Mitzi Szereto's Blog
March 2, 2024
A Writer’s Life: The Novel That Started It All
I often get asked how I got my start as a professional author. I expect most people who do what I do get asked this question. For me, it dates back to my childhood and my very first novel, which would eventually set me on the road to fame and fortune. Okay, some fame. I’m still waiting for the fortune! I was between ten and eleven years old when I wrote it. My mother held on to it ever since, as mothers tend to do with such things – and it suddenly occurred to me that I’ve been carting the blast...
October 24, 2021
True Crime With a Conscience
True crime seems to be everyone’s favourite flavour these days going by the sheer number of television series, podcasts, and books being published in the genre. If you’re reading this blog post, you probably know that I too, have been working in true crime. In 2019, I began an original anthology series entitled The Best New True Crime Stories, and I’ve have been busy with it ever since. In fact, I’m pleased to say that the fourth book in my franchise, The Best New True Crime Stories: Crimes of P...
August 4, 2021
Self-Publishing, Copyright Theft, and Author Brand Infringement
It often seems as if anyone with a pulse is claiming to be an author these days thanks to DIY self-publishing platforms such as Amazon KDP. It’s all well and good to level the playing field a bit, but what happens when some of these individuals with a pulse have sinister and criminal motives? The self-publishing field is out of control and no one is minding the shop. Anyone can sign up to a platform and “publish” a book, even if the contents of said book have been stolen from another author, or ...
July 9, 2021
Well-Mannered Criminals Do It Best!
So here we are, roughly a year since the last time I blogged at Errant Ramblings. It’s now become so bad that in my official author bio, rather than simply listing the name of my blog, I add in parenthesis before it: “oft-neglected.” But hey, I’ve been busy with my true crime series!
Which brings me to the main point of this exercise. If you haven’t guessed it by now, I have a new book out – The Best New True Crime Stories: Well-Mannered Crooks, Rogues & Criminals.
I’m thrilled to be ...
February 26, 2021
Writers Call for Submissions: True Crime/Nonfiction
Author and anthology editor Mitzi Szereto is currently seeking original true crime stories for the sixth volume in her true crime franchise, THE BEST NEW TRUE CRIME STORIES: UNSOLVED CRIMES & MYSTERIES.
(https://mitziszereto.com/call-for-sub...)
Seeking non-fiction, true crime accounts of unsolved criminal cases and mysteries that can take place anywhere in the world and be from any time period. Material can cover a wide range of criminal activity. First-person accounts are especially welcome from writers with a connection to their cases. Add something new to the story, a different viewpoint or angle.
Material must be meticulously fact-checked before submission, including dates, names, locations, etc. This is a non-fiction book; everything must be 100% correct. To get an idea of the quality and variety of material I accept, please refer to the previous books in The Best New True Crime Stories series. Criminal subjects already covered in these volumes cannot be considered. Original material only; no reprints or fiction.
Important: Writers must contact me in the first instance with a brief pitch for their story idea. (Note that acceptance of a proposal does not guarantee acceptance/publication of material.)
Word count: 4,000-7,000 words
One-time payment per story: USD $130, and 2 print copies of the book.
Contributor fees paid approximately one month following publication. (Preferred payment method: PayPal.)
For: Non-exclusive rights, with one-year’s exclusivity from date of publication.
Final deadline for submissions: Sept. 1, 2021
(Submissions may close earlier. I select material on an on-going basis; those who submit work in advance of the deadline usually have a better chance of acceptance.)
Email: TheBestNewTrueCrimeStories @ gmail.com
(not case-sensitive)
Submission requirements:
Format: double-spaced Arial 12-point Word document (sent as attachment). Do not indent paragraphs; instead enter one space between them. No irregular spacing between words or sentences. Absolutely no footnotes or endnotes. No photos/graphics. A bibliography is optional (if you wish to include one, format in Chicago Manual of Style.) American spelling and punctuation only, i.e. double quote marks, etc. Include your legal name, postal address, and an author bio of up to 100 words written in the third person. No simultaneous submissions.
In the subject line of your email: True Crime submission.
If you don’t receive an acknowledgement within a week of submitting your material, definitely follow up!
The Best New True Crime Stories: Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries will be published in Summer 2022 by Mango Publishing Group, USA.
Mitzi Szereto (mitziszereto.com) is an author and anthology editor of fiction and non-fiction books encompassing multiple genres. Her books include The Best New True Crime Stories: Partners in Crime (Winter 2022); The Best New True Crime Stories: Crimes of Passion, Obsession & Revenge (Fall 2021); The Best New True Crime Stories: Well-Mannered Crooks, Rogues & Criminals (Summer 2021); The Best New True Crime Stories: Small Towns; The Best New True Crime Stories: Serial Killers; Florida Gothic; Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts; and Getting Even: Revenge Stories. Mitzi has appeared internationally on radio and television and at major literature festivals, and has taught creative writing around the world, including several universities in the United Kingdom. She has the added distinction of editing the first anthology of erotica to include a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She created and presented the London-based web TV channel Mitzi TV, and also plays herself in the pseudo-documentary British film Lint: The Movie. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @mitziszereto.
February 6, 2021
Writers Call for Submissions: True Crime/Nonfiction
(https://mitziszereto.com/call-for-sub...)
What I’m looking for:
Non-fiction, true crime accounts featuring lawbreaking couples who have joined forces to commit crime. Couples can be married, domestic partners, or lovers. Stories can take place anywhere in the world and be from any time period. I’m interested in material covering a wide range of criminal activity. First-person accounts are especially welcome from writers with a connection to their cases. Add something new to the story, a different viewpoint or angle. What makes these people tick?
