Eric J. Guignard's Blog, page 25

April, 2019 Dark Fiction Short Story Markets

April, 2019 New or Reopening Market Listings/ Notes
At Pro-Paying (5 cents+ per word)

Across the Universe: Beatles Spec-Fic Anthology
http://www.randeedawn.com/3-22-19-across-the-universe-beatles-spec-fic-anthology-now-open-to-submissions/
Payment: $200 flat rate
Story Length: 1,000–4,000 words
Deadline: June 14, 2019
Reprints?: No
Response: unknown
Description: “What if” speculative fiction stories regarding the band, The Beatles. What if Brian Epstein hadn’t managed the band? What if George Harrison hated sitar music? What if Ringo had been the true star of the band all along? What if the Beatles had been aliens? Or magic users? Or zombies? Or American? See site for list of plot ideas already taken.

Thrilling Words (*New Market)
http://www.thrillingwords.com/about-us/submissions
Payment: $160 flat rate for TWO flash fiction stories
Story Length: Two stories to total no more than combined 2,000 words
Deadline: None listed. Currently open (unknown if to be continuous or intermittent)
Reprints?: No
Response: 45 days
Description: Episodic fiction; multiple flash fiction stories written by the same author.  Stories that are connected by author, theme, or fictional universe (but not serialized—each to be a standalone). Spec Fiction stories: fantasy, sci-fi, superhero or just plain surreal is not important, the more important thing is to have fun with the story. And it’s this last point, having fun, that’s the most important stylistic element.  We are looking for stories that trace their heritage more from pulp traditions than literary.  Stories that make you feel more than make you think.

Selene Quarterly Magazine
https://selenequarterly.com/submissions
Payment: 6 cents a word
Story Length: 100–7,500 words
Deadline: May 1–May 31, 2019 ONLY (closed rest of year)
Reprints?: No
Response: 2–3 weeks
Description: Short stories of: Speculative romance, mystery, and alternate history.

Visions Biannual Mag
https://www.readvisions.com/submission-guidelines
Payment: 4 to 5 pence (abt. 6¢ cents a word/ US)
Story Length: up to 5,000 words
Deadline: May 15, 2019
Reprints?: No
Response: up to 3 months.
Description: Science fiction and speculative short stories; current theme is the concept of “Humanity” in the broadest sense; This goes from pieces about what makes us human now and in the future, to ones highlighting how little we might differ from computers or animals. Stories about robots and artificial intelligence are welcome but so are the ones about DNA manipulation, eugenics, death and human behaviour in society at large.

The Suburban Review
https://thesuburbanreview.com/submitPayment: flat rate scale between $75–$150 (between 5–10 cents/ word)Story Length: 500–2,500 words
Deadline: April 18, 2019
Reprints?: No
Response: unknown
Description: Literary short fiction (as well as non-fiction, comics, and poetry) dealing with the issue’s theme: ISSUE #14 = DETRITUS. Waste and decay surrounds and absorbs you. It’s warm, thick, fertile. Breathe in the fetid excess and expose all the crawling, seething life forces. Write into the dark warmth and send us the best of your scum and grot. We want work like a smell so bad you can’t help but want to know what it is. Let your imagination go there, and then submit the spoils to us. We want to read it all.

Flash Fiction Online
http://flashfictiononline.com/main/submission-guidelines/
Payment:$60 flat (= 6 cents/ word+)
Story Length: 500 to 1,000 words
Deadline: Intermittently open
Reprints?: Yes (payment at 2 cents/ word)
Response: Within one month
Description: A very short but complete story of flash fiction. Strong, interesting characters, in genres of dark sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, crime, horror, and even literary.

***Non-PRO-Paying Market, but Eric J. Guignard’s “Pick of the Month”

Apparition Lit
https://www.apparitionlit.com/submission-guidelines
Payment: 3 cents a word
Story Length: 1,000–5,000 words
Deadline: May 15–31, 2019
Reprints?: No
Response: by the 15th day of the following month after submissions close
Description: Speculative fiction that meet our quarterly theme. Speculative fiction is weird, almost unclassifiable. It’s fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and literary. Send us stories with enough emotional heft to break a heart, with prose that’s as clear and delicious as broth. We’re looking for proactive characters and beautiful language, all wrapped up in a complete story. Month of May Theme = RETRIBUTION.

