“Stories may well be lies, but they are good lies that say true things, and which can sometimes pay the rent.” Neil Gaiman
**********************
For the next few weeks, I’m going to be looking at markets for short stories. These are magazines you might not be aware of, sometimes because their focus isn’t fiction. But they can be a great place to sell short stories, if you have the right material. A couple of notes: where possible, I list what the magazine pays for stories. If the listing says “payment varies” that’s because, while the magazine’s guidelines say they pay for stories, they don’t say how much. Some of the listings say “length varies”. These magazines don’t have a strict length requirement for fiction, but keep in mind that shorter stories will have an easier time of finding a home in magazines. So let’s get started with this week’s markets:
The Bear Deluxe explores environmental themes through the creative arts. The magazine welcomes fiction from 750 to 4,000 words. Payment varies.
Deer & Deer Hunting covers all aspects of deer hunting. They welcome hunting stories. No specified length, but shorter (under 2,000 words) is probably better. Pays $150-600
Fiddler Magazine is the quarterly magazine of traditional and jazz fiddle music. They publish 500 to 1,000 word short stories and pay $50 to $100.
Fly, Rod and Reel covers all aspects of fly fishing, including short stories that feature fly fishing. Length and payment varies.
Games magazine publishes puzzles, quizzes, games and brainteasers. The editors are interested in short mystery and “whodunit” stories. Pays $150 to $1,000.
GreenPrints A magazine about “the human side of gardening.” Accepts short stories to 2,000 words. Pays $150.
The Humanist “a magazine of critical inquiry and social concern”.Accepts fiction to 1,500 words. Payment varies.
Lighthouse Digest 750-1,500 word historical short stories featuring lighthouses and lighthouse keepers. Pays $75-$150.
North American Whitetail focuses on all aspects of hunting whitetail deer. The editors are interested in humorous hunting fiction to 1,000 words. Pays $200 to $400.
**********************
I just received the cover for my October book: The Mountain Between Us is the sequel to The View From Here and will be in stores October 27, 2013: 
***********************
And speaking of The View From Here — if you live in the Denver area, Thursday the Denver Press Club, 1330 Glenarm Pl, Denver, is hosting many of the finalists for the Colorado Book Award. Come out and hear readings from the best fiction and nonfiction writers in Colorado 6-9 p.m. I’m a finalist in the genre fiction category and will be reading from The View From Here.
***********************
As always, feel free to share the information in this blog with others. Please give me credit as the source of the information, and include a link to the blog. Thank you. Cindi Myers
“I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.” ~James Michener
******************
Family Circle Magazine is now accepting submissions for their 2013 Fiction Contest. Submit your previously unpublished short story of no more than 2,500 words by September 16, 2013. There is no fee to enter and you could win the grand prize of $1,000 and publication in the magazine, plus other prizes. For all the details go here.
****************
Sweet Lemon magazine is looking for bloggers to contribute regular columns on makeup, fashion, fitness, news and other subjects of interest to young women. I don’t have any information on what this pays, and it’s not fiction, but I wanted to pass it on. Get the details here.
********************
Barking Rain Press (Books With Bite!) is a small press based in Washington State that produces trade paperback, hardcover and ebook editions of novels and novellas in a wide variety of fiction genres. The editors will consider all genres (except children’s books, poetry and erotica). Manuscripts should be at least 20,000 words. Previously published words are fine, as long as they are out of print and you have the rights back. They will only consider submissions during their open reading periods. The next reading period is May 1-31. Barking Rain pays monthly royalties, 50 percent of net. Check their Submission Guidelines for more details.
************************
Melange Books publishes digital and print novels and novellas in a wide variety of genres, including all types of romance, from sweet to sensual to erotic, as well as westerns, horror, contemporary, chic-lit, men’s fiction, women’s general fiction, action-adventure, speculative, drama, gay, lesbian, urban fantasy, paranormal, cross-genres, urban fantasy, young adult, and mainstream fiction. They are not accepting science fiction submissions at this time. They pay royalties of 40 percent of net for ebooks and 10 percent of net for print editions. They will consider short stories of 6,000 to 29,999 words for digital publication only. Novels should be 40,000 to 100,000 words.
