Rogue Blades Entertainment - Anthology Calls

Rogue Blades Entertainment has posted three new anthology calls looking for stories of 2000 to 9000 words.  You have to submit the first 500 words of your story then they proceed from there.  The deadline is September 2, 2019.  Reprints are okay.  The calls are:

1.  "Slaughter's the Best Medicine:  An Heroic Anthology of Mayhem and Mirth in Melee".  This one pats $30.

2.  "Reach for the Sky" is looking for cowboys and aliens stories.  Payment is $25.

3.  "Death's Sting" is looking for sword and sorcery stories about immortals.  Payment is $30.

All the details for each anthology is on their Submittable page.

Switchblade Special Issue - Advance Notice Special Issue

From Switchblade Magazine's twitter feed:

Switchblade‏ @SwitchbladeMag 22h22 hours ago

An update on Switchblade: Tech Noir This will be this year's Special Issue (Special Issues are not numbered issues) Cyberpunk. Think Blade Runner, or more appropriately--Altered Carbon. There will be NO FLASH in this issue. Word count max is 6k. Submissions open 3/10 (not before)

Broadswords and Blasters - New Issue

Issue #8 of Broadswords and Blasters is now available for purchase.  And yes, despite the name they publish crime fiction :) along with other genres.

19 Paying Markets for February

Over at Publishing...and Other Forms of Insanity Erica Verrillo has posted her listing of paying markets for February.  Thanks, Erica!

The Weird Story Cupboard

So, we're in the middle of a snow storm and I hear this whiny engine going by our house.  I look out the window and see a golf cart driving by.  Now this isn't unusual except for the fact that they're usually a summer vehicle and not built for winter comfort.  But that's not the odd thing.  The golf cart is pink!  The mind explodes and stories ideas start to flow.  Have fun :)

2019 Agatha Award Nominees

In Reference to Murder has posted the listing of Malice Domestic's Agatha Award Nominees.  Congrats to all the nominees and especially to short story writers Art Taylor and Barb Goffman!!

Apparition Lit - Advance Notice Submission Call

Apparition Lit is looking for speculative fiction stories of 1000 to 5000 words using the theme Ambition.  Submissions will open of February 15, 2019 and close February 28, 2019.  So it's a short submission period.  Payment is 3cents a word.  You can find the details here.

One Story - Open for Submissions

One Story has opened submissions for literary stories of 3000 to 8000 words.  The deadline is May 31, 2019 and payment is $500 plus 25 copies.  You can find the details here.

Horror Addicts - Anthology Call

Horror Addicts has opened submissions for their 2019 horror anthology "Dark Divinations".  They're looking for horror stories of 2000 to 5000 words set in the Victorian Era (1837 to 1901) with divination being an integral part of the story.  Stories don't have to be set in England but they must be set during those years.  No Steampunk stories!  The deadline is October 31, 2019 and payment is $10.  You can find the details here.

You can find an interview with editor Naching Kassa here.

The Wolfe Pack's Black Orchid Novella Contest - Open for Submissions

The annual Wolfe Pack's Black Orchid Novella Contest is open for submissions.  They're looking for stories of 15,000 to 20,000 words in the tradition of the Nero Wolfe series.  The deadline is May 31, 2019.  The winner will receive a publishing contract from Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.  You can find the details here.

Black Cat Mystery Magazine - New Issue

Issue #4 of Black Cat Mystery Magazine is now available for purchase.

The Digest Enthusiast - New Issue

The Digest Enthusiast #9 is now available for purchase.  You can check it out here where you'll find links to a variety of places where the magazine is now available.

Gypsum Sound Tales - Anthology Call

Gypsum Sound Tales has opened submissions for their next "Colp" anthology collection.  The theme for this one is Big.  They're looking for stories of 1000 to 4000 words in any genre using the theme of big.  They have examples and also a list of what they're not looking for.  The deadline is April 11, 2019 and payment is AU$5 for stories under 2500 words and AU $10 for over 2500 words.  You can find the details here.

