OPEN SUBMISSION WINDOW
MARCH 1 – MAY 31, 2020
(Here to find out about the Visions of Darkness anthology? Keep going, it’s just below!)
What are we looking for?
MYSTERIES, THRILLERS, AND HISTORICAL FICTION.
Is your manuscript a good fit?
We’re eagerly anticipating some unexpected surprises, but here’s a few things that might push the right buttons:
Mystery: Harboiled detectives, historical mysteries, cozy mysteries.
Thriller: Psychological thrillers, crime drama, action thrillers.
Historical Fiction: Any era is welcome. Our historical fiction editor (B.K. Bass) is well-versed in all eras of history. While a romantic side-plot is welcome, we’re not looking for works that are exclusively historical romance at this point. Armed conflict, individual or organized, is a plus.
Submission Guidelines
What to Include in the Email
An introduction is always nice. Tell us who you are. Have we met, or did somebody refer you to us? Here is a good place to remind us.
The elevator pitch. In one to three sentences, what’s the selling point for the story? What’s it about? What makes it stand apart?
What are the genre(s), main theme(s), and word count?
The dreaded synopsis. Try to keep this around 500 words or less. Give us an idea of what to expect. Think of it like a movie trailer in text!
The Sample
Please attach a 2,000-word sample or first chapter to the email in standard manuscript format as a Word document (.doc or .docx). If you are not familiar with standard manuscript formats, please review this article.
If your manuscript includes a prologue, please include the prologue and first chapter.
Only original, unpublished submissions will be considered.
Please send all submissions to [email protected].
We will endeavor to confirm receipt of your submission within 3 business days. The initial screening of submissions may take up to 30 days. If your full manuscript is requested, please expect a 3 – 6 month wait after the close of the submission window before final decisions are made. While we may fit one or two short books into our 2020 schedule, most acquisitions during this period will be scheduled for release in 2021 or 2022.
While we will still accept any speculative fiction submissions, this is a targeted window with the intent of expanding our catalog into these new genres. As such, submissions that fit that goal will be given priority consideration. We will have more windows in the future for speculative fiction, but as of yet do not have one scheduled.
ANTHOLOGY CONTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES
VISIONS OF DARKNESS, VOLUME ONE
Visions of Darkness, Volume One, is the first of a planned annual anthology of dark fantasy tales to be released each October.
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Word Count: 7,500 – 20,000 words
Deadline: April 30, 2020
Submission Guidelines
What to Include in the Email
An introduction is always nice. Tell us who you are. Have we met, or did somebody refer you to us? Here is a good place to remind us.
The elevator pitch. In one to three sentences, what’s the selling point for the story? What’s it about? What makes it stand apart?
What are the genre(s), main theme(s), and word count?
The dreaded synopsis. Try to keep this around 500 words or less. We don’t need to know who everybody is or every detail of what happens in the story, just the broad strokes. Give us an idea of what to expect. Think of it like a movie trailer in text!
The Manuscript
Please attach your manuscript to the email in standard manuscript format as a Word document (.doc or .docx). This should be double-spaced in 12 point Times New Roman or Courier (we prefer Courier) with non-spaced, indented paragraphs. Ensure that your legal name, address, email address, and the word count appears at the top of the first page. If you are not familiar with standard manuscript formats, please review this article.
Only original, unpublished submissions will be considered.
What is dark fantasy?
The definition of dark fantasy can be debated, but it is generally any story with fantastic or supernatural elements that incorporate horror themes and/or a gloomy atmosphere. In all, the genre is hard to pin down with any specific tropes. It is more a sense of atmosphere—darkness and dread mixed with the elements of fantasy.
What we would really like to see
We are very interested in stories with a historically inspired setting. This can be a secondary world with a sword and sorcery theme, a Victorian tale of the occult, or a 20th century neo-noir tale. These are just examples though, don’t be afraid to explore more options!
We’re definitely looking for dark fantasy though, not just horror, so don’t forget the magic. A coven of witches, an underground occult conspiracy, or a maniacal necromancer would all work well. Of course, vampires, zombies, and werewolves are also welcome! Just don’t forget to make it dark, gloomy, and if possible, terrifying. If there’s a mystery thrown into the mix as well, all the better!
with “Visions of Darkness” in the subject line.
Contributors will be compensated by way of a royalty pool, divided among the contributors on a pro-rata basis, calculated on each work’s word count percentage of the total issue’s word count.
Please visit our submissions page for the Kyanite Press if you are interested in submitting novelettes or short fiction for our speculative fiction journal.
Legal Mumbo Jumbo: Kyanite Publishing, LLC reserves the right to accept or deny any submission based upon any subjective or objective consideration. Rights to all works remain those of the author until a contract is accepted. If selected, a contract will be offered before any work is published. Terms of advances, royalties, and other considerations will be negotiated on an individual and confidential basis. Any and all turnaround times mentioned on this page are estimates only.