Market News for Writers of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Julia West, Editor Vol. 10, No. 38 22 April 2003 Website: http://www.sff.net/people/julia.west/CALLIHOO/index.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------- IN THIS ISSUE Deadlines Anthologies Lingering Dementia (gls) Unspeakable Limericks (gls) Unspeakable Scifaiku (gls) The Urbanite (gls) Market Guidelines Images SI, Inc. (gls) Market Information Black Gate ----------------------------------------------------------------- DEADLINES Check out the CALLIHOO website, listed above, for more information on these contests, magazine issues, and anthologies. (Where it says "GLs in Vol. X No. Y," these are volume and issue of the CALLIHOO newsletter.) UNSPEAKABLE SCIFAIKU [Print antho, F/H/SF haiku. Pays $2/poem after pub. No reprints. May submit up to 4 poems at one time. E-mail subs only. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 38)] NEW MOON NOV./DEC. 2003 ISSUE: SHHH! IT'S A SECRET! Deadline 1 May 2003 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] OCEANS OF THE MIND SUMMER 2002 ISSUE: BONESTELL Deadline 1 May 2002 [PDF mag, SF to 8,000 wds. Pays from 5 cents/wd. Stories inspired by Chesley Bonestell painting Exploring the Moon by Earthlight [picture shown on website]. Stories needn't take place on Moon, but should relate to the painting. No H/F/S&S. Prefers E-mail subs. Sim subs okay. RT E-mail 4-5 wks, snail 6-8 wks. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 29)] BYLINE NEW-TALENT SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 5 May 2003 [For writers who have never won cash prize in ByLine fiction category. Max 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $35, $25, $15. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E- mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] HIDDEN TALENTS SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 31 May 2003 [Canadian contest, short stories to 5,000 wds. Prizes: 1st $500C, 2nd $250C, 3rd $100C, HM $25C; Junior 1st $200C, 2nd $100C, 3rd $50C, HM $10C. Winners pub. Entry fee $10C ($5C under age 17). No E-mail subs, reprints. Mult subs okay with entry fee & form each. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 30)] UNSPEAKABLE LIMERICKS Deadline 31 May 2003 [Print antho, F/H/SF limericks. Pays $2/poem after pub. No reprints. May submit up to 4 poems at one time. E-mail subs only. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 38)] LINGERING DEMENTIA Reading 1 May to 1 June 2003 [Anthology, H to 5,000 wds. Pays 5 cents/wd. + pro rata share of royalties. No reprints or E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 38)] BYLINE SHORT-SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 5 June 2003 [General short story to 2,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $70, $35, $20. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] BYLINE JUVENILE SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 25 June 2003 [Fiction for ages 5 to 8; 9 to 12; or 13 to 16. State targeted age group on ms.; length approp. for intended audience (3,000 words max). Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $30, $15. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] LEVIATHAN 4 Deadline 30 June 2003 [Print antho, lit spec fic 5,000 to 20,000 wds. Theme: cities. Pays to $250/story. No reprints or mult subs. E-mail subs okay. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 37)] WRITERS OF THE FUTURE, 3RD QUARTER 2003 Deadline 30 June 2003 [$1000 first, $750 2nd, $500 3rd place. No entry fee. L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest, P.O. Box 1630-JBW, Los Angeles, CA 90078. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] MAIDEN OF PAIN Deadline 1 July 2003 [Novel proposal, Forgotten Realms, Loviatar (Maiden of Pain) priest/ess. Include 10 p. DS writing sample, 1 p. SS story synopsis (whole story), and 1 p. cover letter about you. No E- mail subs. Final novel to be 90,000 wds, due June/July 2004. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 31)] NEW MOON JAN./FEB. 2004 ISSUE: MAMA SAID THERE'D BE DAYS LIKE THIS Deadline 1 July 2003 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] BYLINE SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 5 July 2003 [Fiction on any topic, to 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $70, $35, $20. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] OCEANS OF THE MIND FALL 2003 ISSUE: SCIENCE FICTION MYSTERIES Deadline 1 August 2003 [PDF magazine, SF to 8,000 wds. Pays from 5 cents/wd. Mysteries. Robbery, murder, piracy, locked room. No H/F/S&S. Prefers E-mail subs. Sim subs okay. RT E-mail 4-5 wks, snail 6- 8 wks. