Primetime and After Dark cover reveals

Curiosity Quills Press brings some of their bestselling authors together to create a spine-tingling, mind-blowing, quirky collection of short stories in their first ever, annual PRIMETIME Anthology, scheduled for release 7th October, 2013. Available in digital and paperback formats, with an IndieGoGo campaign launching after release to fund the hardback version.

The anthology is not limited to one specific genre, but all of our novels are guaranteed to be quirky and paranormal, in some way or another.  We also guarantee 10% of every purchase will go straight to animals in need. The CQ team has selected humane societies on both the East and West coast that spend well and do not stray from the “no-kill” policies of their strays.

Featuring: J.R. Rain, Tony Healey, A.W. Exley, Vicki Keire, A.E. Propher, Eliza Tilton, Gerilyn Marin, Grace Eyre, James Wymore, K.H. Koehler, Matthew Graybosch, Michael Panush, Michael Shean, Mike Robinson, Nathan Yocum, Nina Post, Rand B. Lee, Randy Attwood, Sharon Bayliss, William Vitka.

Official Primetime Page | Primetime on Goodreads

Curiosity Quills Press brings some of their bestselling authors together in PRIMETIME’s steamier, sexier counterpart, AFTER DARK.  Scheduled for release 7th October, 2013. Available in digital and paperback formats, with an IndieGoGo campaign launching after release to fund the hardback version.

The anthology is not limited to one specific genre, but all of our novels are guaranteed to be quirky and paranormal, in some way or another.  We also guarantee 10% of every purchase will go straight to animals in need. The CQ team has selected humane societies on both the East and West coast that spend well and do not stray from the “no-kill” policies of their strays.

Featuring: A.W. Exley, Jose Prendes, Nathan Yocum, Jade Hart , Gerilyn Marin, A.E. Propher.

Official After Dark Page | After Dark on Goodreads

 

About Curiosity Quills:
Curiosity Quills launched in 2011 by writers, for writers, presenting uniformly top-notch quality, tastefully curated, hard-hitting storylines. We know it’s hard to stand out from the crowd when it’s millions large, but Curiosity Quills Press helps level the playing field through its members’ innovative social media approach, a transparent culture, and a deeply passionate team.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Google Plus |Tumblr | Pinterest

Anthologies seeking submissions - September 2012

It's that time of month again. I don't have any idea what I'm going to write for a short story this month yet. I'm browsing a couple of sites to see if my muse perks up at anything.

URBAN FANTASY ANTHOLOGY - 1-time print (Elektrik Milk Bath Press); h/f/magreal/humor/lit (fic). Pay: $30. Words: 1k-5k. RT: <6 weeks. Reprints: query. E-subs: PREFERS. Angela Charmaine Craig, Editor. Deadline: October 31st or when full.

URBAN GREEN MAN - 1-time print (Edge SF & Fantasy); f (fic/poem). Pay: 3½¢/word (poem=$20). Words: <5k. RT: <3 months after DL. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Adria Laycraft & Janice Blaine, Editors. Deadline: November 30th.

SONG STORIES - 1-time print/eAntho (Song Stories Press); sf/f/h (fic). Pay: 1% per 1k words. Words: <5k. RT: <2 weeks. Reprints: query. E-subs: ONLINE FORM ONLY. Wakefield Mahon, Editor. Deadline: December 1st or when full.

YOU'D BETTER WATCH OUT! - 1-time POD/eAntho (Cruentus Libri Press); Christmas-themed h (fic/art). Pay: shared royalty, £3/150 copies sold. Words: 2½k-7½k. RT: receipt=<1 week; final=<2 weeks after DL. Reprints: yes. E-subs: ONLY. Kevin G. Bufton, Editor. Deadline: October 31st.

STORY QUEST SHORT STORY CONTEST - annual; sf/f/h (fic). Words: 1k-3k (strict!). Fee: $0. 3 Prizes=$175 +pub (of all short listed stories). Reprints: no. Judges: Gerry Huntman, Esme Carpenter, Warren Goodwin, & Daniel I Russell. E-subs: ONLY. Contact: Gerry Huntman. Deadline: October 31st.

ZOETROPE: ALL-STORY SHORT FICTION CONTEST - 16th annual; all genres of literary fiction (fic). Words: <5k. Fee: $20. 3 Prizes=$1750 (& 7 HMs), lit agent consideration. Reprints: no. Guest Judge: Karen Russell. E-subs: ONLINE FORM. Queries or questions only. Deadline: October 1st.
(I usually don't post contests that have a fee, but the first prize in this one is absolutely amazing. For those of you who have $20 to spare and a polished short story, this is a great contest.)

Anthologies seeking submissions - August 2012 edition

I managed to get my short story written for last month. A contemporary flash piece that's unusual for me, but I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. I submitted another short story to an ezine. So I'm keeping up with my write 1/submit 1 goal for this year.

