (Contemporary)
• Young Adult

If your work does not fall within these specific categories, we may still consider it. However, Lilley Press does not publish the following:

• "Fan Fiction" or stories with copyrighted characters or worlds.
• Erotica.
• Plays.
• Poetry.
• Short Story Collections.
• Nonfiction.

Submissions Procedure:

Lilley Press accepts only electronic submissions.

All submissions should be Emailed to us as a MS Word rtf attachment that is compatible with MS Word 2000 (if it is not, there is a chance the formatting will get messed up or the file will be unreadable to us). We do not accept doc files, pdf files, or anything with a file extension other than rtf. Any such submissions will be deleted, unread. All submissions should be accompanied by an email cover letter introducing you and your submission. The cover letter should be in the body of your email, not included as a separate file. Please include the following information:

Your full name
Your mailing address
Your telephone number
A valid email address
A brief synopsis of your novel

The subject line of your email should read: [Genre] [Title] by [author's real name]

Please include THE ENTIRE MANUSCRIPT as a complete separate file. Do not send individual chapter files.

Please send your submissions to submissions@lilleypress.com. Adress your query to our Acquisitions Editor, Denyse Loeb.

Lilley Press does not publish anything containing overly graphic violence, hate propaganda, or gratuitous sex (sex, violence and coarse language are okay up to a point, but they must be within the bounds of good taste, and they must be integral to the plot.)


Formatting:

Please note, over 90% of our initial slush pile rejections (the manuscripts that don't make it to our reader panel) are because of not following the guidelines. To give your novel the best chance of moving past Acquisitions to the reader panel, follow the guidelines.

Lilley Press generally follows standard manuscript format. You can find examples and instructions for standard manuscript format here, here, and here. What follows is our specific requirements and adjustments to standard manucript format.

The first page of the manuscript should contain the following information:

• Title
• Author's real name and pen name
• Author's contact email address
• word count

All manuscripts must be in Courier 12 font, NOT Times New Roman (which the Acquisitions Editor finds hard on her eyes, so don't use it!).

All manuscripts must be sent as a MS Word rtf attachment that is compatible with MS Word 2000.

All manuscripts must be double spaced, with one inch (1") margins. Paragraphs should be indented five spaces.

Use page or section breaks at the end of each chapter ensuring that each chapter begins on a new page.

It is not necessary to use _ for italics or * for bold. We prefer to see italics and bold as the author intended them.

Please send us your BEST work. Submissions should be free of punctuation, spelling and grammar errors. Any manuscripts that do not meet this basic requirement will not be considered.


Terms & Conditions:

Lilley Press does not offer an author advance at this time. Royalties are 50% of net sales for eBooks, and 15% of net sales for print editions, to be paid quarterly. All novels are first published as eBooks, with the option for a print edition later.

Lilley Press does not provide a certificate of copyright for our authors, but we do provide an ISBN number.

Each author will receive an acknowledgment of receipt for their manuscript, and we will endeavor to respond to all submissions within three months. If you do not hear from us within that time, please feel free to send us a query asking about the status of your submission.

All queries may be sent to submissions@lilleypress.com.

Please use the words Author Query: [Genre] [Title] by [author's real name] as the subject of your email.

Lilley Press welcomes your submissions!

Gemini Novella Series Guidelines

Simian Publishing feels that the novella is almost a lost art. Novellas are too long for most anthologies and most magazines don't publish them anymore.

The Gemini series will feature two novellas each volume. Novellas will cover the wide range of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Both stories will cover the same topic or theme, but from a unique perspective. Each story will mirror the other.

This is an open ended series without a set publication schedule. Why? Well, odds are that two writers aren't going to submit two novellas on the same theme at the exact same time. If your novella is accepted, it might be a while before publication until we find the perfect twin. Once a novella is accepted, we will post the theme here so that we can find that perfect twin that much faster.

Word Count: 20k to 45k

Payment: $50 flat payment for new stories, No Reprints

Submission Format: Please see the general guidelines below.

Submissions: Send submissions as attachments to simian_publishing@yahoo.com

Update: We have placed our first hold on a novella! Now we're looking for a second dragon themed novella to pair it with. If you are submitting a dragon theme, please make sure you mention it in your cover letter.