Hunting Down the Pleonasms by Allan Guthrie

One of the best things about the Internet is that good advice lives on forever.  That makes me happy because I wanted to pass along Allan Guthrie's 32 Writing Rules.  I'd forgotten about them until I was going through some papers and discovered a printed copy of them I had.  They're fun and entertaining but also very wise.  You can read them online here.

Switchblade Magazine - Open Submission Dates Announced

Switchblade Magazine will open submissions on February 1, 2019 for their 2019 issues.  They're looking for flash fiction to 1000 words and short stories  of 2000 to 4500 words, also noir poetry will be accepted.  The deadline is March 1, 2019 and payment is $15.  It's a short reading period so be careful you don't miss it.  This is a crime fiction market.

The Dark City - New Issue

The Winter issue of The Dark City has hit the virtual streets.  You can read some stories online or purchase a copy.

2019 Edgar Awards Nominees

The MWA has announced the 2019 Edgar Awards nominees.  Congrats to all the nominees and especially to friend of the blog Art Taylor for his short story nomination!!

True Crime - Anthology Call

Editor Mitzi Szereto has posted an anthology call for "True Crime".  The theme is Serial Killers.  She's looking for well researched non-fiction stories of 4000 to 7000 words.  The deadline is May 1, 2019 and payment is $130.  You can find the details here.

Angie's Desk - Anthology Calls

Angie has posted her January listing of paying anthology markets.  Thanks, Angie!

The Future is Female by Alexandria Lightman

Sometimes I wonder what women are thinking when they write something like this.  In six sentences she dismissed all the hard work of the women who achieved so much as they worked either alone or side by side with the men.  The men didn't do it alone and to say they did is to say that women didn't matter.  Shame on you.

And yes, I usually stay out of the political correctness battles but this one really pissed me off.  While women aren't given the credit they deserve it doesn't mean they were sitting on the sidelines wringing their hands while the men dashed about on their white horses saving the damsels in distress and making the world safe for femininity.  Finished with my rant now :)

No Alibis Press - Anthology Call

Belfast based No Alibis Press has posted an anthology call for short stories in any genre and any length.  There is no title at this time.  The deadline is January 31, 2019 and payment is 75 to 100pounds depending on how many stories they select.  You can find the details here.  This seems to be a crime fiction based press.  Sorry for the late notice but I just found this.

Tough - Open for Submissions

For those of you looking for open crime markets, Tough is open for submissions.  They're looking for crime stories of 1500 to 7500 words.  Payment is $25.  You can find the details here.

Fears of a Clown - Early Notice Anthology Call

UK based editor David Higgins has posted an anthology call for "Fears of a Clown".  He's looking for stories of 1000 to 10,000 words where the clown in the room isn't the real threat.  Open to a variety of genres.  Submissions open on February 1, 2019 and close March 31, 2019.  Payment is a royalty split.  You can find the details here.

Left Hand Publishing - Anthology Call

Left Hand Publishing has posted a anthology call for "Reimagining Classics".  They're looking for stories of 4000 to 10,000 words that reimagine classic stories.  All stories must have a twist or a moral.  Most genres are welcome but they're especially looking for stories in many of the subgenres of crime fiction.  The deadline is March 1, 2019 and payment is $25.  You can find the details here.  Be sure to read past the submission form for more guidelines.

Flash Bang Mysteries - New Issue

The Winter issue of Flash Bang Mysteries has hit the virtual streets.  You can read it for free here.

Pulp Modern - A Reminder

Just a reminder that Pulp Modern will open for submissions for one day only on January 15, 2019.  They're looking for stories of 3500 to 5000 words in a variety of genres.  Payment is $10.  You can find the details here.

Flash Bang Mysteries - Open for Submission

I'm a little late with this one but Flash Bang Mysteries opened for submissions on January 1st.  They're looking flash crime stories of 500 to 750 words.  The deadline is January 31, 2019 and payment is $20.  You can find the details here.