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 29)] BYLINE 1ST CHAPTER OF A NOVEL CONTEST Deadline 5 August 2003 [Opening chapter of unpub novel. Mainstream or genre; adult or YA audience. Max 25 pages. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $70, $40, $25. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] BORDERLANDS 5 ANTHOLOGY Deadline 1 September 2003 [Non-theme antho, dark spec fic to 5,000 wds. Pays 5-7 cents/wd. Sim and E-mail subs okay. No reprints. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 31)] NEW MOON MAR./APR. 2004 ISSUE: FEELIN' GROOVY (MUSIC & DANCE) Deadline 1 September 2003 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] BYLINE GENRE FICTION CONTEST Deadline 5 September 2003 [Short story that fits category: romance, sci-fi, confession, mystery, western, etc. No children's stories. Max 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $30, $15. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] BYLINE FLASH FICTION CONTEST Deadline 10 October 2003 [Short story or vignette under 1,000 words, which nevertheless feels complete. These often depend on atmosphere and technique more than plot. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $30, $15. GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] NEW MOON MAY/JUN. 2004 ISSUE: 25 BEAUTIFUL GIRLS Deadline 1 November 2003 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] OCEANS OF THE MIND WINTER 2003: AUSTRALIAN WRITERS Deadline 1 November 2003 [PDF magazine, SF to 8,000 wds. Pays from 5 cents/wd. No H/F/S&S. Prefers E-mail subs. Sim subs okay. RT E-mail 4-5 wks, snail 6-8 wks. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 29)] BYLINE NEW-TALENT SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 5 November 2003. Open to writers who have never won cash prize in a ByLine fiction contest. Maximum 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $35, $25, $15. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] DAIKAIJU ANTHOLOGY Deadline 30 November 2004 [Antho, giant monster stories to 12,000 wds. Pays Aus$30/story. Enquire for E-mail subs. GLs in Vol. 10 No. 31)] BYLINE SHORT-SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 5 December 2003 [Short story of any type or subject, to 2,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $60, $30, $20. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] NEW MOON JUL./AUG. 2004 ISSUE: IT'S NOT EASY BEIN' GREEN (THE ENVIRONMENT) Deadline 1 January 2004 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] OCEANS OF THE MIND SPRING 2004 ISSUE: COLONIES Deadline 1 February 2004 [PDF themed mag, SF to 8,000 wds. Pays from 5 cents/wd. Science Fiction stories about colonies. How they do or don't survive, the challenges and rewards. No H/F/S&S. Prefers E-mail subs. Sim subs okay. RT E-mail 4-5 wks, snail 6-8 wks. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 29)] NEW MOON SEPT./OCT. 2004 ISSUE: IF I HAD A HAMMER Deadline 1 March 2004 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] NEW MOON NOV./DEC. 2004 ISSUE: WHAT A GIRL WANTS (READERS' CHOICE AWARDS) Deadline 1 May 2004 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] OCEANS OF THE MIND SUMMER 2004: SPIRITUAL SCIENCE FICTION Deadline 1 May 2004 [PDF themed magazine, SF to 8,000 wds. Pays from 5 cents/wd. No H/F/S&S. Prefers E-mail subs. Sim subs okay. RT E-mail 4-5 wks, snail 6-8 wks. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 29)] ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANTHOLOGIES LINGERING DEMENTIA [Anthology, H to 5,000 wds. Pays 5 cents/wd. + pro rata share of royalties. No reprints or E-mail subs. Reading 1 May to 1 June 2003.] Marc Sanchez-LD Anthology 1887 Union Ave North Bend, OR 97459 No E-Subs. E-Queries only: lingering_dementia@hotmail.com No reprints. READING PERIOD: May 1, 2003 through June 1, 2003. To debut at Horrorfind 2004. There will be a few slots opened to unsolicited manuscripts for =Lingering Dementia=. The chosen few will have their work considered for the anthology alongside these modern masters who have been asked to send in their tales of surreal horror for publication consideration: Douglas E. Winter {Introduction}, Ramsey Campbell, Bentley Little, Al Sarrantonio, F.Paul Wilson, Cailtin R. Kiernan, Tim Lebbon, Tom Piccirilli, P.D.Cacek, Thomas Monteleone, Mort Castle, Kim Newman, Michael Oliveri, Brian A. Hopkins, and several others. Foggy, gummy, hazy, tilted, dark, unforgettable: these are the settings for =Lingering Dementia=. Bizarre, twisted, shocking, mesmerizing, dark, unforgettable: these are the tales woven within these settings. Crazed, paranoid, dangerous, unreliable, dark, unforgettable: these are the characters that dwell in these tales. In the =999= anthology, Al Sarrantonio said, in his introduction to Bentley Little's "The Theater," that the tale contained a "Dreamlike quality