Namaste Valley Book 1

Welcome to Namaste Valley. We’re glad you’re here and invite you to stay. Namaste Valley is situated in a beautiful mountain valley with steep peaks rising on all sides. There is only one pass in and out of the valley and that can be closed due to inclement weather several weeks a year. The area is open to spiritual individuals who follow the paths of his or her heart. Some of its citizens follow more established religious paths, while others choose to carve out personal beliefs. The one thing that everyone in Namaste Valley shares is tolerance and a belief in a better world. You’ll find technology here, though it works for the people, instead of the people working against them. Most are content with the basic necessities of life. It’s a simple place, yet one deep with meaning and heart. You’ll find individuals of all nationalities, sexual orientations, religions, races, and creeds here, all living in harmony with the earth and each other. Though not everyone believes in a “heaven”, those that do, say Namaste Valley is a bit of that right here on Earth.

What We Seek: Jupiter Gardens Press wants your fiction stories in all genres (though given the setting true crime or mystery might be difficult to sell) set in Namaste Valley. The time period is modern day and we’d prefer a spring setting. We encourage authors to explore the diversity that could be found in such a place as well as the ingenuity of humans learning to work with nature and the environment. Stories should be set directly in Namaste Valley.

Word Count: 5000-12,000 words

Payment: $25 from earned royalties and once the anthology sells enough to go to print (it will be released in ebook first), a copy of the anthology in print. Contributors are able to purchase additional copies in accordance with our regular contract.

Deadline: Essays must be received by August 15, 2008. Final decisions will be made by August 31, 2008.

Send submissions to: publisher@jupitergardens.com Please attach your essay in rich text (RTF) format in standard manuscript format (1” margins, Times New Roman or other readable font, your name, address, and contact information in the upper left-hand corner). Please also include a cover letter (in the body of the email) with your essay that indicates your previous publishing history (if any, none is just fine) and any relevant information.

For further information about our other projects or regular lines, please visit our website at http://www.jupitergardenspress.com and read our full submission guidelines and FAQs. Thank you.

The Avery Anthology

An anthology of new fiction.

Our current reading period will close on August 1st, so be sure to get your stories in before then. Any submissions received after August 1st 2008 will be deleted.

We accept email submissions only, and all we ask is that you send us your strongest fiction, double-spaced, with all of your contact information on the first page of your story. One story at a time, please.

Avery cannot accept paper submissions through the snail mail. Please know: if you send us a paper submission, it will not be read. In fact, it will be recycled. We truly want to read your stories, so please: submit electronically!

Send your submissions as a Word attachment to:

submissions [at] averyanthology.org

Please write "submission" in the subject line, followed by your story's title. Otherwise, we might mistake your submission for spam and might therefore unintentionally delete it.

Dia de los Muertos Anthology

Submissions

We are looking for well-crafted, original stories from 2000 to 5000 words which involve Dia de los Muertos in some way. Other than that, subject matter is fairly open. There is a lot of room for creativity here and we want stories which explore this theme in a variety of ways. We like stories which are more literary in nature, but we welcome elements of fantasy and/or subtle horror, magical realism, etc. We are not looking for excessive blood and gore for this antho, although we are not opposed to some blood if done properly and appropriate to the story.

*********************************************

Format/Submission Guidelines:

Please use a 12pt. font such as Times New Roman or Courier New; manuscripts should be double-spaced and sent as an RTF attachment.

Send your very best stories to:

muertosantho at yahoo dot com.

The subject field should read SUBMISSION followed by the name of your story. Please include a brief intro, as we like to know who you are, and don't forget to include your contact information--and pseudonym if applicable.

Also send a brief author bio along with your story.

No simultaneous submissions. Please wait until we respond before sending another story.

Payment:

Currently we are offering $25.00(US) flat rate + 1 contributor copy.

Deadline:

Submissions close August 31, 2008 or when filled. We will respond as quickly as possible to everyone and we are hoping to have sent all responses by the middle of October.

For questions only: Contact us!

For general information on Dia de los Muertos: Click here!

The Best Travel Writing 2009

Send us your best stories about travel throughout the world for our annual series The Best Travel Writing. We're looking for the full range of experience: adventurous, mystical, funny, poignant, food-related, cross-cultural, transformational. To get a sense of what we want, we highly recommend you read The Best Travel Writing 2008, The Best Travel Writing 2007, The Best Travel Writing 2006, The Best Travel Writing 2005, The Gift of Travel, The Road Within, A Woman's Path, A Woman's World, and Food.