I'm going to finish up my YA steampunk story for August. It will be at least 5500 words, so I've got a lot to write on it yet. The anthology is still accepting submissions if you're interested.

REAL GIRLS DON'T RUST. YA steampunk. Pugalicious Press. 5500 to 7500 words. Pay $25 at release and then 10% royalty. Deadline: September 1st.

DEAD NORTH - 1-time print/eAntho (Exile Editions); zombies, any genre (fic), set in CA. Pay: CA2¢/word. Words: <10k. RT: 5-6 months. Reprints: yes. E-subs: ONLY. Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Editor. Deadline: September 30th.


INDIANA SCIENCE FICTION - annual print/eAntho (James Ward Kirk Fiction); sf (fic/flash/poem/art). Pay: exposure. Words: fic=1k-5k flash=<1k. RT: <1 week. Reprints: yes. E-subs: ONLY. James Ward Kirk, Editor. Deadline: until filled. 


SAM'S DOT 21^st DRABBLE CONTEST - triannual; sf/f/h (fic). Words: 100 exactly. Fee: $0. Prizes: books; pub@1¢/word. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Contact: Judge: Terrie Leigh Relf. Deadline: August 31st.


ONCE UPON AN APOCALYPSE - 1-time print/eAntho (Chaosium); h (fic). Pay: 3¢/word. Words: 2k-4k. RT: 2-3 months. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Rachel Kenley & Scott T. Goudsward, Editors. Deadline: September 30th.

Anthologies seeking submissions - July 2012 edition

(Photo from here with more exquisite steampunk girls!)

I think I've already made up my mind what anthology I want to write a story for this month. I saw it on Tania Walsh's site and I couldn't resist it based on the title alone. "Real Girls Don't Rust." Isn't that an awesome title?! I don't have a story idea yet, but I'm playing around with a few ideas in my head.

"Real Girls Don't Rust." YA steampunk. Pugalicious Press. 5500 to 7500 words. Pay $25 at release and then 10% royalty. Deadline: September 1st.

DEEP CUTS - 1-time print/eAntho (TBA); h (fic). Pay: 5¢/word. Words: <5k (query if longer). RT: <90 after DL. Reprints: query. E-subs: ONLINE FORM ONLY. E.S. Magill, Angel Leigh McCoy, & Chris Marrs, Editors. Deadline: August 31st. (Looking for strong female protagonists in the horror genre.)

RUSTBLIND AND SILVERBRIGHT: A Slipstream Railway Anthology - 1-time print (Eibonvale Press); h/sf/f/slipstrm/surreal (fic/nonfic/poem/art), railway theme. Pay: 1 copy/discounts. Words: <15k. RT: <3 months. Reprints: yes. E-subs: ONLY. David Rix, Editor. Deadline: December 31st.

THE DARK SIDE OF THE WOMB: From Their Cradle to Your Grave - 1-time POD/eAntho (Cruentus Libri Press); h (fic). Pay: shared royalty. Words: 2½k-7½k. RT: receipt=<1 week; final=<1 week after DL. Reprints: yes. E-subs: ONLY. Kevin G. Bufton, Editor. Deadline: August 31st.

AIRSHIPS & AUTOMATONS - 1-time print/eBook (White Cat Publications); steampunk (fic). Pay: 5¢/word +copy. Words: 4k-6k. RT: varies. Reprints: yes (1¢/word +copy). E-subs: ONLY. Charles P. Zaglanis, Editor. Deadline: when filled. (More steampunk!)

This Friday I have a special guest posting with some spectacular photos! Please join us on the sixth.

June anthologies, awards, and stuff

A big thank you to the awesome Chris Fries for the Stylish blogger Award and the Versatile Blogger Award. The Versatile one has been going around a lot lately. I'll not bore you with more random facts about myself. I've never gotten the Stylish blogger award before, though. For this one, I have to share the last time I dressed up.

I hate dressing up. I'm a jeans and t-shirt woman. I own only one black skirt I use for interviews, weddings, and funerals. The last time I donned the skirt was for our friends' wedding nearly 3 years ago. I was pregnant, but we hadn't told anyone yet. I hadn't gained any weight at that point, so the skirt still fit. I don't wear heels either. Flats for me. First off, I'm tall. It feels weird if I'm taller than my husband who's only two inches taller than me. Second, I'm a klutz. I sometimes can't keep my balance if I'm bare footed, never mind putting me in heels! That's a broken ankle waiting to happen.