Translunar Travelers Lounge (*New Market)
https://translunartravelerslounge.com/submissions
Payment: 3 cents a word
Story Length: up to 5,000 words
Deadline: April 15, 2019
Reprints?: No
Response: 60 days after the submission period has closed
Description: Stories that are Fun and have a speculative element to them. Swashbuckling adventure, deadly intrigue, and gleeful romance are some of the most obvious examples of what we’re looking for, but we won’t say no to more subtle or complicated topics.

March, 2019 Dark Fiction Short Story Markets

March, 2019 New or Reopening Market Listings/ Notes
At Pro-Paying (5 cents+ per word)

Tiny Nightmares: an Anthology of Short Horror Fiction https://catapult.submittable.com/submit/134845/tiny-nightmares-an-anthology-of-short-horror-fictionPayment: $100 flat rateStory Length: under 1,200 wordsDeadline: May 1, 2019Reprints?: NoResponse: unknownDescription: Short and terrifying tales of monsters, madness, and nightmares.

TWO SEPARATE ANTHOLOGIES from Flame Tree Publishing Detective Mysteries and Epic Fantasy)http://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic/submissions-detective-mysteries-epic-fantasyPayment: 6 cents a wordStory Length: 2,000–4,000 words (soft range)Deadline: March 24, 2019Reprints?: YesResponse: 1 month
1. Detective Mysteries: Private Eyes with eagle eyes and rare skills, PIs and gumshoes, bloodhounds and sleuths: the shadowy arts of the detective have intrigued us since tales of the Pinkerton Detective Agency and Sherlock Holmes.
2. Epic Fantasy: Tales that explore the classic themes of good vs. evil, the low-born hero, and the arrogant overlord, lacing them with a taste of sorcery that reaches back to the early sources and stirring them in with the brand new storytellers of today.

Hinnom Magazine’s Weird Tales (WOMEN AUTHORS ONLY) https://gehennabooks.com/2019/03/05/call-for-submissions-hinnom-magazine-retro-weird-tales-edition-women-onlyPayment: 6 cents a wordStory Length: 1,000–6,000 wordsDeadline: April 15, 2019Reprints?: NoResponse: 2 monthsDescription: An issue of Hinnom Magazine, designed like Weird Tales, but featuring only female authors. We have a feeling this publication is going to be something special, and we are beyond thrilled to read thrilling stories from female authors of Weird Fiction and Cosmic Horror.

CRAFT Fiction (online literary journal) https://craft.submittable.com/submitPayment: $100 for flash fiction and $0.10/word up to $200 for longer piecesStory Length: up to 7,000 wordsDeadline: ongoingReprints?: possiblyResponse: unknownDescription: Fiction that shines because of its exploration of craft. All genres and styles are welcome; our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft. We want to be wowed. Bend genres, experiment with structure, and write your heart out. Each selected piece will include an editor’s introduction as well as a craft note from the author.

Sub-Q Magazine https://sub-q.com/about/submissions/Payment: 9 cents a wordStory Length: 1,000–5,000 wordsDeadline: March 31, 2019. (Opens intermittently)Reprints?: Yes ($75 flat rate)Response: 60 daysDescription: F/SF, horror, mystery, romance, and mash-up interactive fiction. Submitted works must include at least a detailed proposal for interactivity. We like beautiful, moving prose, but we also like pulpy fun! Don’t self-reject. Let us see what you’ve got!

SPIDER magazine for ages 6-9 (CRICKET MEDIA) Theme: Enchanted Forest https://cricketmag.submittable.com/submit/17817/spider-magazine-for-ages-6-9Payment: 25 cents a wordStory Length: 300 to 1,000 words (poetry up to 20 lines) (non-fiction 300–800 words)Deadline: April 1, 2019Reprints?: NoResponse: 3–6 monthsDescription: Stories, poems, short plays, and activities for the theme “Enchanted Forest.” Show us worlds of magic and wonder, full of unicorns, witches in the woods, mythical beasts, and fairytale castles. Give us a new version of the traditional fairytale cast—what if a princess, prince, knight, or villain did not want to follow the roles assigned to them? Fractured and contemporary fairytales welcome.