underpinned with feelings of lurking dread." This is a good description of the kinds of tales that I am seeking. A dreamlike quality underpinned with feelings of lurking dread. Dark and unforgettable. The writings of this anthology may resemble Poe on acid, Lovecraft on a meth binge, Dr. Seuss on absinthe, or Lewis Carroll clean and sober. Not gibberish, but intellectual tales of surreal horror. Imagine a more macabre and surreal world on the other side of Carroll's looking glass. Imagine our normal world, through the eyes of a surreal and more macabre character, or characters. Imagine normal characters in our normal world, encountering a surreal and macabre hole in the wall, or neighborhood. Imagine darker, and more surreal. Imagine a story with a dreamlike quality underpinned with feelings of lurking dread. Imagine dark and unforgettable. Payment: 5 cents per word + pro rata share of royalties. 5000 words maximum, query if longer. Format: Standard. Double-spaced, one inch margins, 12 pt Courier or Times New Roman Include SASE. Underline for italics, asterisks for *bold*. Any submissions sent via e-mail will be deleted unread. Any manuscripts that arrive before or after the reading period will be placed in the round file. [http://www.3fpublications.com/lingeringdementia.html UNSPEAKABLE SCIFAIKU and UNSPEAKABLE LIMERICKS [Print anthos, F/H/SF haiku or limericks. Pays $2/poem after pub. No reprints. May submit up to 4 poems at one time. E-mail subs only; different addresses for haiku and limericks. Deadline 30 Apr 2003 for haiku, 31 May 2003 for limericks.] Teri Santitoro and L. A. Story Houry, Editors Unspeakable Scifaiku Submissions: togatrix65@yahoo.com Tyree Campbell and L. A. Story Houry, Editors Unspeakable Limericks Submissions: tosamsnutmeg@yahoo.com http://samsdotpublishing.com/unspeakable.htm Sam's Dot Publishing now is accepting submissions for two new illustrated poetrybooks in the genres of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. One is a collection of scifaiku, titled "Unspeakable Scifaiku." The other is a collection of limericks, titled "Unspeakable Limericks." Each will be published in our illustrated poetrybook format, which is: cardstock cover, 24# color pages, saddle-stapled, size 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches. Each will contain 28 pages. Interested? Continue reading. Be forewarned: the rules for submitting are going to be fiercely enforced. Scifaiku goes to one e-mail address, and limericks go to another e-mail address. Confuse these at your own peril. Submissions sent to the wrong address will be deleted unread. That's "fiercely." Below are the guidelines. Those for scifaiku appear first. Those for limericks, if you will pardon the irony, appear lower down. GUIDELINES FOR "UNSPEAKABLE SCIFAIKU" =Unspeakable Scifaiku= is edited by Teri Santitoro and L. A. Story Houry, and illustrated by Teri Santitoro. =Unspeakable Scifaiku= is looking for up to 30 original scifaiku in the genres of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Absolutely no reprints. Although we encourage submissions, we will accept only one--and in rare instances of exceptional quality, two--scifaiku from any one writer. And now, the rules: Scifaiku is a lot like haiku. The 5-7-5 syllable guideline is NOT a strict requirement, but what IS required, is that the total ku doesn't read like a sentence. It's supposed to capture a moment, and convey that moment to the reader. A proper haiku should take place in a particular season, and should use a word which conveys that season to the reader, the way the word "pumpkin" connotes the season of fall. In scifaiku, of course, seasons could be entirely non-applicable, but words to convey the location (e.g., Mars or Space) should be used. The captured moment should strike the reader with a flash of realization or surprise--if you've read something, and suddenly "get it" and you subconsciously think "Ah-hah!" that's what scifaiku is supposed to do to you. As in haiku, no punctuation is used in scifaiku, and never capitalize. In addition, scifaiku usually include a season, an action and a subject, whether actual or implied. Here is an example of a horror scifaiku: smothering darkness toe-claws ticking on the deck afraid to exhale [(xeno-unit) copyright 5/4/99] The scene is set with the word "deck", as in the deck of a star ship. "toe claws" indicates some kind of predator or alien, and the final line "afraid to exhale" alludes to the subject. For more information on writing scifaiku, see the Scifaiku Manifesto at: http://www.scifaiku.com/what You may submit up to four scifaiku at a time. Any e-mail containing five or more scifaiku submissions will be deleted without notice. It is possible to compose "horrorku," or scifaiku that gives