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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR UPCOMING BELANGER BOOKS ANTHOLOGIES!
We have two Sherlock Holmes, one Doyle/Holmes, and two weird fiction anthologies that are accepting submissions. See the guidelines below.
Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mystery 1885 & 1886
Edited by Richard T. Ryan
“When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes cases between the years ’82 and ’90, I am faced by so many which present strange and interesting features that it is no easy matter to know which to choose and which to leave.” – Dr. Watson
Synopsis: Watson mentions that 1885 and 1886 are two of the years with strange and interesting cases, yet the canon contains only a single adventure in 1886 (“The Beryl Coronet”) and not one adventure from 1885. What happened during Holmes and Watson’s fifth and sixth years in Baker Street? What thrilling mysteries did they solve? Find out in Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mysteries – 1885 & Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mysteries – 1886.
Each collection contains a dozen cases, one for each month of the year, from January to December.
Submission Guidelines: Stories must be canonical in nature. Holmes and Watson have fully established their friendship. They should act like they do in the original stories.
Authors interested in participating should first send a synopsis of their adventure and the month of the year they wish it to take place. If your story does not need a specific month (i.e. it takes place in autumn and could be in September, October, or November) please let us know that as well. Once your synopsis has been accepted, you should begin drafting the story.
Please note: We are not following the Baring-Gould timeline. No Constance in this anthology since she wasn’t ever mentioned in the Canon.
Submission length: 5,000 – 10,0000 words (it is okay to go over some).
Payment: Authors shall receive a percentage of the Kickstarter campaign (1.5% net profits) and first year book sales (3% net profits) as well as a paperback copy of the anthology.
Rights: Authors shall retain rights to their work. We only retain the rights to the story within the publication.
Submission deadline for proposals is March 31st, 2023. Submission deadline for stories is May 31st, 2023.
Publication: November, 2023
Send proposals and submissions in a word document that is double spaced, in Times New Roman, and in 14 point font to rich.ryan52@gmail.com with the heading ATTN: SHERLOCK HOLMES A YEAR OF MYSTERY 1885 or ATTN: SHERLOCK HOLMES A YEAR OF MYSTERY 1886.
Steel True, Blade Straight
The Belanger Books Journal of Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Inspired Stories, Poems, and Scholarship
2023 Annual
Description: This anthology will have stories, poems, and scholarship inspired by and about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. While the anthology will contain new Sherlock Holmes stories, the intent would be for at least 25% of the material to be stories and poems inspired by the life and non-Sherlockian writing of Sir Arthur. Another 25% of material would be scholarship on Holmes and Doyle.
All proceeds from the Anthology will be donated to The Beacon Society, a 501c(3) nonprofit scion society of The Baker Street Irregulars (BSI), that serves as a link to other scion societies, providing teachers, librarians, children museums, and children theaters with local resources to bring the magic of Sherlock Holmes to life.
Guidelines:
Stories – 3,000 – 10,000 word submissions that connect to the writing of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These can be Sherlock Holmes stories, or stories connected to Sir Arthur’s additional writings (far too many to list here).
Poems – format and length are open. The poetry submission would have to somehow connect to the life or work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Scholarship – 1,000 – 3,000 word submissions. Essays must connect to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or his writing (Sherlock Holmes or other work).
Multiple submissions in the same or more than one category are welcome.
Payment: All authors will receive a paperback copy of the anthology.
Rights: All authors shall retain the rights to their submitted work outside of the anthology and may reprint their submission one year after the anthology’s publication date.
Submission: Email submissions to derrick@belangerbooks with the headline: ATTN: STEEL TRUE BLADE STRAIGHT 2023 SUBMISSION. In the body explain: 1. Type of submission (story, poem, story), and a brief description of how the submission connects to Sir Arthur. Please attach the submission as a word document.