Material must be meticulously fact-checked before submission, including dates, names, locations, etc. This is a non-fiction book, so it’s imperative that everything is 100% correct. To get an idea of the quality and variety of material I accept, please refer to the previous books in The Best New True Crime Stories series. Criminal subjects already covered in these volumes cannot be considered. Original material only; no reprints or fiction.
Important: Writers must contact me in the first instance with a brief pitch for their story idea. (Note that acceptance of a proposal does not guarantee acceptance/publication of material.)
Word count: 4,000-7,000 words
One-time payment per story: USD $130, and 2 print copies of the book.
Contributor fees paid approximately one month following publication. (Preferred payment method: PayPal.)
For: Non-exclusive rights, with one-year’s exclusivity from date of publication.
Final deadline for submissions: June 1, 2021
(Submissions may close earlier. I select material on an on-going basis; those who submit work in advance of the deadline usually have a better chance of acceptance.)
Email: TheBestNewTrueCrimeStories @ gmail.com
(not case-sensitive)
Submission requirements:
Format: double-spaced Arial 12-point Word document (sent as attachment). Do not indent paragraphs; instead enter one space between them. No irregular spacing between words or sentences. Absolutely no footnotes or endnotes. No photos/graphics. A bibliography is optional (if you choose to include one, format in Chicago Manual of Style.) American spelling and punctuation only, i.e. double quote marks, etc. Include your legal name, postal address, and an author bio of up to 100 words written in the third person. No simultaneous submissions.
In the subject line of your email: True Crime submission.
If you don’t receive an acknowledgement within a week of submitting your material, definitely follow up!
The Best New True Crime Stories: Partners in Crime will be published in 2022 by Mango Publishing Group, USA.
Mitzi Szereto (mitziszereto.com) is an author and anthology editor of fiction and non-fiction books encompassing multiple genres. Her many popular titles include The Best New True Crime Stories: Well-Mannered Crooks, Rogues & Criminals (June 2021); The Best New True Crime Stories: Small Towns; The Best New True Crime Stories: Serial Killers; Florida Gothic; Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts; and Getting Even: Revenge Stories. Mitzi has the distinction of editing the first anthology of erotica to include a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She’s appeared internationally on radio and television and at major literature festivals, and has taught creative writing around the world, including several universities in the United Kingdom. She created and presented the London-based web TV channel Mitzi TV, and also plays herself in the pseudo-documentary British film Lint: The Movie. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @mitziszereto.
July 14, 2020
True Crime, Small Towns and Me
Does it sound like I’m developing a true crime franchise here? The answer is yes!
Read the full blog post at Errant Ramblings: Mitzi Szereto's Weblog: https://mitziszereto.com/blog/true-cr...
True Crime, Small Towns and Me
“The real monsters aren’t hiding in the woods—they’re in our towns!“
It seems like only yesterday when my debut true crime book The Best New True Crime Stories: Serial Killers was published. Now here we are, roughly three quarters of a year later and living in a very different world. Be that as it may, I’ve continued to toil away in my true crime workshop in order to bring you The Best New True Crime Stories: Small Towns, the second volume in my original anthology series.
Does it soun...
November 19, 2019
True Crime, Serial Killers and Me
“Serial killers. They make the headlines. They give you nightmares. They make you afraid to leave your house. Yet according to statistics, you’re more likely to be murdered by someone you know than by a complete stranger. When a murder is committed by a stranger, it’s usually in connection with a burglary or robbery. But serial killers are a different entity. They’re the wildcard you never see coming.”
— from the Introduction of The Best New True Crime Stories: Serial Killers
True Crime. We see it everywher...
October 5, 2019
True Crime Writers Call for Submissions
I’m seeking all-new true crime accounts for THE BEST NEW TRUE CRIME STORIES: SMALL TOWNS (to be published by Mango Publishing Group USA).
Subject: True crime in small towns.
(https://mitziszereto.com/call-for-sub...)
What I’m looking for:
Well-developed thoughtful content that offers readers more than dry reportage. Known, lesser known and obscure cases are welcome. Add something new to the discussion, a different viewpoint or angle. First-person accounts are especially welcome from writers with some connection to the crimes. Stories can take place anywhere in the world and during any time frame. Material must be meticulously fact-checked before submission, including dates, names, locations etc. No reprints accepted.
Word count: 4,000-7,000 words
One-time payment per story: USD $130, and 2 print copies of the book.
Contributor fees paid approximately 1 month after publication. (Preferred payment method: PayPal.)
For: Non-exclusive rights with one-year’s exclusivity from date of publication.
Deadline for submissions: Jan 31, 2020
Note that I’ll be selecting material on an on-going basis. Writers are strongly encouraged to submit their stories in advance of the deadline date.
Contact me with suggestions/queries at:
TheBestNewTrueCrimeStories@gmail.com
Submission requirements:
Format: double-spaced Arial 12-point Word document (sent as attachment). Do not indent paragraphs; instead enter one space between them. No irregular spacing between words or sentences. No footnotes or endnotes. If you wish to include a bibliography (optional), please use Chicago Manual of Style. American spelling and punctuation (i.e. double quote marks, etc.). Include your legal name, postal address, and an author bio of 50-100 words written in the third person. No simultaneous submissions please.
In the subject line of your email: True Crime submission.
If you don’t receive an acknowledgement within a week of submitting your material, definitely follow up!
(For non-US-based writers, editor is not responsible for payment of VAT, if applicable.)
About the Editor:
Mitzi Szereto (mitziszereto.com) is an author and anthology editor whose books encompass true crime and crime fiction, gothic fiction, cozy mystery, satire, parody, horror, sci-fi/fantasy, paranormal romance, erotic fiction, and general fiction and non-fiction. Her new book The Best New True Crime Stories: Serial Killers will be published in November 2019. Follow her on Twitter @mitziszereto