Deadline for submission: September 1, 2008
Est. Release Date: February 2009

Submit your story for the Solas Awards here.

Note: We collect year round for this annual collection, so if you miss the deadline your story will be considered for the following year.

Please include on your essay all of your contact information, plus a 3- to 10-line bio about yourself. Multiple submissions OK. Email your submissions to submit@travelerstales.com. Essays will not be returned; notification of acceptances only, close to publication date. Essays not selected will be considered for future Travelers’ Tales books, unless author explicitly requests otherwise.

Candlelight

A Dark Anthology of Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy

We’re looking for stories--tales, if you will--that would be read by candlelight. If the power went out, night fell, and all you had left were candles, we want the tales that you would want to read. If that means something creepy, eerie, or haunting, so be it. If that means stories of other worlds beyond the stars, that works just as well. Even if it means stories of ancient worlds where castles still stand and knights still ride, that will fit. Anything and everything that could be read in the dark, with the storm raging just beyond the windows. Anything that could be read by candlelight.

The anthology will be all about imagination. Horror, science fiction, and fantasy are all perfectly acceptable. And if yours is a half-breed of the others, so much the better. High fantasy will be taken--think Michael A. Stackpole or Robert Jordan--as will a more modern fantasy such as most of Stephen King’s work. Science fiction, whether military or hard, will be accepted. And horror, of course, of any kind--though we are much more interested in tales that get inside your head than tales with gratuitous violence. Think “Bag of Bones” more than “Cell.” To that end, if your story has a dark twist, it will be very well received. If it is creepy and makes you shiver with the lights off, if it makes you want to close your closet and lock your doors before going to sleep, it will be a great fit. Because candlelight implies a certain amount--a large amount, actually--of shadow.

Submissions:

Stories should be between 2000 and 5000 words.

Simultaneous submissions are fine, as long as that is noted in the email. Multiple submissions are not; send one at a time, then wait for us to respond before submitting again.

No postal submissions. Send your electronic submissions to the following:

candlelightsubs(at)gmail.com - Replace the (at) with @.

In the subject line, put SUBMISSION: Story Title.

All submissions should be in Standard Manuscript Format. Use Courier New as the font. Double space. Indent paragraphs. Put a word count at the beginning and make sure to put your last name, the title, and the page number on the top of each page. For an example of Standard Manuscript Format, go here:

http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html

All manuscripts should be attached to the email, in either .doc or .rtf format. Feel free to use the body of the email as a brief cover letter, listing previous publishing credits (if any), your name, etc. Don’t bother with a further bio--we’ll ask you for one if we decide to publish your work.

We are asking for First Publishing Rights for as long as the anthology is in print. When it goes out of print, all rights revert to the author.

Unfortunately, we cannot afford to pay for stories at this time. But Candlelight will be published in a Perfect Bound Trade Paperback through lulu.com, and that’s something a lot of other publications can’t claim. Your list of publishing credits will be that much longer, and your story will be on the page in black and white, sitting on a bookshelf or coffee table or nightstand.

We look forward to reading your work.

http://www.jonathanjschlosser.com

July 15, 2008

Warrior Wisewoman Volume #2

Warrior Wisewoman is a new annual anthology series of science fiction featuring powerful and remarkable women, edited by Roby James.

The first volume was published by Norilana Books in June 2008.

The anthology was conceived as a sister volume to the classic Sword and Sorceress fantasy series originally edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley, with the main difference being that the story themes will involve science fiction instead of fantasy, and they will be intended for a more mature audience, allowing a mixture of serious contemporary issues and reasonable sexual content (but no erotica) in addition to action and adventure. The stories will have a stronger focus on the interface between scientific exploration and our sense of wonder.

Editor Roby James says:

"I am looking for stories that shed light on the truth of what it means to be female, that illuminate the wisdom and the strength of a woman, but not in cliché 'goddess' stories. I love action and adventure, grand space opera, thrilling discovery, and intelligent protagonists. Make the story thoughtful, wise, and surprising, not merely the same old metal spaceship hull filled with cardboard military uniforms with female names 'barking' orders and firing at aliens. In addition, the stories in the anthology should appeal to genuine emotions, suspense, fear, sorrow, delight, wonder. The science can be part of the background and the characters foremost, or the science can be central to the story, as long as the characters are realistic and appealing. It is strongly recommended you read the first volume to get an idea of what kind of material we're looking for.