Submission Deadline: June 30, 2023
Publication Date: December 2023
ALONE ON THE BORDERLAND
Tales of Edwardian Dread
EDITOR’S NOTE: The guidelines which follow are fairly detailed. They are meant to spark ideas, not to dismay you. The closer to these concepts and settings you get, the more likely it is we will want your submission.
CORE CONCEPT: An anthology of new weird and strange fiction set between 1901 and 1919 – from the death of Queen Victoria to the immediate aftermath of the Great War and the Spanish Influenza epidemic. Weird fiction is a mode of writing which includes the subversion of many standard tropes, or more imaginative interpretations, and has a strong psychological component, so please bear that in mind.
SETTING: The broad Edwardian period was a time of huge changes in society, including developments in science, religion, psychiatry, suffrage, class roles, labour, and the nature of warfare. Consider desperate attempts to cling to outdated ‘Victorian’ values, or a blind rejection of change — even an eager embrace of new concepts, with worrying results. Consider the worm inside this last ‘summer’ apple of grand houses and disenfranchised masses in Britain; remember the industrialisation of Japan and the growing revolutions in Russia. Hint at war to come, if you wish, or explore the weird through a war which changed many societies forever (please note, though, that this is NOT a book of war stories, just that the setting may be relevant for a few.) Stories may occur anywhere in the world as long as the events fall within this period — do not feel confined to Western Europe.
APPROACH: In specifying ‘weird and strange fiction’, we are seeking stories which are disquieting and disturbing — tales of troubled minds and disjointed or illogical events. The psychological, the ab-natural, and even outright horror, but not blunt gore or shock horror. We are certainly interested in Cosmic Horror — the realisation that we are potentially insignificant in the cosmos, that our understanding of the world around us may be at best partially, and even entirely, wrong. Some aspects of Folk Horror — the insidious blend of landscape and isolation — may also work. Try to be original in your voice, rather than employing direct pastiche.
As H P Lovecraft’s themes and the subsequently developed ‘Cthulhu Mythos’ are obviously a major element of Cosmic Horror in literary history, Mythos-adjacent stories are welcome, but we do NOT want stories simply of Mythos monsters raging around. References to or derivations from the Mythos, if used, should be subtle — go for mood and philosophic dread. Think more ‘The King in Yellow’, ‘The House on the Borderland’ and ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ than ‘Call of Cthulhu’, more Algernon Blackwood than August Derleth.
Subtle and insidious would be good watch-words.
WHAT WE DON’T WANT: We do NOT want the usual vampires, zombies, werewolves, or tentacles and mad cultists, nor do we want simplistic period ghost stories. NO glorifications of war; no espousing Imperialism or colonialism. No steampunk, time travel, or alternative histories — twist the existing historical world to disturb us. No Sherlock Holmes or Thomas Carnacki for this particular volume, please. And absolutely NO Jack the Ripper sequels.
Sexual violence, violence against children and so on are out, unless you have an excellent contextual reason for alluding to them.
INCLUSIVITY: Non-white characters and settings are very welcome, as are stories with LGBTQ+ characters. If you are writing about Britain, for example, there were plenty of Black and other non-white people in the country during this period, working or studying, especially in the larger cities. We actively encourage contributors from traditionally less-published backgrounds of any nature. Whilst limited situational discrimination may occasionally be relevant in the context of the period – in order to reflect characters’ life histories or traumas – sexism, homophobia, racism etc. in general will result in immediate rejection.
TECHNICAL STUFF: Stories should be between 5,000 and 10,000 words. A little under may work, but not much over. Use any standard 12 point font. Indents by style, NOT Tab or Space-bar. Submit in .doc or .odt format, attached to your email, not pasted in it. NO .pdfs, Google Docs links or anything like that. Brief cover letter only — no need for bios or achievements.
Submissions must have the subject line Borderland-Story title-Author’s name. If you do not adhere to this, we may misplace your submission. You can trim your story title down if it’s rather long.
NO reprints; simultaneous submissions aren’t ideal, but are acceptable if you must. Please inform us immediately if your story sells elsewhere.