Yup, I have no dressy style or grace. I happily pass off this award to five of you that do:

1. Trish

2. Amy

3. Theresa

4. Clare

5. Joshua (a shout-out to a fellow geek who loves t-shirts more than I do!)

I need to get started on writing a short story for June. I'm going the fantasy route this month. Here are a few anthologies seeking submissions that interested me:

AIRSHIPS & AUTOMATONS - 1-time print/eBook (White Cat Publications); steampunk (fic). Pay: 5¢/word +copy. Words: 4k-6k. RT: varies. Reprints: yes (1¢/word +copy). E-subs: ONLY. Charles P. Zaglanis, Editor. Deadline: when filled.

ONCE UPON AN APOCALYPSE - 1-time print/eAntho (Chaosium); h (fic). Pay: 3¢/word. Words: 2k-4k. RT: 2-3 months. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Rachel Kenley & Scott T. Goudsward, Editors. Deadline: July 31st.

THE DARK SIDE OF THE WOMB: From Their Cradle to Your Grave - 1-time POD/eAntho (Cruentus Libri Press); h (fic). Pay: shared royalty. Words: 2½k-7½k. RT: receipt=<1 week; final=<1 week after DL. Reprints: yes. E-subs: ONLY. Kevin G. Bufton, Editor. Deadline: August 31st. (You could totally write one for this, Lily!)

SWORDS FOR SALE: An Anthology of Fantastic Mercenary Fiction - 1-time POD/eAntho (Sorcerous Press); mercenary f (fic). Pay: $20. Words: <10k. RT: <1 month. Reprints: query. E-subs: ONLY. Robert Lewis, Editor. Deadline: June 15th.

Finally, Writer's Digest is having a fun contest here: Your Story contest on Writer's Digest. Write the first sentence for the picture below (25 words or less). It's free and simple. I already entered!

Anthologies seeking submissions - May 2012 edition

I didn't get to post one of these lists last month, and I'm a bit late with it this month. I'm slowly starting to get back on top of things after the A to Z Challenge. I've already written a little piece of sci-fi for this month, but there are a couple of anthologies that caught my attention.

SWORD & SORCERESS 27 - annual trade paperback (Norilana Books); S&S, strong female protag (fic). Pay: 5¢/word adv. against shared royalties. Words: <9k (prefers shorter; send longer early). RT: 1st cut <1 week. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Elisabeth Waters, Editor. Deadline: May 12th.  (I'm sorry to be so late with this one, but if you have a story you can submit within the next few days, this is an awesome anthology series.)


DAUGHTERS OF ICARUS: a brave new world of feminist science fiction - 1-time POD/eAntho (Pink Narcissus Press); feminist sf (fic). Pay: 1¢/word (min $20). Words: no limits. RT: 2-3 weeks. Reprints: yes. E-subs: PREFERS. Josie E. Brown, Editor. Deadline: May 31st.

FUTUREDAZE: An Anthology of YA Science Fiction - 1-time print (Underwords); YA sf (fic/poem). Pay: $200 (poem=$25). Words: <6k. RT: <2 months. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Hannah Strom-Martin & Erin Underwood, Editors. Deadline: November 30th or when filled.

URBAN GREEN MAN - 1-time print (Edge SF & Fantasy); f (fic/poem). Pay: 3½¢/word (poem=$20). Words: <5k. RT: <3 months after DL. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Adria Laycraft & Janice Blaine, Editors. Deadline: November 30th.

You can find several more anthologies seeking submissions at Ralan.com. It's an excellent resource for writers.

Reminders and Links to Anthologies

 

First off, today is the last day to enter to win a copy of Aubrie Dionne's A Hero Rising. Please read Saturday's interview and enter to win!

Please pop on over to A Twist of Noir and check out my short story. I'd love to hear what you think.

I'm on track with my short stories this year. I had my noir story accepted, and I just got an acceptance for another of my stories that I submitted last year. It's a scary fish story entitled "A Ticket on the Train," and it's to appear in the anthology, OCEAN STORIES. I submitted my Steampunk Cthulhu story this week. Now I must consider what to write for March.

BLOODSTONES - 1-time print (Ticonderoga Publications); urban f/h (fic). Pay: AU2¢/word +2 copies. Words: 1k-7½k. RT: after DL. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Amanda Pillar, Editor. Deadline: May 15.

EXTREME PLANETS - 1-time print/Kindle (Chaosium Inc.); sf (fic). Pay: 3¢/word +3 copies. Words: 4k-10k (<20k for pros). RT: after DL. Reprints: pros query only. E-subs: ONLY. David Conyers, David Kernot, & Jeff Harris, Editors. Deadline: June 30.

CHERIE'S CHALLENGE - 1-time print/eAntho (Sleeping Cat Books); all genres (fic). Pay: exposure. Words: <5k. RT: 6-8 weeks. Reprints: query. E-subs: ONLY. Sarah Holroyd, Editor. Deadline: July 1.

