Cindi Myers Market News's Blog

“Every writer I know has trouble writing.” ~Joseph Heller

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This time of year provides a lot of distractions to keep us away from our writing.  Take time to enjoy the season, but keep up the writing habit. I hope these potential markets will inspire you:

Arrow Publications has been in business since 1989. They produce a series of romantic graphic novels, as well as non-graphic novels in ebook form. The editors are looking for fiction with strong romantic elements in the following sub-genres: mystery, crime and supernatural. They will also consider other sub-genres, as long as the story has strong romantic elements. They accept manuscripts between 19,000 and 110,000 words, for short novellas, novellas and full-length novels. Send your query letter, synopsis and first chapter. Find all the guidelines here.

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The Midnight Diner is looking for Christian genre fiction, 3,000 to 6,000 words.  They want to see horror, crime, weird westerns, aliens and paranormal stories with a Christian slant. Think the Twilight zone. Nothing preachy. They pay $60 per story. They will close to submissions at the end of December. Check out their guidelines here.

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The Kids’ Ark, a Christian Magazine for children ages 4-12, wants short stories to 650 words on the theme of “One of a Kind.” They pay $100. The deadline for submissions is January 5, 2014. Find out how to submit here. 

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MacMillan Publishing’s Childrens division has launched Swoon Reads, a new imprint aimed at young adult/new adult readers. Swoon Reads will focus on Teen Romances, and plans to publish their first book, in both digital and print formats, in Spring 2014. Books will be chosen from those submitted to the SwoonReads website, and voted on by visitors to the site. Books chosen for publication receive a $15,000 advance against royalties. Books should be aimed at young adults (ages 14-19) or new adult (19-23.) They accept all sub-genres (there’s an extensive list on the website.) Get all the details here.

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Entangled Publishing is looking for novellas for a collectiong focused on the 1950s to be called “Love Me Tender.” Submit your romance story set between 1950 and 1959, 15,000 to 20,000 words. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2014. Find all the details here. 

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As always, feel free to share the information here with others. I’m taking off for a couple of weeks to celebrate the holidays — see you all next year!  Cindi Myers

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“The paradox of gifts:  I know what I have given you.  I do not know what you have received.”  ~Dr. SunWolf

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This week I’m featuring my 2013 version of my annual round-up of Gifts for Writers. Choose the perfect present for the writer in your life — or highlight something on this list and send it as a hint to someone who might be gifting you.

Writers love books. Buy your favorite writers the latest from their favorite author, or research books to help them in their craft. Dictionaries, market guides and grammar texts are also useful to writers. But how about searching out something a little more unusual?

For insomniac writers, Chronicle Books offers Can’t Sleep, Write Now. Or how about their Picture Day Journal or Jane Austen Novel Journal  Other books writers might appreciate include Help! For Writers: 210 Solutions to the Problems Every Writer Faces and Novelists in the New Millenium: Conversations With Writers. 

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If you crave literary inspiration with your alcohol, consider some writerly drinking accessories, such as a Dorothy Parker Martini Glass or a set of Literary Shot Glasses.  Or how about a Great Literature Drink Glass. 

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If you’re the handy sort, you might try crafting a Rewrite Desk, similar to this design which, as far as I can tell, isn’t for sale: 

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The stylish writer in your life might appreciate some Typewriter Jewelry.  Or how about a Shakespeare’s Insults T-shirt. Or maybe you’d prefer a Literary Scarf or Pride and Prejudice Writing Gloves.  For formal occasions, you might prefer a Book Tie.

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Toys stimulate creativity. Buy your writer friend a slinky, silly putty or a box of crayons for doodling while waiting for the Muse to wake up. Or treat them to a toy patterned after a favorite literary hero, such as a Shakespeare Little Thinker Doll or a Sherlock Holmes Finger Puppet.  Maybe you’d prefer a set of Jane Austen or William Shakespeare Playing Cards. You can also choose from a number of Literary Themed Chess Sets.

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The best gifts you can give a published author in your life don’t cost much — if anything at all. Buy their books –buy them for yourselves or to fill others’ stockings. Write reviews of their work and post them online — at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads and Facebook. Your writer friends will love you for it!  

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As always, feel free to pass along the information in this blog to others — reposts, reprint or re-tweet. Just give me credit as the source, and include a link to this blog. Happy Holidays!  Cindi Myers

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BelleBooks has acquired small press ImaJinn. Former Harlequin editor Brenda Chin will oversee the new ImaJinn imprint at BelleBooks, which will focus on publishing Regency romance, contemporary romance, paranormal romance and urban fantasy and historical romance.  You can find out more about BelleBooks here. 

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Entangled Publishing has issued a call for submissions for its 2014 Holiday Anthology. They’re looking for historical romance from any time period, up to and including World War I, 15,000 to 20,000 words.  They’re open to characters of all colors, races and gender identification. Deadline for submissions is March 15, 2014. Find all the submission details here.

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Buddhapuss, Ink, is a small press that specializes in series fiction of all kinds — mysteries, thrillers, young adult, romance and more. They publish trade paperback and ebook editions of all titles.  Currently the editors are interested in mystery, thrillers, literary romance and literary fiction designed to be part of a series. These books should be for adults, but without explicit sex or excessive violence. Preferred length is 50,000 to 100,000 words. Send a query letter, synopsis and first three chapters. Expect a reply in three to six months. Find all the details here. 

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Big Pulp is now open for submissions of zombie-themed stories for an upcoming collection. Got a zombie romance, zombie space opera or zombie mystery? They’d like to see it.  Length: 2500 to 10,000 words (shorter is better.) Payment is 1 cent a word, up to $25. Find the details here. 

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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. Thanks!  Cindi Myers