the reader a chill. We'll consider such ku. But we want spooky, not gore and blood. And no foul language, please. Submissions containing foul language or blood and gore will be deleted without notice. I don't mean to sound harsh about this, but... ...no, actually, I do mean to sound harsh about this. If a writer cannot be troubled to follow very simple rules, why should I waste my time even glancing over work I am not going to consider? Okay, 'nuff said about that. Onward--- Your topic may be anything in the genres. In addition to format, we will be looking at quality of expression and evocative images. Make us ponder, make us smile, scare us. Change our moods--we love mood-altering scifaiku...it beats the heck out of Ritalin. Send your submissions in the body of the e-mail togatrix65@yahoo.com . In the subject line, please type Scifaiku Submission. See how easy it is? Now, as to payment. We will pay $2 each for accepted scifaiku or illustration. Each writer and/or illustrator will receive one contributor's copy. Each writer and/or illustrator will receive a discount on extra copies. Payment will be sent along with your contributor's copy. Deadline: We will accept submissions up to 30 April 2003. If necessary, we will extend that...but I doubt it will be necessary. Given that we close on 30 April, we expect to publish by 31 July. GUIDELINES FOR "UNSPEAKABLE LIMERICKS" =Unspeakable Limericks= is edited by Tyree Campbell and L. A. Story Houry, and naughtily illustrated by Teri Santitoro. =Unspeakable Limericks= is looking for 24 original limericks in the genres of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Although we encourage submissions, we will accept only one--and in rare instances of exceptional quality, two--limerick from any one writer. We're going to follow Asimov's rules of limericks here. If you can find a copy of =Asimov's Lecherous Limericks=, get it--probably in a used bookstore, or you may be able to order one. Copyright laws make it iffy for me to quote from The Master Limericist, but suffice it to say that his style is pretty much what I'm looking for. In summary, then, here are the rules: 1. Each limerick must consist of five lines. The third and fourth lines must be indented by at least a tab space. 2. The first, second, and fifth lines must rhyme. The third and fourth lines must rhyme, and have a different rhyme from the other three. 3. The first, second, and fifth lines must each have three stressed syllables [poetry technicians say "three feet"...there will not be a quiz...]. The third and fourth lines must each have two stressed syllables. The total number of stressed syllables in a proper limerick, therefore, is...is what, Class? 4. Generally, your typical limerick foot will consist of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable...or, sometimes, it will consist of one unstressed followed by a stressed syllable [technicians say "iambic"...again, no quiz]. You want to have your lines rhythmically consistent, of course...and the best way to determine whether they are consistent is to read them out loud...preferably not where others can overhear you, and point and giggle. 5. A proper limerick tells a story. Some of you may be familiar with the notoriously popular and off-color "Nantucket" limerick. Strictly speaking, that is not a proper limerick, because it does not tell a story, it merely defines the proclivities and aspirations of the protagonist. The more unusual the rhymes, the catchier the limerick. Rhymes of "rain," "Spain," and "plain" have little chance of being published here. Something like what follows, however, will likely see publication: Old Jake was a bloodthirsty editor. His girl was so tall he beheaded her. Though their date was a wreck From her toes to her neck He liked what he saw so he bedded her. Rhythm, rhyme, tells a story. Got it? Limericks, of course, acknowledge no taboos. They may be off-color, crude, vulgar, irreverent, naughty, or may inspire chills [no, not that kind of chills][well, okay, that kind of chills, too], or make us shiver. You may try to be funny, if you wish, but try not to do it with a two-by-four. Contrived humor is often as flat as a gown model. In humor, sometimes a little subtlety goes a long way. Also...there are a lot of words and phrases that rhyme with "Nantucket," among them "stuck it," "bucket," and "fire truck kit." I have no doubt we will receive an inordinate number of this pattern of rhyming attempts. However, I would ask that you consider our acceptance process before submitting such work. Here's what happens: First, the limerick is read by my Screener/Co-Editor. She [that's right, she] will examine the limericks for adherence to the rules, for content, for quality. Unfortunately for those who would find