PAYMENT: Authors shall receive a percentage of the Kickstarter net profits, a percentage of first year royalties (percentage determined by number of contributing authors), and a paperback copy of the anthology. Belanger Books have an excellent long-term track record with Kickstarters, and with decent remuneration for their writers. Publication of the final book is expected Spring 2024.
Submission Deadline: June 30, 2023
A DARKER CONTINENT: Strange Tales of Europe at War
EDITOR’S NOTE: The guidelines which follow are fairly detailed. They are meant to spark ideas, not to dismay you. The closer to these concepts and settings you get, the more likely it is we will want your submission.
CORE CONCEPT: An anthology of new, original weird and strange fiction set between 1938 and 1946 – from (and including) the Spanish Civil War to the immediate winding down of conflicts after World War Two. Weird fiction is a mode of writing which includes the subversion of many standard tropes, or more imaginative interpretations, and has a strong psychological component, so please bear that in mind.
SETTING: Geographically, stories should fall in the zone from Ireland to Russia, the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean shores. Stories can be set during direct military conflicts or far from battle, where distant wars have local repercussions for society or individuals. We’re not looking for ‘war stories’ so much as stories set DURING the war across Europe and showing some awareness of its impact. This was a bleak time for most. Go inventive with this one, such as (a few throwaway illustrations):
APPROACH: Submissions could cover themes such as the intrusion of the ab-natural into the natural, the changing nature of society, and psychosocial issues at any level. Cosmic Horror is very relevant — explore the realisation that we are potentially insignificant in the cosmos, and that our understanding of the world around us may be at best partially, and even entirely, wrong. Mythos-rooted stories are possible, but should be subtle or different. Folk Horror stories, if affected by or affecting the wars, are also possible, as is dark Magical Realism. Submissions which focus only on the fighting itself are less likely to be of interest, unless the circumstances of combat are unusual and unnerving, or the participants themselves bring something disquieting to the events.
WHAT WE DON’T WANT: We do NOT want the usual vampires, zombies, werewolves, or tentacles and mad cultists, nor do we want simplistic ghost stories. NO gung ho war stories full of brave GIs battling horrid Nazis, ‘Boy’s Own’ battle tales, or glorifications of war; NO espousing Imperialism or colonialism; NO ‘Tom Clancy’ lists of weapon calibres or military specifications (unless your protagonist has become obsessed with them!). NO steampunk, time-travel or alternative histories — twist the existing historical world to disturb us.
Sexual violence, violence against children and so on are out, unless you have an excellent context reason for alluding to them.
INCLUSIVITY: Non-white characters and settings are very welcome, as are stories with LGBTQ+ characters. Remember, for example, that large numbers of Black, Asian sub-continent and North African personnel fought in Europe. We actively encourage contributors from traditionally less-published backgrounds of any nature. Whilst limited situational discrimination may occasionally be relevant in the context of the period – in order to reflect characters’ life histories or traumas – sexism, homophobia, racism etc. in general will result in immediate rejection.
TECHNICAL STUFF: Stories should be between 5,000 and 10,000 words. A little under may work, but not much over. Use any standard 12 point font. Indents by style, NOT Tab or Space-bar. Submit in .doc or .odt format, attached to your email, not pasted in it. NO .pdfs, Google Docs links or anything like that. Brief cover letter only — no need for bios or achievements.
Submissions must have the subject line Darker Continent-Story title-Author’s name. If you do not adhere to this, we may misplace your submission. You can trim your story title down if it’s rather long.
NO reprints; simultaneous submissions aren’t ideal, but are acceptable if you must. Please inform us immediately if your story sells elsewhere.
PAYMENT: Authors shall receive a percentage of the Kickstarter net profits, a percentage of first year royalties (percentage determined by number of contributing authors), and a paperback copy of the anthology. Belanger Books have an excellent long-term track record with Kickstarters, and with decent remuneration for their writers. Publication of the final book is expected Fall 2024.
Submission Deadline: June 30, 2023
