SPECTRAL SPECTRUM
Queer Tales of the Macabre
Wicked Shadow Press invites horror fiction submissions for publication in its anthology "Spectral Spectrum" (Expected release: June 2024). The submission deadline is April 23, 2024
All Horror Subgenres Welcome.
THEME: The story MUST feature one or more queer characters in a prominent manner.
Writers of all genders, sexual orientations and nationalities are encouraged to submit.
Feel free to use an idea of your own or take inspiration from one of our writing prompts below:
-> As a lesbian couple settles into a quaint, isolated cottage, they discover its last mistress was a witch, scorned by her lover and left to curse the grounds. Tempted by a spell meant to bind their hearts ever tighter, they instead release a darkness that tests their bond in unforeseen ways.
-> A young man grapples with his lycanthropic curse in a town too small for secrets. When his heart reaches out to a newcomer, he must navigate a labyrinth of emotion and transformation, each turn marked by fear and desire, as love wields its power to both heal and harm.
-> Within the walls of an aged theater, whispered to be cradled by spirits, drag queens from all walks of life gather, glittering under the spotlight, oblivious to the tragic echoes of performers past. But as history begins to repeat itself in a macabre dance, it falls upon them to unravel a mystery woven through decades.
-> A historian's quest to unearth the hidden queer narratives of an infamous asylum reveals more than just forgotten stories. Haunted by visions of the past, they're drawn into a mystery that blurs the lines between then and now, sanity and madness.
-> A transgender man moves into a historic home on Lavender Lane, charmed by its Victorian elegance and the welcoming LGBTQ+ community. However, the house's original owner, a spirit scorned and restless, views his happiness as an affront to the tragedy of her own life.
-> The Lighthouse, perched on a cliff overlooking the turbulent sea, has guided sailors safely for generations. When the lighthouse's new keeper, a woman grappling with her partner's mysterious disappearance at sea, discovers the lighthouse's beam can pierce through the veils of death, she embarks on a perilous journey to rescue her partner from the afterlife.
WE ARE ACCEPTING
Short Stories: (between 1500-8000 words) Please send no more than ONE fiction
Flash Fiction: (between 50-1500 words) Please send no more than TWO flash fictions
We are considering TRANSLATED WORKS as well. Submission of translated works must be accompanied by a statement declaring that the translator has obtained the author’s permission and their publisher’s, if required.
Simultaneous Submissions are welcome but the author must inform us by e-mail as soon as the submitted piece is accepted elsewhere. Pieces cannot be withdrawn once Wicked Shadow Press informs the author of its acceptance for publication.
We consider reprints but generally do not publish them unless they are exceptional. Please mention in the mail body in case your submission is a reprint.
At present, we are unable to pay our contributors. Each contributor shall receive a COMPLIMENTARY DIGITAL COPY of the anthology as soon as it publishes.
Manuscripts should directly be sent to WickedShadowPress@gmail.com
Please write Submission for SPECTRUM in the subject line of your submission email.
Please submit your files in the following formats: .doc /.docx /.txt. DO NOT submit PDFs.
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Wicked Shadow Press uses non exclusive rights to publish in its anthologies. Authors are free to republish their work anywhere else once it has been published.
Please submit only original pieces. Wicked Shadow Press or the editor/s of the anthology shall not be responsible for any disputes arising due to plagiarism or copyright infringement.
Each piece MUST be attached with a short bio of the author, preferably within 100 words, and if possible, a photograph of the author to go along with publication.
NOTE: We typically reply within a month after receiving submissions. However, replies can be delayed under unforeseen circumstances.