rhymes for "Nantucket," my Screener took this co-editing position in order to earn a little money to pay for her way to a Carmelite convent, where she expects to take the vows in a year or two. And she has full rejection and deletion authority. Got the picture? Send your submissions in the body of the e-mail tosamsnutmeg@yahoo.com . In the subject line, please type Limerick Submission. Your limerick must follow the line and stressed syllable format. Any limerick that fails to follow this format will be deleted without notice. You may submit up to four limericks at a time. Any e-mail submission containing five or more limericks will be deleted without notice. Now, as to payment. We will pay $2 each for accepted limerick. Each writer will receive one contributor's copy. Each writer will receive a discount on extra copies. Payment will be sent along with your contributor's copy. Also please note: we want original limericks. Prior to payment and publication we will e-mail each contributor a contract in which it will state that the material submitted is the contributor's\ original work and that if this should prove not to be the case, the contributor will be fully liable for the legal and civil consequences resulting from the publication therefrom. Also, I have a lawyer friend in West Virginia who has more black belts than Steven Seagal, and I have an uncle in Hackensack named Vinnie Patella, who loves to do kneecaps. So please: submit your work, not =Playboy='s. Deadline: We will accept submissions up to 31 May 2003. If necessary, we will extend that...but I doubt it will be necessary. Given that we close on 31 May, we expect to publish by 30 September. [http://samsdotpublishing.com/unspeakable.htm] THE URBANITE, SURREAL & LIVELY & BIZARRE [Annual print antho, dark sf/f/h/humor/experimental/slipstream/ surreal to 10,000 wds. (query over 3,000 wds). Pays 3 cents/wd. No e-mail, sim, or mult subs. Query for reprints. RT 1-4 wks.] The Urbanite Urban Legend Press Mark McLaughlin, Editor P.O. Box 4737 Davenport, IA 52808 theurbanite.tripod.com Also get submission guidelines via this address. Must enclose SASE. (Sorry, guidelines and other information are not available via email nor do we accept email subs.) [http://theurbanite.tripod.com/ Submission Guidelines Genres Wanted: dark fiction: sf/f/h/humor/experimental/slipstream/surreal. Pays: 3 cents/word for fiction ($10 per poem) and 1 copy for FNASR, pays on acceptance. Word Length: up to 10k words (QUERY ONLY if over 3k words) "First of all, my apologies to anyone who has been waiting longer than usual for a reply from =The Urbanite: Surreal & Lively & Bizarre=. For some time now, I have been trying to figure out the next step in the magazine's evolution. I considered many possibilities -- Webzine? CD? Some sort of electronic book? I did some research and discussed the various options with different folks. "Eventually talks began with an exciting new publishing firm, and I am happy to state that =The Urbanite: Surreal & Lively & Bizarre= will be reborn in 2002 as an annual paperback anthology, published by Catalyst Books. I'll still be editing it, so manuscripts should still be sent to the usual =Urbanite= address. Still snail-mail only -- I do most of my manuscript reading in coffee shops. "Now that I know what sort of word count I need for the first anthology, I'll be catching up on that slush pile, making some final decisions, and plenty of folks should be getting responses pretty soon. Thanks for your patience! "So from now on, =The Urbanite= will be an annual paperback anthology of dark fiction. There will be no themes--except of course, quality. I'll still consider poetry, but probably won't be accepting as much. Payment for fiction: three cents a word. Payment for poetry: ten dollars per poem. "The next issue of =The Urbanite= will count as two issues on subscriptions. I will honor all existing subscriptions and sample copy/subscription orders still waiting to be processed (folks waiting for three issues will get the new =Urbanite= when it comes out and either a back issue or another publication of equal value). But after June 1, 2002, I will no longer take =Urbanite= subscriptions. "More details to come as the first =Urbanite= anthology draws closer to publication." No e-mail submissions, no similtaneous or multiple submissions. Query for reprints. RT: 1-4 wks. 18May02 [www.ralan.com] ----------------------------------------------------------------- MARKET GUIDELINES IMAGES SI INC. [Audio and print short fiction and novels, SF/F 1,000 to 25,000 wds. (pref 2,500 to 9,000) for short fic, novels to 55,000 wds. Pays advance and royalties (negot.) on accept. RT 30+ days. No e-mail subs. Sim subs and reprints okay.] Ronald Chironna Images SI Inc. 39 Seneca Loop