Editor Jane Bonander handles mainstream fiction, historical fiction & romance, sensual romance, western fiction and romance, mystery, romantic suspense and young adult fiction (all genres-contemporary, historical, paranormal – teen and tween).
Editor Nancy Schumacher acquires erotica (Fetish, BDSM); erotic & sensual romance, gay-lesbian fiction, paranormal, contemporary fiction, fantasy, horrior and men’s fiction (action, war, adventure, and espionage-spy Novels).
Expect a reply in 10 to 18 weeks. For more details see their Submission Guidelines for details.
Melange is also looking for submissions for the following special projects:
Horse Stories: YA stories featuring horses, 10,000 -20,000 words, and 40,000 -60,000 words
Holiday Stories: 8,000 to 15,000 words centered around Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas
Chick Lit/Hen Lit: 9,000 to 20,000 words. Humorous stories that center around a woman’s relationship to family, friends, career, etc. May include a romance, but the romance is not the only focus.
********************************
Kerlack Publishing publishes digital and print editions of literary fiction, fantasy/dark fantasy, steampunk and alternative history, mystery/crime and young adult fiction. The editors are particularly interested in acquiring manuscripts for the following special projects:
Priates — 2,000 to 9,000 words, suitable for all ages (no gore, profanity or explicit sex) Deadline June 15, 2013.
Steampunk Superheroes — 3,000 to 9,000 words, suitable for all ages, Deadline June 15, 2013.
Werwolves — 3,000 to 9,000 words, suitable for all ages, deadline June 15, 2013.
Get all the details here.
**********************************
As always, feel free to share the information in this newsletter with others. Repost or reprint, but please give me credit as the source of the information, and include a link to this blog. Thank you. Cindi Myers
“Writing gives you the illusion of control, and then you realize it’s just an illusion, that people are going to bring their own stuff into it.” David Sedaris
***************************
Got an idea for a short and sexy road-trip romance? Entangled Publishing is looking for stories for a One Night In… series for both Flirts and Ever Afters. “Have a great idea for short, sexy romance on the road? Entangled Novellas wants to see it! Whether one or both characters have embarked on a road trip, business trip, foreign port visit, planned vacay, spontaneous getaway, or any other short jaunt, characters should step outside of their comfortable worlds and into a fling or one night stand that changes everything. Whether Stateside or foreign, they are two modern adults who won’t back down from a hook up…and won’t want to let go when it’s time to go home.
Stories should be contemporary romances with a moderate to high heat level, 10k-40k words, focused on a one night stand or fling with a ticking clock (e.g. a non-refundable plane ticket home) and complicated by a fun, light-hearted romance trope (e.g. fake marriage, enemies to lovers, boardroom romance) that pulls the characters into bed even as it threatens to tear them apart. Stories should end positively with at least the promise of a HFN or a HEA obvious on the distant horizon.”
Check out all the details here.
***************************************
The View From Here is a finalist for the Colorado Book Award in genre fiction. Winners will be announced in Aspen in July. 
*******************************
Neverland’s Library is a Kickstarter anthology project seeking short stories between 2,000 and 10,000 words, “focusing on the rediscovery of the fantastic; magic, dragons, the supernatural, etc. We are looking for stories which highlight finding that which was once thought lost, incorporating fantastical and/or fictitious elements. We will not restrict how the story is told. All styles, settings, and tones are welcome.” The submission period ends on June 20, 2013. Authors selected for inclusion in the anthology will receive 3 cents a word for their stories for first anthology print rights. Get the complete details here.
*************************************
Untreed Reads is looking for short stories that combine the genres of mystery/suspense and science fiction for an upcoming anthology. “Moonshot: Mystery and Mayhem on the Edge of Space.” The digital anthology will be published in August 2013. The editors are interested in stories between 1,500 and 5,000 words. Authors will receive royalties based on digital sales. The deadline for submissions is May 30. Find all the details here.
**************************************
As always, feel free to share the information in this blog, repost and pass along to others. Please give me credit as the source and include a link to this blog. Thank you. Cindi Myers
****************************
Shop Vitacost for all your health and wellness needs. Groceries, vitamins, home items and more, with $10 free for your first order and free shipping for orders over $49.
**********************************************************************************************************
One King’s Lane – vintage and market finds for every room in your home. On sale every day.
Cindi Myers Market News's Blog 