***Non-PRO-Paying Market, but Eric J. Guignard’s “Pick of the Month”

Blasphemous Rumors (anthology, published by Necro Publications) https://necropublications.com/pages/guidelines-blasphemous-rumors-edited-by-regina-garza-mitchell-and-david-g-barnettPayment: 3 cents a wordStory Length: up to 5,000 wordsDeadline: July 31, 2019Reprints?: NoResponse: unknownDescription: Themed anthology of religious horror stories; focus on religion or spirituality, stories that may be considered blasphemous by the standards of your religion of choice. We are looking for quality dark fiction, not hate-filled rants against religion. Blasphemy can be included in speech, an act, writing, music, or art.

SNAFU: Last Stand (edited by Geoff Brown; publ. by Cohesion Press) https://cohesionpress.com/snafu-submissionsPayment: Australian 5 cents a word (abt. 3-1/2 cents a word US)Story Length: 2,000–10,000 wordsDeadline: June 30, 2019Reprints?: NoResponse: estimate 3-4 monthsDescription: Military horror anthology: Anything that can be called a high-action potentially-last stand monster story. For level of unnatural creature we will give priority to, think Dog Soldiers or Aliens. We want lots of monster goodness. We will also be looking for soldiers, mercs, police, private security/paramilitary… Just ensure the last stand aspect is both overt and unique, and don’t forget monsters!

TWO Nominations for the 2018 Bram Stoker Awards!!

I was gone all day yesterday, and came back to find that I’d been nominated for TWO Categories for the 2018 Bram Stoker Awards®

What a day! (coached two AYSO soccer games, one of which my son scored a huge goal(!); helped out with a Cub Scouts event in advance of my son graduating into Boy Scouts; entertained visiting family; and it’s my daughter’s birthday(!), and THEN THIS NEWS!)
I received nominations for Superior Achievement in an Anthology for: A WORLD OF HORROR (publ. Dark Moon Books), and also Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection for THAT WHICH GROWS WILD(publ. Cemetery Dance Publications), which is my baby!!!
Shocked, thrilled, elated, and more… so much more! AND IMMENSE CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OTHER NOMINEES ON THIS BALLOT!
If one is judged by the company they keep, I have bested my highest writing aspirations (well, most of them!).
Read the full ballot here, and wish me good fortune alongside so many well-esteemed peers: www.horror.org/2018-bram-stoker-awards-final-ballot/
Thank you to the Horror Writers Association, who have been an immense resource of technical information, guidance, and insight.

Beginning Book Tour!

I’m on Book Tour!! (Blog Book Tour and giveaway, that is) for my debut collection of short stories, THAT WHICH GROWS WILD: 16 TALES OF DARK FICTION, publ. by Cemetery Dance Publications!
Beginning today—THANKS so much to today’s first stops: Maia at Silver Dagger Book Tours 
https://www.silverdaggertours.com/14/post/2019/02/that-which-grows-wild-book-tour-and-giveaway.html
AND Laura at FUONLYKNEW.com: http://fuonlyknew.com/2019/02/22/that-which-grows-wild-review-and-giveaway/

Just Signed for My FIRST NOVEL!

It’s not quite the announcement of a new child, but near enough, with a Summer, 2019 delivery date:
JUST SIGNED THE PUBLISHING CONTRACT FOR MY FIRST FULL-LENGTH NOVEL WITH JOURNALSTONE PUBLISHING!!
Thank you to publisher, Christopher C. Payne, acquisitions editor Jess Landry, and copy editor Scarlett Algee, whom I’m working through edits with now.
At a healthy 120,000 words, and in the process of being named/ re-named (from working title, CROSSBUCK 'BO), here’s a summary:
A Depression-era hobo rides the rails and learns the underlying Hobo Code is a secret language that leads into the world of shared memories, where whoever is remembered strongest—whether by trickery, violence, or daring—can change history and alter the lives of the living.
That is all.

February, 2019 Dark Fiction Short Story Markets

February, 2019 New or Reopening Market Listings/ Notes
At Pro-Paying (5 cents+ per word)

The People's Preservatory (formerly The Cockroach Conservatory)
https://cockroachconservatory.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-peoples-preservatory-is-now-open.html
Payment: 8 cents a word (poetry up to $1 per line)
Story Length: up to 3,000 words
Deadline: March 15, 2019
Reprints?: No
Response: unknown
Description: Non-themed, including weird, humor, sci fi, horror, fantasy, genre stuff, literary things. Silly and smart.