"This is science fiction, but I also welcome stories of spiritual exploration, looking at the bond between the scientific and the divine. I want to see how a woman survives tragedy and disaster, overcomes impossible odds, achieves her true potential, or goes on to thrive in a marvelous universe of so many possibilities, using what is inside her, as well as what she finds in the laboratory, the alien planet, or space itself.

"The stories should contain the question of 'what if' on some level. And they should have a woman answer it."

Guidelines for Volume #2 of the Anthology:

RIGHTS PURCHASED: First English Language Rights and non-exclusive electronic rights. The anthology will be published by Norilana Books in a trade paperback edition in June 2009, to be followed by an electronic edition to be produced later.

PAYMENT: $0.02 a word on acceptance, and a pro rata share of royalties, plus a contributor copy.

WORD LENGTH: Up to 10,000 words, with longer stories having to be exceptional.

READING PERIOD begins on August 1, 2008. Please do not submit your stories before then.

DEADLINE: December 15, 2008.

HOW TO SUBMIT: Submissions are electronic only. Please submit your story as a Word (.doc or .rtf) attachment to your e-mail. The subject line of your e-mail should say "Submission: Story Title, last name of author." Also, include a brief cover letter. It should have your full name, address, e-mail address, title of story, number of words, and brief biographical information in case we don't know you, with most recent publishing credits, if applicable. We are open to new writers and seasoned veterans alike.

EDITORIAL ADDRESS:

We look forward to reading your most inspired work.

Parent Blessings

PARENT BLESSINGS (previously titled PARENT PRAYERS) is geared specifically for parents and will have the same spiritual tone as BABY BLESSINGS. The intention of the book is to provide insight, joy, and support for parents throughout their parenting journey. Parents will read PARENT BLESSINGS when they feel like celebrating the simple joys of parenting and will also turn to the book for comfort and insight when they feel discouraged in their role as a parent. The primary market will be a gift book for new moms and dads. The secondary market will be parents buying it for themselves for encouragement and inspiration.

The chapters include: Pregnancy, Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teens, Leaving Home, Adulthood, Reflections, and Inspiration. Please avoid standard "Please help me be a better parent" submissions. I particularly need submissions for chapters printed in bold. As always, I appreciate freshness and originality. The selections will reflect upon the spirituality of parenting and day-to-day family life. Parents whose children have passed beyond the first few chapters will enjoy the book for the emotional recollection of the precious early years in a child’s life and appreciate the later chapters that pertain to them.

Submission date is open.

*TERMS: Terms are generally $25 + one complimentary copy of the book for each piece published for one-time rights. You retain all rights. If the book's advance is small, I can't always guarantee $25/piece, but I do my best! At the minimum, you will receive a complimentary book for each piece published.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Please limit your submissions to no more than 3 per book. For all of my books, I find that short submissions, no more than 24 lines, work best and those that don’t lecture, but rather, enlighten. Submissions should be insightful, encouraging, or inspirational. Previously published work will be considered. Any dedications or personalization should be removed before submitting your work in order to make it appeal to a wider audience. All submissions should be typed, double-spaced, titled, and submitted one per page. The contributor’s name (the way it should appear in the book), address, and phone number should be listed at the top of each page. (If you have an email address or a fax number, please include it with your submissions. While I don’t accept regular submissions via email or fax, I sometimes send an "alert" via email if I need poems for a particular chapter in a current book—or if a proposed project sells quickly and I have a tight deadline to meet.) Send submissions to June Cotner, P.O. Box 2765, Poulsbo, WA 98370 and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with sufficient return postage. All those submitting work with an SASE will eventually receive a reply. It's helpful if you list the books for which you are submitting on the lower left corner of your envelope. You may include submissions for multiple projects in one envelope. It usually works best to include a cover letter that lists the titles of all of your submissions along with a note telling me it's okay to dispose of any unwanted submissions. I will return your cover letter in my response so you will have a record of what was sent. Response time is approximately 3-4 months. If you live outside the U.S., you are welcome to email no more than three submissions to june@junecotner.com Please use the name of the book as your subject line and include all of your contact information on each submission. My books receive major publicity. I market my books strongly and strive to find additional recognition for contributors, such as publication in national magazines and newspapers. Poems and prayers from my books have appeared in USA Today, Family Circle, Woman's Day, New Age Journal, the "Dear Abby" column, and major newspapers. Many poets have been contacted by card companies to have their poems featured on a card as a result of exposure of their poem in one of my anthologies. My books feature poetry from approximately 20% classic and famous authors and 80% contemporary writers.

