Cindi Myers Market News's Blog

“Rejection slips, or form letters, however tactfully phrased, are lacerations of the soul, if not quite inventions of the devil – but there is no way around them.”- Isaac Asimov

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Still Moments Publishing publishes a wide variety of romance fiction. The editors are open to Chick Lit, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary, Fantasy/Magical, Historical, Inspirational, Mystery/Suspense, Paranormal, Sensual, Western,  and Young Adult romances, 20,000 to 100,000 words. Books range from sweet to sensual. Find the submission details here.

Still Moments is also seeking submissions for several anthologies:

Unexpected Bumps — stories with a baby or pregnancy theme. 5,000 to 15,000 words. Deadline November 30, 2012.

A Twist of Tales — fairy tales with a unique twist. 5,000 to 15,000 words. Deadline October 31, 2012

Frost Bite — stories about shape-shifters in winter. 5,000 to 15,000 words. Deadline October 15, 2012

Winter’s Kiss — winter romance stories, 5,000 to 15,000 words, Deadline October 1, 2012

Christmas Magic — holiday romance, 5,000 to 15,000 words. Deadline August 18, 2012

Find details guidelines for all these special calls here.

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Female Veteran Writers is seeking poetry written by active duty women soldiers or female veterans. The goal of the anthology is to give voice to women’s experiences in the military. All proceeds benefit the Service Women’s Action Network. Deadline for submissions is December 1, 2012. Payment is one copy of the anthology. Get all the details here.

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Lethe Press is seeking submissions for the anthology Dark Eye Glances: Queering Poe. “Think Gothic and Gay” — the editor is looking for stories that capture the dark, atmospheric world of Poe. You can revisit familiar Poe tales, giving them a homosexual twist. You could also write a story with Poe as the character. Stories should be between 1,500 and 12,000 words. Payment is five cents a word. The deadline for submissions is, appropriately, October 31. The anthology will be released in Spring of 2013. For more information, see the details here.

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Thank you to Cynthia Ward for the above market news! Check out her Market Maven newsletter.

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Another Hot Man of the Old West:

In A Willing Spirit, a young widow’s dearly departed refuses to depart, even when a new man arrives in her life.Tessa Bright found an everlasting love when she married Will – a love that’s endured beyond his death a year previous. But now she needs a flesh and blood man to help her manage her ranch. Newcomer Micah Fox accepts the job, but soon the handsome ranch hand stirs long-forgotton feelings in Tessa. Can she overcome the disapproval of town gossips – and the interference of the not-so-late Will – for a second chance at love?

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As always, feel free to share the information in this blog with others. Please give me credit as the source, and include a link to the blog. Thank you!  Cindi Myers

“It is by sitting down to write every morning that one becomes a writer.”  Gerald Brenan

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Minotaur Books and Mystery Writers of America are sponsoring a First Crime Novel Competition. Authors who have never had a novel published may enter their crime novel of at least 60,000 words. The story must center around murder or another serious crime. The winner receives a $10,000 advance against royalties and publication by Minotaur Books. The deadline to enter is December 17, 2012. Get all the details here.

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Minotaur and Malice Domestic are partnering to sponsor the Best First Traditional Mystery Novel competition. Enter your best traditional mystery of at least 60,000 words. For this contest, Minotaur defines a traditional mystery as a story that revolves around a murder or other serious crime. The crime is an extraordinary event in the lives of the characters. The victim and the suspects know each other and the characters in the story are ordinary people the reader would be interested in knowing. The number of suspects is limited and each has a credible motive and reasonable opportunity to have committed the crime. The detective may be amateur or professional, but isn’t “hard-boiled.” The story doesn’t feature graphic violence. The dealine to enter is October 17, 2012 . First prize is publication by Minotaur and a $10,000 advance. Find the details here.

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Time for another new cover reveal. Great Caesar’s Ghost is a poignant, ghostly romance set at at turn-of-the-century hot springs resort.

A traveling showman like Caesar Hawkins isn’t about to let his own death come between him and his son Jed’s happiness. Unfortunately, the famous cure-all elixer he left behind can’t ease the incurable malady of the young man’s lonely heart. Jed needs something more potent than tonic. Something a little sweeter…
Nixie Dengler knows the toll a rambling man can take on a vulnerable woman’s heart. So what does she see in another rambler like Jed? Actually, it’s what she doesn’t see that’s drawing them together. Can a matchmaking spirit unite two earthly souls in love?

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Expanded Horizons is an online speculative fiction magazine that seeks to publish stories featuring “under-represented peoples.” They’re looking for stories by and about characters you don’t see as often in speculative fiction — native peoples, disabled persons, gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual and transgendered persons, minorities and any “different” people. They accept stories up to 6,000 words and pay $30. They have detailed and specific writer’s guidelines here.