Oren Litwin - Anthology Calls

Editor Oren Litwin has posted two anthology calls that are open for submissions.  The first is "Asteroids" looking for science fiction stories of 3500 to 7000 words.  The second is "Family" looking for fantasy stories of 3500 to 7000 words.  The deadline for both is March 1, 2019 and payment is a $25 advance plus a royalty split.  You can find a link to both anthologies here.

Martinus Publishing - Anthology Call

Martinus Publishing opened submissions for their anthology "This Never Happened!".  They are looking for stories of 1500 to 10,000 words that look at the humorous side of alternative history fiction.  The deadline is April 30, 2019 and payment is a royalty split.  You can find the details here.

Nightscript #5 - Anthology Call

Editor CM Muller has opened submissions for his anthology "Nightscript #5".  They're looking for "strange tales" with a dark literary bend.  There is no word count listed.  The deadline is January 31, 2019 and payment is $20.  You can find the details here.

2018 Crime Fiction Roundup

Well it's that time of year again for the annual roundup of crime fiction markets.  First up the ones that closed their doors.

Crooked Holster
Manslaughter Review
Crime Syndicate
Spinetingler
Pulp Metal
Solarcide - hasn't opened for submissions since February
Snubnose Press
Midnight Ink

Betty Fedora - Listed as closed last year but the website came back and noted that they'd open in 2018 for issue five - didn't happen.

 Noir Nation announced a comeback this year but so far no call for submissions or new issues published.

Iridium opened in May and closed down a month or so later with only one issue published.

And finally Down & Out Books announced a new imprint called New Wave Crime in June then in December Polis books announced that the editor was heading a new imprint call Agora for them.  And yes the New Crime Wave imprint had been pulled from Down & Out.  So one loss, one gain.

Since our crime short story market seems to be shrinking I'll make this one post this year and list the markets that opened here as well.

I don't know if Bouchercon will make this an annual contest but this year they announced The Bill Crider Prize for Short Fiction.  Very cool of them and a great tribute to a wonderful man.

Who Knocks? - pays 1cent word still waiting on the first issue.

Serial - this market is seeking pulp type stories and pays $1.60 per page plus royalties.  The first issue is due out this month.

Dead Gun Press - reopened this year and published a new anthology.  Their ezine is open for submissions, but is non-paying.

Thriller - is currently open for submissions for issue three.  This is a non-paying market.

Retreats from Oblivion - is a non-paying noir market associated with Noir Con.

And with the closing of Spinetingler editor Sandra Ruttan opened a new site called Toe Six Press.  While they publish regularly online there is no short fiction published.  They opened a fiction submission call in April for a print issue but it hasn't been published as yet.  They also opened a site called Zombie Cat for reprints that are no longer available online.

Sorry to say it hasn't been a great year for crime fiction markets.

Level Best Books - Anthology Call

Level Best Books has opened submissions for their 2019 anthology "Seascape".  They're looking for crime stories up to 5000 words set in New England.  The deadline is April 30, 2019.  This is a royalty paying market and MWA approved.  You can find all the details here.

Thriller - Open for Submissions

Thriller Magazine has opened submissions for their third issue.  They're looking for thriller stories up to 4000 words in the genres of action, horror, and crime.  I didn't notice a deadline listed and this is a non-paying market.  You can find the details here.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  May your new year email inbox be filled with more acceptance than rejection letters from editors.

World Weaver Press - Anthology Call

Submissions opened today for World Weaver Press anthology "Glass and Gardens:  Solarpunk Winter".  They're looking for solarpunk stories up to 8000 words that take place in the winter.  The deadline is March 1, 2019 and payment is 1cent a word.  You can find the details here.

Unnerving Magazine - Open for Submissions

Submissions opened today for Unnerving Magazine.  They're looking for stories of 800 to 4000 words in the genres of horror, crime, thriller, and suspense along with dark science fiction and fantasy.  The deadline is February 1, 2019 and payment is 3cents a word for original work and 1cent a word for reprints.  You can find the details here on their Submittable page.  Check back to their webpage for formatting.

They are also open for novella, novel, and short story collections.