Submissions, Deadlines & Themes

See the Guidelines & Terms page for submission and file formatting specifics, contract terms and available templates. The list below includes the 2011 and 2012 anthology calendar, descriptions & deadlines.  To submit your story, click on the SUBMIT link for any given anthology, and it will get to the right place.

You can always contact the Editor should you have any questions.

 

Halloween || Holidays || Penny Dread Tales V2 || It Lives V2 || Vengeance V2 || Holidays V2

 

Penny Dread Tales - Vol. One

Gears, Coils, Aether & Steam

Theme: Steampunk
Genres: Sci-Fi, Horror, Paranormal, Fantasy
Style: Open
Length: 2,000 ~ 7,500 words
Submission Deadline: March 31st, 2011
Publication Date: May, 2011

PRODUCED

 

It Lives!- Vol. One

What Hath Mother Wrought?

Theme: New Life, Birth and Rebirth
Genres: Sci-Fi, Horror, Paranormal
Style: Open
Length: 2,000 ~ 7,500 words
Submission Deadline: April 20th, 2011
Publication Date: July, 2011

PRODUCED

 

Spirit Legends

Of Ghosts and Gods

Theme: The Spirit World
Genres: Paranormal, Horror, Fantasy
Style: Open
Length: 2,000 ~ 7,500 words
Submission Deadline: July 15th, 2011
Publication Date: August, 2011

IN PRODUCTION

 

Best Served Cold - Vol. One

An Eye for an Eye

Theme: Best Served Cold
Genres: Sci-Fi, Horror, Paranormal, Fantasy
Style: Open
Length: 2,000 ~ 7,500 words
Submission Deadline: July 15, 2011
Publication Date: August, 2011

 

IN PRODUCTION

 

Hallows Eve

Tribute to the Legend of Samhain

Theme: All Things Halloween or Samhain
Genres: Sci-Fi, Horror, Paranormal, Fantasy
Style: Open
Length: 2,000 ~ 7,500 words
Submission Deadline: August 15th, 2011
Publication Date: MERGED WITH HOLIDAY ANTHOLOGY

Sure, I want stories with a Halloween theme.  But I want to leave that VERY open to interpretation.  Want to write about a story where costumes are the main plot device?  Roll around in it like big over-jeans!  Want to explore the origins of Halloween as a derivative of Samhain?  Fabulous!  Want to see what Halloween would be like on another world a thousand years from now.  I can dig it.  Be creative... after all, you're supposed to be writers. 

NOTE: As a result of submissions and timing, this anthology is going to be merged with the Holidays anthology. Any submissions for Halloween will be considered for the Holiday book.

MERGED WITH HOLIDAY ANTHOLOG!Y

SUBMIT

 

Holiday Spirit & Mayhem - Vol. One

Holiday Seasons Greetings

Theme: Winter Holidays
Genres: Sci-Fi, Horror, Paranormal
Style: Open
Length: 2,000 ~ 7,500 words
Submission Deadline: October 10th, 2011
Publication Date: December, 2011

Sure, I want stories with a Halloween theme.  But I want to leave that VERY open to interpretation.  Want to write about a story where costumes are the main plot device?  Roll around in it like big over-jeans!  Want to explore the origins of Halloween as a derivative of Samhain?  Fabulous!  Want to see what Halloween would be like on another world a thousand years from now.  I can dig it.  Be creative... after all, you're supposed to be writers.

Want to explore winter on another world? What will the holiday season be like in the next century as cultures continue to meld into one another? Will Christmas, Hanukah and all the other holiday cheer even exist? What would Santa be like in 500 years?  What if Rudolf went on a rampage? In a post-apocalyptic world, could we even have New Years?  Also, this does not need to stick with the traditional holidays.  If you want to move holidays around or just play in the snow with a speculative story, that's hunky-dory with me.

Explore the possibilities!

SUBMIT or email DOC, DOCX or RTF submissions to holiday @ runewright.com.