A FISTFUL OF HORRORS: Tales of Terror from the Old West - 1-time POD/eAntho (Cruentus Libri Press); western themed h (fic). Pay: £20. Words: 2½k-7½k. RT: receipt=<7 days; final=DL +<7 days. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Kevin G. Bufton, Editor. Deadline: May 31. 

     (Oh! I have an older short story I can shorten and send here.)

On the novel front, my revisions are slowly coming along. I hope to have the first round done by the end of March. I can't believe how much I'm deleting and rewriting. I'm sure it's only my imagination, but revisions physically hurt!

New anthologies looking for submissions

To help inspire me for this month's short story, I went to Ralan.com and collected some links to anthologies that are looking for submissions. I hope a couple might interest you too. The first one really popped out at me!

STEAMPUNK CTHULHU - 1-time print (Chaosium); any genre (fic). Pay: 3¢/word +3 copies & discounts. Words: 2k-8k. RT: after DL. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Brian M Sammons, Editor or, Glynn Owen Barrass, Editor. Deadline: July 31, 2012.

HORROR LIBRARY, VOL. 5 - annual print (Cutting Block Press); h (fic). Pay: from 1½¢/word to pro rates for established authors (negotiated). Words: <6k (prefers 3-4k). RT: 4-6 months. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. R.J. Cavender, Editor. Deadline: when filled.

FADING LIGHT: An Anthology of the Monstrous - 1-time POD/eAntho (Damnation Books); h/df (fic). Pay: shared 25%/40% royalty. Words: 3k-5k. RT: 3-5 weeks. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Tim Marquitz, Editor. Deadline: May 15, 2012.

THE GRUFF VARIATIONS - 1-time eAntho (Writing for Charity), all proceeds go to charity; most genres (no erotica) (fic). Pay: exposure. Words: <7½k. RT: by 17Mar12. Reprints: yes. E-subs: ONLY. Eric James Stone, Editor. Deadline: February 19, 2012.

10 REASONS TO CROSS THE MOAT - 1-time print (Sam's Dot Publishing); sf/f (fic/poem). Pay: fic=$20; poem=$5. Words: fic=2k-9k; poem=<100 lines. RT: reject/holdover=1-2 months; final=after DL. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Katie Hartlove & Sylvan Bree Baker, Editors. Deadline: May 1, 2012. 

A couple of anthologies to think about

One of my goals this year is to write a short story every month. No time like the present to get started. I have a few new ideas for some sci-fi stories, but right now, they're just story hooks. No plots yet. Sometimes it helps when you have a prompt to spark your imagination.

My favorite site for links to anthologies accepting submissions is Ralan.com. I've been using this site for years. It's easy to navigate, reliable, and gives you a lot of choices. Here are a few anthologies that caught my attention:

DARK FAITH 2 - 1-time print (Apex Publications). Horror/dark blended with faith. Pay: 5¢/word. Words: <4k. RT: unknown. Reprints: no. Deadline: January 31. E-subs: ONLY. Maurice Broaddus & Jerry Gordon, Editors

EXTREME PLANETS - 1-time print/Kindle (Chaosium Inc.); sf (fic). Pay: 3¢/word +3 copies. Words: 4k-10k (<20k for pros). RT: after DL. Reprints: pros query only. Deadline: June 30. E-subs: ONLY. David Conyers, David Kernot, & Jeff Harris, Editors

FUNGI - 1-time print/eAntho (Innsmouth Free Press); all SpecFic; key element: fungus (fic). Pay: 1¢/word. Words: <5k. RT: Spring 2012. Reprints: yes. Opens: January 15 (Do not submit before!) Deadline: February 15. E-subs: ONLY. Silvia Moreno-Garcia & Orrin Grey, Editors
 
MORTIS OPERANDI - 1-time POD (The Harrow Press); supernatural crime (fic/art). Pay: $50 +copy. Words: 3k-6k. RT: <3 months. Reprints: no. Deadline: when filled. E-subs: ONLY. Kfir Luzzatto & Druann Pagliassotti, Editors

BUGS! - 1-time print (Pill Hill Press); all genres (fic). Pay: $10. Words: 4k-10k. RT: <3 months. Reprints: no. Deadline: when filled. E-subs: ONLINE FORM ONLY. Gerald Costlow, Editor
 
10 REASONS TO CROSS THE MOAT - 1-time print (Sam's Dot Publishing); sf/f (fic/poem). Pay: fic=$20; poem=$5. Words: fic=2k-9k; poem=<100 lines. RT: reject/holdover=1-2 months; final=after DL. Reprints: no. Deadline: May 1. E-subs: ONLY. Katie Hartlove & Sylvan Bree Baker, Editors

This list is as much for me as it is for you. I like to share, and I realized in my annual desk cleaning, I had too many little pieces of paper with various anthologies written on them that were lost in the jumble. I now have a clean workspace and I'm ready to write. Hm, but which one to start with?