Galaxy’s Edge Magazine
http://www.galaxysedge.com/submissions/
Payment: 7 cents a word
Story Length: up to 5,000 words (though less is better)
Deadline: intermittent
Reprints?: No
Response: 6 weeks
Description: Science Fiction and Fantasy stories in all sub-genres (No horror).


Analog Science Fiction and Fact
https://www.analogsf.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines
Payment: 8–10 cents a word (9 cents a word for non-fiction)
Story Length: up to 20,000 words
Deadline: ongoing
Reprints?: No
Response: 2–3 months
Description: Science fiction stories in which some aspect of future science or technology is so integral to the plot that, if that aspect were removed, the story would collapse.


Nox Pareidolia (anthology by Nightscape Press)
www.nightscapepress.pub/p/submissions.html
Payment: 6 cents a word
Story Length: up to 6,000 words
Deadline: OPEN: April 1 – April 30, 2019
Reprints?: No
Response: unknown
Description: Heavily inspired by Robert Aickman's fiction, but openly interpreted theme of ambiguous horror/weird fiction. Whether it be ambiguously supernatural or whether what exactly has or is happening is ambiguous, or any creative idea playing off of ambiguity could be interesting to see explored. But the element that is ambiguous must be intrinsic to the story.


Drabblecast (online speculative fiction magazine and podcast)
https://www.drabblecast.org/submissions
Payment: 6 cents a word (3 cents a word for reprints)
Story Length: 500–4,000 words
Deadline: ongoing
Reprints?: Yes
Response: Up to 3 months
Description: “Strange Stories for Strange Listeners,” often also classified as “Weird Fiction” … or any and all genres, but largely centers around those of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.


Beneath Ceaseless Skies
http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/submissions/
Payment: 6 cents a word
Story Length: Up to 15,000 words
Deadline: None at present. Closes intermittently
Reprints?: No
Response: Two to seven weeks
Description: “Literary adventure fantasy”: stories with a secondary-world setting and some traditional or classic fantasy feel, but written with a literary approach. We want stories set in what Tolkien called a “secondary world”: some other world that is different from our own primary world in some way. It could be different in terms of zoology (non-human creatures), ecology (climate), or physical laws (the presence of magic). It could be set on Earth but an Earth different from our primary world in terms of time (the historical past) or history (alternate history). It could have a “pre-tech” level of technology, or steampunk technology, or magic as technology, or anything else that’s not advanced or modern technology. However, the setting should contain some element that is in some way fantastical.



***Non-PRO-Paying Market, but Eric J. Guignard’s “Pick of the Month”

​ Hatchet Job (Lethe Press)
https://www.lethepressbooks.com/call-for-submissions.html#/
Payment: 4 cents a word (2 cents a word, reprints)
Story Length: up to 10,000 words
Deadline: April 30, 2019
Reprints?: Yes
Response: unknown
Description: Stories of axe murderers! Stories need not focus solely on this antagonist, but all stories must somehow involve this threat or concept. Most of the book will be reprints – for which we are offering 2 cents a word. Original work pays 4 cents a word but first query the editor with a synopsis.


Triangulation (Parsec Ink)
http://parsecink.com/submission-guidelines
Payment: 4 cents a word
Story Length: up to 5,000 words
Deadline: February 28, 2019
Reprints?: No
Response: March 31, 2019
Description: Triangulation: Dark Skies is a celebration of the natural beauty of the night sky. We are looking for speculative tales that feature a sky full of stars as a meaningful element of the story. Take us to other times and other worlds, or show us our own place in the universe and explore our ability, as sentient beings, to see out into the depths of space. If you dare, explore what it might mean to lose that ability.

Blog Tour for my debut fiction collection, THAT WHICH GROWS WILD

Silver Dagger Book Tours will be running a Blog Tour for my debut fiction collection, THAT WHICH GROWS WILD, published by Cemetery Dance.
Anybody with a blog or Facebook page can join in!
Sign-ups are here: https://www.silverdaggertours.com/tour-sign-ups/that-which-grows-wild-tour-sign-ups

Amazing highlight writer’s day yesterday - Bram Stoker Award Prelim Ballot and Book Signing!

What an amazing highlight writer’s day yesterday! Discovered that I received two listings on the Preliminary Ballot for the 2018 Bram Stoker Awards®, one in anthology (A WORLD OF HORROR, through Dark Moon Books), and one in category of Fiction Collection (THAT WHICH GROWS WILD through Cemetery Dance Publications), which is my baby!!!