The most common reasons for rejections: Too specific to one religion (if the book is religious or spiritual, interfaith pieces work best) Language is not fresh Too long; generally poems of 24 lines or less work best in these books Does not fit in with theme of book Not universal enough; too specific to your experience Too prescriptive Too complex or not easily understood Lacks the poetic quality I’m seeking

EARTH BLESSINGS Seeking Submissions

EARTH BLESSINGS:Prayers, Poems, and Prose Honoring the Earth.

Preliminary chapter titles for EARTH BLESSINGS include :

1) Nature & the Environment

2) Honoring the Earth

3) Healing the Earth

4) Cycles of Life

5) Love, Kindness & Compassion

6) Living Simply

7) Our Children

8) Honoring Animals

9) Spirituality, Prayers & Blessings

10) Community & Worldly Concerns

11) Wonder, Praise & Celebration

12) Reflections

13) Gratitude

14) Inspiration.

For desired spiritual tone, refer to my book, Looking for God in All the Right Places or the previous version of this book, Heal Your Soul, Heal the World. “Green publishing” is popular right now and focuses primarily on the nuts and bolts of how to improve the environment. In contrast, EARTH BLESSINGS is a spiritual book that will reflect upon the beauty of the earth and remind all of us to cherish the earth. I believe that Chronicle Books will be the publisher.

Submissions for EARTH BLESSINGS need to be postmarked no later than July 31, 2008.

*TERMS: Terms are generally $25 + one complimentary copy of the book for each piece published for one-time rights. You retain all rights. If the book's advance is small, I can't always guarantee $25/piece, but I do my best! At the minimum, you will receive a complimentary book for each piece published.

Please limit your submissions to no more than 3 per book.

For all of my books, I find that short submissions, no more than 24 lines, work best and those that don’t lecture, but rather, enlighten. Submissions should be insightful, encouraging, or inspirational. Previously published work will be considered. Any dedications or personalization should be removed before submitting your work in order to make it appeal to a wider audience.

All submissions should be typed, double-spaced, titled, and submitted one per page. The contributor’s name (the way it should appear in the book), address, and phone number should be listed at the top of each page. (If you have an email address or a fax number, please include it with your submissions. While I don’t accept regular submissions via email or fax, I sometimes send an "alert" via email if I need poems for a particular chapter in a current book—or if a proposed project sells quickly and I have a tight deadline to meet.)

Send submissions to June Cotner, P.O. Box 2765, Poulsbo, WA 98370 and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with sufficient return postage. All those submitting work with an SASE will eventually receive a reply. It's helpful if you list the books for which you are submitting on the lower left corner of your envelope. You may include submissions for multiple projects in one envelope. It usually works best to include a cover letter that lists the titles of all of your submissions along with a note telling me it's okay to dispose of any unwanted submissions. I will return your cover letter in my response so you will have a record of what was sent. Response time is approximately 3-4 months.

If you live outside the U.S., you are welcome to email no more than three submissions to june@junecotner.com Please use the name of the book as your subject line and include all of your contact information on each submission.

My books receive major publicity. I market my books strongly and strive to find additional recognition for contributors, such as publication in national magazines and newspapers. Poems and prayers from my books have appeared in USA Today, Family Circle, Woman's Day, New Age Journal, the "Dear Abby" column, and major newspapers. Many poets have been contacted by card companies to have their poems featured on a card as a result of exposure of their poem in one of my anthologies. My books feature poetry from approximately 20% classic and famous authors and 80% contemporary writers.

The most common reasons for rejections:

• Too specific to one religion (if the book is religious or spiritual, interfaith pieces work best)
  
• Language is not fresh
  
• Too long; generally poems of 24 lines or less work best in these books
  
• Does not fit in with theme of book
  
• Not universal enough; too specific to your experience
  
• Too prescriptive
  
• Too complex or not easily understood
  
• Lacks the poetic quality I’m seeking

Woman and Horses

Woman and Horses

An anthology of women writing about horses.

