Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!!  Enjoy the evening.

Black Treacle - Open for Submissions

Canadian zine Black Treacle has opened submissions for their next issue.  They're looking for short stories of 1500 to 5000 words in the genres of Horror, Dark Fantasy, and Speculative Fiction.  Payment is $50CAD.  They're also looking for non-fiction with the same pay rate.  You can find the details here.

Flash Bang Mysteries - Open for Flash Submissions on January 1

Quarterly online zine Flash Bang Mysteries submission period will open on January 1 and run to January 31.  They are looking for all types of crime/mystery flash stories of 500 to 750 words.  Payment is $10.  You can find the details here.

Funny Fantasy - Reprint Anthology Call

Editor Alex Shvartsman has posted an anthology call for "Funny Fantasy".  He is looking for reprints of 500 to 7500 words that were published in venues paying at least 1cent a word.  Payment is 2cents a word and the deadline is February 29, 2016.  You can find the details here.

Betty Fedora - Opens for Submissions January 1st

I have six markets on my calendar that will be opening on January 1, 2016 so I'll be listing them the next couple of days so you can get a head start on your story.  First up is Betty Fedora - they're looking for crime stories of 1000 to 6000 words that feature kick ass women.  The deadline for this submission period is March 31, 2016.  This is a non-paying market except for a copy.   You can find the details here.

Time Alone Press - Anthology Call

Time Alone Press is a new market with an anthology call for "Let Us In".  They're looking for horror stories around 4000 words that address the theme of "horrors that we invite into our lives willingly or with reluctance".  They have some ideas listed to help you understand what they're looking for.  The deadline is April 30, 2016 and payment is 6cents a word plus a royalty share.   Submissions are through Submittable.  You can find the details here.

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone is having a joyous Holiday Season.  Wishing you all best wishes for a happy New Year!!

Independent Legions - Anthology Call

Independent Legions is a new publisher that has posted an anthology call for "The Beauty of Death".  They're looking for horror stories of 4500 to 7500 words.  The deadline is March 30, 2016 and payment is $100.  You can find the details here.

Grand Mal Press - Open for Novel Submissions

Grand Mal Press has opened for novel submissions in the genres of detective/mystery, thriller, horror, and science fiction.  In the guidelines there is this:

" NEW BUSINESS MODEL! Grand Mal Press is now a publishing alliance, wherein authors retain 100% of their sales royalties, as well as maintain complete control of their intellectual properties and sales channels. All our books are still produced as paperbacks, ebooks, and audiobooks. If we accept your novel, we will discuss the details in more depth."

I'm not sure but it sounds like writers might have to pay the upfront costs if they're to receive all of the royalties.  So be very sure you read your contracts carefully and be aware of what this new business model involves.  It could be all good but watch your back.

Yellow Mama - New Issue

The December issue of Yellow Mama has gone live.  You can read it here.

Angie's Desk - Anthology Markets

Angie has poster her December list of anthology markets.  Thanks, Angie!

Ink Smith Publishing - Open for Novella and Novel Submissions

Ink Smith Publishing is open for both novella and novel submission queries.  Novellas should be 30,000 to 50,000 words and novels over 50,000.  This market is open for Crime, Detective, and Mystery as well as other genres such as sci-fi, fantasy, and horror.  They publish in both e-book and print.  There is no mention of payment rates on their site so be sure to ask when you query.  You can find the details here.

Manawaker Studio - Anthology Call

Manawaker Studio has posted an anthology call for "Starward Tales".  They're looking for retellings of legends, myths, and fairytales set in a science fiction or xxx-punk setting.  There is no deadline set yet.  Payment is low, only $1 per 1000 words but they are taking reprints.  You can check them out here.

Bundoran Press - Anthology Call

Canadian publisher Bundoran Press has posted an anthology call for "Lazarus Risen".  They are seeking science fiction stories of 3500 to 6500 words that explore the concept of living forever.  The deadline is February 29, 2016 and payment is 4cents a word with a maximum payment of $300.  You can find the details here.

Advent Ghosts 2015

It's time for Loren Eaton's Advent Ghosts 2015.  Take some time to read the stories and put a little shiver in your Holidays.  I've posted my story below.  You can find the rest of the stories and links here.  Remember that each story is exactly 100 words so there's loads of easy reading.  Have fun and Happy Holidays to you and yours.

