Cindi Myers Market News's Blog

“You could compile the worst book in the world entirely out of selected passages from the best books in the world.” G.K. Chesterton.

***************************

Vestal Review wants Flash Fiction stories, up to 500 words. The magazine pays 10 cents a word for stories to 100 words, 5 cents a word for stories between 101 and 200 words, and 3 cents a word for 201 to 500 word stories. The editors would especially like to see humor pieces. They are open for submissions through May 2015. Find the guidelines here.

****************************************

Timeless Tales focuses on retellings of classic myths and fables. Editor Talia Merrill Kirk is currently looking for stories based on or inspired by the tale of Perseus and Medusa. She is open to all genres of stories. Submit your story of up to 2,000 words (1,500 words or less preferred.) by March 23. Payment is $15. Find the guidelines here.

****************************************

The Wolfe Pack and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine are sponsoring the Black Orchid Novella Contest, for the best mystery novella in the tradition of Nero Wolfe. Entries should be 15,000 to 20,000 words, contain no overt sex or violence and emphasize the deductive reasoning of the sleuth. There is no fee to enter the contest and first prize is $1,000 and publication in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. The deadline for entries is May 31, 2015. Get more details here.

**************************************

Loving the Outlaw is my first new historical romance in years. Spinster seamstress Laura Brown has a secret. Once the spoiled, privileged daughter of a banker, her life was destroyed by scandal when she fell in love with an outlaw. Disgraced in the aftermath of her lover’s arrest, she ran away and started life over in the small town of New Spring, Texas, where she’s slowly regained the peace and respectability she craved.

But her former lover Cole Randall is out of prison now and has tracked her to New Spring. Unnerved by her lingering attraction to Cole, Laura resists his attentions. But when a bullet meant for her strikes Cole, Laura finds herself back under his spell. Will loving the outlaw destroy Laura again, or will it restore her to the only life worth living?

Find your copy at Amazon, or your favorite ebook retailer. 

****************************************

Books To Go Now is actively seeking romance (all sub-genres), mystery and new adult fiction (characters from 18-24 years old, first person), from short stories to full-length novels. Length – 10,000 to 75,000 words. They are particularly interested in 10,000 to 30,000 word novellas with Valentine’s or Christmas themes for anthology collections. All work is originally published in ebook format; longer works may also be released as trade paperbacks. Books to Go Now, based in Seattle, was founded in 2010. Find more details here.

**********************************

Darkhouse Books is looking for mystery and crime short stories for an upcoming anthology “Destination: Mystery.” Stories should lean toward the cozy side and should be set in popular vacation locales. All stories should be set after the mid-nineteenth century to contemporary times. Length: 2,500 to 7,500 words, Deadline: March 31, 2105. Find more details here.

**************************************

As always, feel free to share the information in this blog with others — repost, reprint, retweet. Please credit me as the source of the information and include a link to this blog. Find out more about me on my websites here and here, or on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter@CMyersTex. Thanks!  Cindi

“I want to write books that unlock the traffic jam in everybody’s head.” John Updike

************************************

If you know anything about beekeeping or have an interest in the hobby, this may be the contest for you. WicWas Press is assembling a bee-keeping themed anthology and they are looking for short stories and articles revolving around beekeeping. Submit your story of up to 1,500 words by March 1 for a chance to win the $500 first prize. There is no fee to enter. Find more details here.

**************************************

One Teen Story is acquiring literary short stories for young adults. One Teen Story publishes nine issues a year and each issue includes one short story, 2,000 to 4,500 words. From their guidelines: “stories should deal with the teen experience (issues of identity, friendship, family, coming-of-age, etc.) and should be geared primarily toward an audience of teen readers. With that in mind, gratuitous profanity, sex and drug use are best avoided. We’re open to all genres of literary fiction” They are open to submissions now through the end of April. Submit your story for readers 13 and older. They pay $500 per story. Find the guidelines here.

************************************

Ellora’s Cave is searching for novellas for some upcoming anthology collections. Ellora’s Cave is a digital publisher known for “romantic” – erotic romance. They’re interested in the following themed submissions:

Screamers – erotic horror, 10,000 words + . Deadline, March 1, 2015 for publication in October 2015.

Women With Whips – FemDomme, 10,000 words +. Deadline August 1, 2105 for publication in March 2016.