 

Penny Dread Tales - Vol. Two

A Phantasmagorical Calliope of Clockwork and Steam

Theme: Steampunk
Genres: Sci-Fi, Horror, Paranormal, Fantasy
Style: Open
Length: 2,000 ~ 10,000 words
Submission Deadline: January 15th, 2012
Publication Date: March, 2012

Show me amazing, impossible tales from the Victorian Age or derivatives thereof. And for this one, see if you can have your story take place outside of the UK or the American West. Don't get me wrong, I love those settings, and they will still be welcomed. However, if you can have your story take place in India, China, Africa or anyplace else and still maintain the steampunk flair, then more power to ya. Also, the 2012 edition of Penny Dread Tales will be premiering at the 2012 AnomalyCon to be held in Denver, Colorado in the third week of March. I'm planning on having a huge book signing, and every contributor is welcome and encouraged to participate, especially if you have a steampunk outfit!

SUBMIT or email DOC, DOCX or RTF submissions to steampunk @ runewright.com.

 

It Lives - Vol. Two

Of Brightest and Blackest Hearts

Theme: Newborns, Reborns and Motherhood
Genres: Sci-Fi, Horror, Paranormal, Fantasy
Style: Open
Length: 2,000 ~ 10,000 words
Submission Deadline: April 15th, 2012
Publication Date: June, 2012

As with the 2011 edition of It Lives, I want you do dredge up your most beautiful vision of a newborn or your worst nightmare. Volume One's stories had a high degree of emotion to them, and I want to carry that through into Volume Two. So do your best to take my emotions and run them through the ringer. I want to be exhausted by the time I'm done reading It Lives: Volume Two, and it's up to you to make sure I am. Motherhood isn’t outside the boundaries with It Lives either. Sometimes what gives birth can be just as delightful or horrific as what is born. Don’t hold back!

SUBMIT or email DOC, DOCX or RTF submissions to birth @ runewright.com.

 

Best Served Cold - Vol. Two

An Eye for an Eye

Theme: Wrath and Vengeance
Genres: Sci-Fi, Horror, Paranormal, Fantasy
Style: Open
Length: 2,000 ~10,000 words
Submission Deadline: June 15th, 2012
Publication Date: August, 2012

They say that two wrongs don’t make a right. But sometimes fury cages the soul, and all that will free it is retribution: a reckoning that will till the world bloody justice has been served. I want to see villains meet a terrible fate. Show me the wrath that lives within us all, and let it run rampant against the evil that men and women and beasts do. In this anthology there will be no room for mercy or pity or remorse. No prisoners will be taken and evil will not live to see the next dawn. Reach down into the darkest parts of your soul and let them crush everything in their path.

SUBMIT or email DOC, DOCX or RTF submissions to vengeance @ runewright.com.

 

Holidays & Mayhem- Vol. Two

Don't Eat Santa!

Theme: Horrific Holidays (Halloween to New Year's)
Genres: Sci-Fi, Horror, Paranormal, Fantasy, Crime Noir
Style: Open
Length: 2,000 ~10,000 words
Submission Deadline: October 1st, 2012
Publication Date: December, 2012

As with the 2011 season, the Halloween anthology is being combined with the Holiday season tome. After all, the holiday party starts with October 31st and doesn’t stop till after New Year’s. I want to leave the interpretation of this anthology VERY open. Want to write a story where costumes are the main plot device? Sock it to me. Need to explore the origins of Halloween in the ancient Celtic past? I’m game! Want to explore a blood-spattered winter or a holiday season on another planet? Need to kill off Santa with a chainsaw? What if Rudolf became Christmas dinner? Mmmmm… venison. Also, this does not need to stick with traditional holidays or seasons. If you have the urge to invent something of your own that still has a “holiday” theme? Have at it, just make sure it’s good.

SUBMIT or email DOC, DOCX or RTF submissions to holiday @ runewright.com.