Potential essay subjects could address:

• Horse whispering
• A woman who loved horses as a girl, had to give them up and then returns to them later in life
• The experiences of Native American women and women of color
• The mystery of young girls and horses
• An obsession with performance horses and winning competitions
• Men who love women who love horses. How they deal with this passionate love affair their wife or girlfriend is having.
• The horse cure. How a connection with a horse helped to heal a broken heart, life or body.
• Wild horses. Women who have adopted a wild horse or become involved in the struggle to keep them wild.
• Horse rescue. Women who save abandoned horses or horses destined for slaughter.
• A woman shaman who has a horse as a power animal.
  

Submissions should be between 2,000-4,000, double spaced and received no later than August 15^th, 2008. Please send them to the editor, Cornelia Durrant, at: WomenAndHorses@horizoncable.com.

Click here for more information.

Review of Jim Musgrave's The President's Parasite

The President's Parasite and Other Short Stories

By Jim Musgrave
CIC Publishers
304 Pages
ISBN: 0977650367

The President's Parasite and Other Short Stories is a rich collection of slice of life vignettes written with a melancholy flavor and a twist of dark humor in an easy-to-read conversational tone. Each story deserves a review of its own, but for this review I'll mention a couple of my favorites. However, if you read this and are hungry for more, you can get your hands on a downloadable sampler of his stories on his blog.

For this review, I thought I'd highlight a couple of my favorite stories:

Jim Musgrave's engaging characters in Remembering to Laugh opens a window into everyday life into the "invisible America" that no one wants to see. This story's protagonist is a Jewish woman who marries a blue-eyed, red-headed Irish cop much to his mother's chagrin. The story highlights the changing relationship of the mother and wife as the two women learn to work together when the father-in-law, a Viet Nam vet with Alzheimer's, needs to be cared for and the husband ends up in Iraq as a hostage. I could write an entire review on this story alone, and recommend it highly.

The Wager portrays a man who wins 117 million dollars in a lottery and bets his pastor that he can cause more trouble by trying to do good with his winnings than he would if he squanders it. If he doesn't, he'll give the rest of the money to the church, but if he wins the Pastor agrees to change the church into a Church of Satan. The pastor takes the bet. Talk about good versus evil! If you want to know how it plays out, you'll have to buy the book.

In my effort to keep my blog entry short enough you all will read it, let me say that the short story IS NOT dead. Jim's stories vary enough that there's no one marketing umbrella formula that can lump them together other than original, creative and thought provoking. His work affects the mind in a subtle way, much like Twilight Zone. It entertains but grabs you and doesn't just let go until it threads into your mind and makes you think.

Bonus for my readers: Jim Musgrave will be my special guest today. Please leave a comment on today's blog and he will answer. You never know, I might pipe in there too. Not only will you enjoy such excellent camaraderie but when you leave a comment or ask a question, you'll be in the running to win a copy of The President's Parasite and Other Short Stories!

Amazon Link for President's Parasite: http://www.amazon.com/Presidents-Parasite-Jim-Musgrave/dp/0977650367/

Tomorrow's tour stop:

July 16 - http://undergroundcontroversy.blogspot.com/

Donna Sundblad – Author, Editor and Tour Coordinator
Author of Pumping Your Muse and Windwalker
www.virtualblogtour.blogspot.com – Get more information about virtual blog tours

Meet Jim Musgrave Author of President's Parasite

Author Jim Musgrave, author of President's Parasite, an anthology of imaginative short stories that play with the mind, is on tour around the blogosphere. Today, be sure to stop by Murder By 4 http://murderby4.blogspot.com/ to read his article "Spring Forward, Fall Back" in which he shares a technique that changed his life as a writer. Tomorrow, I'll post a short review of this book here at Anthology News and Reviews.

Take time to ask Jim a question or leave a comment. He's a witty, entertaining guy, and each comment enters you in a drawing to win a free print copy of his book at the end of the tour. Increase your chances of winning by stopping and leaving a comment at each blog hosting the tour.