And THEN I got to sign books at the most prestigious horror bookshop in Southern California, Dark Delicacies for the release of my newest anthology, POP THECLUTCH with THESE PEOPLE!
I may have set the bar too high for the rest of 2019—don’t know if I’ll be able to top yesterday. Just great warmth and inspiration all around.
Thanks so much to Del and Sue Howison for hosting, and for Lisa Morton, Duane Swierczynski, Kasey Lansdale, David J. Schow, and Gary Phillips for being a part of this book and signing, along with Jonathan Maberry who signed his most recent release, BROKEN LANDS, while taking a few minutes out from working on NINE other novels!!
And special thanks to Eric Miller and Thomas C Raymond for dinner afterward!

DAY 19 OF ANNOUNCING! POP THE CLUTCH: THRILLING TALES OF ROCKABILLY, MONSTERS, AND HOT ROD HORROR

I’ve posted all contributors here to reveal the table of contents for the latest anthology that I’ve created: Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror , published by Dark Moon Books on January 14, 2019. Now it’s time to showcase the amazing illustrator who hand inked crazy-awesome images for every story!

DAY 19 of 18 (Extra Day!): Steve Chanks

1. Seanan McGuire presents “The Golden Girls of Fall”
2. Weston Ochse presents “Sea Lords of the Columbia”
3. Kasey Lansdale and Joe R. Lansdale present “Tremble”
4. Gary Phillips presents “The Demon of the Track”
5. Jason Starr presents “Outlawed Ink”
6. Nancy Holder presents “We Might Be Giants”
7. Duane Swierczynski presents “Universal Monster”
8. David J. Schow presents “Draggers”
9. John M. Floyd presents “The Starlite Drive-In”
10. Lisa Morton presents “Dr. Morbismo’s InsaniTERRORium Horror Show”
11. Bill Pronzini presents “Hot Babe”
12. Yvonne Navarro presents “The Prom Tree”
13. Steve Perry presents “I’m with the Band”
14. Max Allan Collins and Matthew V. Clemens present “Mystery Train: An Arcane Investigation”
15. Jeff Strand presents “Lab Experiment Turf War”
16. Amelia Beamer presents “The She-Creature”
17. Will Viharo presents “Fish out of Water”
18. Brian Hodge presents “I Was a Teenage Shroom Fiend”19. Illustrations by Steve Chanks 
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ILLUSTRATIONS BY STEVE CHANKS:
  


 

...and 15 more illustrations!
And check out his portfolio of other work here: www.SteveChanks.com
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ABOUT: STEVE CHANKS

      Raised on a steady diet of Tom & Jerry, Star Wars, Freddy Krueger, and Marvel Comics since the late ’70s, STEVE CHANKS has distilled the very best of his distorted pop culture view into a big-titted, puss-filled, pulp daydream.
      With a drawing style that’s been described as Disney meets Mad Magazine, Steve has inked his way into such mags as Maxim, Revolver, and Guitar World, and has clothed the fans of bands like Mastodon, Lamb of God, Trivium, and Avenged Sevenfold.
      Steve lives in scenic Queens, New York with his heartthrob wife Jessica and their daughter Claudia where they enjoy their dumb cats, upstate hikes, crap collecting, and BBQ.
      You can see more of his work at www.SteveChanks.com.

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PREORDER NOW FOR STEVE'S ILLUSTRATIONS ALONG WITH 18 TALES OF THRILLING FUN AND IMAGINATION!!
Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Clutch-Thrilling-Rockabilly-Monsters/dp/1949491056

Publisher’s Page: http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/pop_the_clutch.html

Releasing: January 14, 2019

“A fitting tribute to the 1950s with this 18-story compendium of hot rods, rock ’n’ roll, and creature features come to life.” —Publishers Weekly

Amazon Giveaway for POP THE CLUTCH!

My #AmazonGiveaway ! Enter for a chance to win a deluxe hardback edition of this critically acclaimed new release anthology: POP THE CLUTCH: THRILLING TALES OF ROCKABILLY, MONSTERS, AND HOT ROD HORROR .

(NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends the earlier of Jan 24, 2019 11:59 PM PST or when all prizes have been awarded.)
https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/d8b7e103aa21f664