                                                        The Christmas House

"You boys stay away from that Henley house.  It's Christmas eve and evil takes hold of that place on Christmas."

"Okay, Mom," shouted the pair of brothers as they raced down the street.

The boys took turns pelting snowballs at the derelict house ignoring the brilliant Christmas moon as it blazed across the beaten down face of Henley house coaxing it awake.  A slinking, snow-shrouded fog nudged them ever closer to the shuttered building while their laughter stirred the Krampus heart of the house.  Ka-thump.  Ka-thump.

Christmas morning found their mother weeping as the town searched for her missing sons.

The Dark City - Open for Submissions

The Dark City Crime and Mystery Magazine is open for submissions of crime stories of 1000 to 7000 words.  While they prefer stories set in the American West they will consider mysteries set in other locals.  Payment is $25.  Their first issue went live in October so you can read it online to get a feel for what they're looking for.  You can find the details here.

Bracken - New Market

Bracken is a new market that is looking for short stories up to 2500 words for their first issue.  They're open to most genres ( I suspect from the guidelines that this is the various sub-genres of the speculative fiction arena ) but are biased toward magic realism.  Payment is 2cents a word.  You can find the details here.

The Saving Christmas Story Cupboard

If you're looking for a new angle on your Christmas story give the "Christmas Asteroid" a whirl.  It has the makings of a SyFy channel type of disaster story with a Christmas morning, family gathered around the tree, ending after their miracle escape.  If you want to delve into fantasy perhaps Santa hitches his reindeer to the asteroid and pulls it away from its path toward earth (and maybe he brings Bruce Willis along for the ride :)).  Have fun with it and always remember that Christmas is a time of miracles.

Lillicat Puplishers - Anthology Call

Lillicat Publishers has posted an anthology call for "Visions IV:  Space Between Stars".  They're looking for stories of 3000 to 8000 words that explore how people will live in deep space as they travel between the stars.  The deadline is February 15, 2016 and payment is $25.  You can find the details here.

The Crooked Holster: Ritual - Now Available

The Crooked Holster print anthology is now available for purchase on Amazon - check it out here.  Very happy to see several friends of the blog have stories in this anthology.

New Fantasy/Sci-fi Reprint Market With a Caution

Have you ever run across a publishing company that completely baffled you with their guidelines?  I ran across a market today that is asking for reprints but states that they have the right to require the author to make all changes that they request.  Now, isn't the purpose of publishing reprints so that you don't have to rewrite stories? 

In their mission statement they say that they are going to pay 6cents a word for original fiction but on their Submittable page they state that payment is a royalty split with writers, slush readers, editors, etc.  Basically, you'll be lucky if you see a dime.  This doesn't align with the fact that they're looking to become an approved market with the SFFWA.  They seem to be confused about what they're asking for in the way of stories.  They want reprints but seem to be posting guidelines for original stories.

I realize that this is a new market but if they're this confused...?  I read their submission guidelines at Submittable,  Checked out the original website that was linked from there in October (which has no postings).  And checked the website that was linked to from Duotrope.  Be sure to check out as much as you can before submitting so you can get an idea of who you are submitting to.  I thought this would be a good market for reprints but now I'm not so sure.

Now, with that said, this market is looking for sci-fi and fantasy reprints for two separate anthologies.  You can find their Submittable page here and their website here. 

New English Press - Anthology Call

New English Press is a new market and they've posted an anthology call for "This Book Ain't Nuthin' Ta Fuck Wit:  A Wu-Tang Tribute".  They're looking for stories of 2000 to 3000 words that give tribute to the hip hop group Wu Tang.  And they are looking for ninjas and crime stories and horror so this will be of interest to many of the readers here.  The deadline is March 1, 2016 and payment is $20.  You can find the details here.

I forgot to add that you should read their about page to get a feel for what they're looking for.

Farstrider Magazine - Open for Submissions

Farstrider Magazine has opened submissions for issue #2 which will be published in April of 2016.  Issue #1 is filled and will hit the virtual streets in January.  Payment here is 3cents a word for fantasy stories in all the various sub-genres.  Also this time around they're looking for stories on the lighter side with some humor.  You can check out the details here.