Amazon Link for President's Parasite: http://www.amazon.com/Presidents-Parasite-Jim-Musgrave/dp/0977650367/

Edge of Belief deadline extended

Honey Locust Press is publishing an anthology of Spec Fic with a Christian World View to be titled "Edge of Belief". They're looking for science fiction, fantasy and horror. Check the website for details and submission guidelines.

http://www.honeyloc ustpress. com/Anthology_ callout.htm

Chicken Soup for the Soul - Cancer Stories

Chicken Soup for the Soul is collecting stories of support and discovery from people diagnosed with cancer and their families and support networks. The book will cover everything from the diagnosis, to planning the treatment, to living through the treatment, to coming out the other side. Stories from patients, medical professionals, family members, and friends are welcome. The deadline date for story submissions is September 1, 2008.

Submission Guidelines

Chicken Soup for the Soul: College Tales

Chicken Soup for the Soul: College Tales

We are looking for true stories and poems about your experiences in college. We are looking for stories written by college students, or by graduates about their college years. We prefer stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words.

Here are some suggested topics:

Moving in and meeting the roommate
Saying goodbye to families and friends
Learning to live away from home
Funny and embarrassing stories about college life
Spring Break
Transferring
Taking a year off from college
Career college students
Semesters or summers abroad
Choosing majors
Dealing with the workload, figuring out professors, grade pressure
Being pre-med, pre-law, and other stressful endeavors before grad school
More tests - MCATs, GMATs, LSATs
Relationships with friends, family, girlfriends and boyfriends
Lifestyle choices, food, drinking or dry.
Personal growth - choosing new friends, coming out, patching up relationships
Money - problems, jobs, scholarships, paying your own way
Medical and psychological challenges
Greek life, eating clubs, pledging, and membership
Sports, clubs, volunteer work, and other extracurriculars
.Anything else that you think is interesting about college that you would like share

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book.
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: DECEMBER 31, 2008.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: College Tales

Chicken Soup for the Soul: College Tales

-True stories and poems about experiences in college.
-Stories written by college students, or by graduates about their college years.
-Prefer stories/poems in the first person
-Limit of 1,200 words.
-Payment: $200 plus 10 free copies of the book (worth $100)
-Deadline: December 31, 2008

Suggested topics:
Moving in and meeting the roommate
Saying goodbye to families and friends
Learning to live away from home
Funny and embarrassing stories about college life
Spring Break
Transferring
Taking a year off from college
Career college students
Semesters or summers abroad
Choosing majors
Dealing with the workload, figuring out professors, grade pressure
Being pre-med, pre-law, and other stressful endeavors before grad school
More tests - MCATs, GMATs, LSATs
Relationships with friends, family, girlfriends and boyfriends
Lifestyle choices, food, drinking or dry.
Personal growth - choosing new friends, coming out, patching up relationships
Money - problems, jobs, scholarships, paying your own way
Medical and psychological challenges
Greek life, eating clubs, pledging, and membership
Sports, clubs, volunteer work, and other extracurriculars

Open to other topics that are interesting about college.

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

To read about this and other CS opportunties, go to
http://www.chickens oup.com/cs. asp?cid=guidelin es to read more.

A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II

A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II

Oh, how we humans love our canine companions -- for so many reasons and in so many ways that one Cup of Comfort collection of uplifting dog stories just wasn't enough. So we're giving all you dog-loving writers another opportunity to share your personal stories of canine comfort with a growing legion of dog-loving readers. This volume will feature both serious and humorous anecdotal stories covering a wide range of topics and perspectives and varying breeds of dogs. We do NOT want sad stories about a dog's illness, injury, or death, though we will consider stories that weave a beloved pet's illness or death into an otherwise positive story. The story should focus on the dog's remarkable attributes and/or actions as well as on the special relationship between the dog and his/her human(s).

Submission Deadline: 12/15/2008
See Writer's Guidelines for additional details.