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MsLexia is an online ezine “for women who write.” The editors are currently looking for short stories on the theme of “The Affair.” “short stories (up to 2,200 words each) on the bliss, buffetting or sheer banality of a love affair.” Deadline for entries is September 17, 2012. There’s no fee to enter, and MsLexia will pay for any entries it decides to publish. Find all the details here.

MsLexia is also sponsoring a Children’s Novel Competition. Submit your novel of 30,000 words or more. First prize is 5000 British pounds. The deadline to enter is September 10, 2012. Find all the details for this competition here.

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As always, feel free to share the information in this blog. All I ask is that you give me credit as the sourse, and include a link to the blog. Thank you. Cindi Myers

“Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.”  Joseph Pulitzer

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Musa Publishing  is seeking outstanding fiction for its ten imprints—all heat levels,lengths from 15,000 words and up.  They  are particularly interested in the following:

Calliope Romance—category, paranormal, and historical romance of all eras.

Clio  Historicals – non-romance historical fiction (meaning that something other than romance drives the plot. Romantic subplots are fine) of all eras, but they’re particularly looking for American Colonial, American Old West, classical Greece and Rome, Plantagenet England,  and nautical fiction.

Erato GBLT—outstanding gay fiction: romances, obviously, but also outstanding gay fiction that is NOT romantic. In particular, they are seeking GLBT YA for their new Pan imprint.

Terpischore Commercial Fiction—literary novels and chapbooks, True Confessions stories and humor. If your book is so different that other publishers say they don’t know how to market it—Musa wants to take a look at it.

Thalia Paranormals and Horror—If your monsters kill people and your vampires don’t sparkle, Thalia is the place for you! The editors want true horror stories and paranormal tales—not romance (okay as a subplot) but honest-to-goodness, have to read with the light on fiction.

Urania Speculative Fiction—Urania is looking for science fiction (hard and soft), steampunk, gaslight fantasy, urban fantasy, and epic fantasy tales. They will consider shorter pieces, but are particularly interested in novellas and novels.

Musa also is seeking stories for its Finally Ever After line—a series of short stories (under 15k) that feature a second chance at romance theme—and its Wiccan Haus paranormal shared world series (15-35k).

Musa Publishing, a royalties-paying, digital-first small press is seeking submissions for its romance lines.  Musa is a ground-breaking house that believes transparency is essential for the modern author.  Along with an industry-topping 50% royalty rate, paid monthly, Musa also empowers its authors. The Musa database tracks a book from contract to royalties, allowing authors to track their sales in real time and to see everything from contract terms to reviews. Musa contracts and royalties information are available online for authors to read before submission at http://musapublishing.blogspot.com/p/musa-contract.html. Submissions should be sent to editorial director Celina Summers at submissions@musapublishing.com.

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Editor Stacy Abrams is heading up the new Bliss line from Entangled Publishing. The line will launch in August with three titles: LUCKY BREAK (friends to lovers), THREE RIVER RANCH (cowboys, secret baby, marriage of convenience), and SUGAR RUSH (enemies to lovers, competition). Stacy is eager to see more submissions for the line, and she forwarded some clarification of what she’s looking for: “Yes, we want a focus on family, with less of a focus on sex, but we do NOT want inspirational, stuffy, old-fashioned. Boiled down, these are similar to the Indulgence line in that we want modern, sexy, contemporary, fun, funny stories. The only difference should be more of a focus on sexual tension and falling in love, and less focus on sex.
Some examples of plot lines we’d love to see:
-Tycoon-type hero, maybe a boss/employee relationship, forbidden love -Older brother’s best friend romance, maybe involving a big family wedding -Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Years stories featuring someone who has nowhere to be for the holidays and is taken in by their love interest’s family -Would LOVE to see anything featuring minority characters!”  See Entangled’s submission guidelines here.

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White Cat Publications is launching a new quarterly magazine, in both print and online formats, this October. Insatiable, the Magazine of Paranormal Desires is seeking paranormal romance stories up to 5,000 words. “We are accepting all manner of supernatural, paranormal, weirdness, oddities, and whatnot so long as there is a romantic plot element. Time period is not a sticking point.  Modern, period, complete fantasy/alternate reality all will be looked at.  We want imaginative, well-written stories that are crafted with care. Not to knock it because there is a place for every good word out there, but porn without plot will not be accepted. Sex is good and natural and fun but it must move the plot forward.  We at Insatiableare more interested with emotional content and that “oomph” that good writing evokes in the reader. Also, we are not afraid of humor.  Just because there’s love involved doesn’t mean it can’t be funny.” Payment is 3 cents a word. See the Guidelines here.

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Time for another new cover reveal, this one for A Long, Sweet Ride.

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As always, feel free to share the information on this blog with others. All I ask is that you give me credit as the source, and include a link to the blog. Thank you!  Cindi Myers