The Case Files - Dead Market?

I do believe that the new mystery magazine The Case Files from Ephemera Publishing is dead.  There's been nothing new posted to the site since December of 2012.  The Case Files was supposed to launch in January, but that didn't happen.

Beware the Dark - Call for Submissions

Short, Scary Tales Publications based in the UK has opened submissions for their magazine Beware the Dark.  They're looking for straight horror stories (no erotica).  There's no word count listed in the guidelines but payment is 1cent a word with a max of 30pounds English.  You can find all the details here.

Slightly Ajar - My Stab at the Horror Genre

I have a flash piece up at Flashes in the Dark today.  I've tried this market several times but never made the cut.  I think Horror is a tricky genre to get right because what scares one person doesn't always scare the next guy.  Personally I prefer the psychological horror over the blood and guts kind, so that can be even trickier to capture.  Anyhoo, the story is called "Slightly Ajar" and it's about those monsters hiding in the closet.

I have to admit that it's kind of fun to be closing out Short Story Month with one of my own :)

Wild and Wonderful by Tom Bennitt - A Short Story Month Selection

Fried Chicken and Coffee is one of my favorite online zines for literary fiction.  They have a great blend of poetry, flash, and short stories, but most of all the stories are about regular people like me.  You can feel their heartbreak, their warmth, and their cruelty.  Yesterday I read "Wild and Wonderful" by Tom Bennitt and today I'm still thinking about that story.  The sadness of the narrator's life and that incredible last line that makes you laugh out loud.

The Grinder - New Market Search Engine

For those of you who couldn't afford Duotrope there's a new spot on the 'net to find markets and keep track of your submissions.  The folks behind the site are still building it but the search engine is in place and many writers are posting response times.  You can check it out here and I've posted a link over in the Market Sources section.

Gumshoe Review

One market for short mystery fiction that many writers overlook is Gumshoe Review.  They publish one short story a month when they get them.  They want stories up to 1000 words where a mystery is solved.  Payment is 5cents a word with a maximum payment of $50 if you go over your 1000 words.  They also accept non-fiction essays up to 1000 words with the same payment.  You can find all the details here.

On Writing - Shorts are Hot

Anne R. Allen has an interesting post on her blog with "10 Reasons Why Short Stories are Hot".  If you scroll further down the page you'll find a nice discussion in the comments and some market links for shorts.