Twins and More - Chicken Soup for the Soul Anthology

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More

Whether you are a twin, the parent of twins, related to twins, acquainted with twins or just simply fascinated with twins, you're sure to have an inspirational, humorous, or touching story about this relationship! We are looking for stories and poems that highlight the special bond that twins share, the joys and challenges of raising twins, the unique circumstances of their arrival, the "double trouble" that twins get into, the "multiple blessings" of being a twin or having them in the family, and much more! We'd love to hear about triplets, quads and more, too. As with all Chicken Soup for the Soul stories, they should be told in the first person, not be previously published, and not exceed 1,200 words. Topics may include but are not limited to:

. The journey through infertility, resulting in twin blessings
. The joys and challenges of pregnancy with multiples
. The perils of prematurity and life in the NICU
. Getting the good news and sharing it with others
. Sleepless nights and endless feedings
. The incidents that make twins "double trouble"
. The pranks and "switcheroos" pulled by identical twins
. Being a singleton in a home with multiples
. The chaos and silliness of everyday life with twins
. The special bond that twins share
. Adventures in double potty-training
. Getting out and about with twins, whether it's to the store or on vacation
. Grandparenting twins
. Twins who arrive under special circumstances, such as adoption or surrogacy
. Single parenting with multiples
. Raising twins in a gay household
. The loss of a twin sibling
. Tackling the teenage years as a twin
. Twin tales from preschool, elementary school, high school and adult life

. . . and more!
If your story is selected for publication, you will receive $200, ten free copies of the book (worth more than $100) and a 50-word bio in the book. We cannot use previously published stories, but you will retain the rights to sell your story after it is published by Chicken Soup.

Please submit your stories through the Chicken Soup web site at www.chickensoup. com (click on "Submit a Story").

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15, 2008

Connecting Online: Hookups, Reunions and Chance Encounters

Anthology: call for submissions, "Connecting Online"

"Connecting Online: Hookups, Reunions and Chance Encounters"

DEADLINE: August 1, 2008

Writer and editor April Thompson is seeking first-person stories for an upcoming anthology of stories about connections made online.

"Connecting Online: Hookups, Reunions and Chance Encounters" will feature essays of NO MORE than 2,500 words about interpersonal connections made through the Internet. Submissions can be comical or irreverent, tear-jerking or thought-provoking: the caliber of writing is more important than the mood of the piece. Please note that essays should center on a particular encounter or relationship cultivated online, rather than expounding on the topic in general.

Stories accepted into the anthology will receive compensation upon publication of up to $150 depending on the length of the piece.

Please send your piece in .doc format, include your contact information, and put "Connecting Online Submission" in the subject of your email, to be sent to anthology [at] aprilwrites. com.

Previously published material considered as long as you own the reprint rights.

The Phantom Queen Awakes

A Dark Celtic Anthology

Edited by Mark S. Deniz & Amanda Pillar

It may come as little surprise to the friends of Morrígan Books that Mark S. Deniz has decided to dedicate an anthology to the publishing company’s patron goddess, the Morrígan. The collection will be edited by Mark, with in-house editor, Amanda Pillar as co-editor.

To date, Elaine Cunningham and Katherine Kerr have agreed to write for the anthology.

The Morrígan is commonly portrayed as a triple goddess, but her tripartite nature is uncertain at best. This ambiguity shall be at the heart of The Phantom Queen Awakes.

Please follow the link for some background on the Morrígan.

The Phantom Queen Awakes, will focus on Morrígan’s tripartite nature. We want stories set in the ancient world of the Celts (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celt for some information), that talk of Morrígan. She does not have to be a central figure (although she must appear at least once in the tale), however we would prefer it if she was.

Mark and Amanda are looking for stories that push the boundaries, for tales that resound with the reader long after they’ve been put down. Supernatural creatures are allowed, although they must be in tune with Celtic mythology. We do not want gratuitous violence or sex scenes. The editors would prefer stories of a darker nature, and are much more likely to take well written stories with this in mind.

_________________________________________________________________________

Word Count: 50 to 6,000 (the lower word count being reserved for excellent flash fiction and poetry).

Payment: $.01 per word for original stories, no reprints

Deadline: 1^st December 2008 - we are implementing a new submission selection for the anthology but will let all authors know as soon as possible after the deadline day as to the decision regarding their story.

Submission Format: Please write the title, your name, your address, email, contact numbers and the word count at the top of the manuscript submission. Please include the page number in the footer.

Manuscripts should be in either the Courier New or Times New Roman font. Please make sure your manuscript is double-spaced.

We will only accept manuscripts electronically and they must be in .rtf (rich text format).

Submissions: Send submissions as attachments to: phantom.queen@morriganbooks.com

Please note: submissions open 1^st August 2008 (please do not send your stories before this date).

Potter's Field 3

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.