Staten Island, NY 10314 No subs: art@ronaldchironna.com Images SI Inc. is a small, but expanding publishing company. As we grow, we'll discover newer and better ways of doing business. In that light, please understand that the following guidelines are subject to change. We will always be looking to find avenues through which the company will be better able to treat our authors as fairly as possible, while striving to acquire the best economic results from the sale of their material. Images SI Inc. is currently producing top quality short fiction and novels (science fiction and fantasy), for its line of audio books. We are now also accepting submissions for our planned line of print books. Short stories should range in length from 1,000 to 25,000 words, with most of the stories we've accepted being between 2,500 and 9,000 words. Novels should be up to approximately 55,000 words, but we will consider stories that are longer, but not too much longer. Your stories can be aimed at any age group from 13 years old and up, including the age group that reads tasteful erotic science fiction and fantasy, if that is the genre in which you work best. Authors who want to submit short stories for consideration should send us the entire story with a cover letter attached, while authors who want us to consider their novels should send in a query with a cover letter providing your background, and a comprehensive, but short, synopsis (chapter by chapter would be helpful). Please include a self addressed stamped envelope for our replies to your queries, short stories, and novel manuscripts. And, if you'd like your manuscript returned, please supply a large enough envelope and enough postage to do the job. We handle submissions as quickly as possible, but please be patient. We want to give all our submissions the individual attention they deserve. We will try our best to respond within 30 days, but we can't guarantee it. Since we cannot be responsible for your queries or manuscript submissions, please be sure to keep copies of what you send us. We are a new and small company. We can only pay a small advance against royalties. The exact amount of that advance will be discussed with authors individually after we determine whether their stories will be suitable for publication. To meet our terms of purchase, you must be able to sell first worldwide serial rights in the English language. We pay on acceptance. You'll be sent a check within 31 days of our receipt of your signed contract. The place to send a query or manuscript is: Images SI Inc., 39 Seneca Loop, Staten Island, NY 10314. Please address your query or manuscript to Ronald Chironna. What we're looking for: Images SI Inc. is open to submissions of science fiction and fantasy. Within those genres are a multitude of variations in style, content, and theme. We simply want the best stories we can get. We also want to publish material that breaks new ground and isn't derivative of other science fiction and fantasy stories, books, magazines, television shows or films. How can you tell if the story you've written, or the story you're planning to write, fits our conception of the ideal? Before you show something to us, try to look at it objectively and answer these questions: Is the story different in theme or plot from any other stories you've read or heard about? Are the characters portrayed realistically, and are they also unique individuals instead of being stereotypes? Does the plot have conflict or intrigue, or some other feature that will hold the reader's interest and make him or her care about what is happening? Is the story fast moving, with an understandable direction and a clear focus? Does it use language clearly and vividly? Do the style and pacing make the reader want to keep going until the end of the story? Is the conclusion a logical outgrowth of what preceded it? Is the ending a direct result of action or decision on the part of the main character(s)? If you can answer yes to most or all of these questions, you're on the right track. Even though they don't address the intangible qualities that distinguish good stories from mediocre ones, they do cover many of the technical and stylistic aspects of story writing. The chances are that if you've mastered the craft of storytelling well enough to meet these qualifications, then you're creating work that we'd like to see. We aren't likely to go for stories which rely on gratuitous vulgarity, graphic sex, or excessive violence and gore to make the story work. Your Manuscript: What follows are standard directions for preparing your manuscript. We've also slipped in some special preferences of our own, so please review this information carefully. Send us pages that contain dark, clearly printed characters on white paper (printed on only one side of the paper). Proofread the manuscript to clean up incorrect grammar, poor sentence structure, typographical errors and spelling mistakes. Don't be afraid to make some handwritten corrections. Double-space the manuscript, and leave comfortable margins on all four sides. We do not provide an editor for your stories. You have to do that yourself or have an experienced editor do it for you. Type your full legal name, Social Security number, and mailing address in the upper left corner of the first page of your manuscript. In the upper right corner of the title page, give us your estimate of the story's word count. Number the pages of your story, and also identify each page with your last name and the title (or a key word from the title) of the story. How we handle queries and submissions: After we examine your query, we'll reply either asking to see the entire short story (or 2-4 chapters of your novel), or we'll explain why we don't want to read your manuscript. If we've asked to see your short story or sample chapters of your novel, one of these three things will happen after we've read and considered it for publication. 1. We'll want to accept it for publication. You'll be sent a letter of acceptance and three copies of a contract, the document that spells out the terms under which we are willing to purchase your story. The contract will indicate how much we intend to pay for the right to publish your work and will describe certain other details of the deal. If you agree with the terms, all you have to do to close the deal is sign both copies of the contract and send them back to us. Then we'll sign the contract, draw up a check in the amount due you, and send you the payment along with a signed contract. 2. We'll express interest, but ask you to do some more work on the story. If we think your story has promise but isn't exactly what we're looking for, we'll give you some advice on how to tailor it so that it has a better chance of being accepted, and we will ask you to let us see the story again - assuming, of course, that you take our advice and make the changes we've suggested. If you revise the story and give us another look at it, your chances of selling it will be improved. But, obviously, we can't guarantee that we'll accept a story that's been revised. 3. We'll tell you the story isn't right for us. If we're not interested in buying your work, you'll get a response telling you that and giving some of our reasons for that decision. To save us both some time and effort: Don't send in a revision of a manuscript that has been returned to you unless we specifically mentioned that we'd be interested in seeing the story again. And please don't ask us if we would like to see a rewrite. (Try your next story on us; chances are it'll be closer to what we're looking for than the last one was.) Don't send us poetry. Send only a printed copy of your story or query. We do not accept submissions on disk or sent by e-mail. However, if we decide to accept the piece, we may need to receive an electronic copy of the work, either on a diskette or transmitted to us via email. We will read simultaneous submissions. We accept previously published material as long as you have the right to sell us the reprint rights and we will be the only company with your story in print during the period of its publication. Please let us know if you have any questions that aren't answered by these guidelines. We're grateful for your interest in Image SI Inc. [http://ronchironna.tripod.com/writersguidelines/] ----------------------------------------------------------------- MARKET INFORMATION BLACK GATE John O'Neill, editor of =Black Gate=, said in response to a query on the slush pile, "While I'd hoped to start earlier, we've just managed to clear the decks and really get underway on clearing slush in the last week. I read 6 weeks worth of snail mail submissions last weekend, and expect to do that every weekend until we're caught up. We did a mass mailing on Monday, and I'll do another one once lines at the post office die down again (April 15th is the US tax deadline). "Electronic subs are a different matter. We've made some significant progress, but I'm now much more than the "month or two" extra response time we mention on the website. I'll turn my attention there once the physical slush pile is a little more under control. (I expect it'll be at least 5 weeks before that happens - longer if my retinas implode before then...) "I hope to give slush updates here at least every month, as a way to help keep me honest. We have a lousy record on response times, and I know it. We're trying to get a lot better." [sff.publishing.black-gate-magazine, 16 April 2003] ==End of the CALLIHOO Newsletter for 22 April 2003==