Apex Books - Poetry Anthology Call

I don't usually publish poetry calls but this one from Apex Books might interest some of you.  They're looking for poems about "animate but no longer living" creatures (zombies, ghosts, etc.).  The deadline is April 1, 2016 and payment is $5 a poem (you can submit up to three).  They're also accepting reprints for this one. You can find the guidelines here.

Betty Fedora - New Issue

The second issue of Betty Fedora is now available in both print and ebook editions.  You can check it out here.  And the Kindle edition is free until Sunday!

Advent Ghosts 2015

I meant to post this the other day but forgot (I swear that some days my mind is standing on a banana peel).  Loren Eaton has posted an invitation on his blog for Advent Ghosts 2015.  Everyone is invited to write a horror story  for the Christmas season - the catch is to write it in exactly 100 words.  Then post your drabble to your own blog or email it to Loren and he'll post it on his blog.  The posting day is December 19 then sit back and enjoy the multitude of Christmas horrors. :)  You can find the details here.  There's no payment or prizes, just good old Christmas fun.

How to Use Lovecraftian Horrors in Your Stories by David Mesick

Over on the Mythcreants website there's a great article by David Mesick about "How to Use Lovecraftian Horrors in Your Stories".  While you're on the site take a minute or so to look around they have a great many articles about how to write science fiction and fantasy.  Always a good thing if you're going to dip your writing pen into a new genre.

Hat tip to sfsignal.com

280 Steps - Open for Novel Submissions

Just received this note from the Kjetil Hestvedt the head honcho over at 280 Steps Publishing:

Thought I’d let you know that we have opened for submissions for our Spring and Fall 2017 lineups. We accept unagented submissions. We are looking for great crime, mystery, noir and thriller novels—standalone or first in a series. Authors from the US, UK, Australia and Canada are welcome to submit. Deadline is March 1, 2016. 

Submission guidelines are available here: http://280steps.com/submissions

280 Steps is a publishing house specializing in crime fiction, with titles from authors such as CWA Debut Dagger winner Ryan David Jahn, Tony Hillerman Prize winner Roy Chaney, Eric Beetner, C.J. Howell, Ro Cuzon, Christopher Irvin, Court Haslett, Joe Ricker and Keith Rawson. 

Best,

Kjetil Hestvedt

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

280 Steps

We Do Crime Fiction

www.280steps.com

Janet Hutchings - An Interview

Over at The Thrill Begins website there's an interview with Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine's editor Janet Hutchings.  It's an interesting look inside the magazine.

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores - New Market

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores is a new online zine looking for sci-fi and fantasy in all its various forms.  Stories should be 1000 words and up.  Payment is 6cents a word for original stories and 2cents a word for reprints and non-fiction articles.  You can find the details here.

Chappy Fiction LLC - Anthology Call

Chappy Fiction LLC is a new market with a submission call for stories up to 7000 words for a time travel anthology (no title yet).  They will look at reprints but you have to query first.  The deadline is January 1, 2016 and payment is 6cents a word.  You can find the details here.

Michael Bracken - An Interview

There is an excellent interview with short story writer Michael Bracken on the website of Dr. Jac Fitzenz.  The interview is full of good advice for writers.

Liminal Stories Magazine - New Market

Liminal Stories Magazine is a new market that is now open for submissions of shorts up to 10,000 words.  They're open to any genre but have a soft spot for the speculative fiction genre.  The deadline is January 15, 2016 and payment is 6cents a word.  You can find the details here.

Crystal Lake Publishing - Anthology Call

Crystal Lake Publishing opened submissions today for a new anthology titled "Tales From the Lake: Volume 3".  They're looking for a "new generation of urban legend" stories of 2000 to 4000 words.  The deadline is February 29, 2016 and payment is $20.  You can find the details here.

Pulp Modern - Open for Submissions

Pulp Modern opened for submissions today.  They're looking for straight up crime stories, the nastier the better.  You can check out the call here where you'll also find a link to the guidelines.  The deadline is December 31.

Mysterical-E - New Issue

The Fall issue of Mysterical-E has hit the virtual streets.  You can read it here.