Windswept Women – Erotic Gothic Romance, 18,000 words +. Deadline December 1, 2105 for publication in July 2016.

Find more details here.

*********************************************

Romance Writers of America is assembling its second anthology to showcase work by RWA member. If you are a member, you may submit your romance short story, 5,000 to 7,000 words by March 12, 2015. The stories may be in any romance sub-genre, as long as they follow the theme of second chances. Sylvia Day will edit the collection, which will be released in the Spring of 2016. All proceeds benefit RWA programs. For more information go here.

*********************************

Rocky Mountain Getaway, a novella in my Eureka series, will be released May 26, but is available for pre-order now. This story features seven original recipes from the Last Dollar Cafe. Don’t miss it!

Bouchercon, the annual convention for mystery writers and fans, is assembling an anthology of mystery short stories, “Murder Under the Oaks.” The only stipulation is that the story must contain a crime, not necessarily murder. Award-winning author Art Taylor will edit the collection. Stories should be between 3,500 and 5,500 words and should be made as blind submissions (instructions are in the guidelines). The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2015. Profits from this anthology benefit Wake County, North Carolina libraries. Get the details here.

****************************************

Fictionvale is a quarterly publication devoted to genre fiction. Most issues feature two genres of fiction, though some are open to all genres. Currently, the editors are open to submissions for the September 2015 issue, which will be devoted to Horror and Humor. Submit your story of up to 5,000 words by March 15, 2015. (Changed from the original March 1 – see the home page for details.) Payment is 2 cents a word. Get the guidelines here.

***************************************

As always, feel free to share the information in this blog with others — repost, reprint, retweet. Please credit me as the source of the information and include a link to this blog. Find out more about me on my websites here and here, or on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter@CMyersTex. Thanks!  Cindi

“I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide.”  Harper Lee

*******************************

Fiery Seas Publishing publishes a variety of fiction for adults and young adults, including romance, mystery and science fiction/fantasy. They publish both ebook and paperback editions of their titles.  Right now, the editors are particularly interested in holiday stories — Beach Reads (deadline March 1, 2015), Halloween (deadline May 1, 2015), Christmas (deadline August 1, 2015) and Valentine’s stories (deadline October 1, 2015). These stories may be romance, or any other genre Fiery Seas publishes, and should be between 15,000 and 45,000 words. Read the details for these Special Calls here, or fFind their submission guidelines here.

*******************************

Canadian romance ebook publisher Morning Rain Publishers is temporarily closed to submissions.

********************************

Diversion Books publishes contemporary and historical romance, thrillers, mystery, young adult, new adult, science fiction/fantasy and women’s fiction in both digital and print. Their slogan is “Great reads to distract the mind.” The editors accept submissions from both agented and unagented authors. Their catalog includes both new material and previously published work. They pay quarterly royalties and do a lot of online marketing. Find out more here.

**********************************

The first volume in my Titled Texans trilogy, To Love a Lady, written under my historical pen name, Cynthia Sterling, is currently free at Amazon, B&N and most e-book retailers. Check it out, along with the two other titles in the trilogy,

Educating Abbie and The Runaway.

******************************************

Only a short time left to enter the Denver Women’s Press Club Unknown Writers‘ Contest. Previously unpublished Colorado residents 18 and older may enter a short story or nonfiction article up to 2,000 words or a poem of up to 40 lines. The deadline to enter is February 17, 2015. First prize is $125. The entry fee is $25 for fiction and nonfiction and $15 for poetry. For more info, go here.

*********************************************

A heads-up for my UK readers — Author Christopher Fielden maintains a comprehensive list of short story and novel writing competitions for UK writers or all sorts. Many of these competitions are free to enter and some offer prestigious prizes. Check him out here.

*********************************

The Next Novelist hosts an online writing competition for aspiring thriller, mystery and crime novel writers. Submit your novel of between 50,000 and 150,000 words to be read and voted on by the online public in elimination rounds each week. The winner receives a publishing contract and $5000. The book will be published as an ebook and you will receive royalties. Get the details here.

**************************************

Thuglit ezine accepts original crime fiction stories between 3,000 and 5,000 words. Payment is $25 plus 50 percent of digital sales. Check out the detailed (and profane — just warning if you’re sensitive to foul language) guidelines here.

****************************************

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 this blog. To find out more about me and my books, visit my websites here and here. Or find me on Facebook.