Errant Ramblings: Mitzi Szereto’s Weblog

CALL FOR SHORT STORIES

Red Velvet and Absinthe: Gothic Tales of Erotic Romance

Edited by Mitzi Szereto
A trade paperback to be published by Cleis Press, USA
Publication date: Autumn 2011
Deadline: CLOSED.

Word count preferred: 3,000 to 6,000.

Author and anthology editor Mitzi Szereto is currently seeking original stories for an exciting new anthology of Gothic Erotic Romance.

What I’m looking for:

Well-developed story lines and well-crafted prose told in a unique voice and containing interesting characters and settings. Think atmosphere, passion, desire… imaginative stories that send a shiver up your spine and make your heart beat faster. Readers should be able to feel the red velvet beneath their fingertips and taste the absinthe on their tongue! Tales that contain supernatural beings such as ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters, demons, and other entities of a paranormal nature are welcome, as are those of the Wuthering Heights variety with tormented heroes and dark secrets, but make sure to keep a gothic feel! Stories may be set in the past, present, or future. Stories from female and male writers are welcome. Take your inspiration from the pens of the Brontë sisters, Mary Shelley, Daphne du Maurier, Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, Poppy Z. Brite, Stephenie Meyer, Laurell K. Hamilton…

Note: Although sexually explicit content is acceptable as well as a more subtle approach, absolutely no stock sex scenes or formulaic writing/terminology. Please refer to my previous anthologies to get an idea of the variety and style of content I look for. Even though the stories need to have a strong element of eroticism and sensuality to them, I do not want stories that are just one-dimensional sex stories or smut. The erotic element is an important part of the story, but it should not be the sole basis for the story or a replacement for plot and character development, thereby overshadowing the story. No excessive gore or violence. No reprints (be it print, digital, or online). Original quality fiction only.

One-time payment in the range of USD $50-70 (payable on publication) and 2 copies of the anthology.

Submission requirements:

Stories should be formatted as follows: double-spaced Arial 12-point black font Word or RTF document (sent as an attachment). Indent the first line of each paragraph by half an inch. Do not add extra lines between paragraphs or any other irregular spacing. American spelling and punctuation only (i.e. quote marks, etc). Include your legal name (and pseudonym if applicable), postal address, and a fifty-word maximum author bio written in the third person. Contract is for one-time, non-exclusive anthology rights with one year’s exclusivity from date of publication. (This may be waived if your story is selected for a “Best Of” collection). No simultaneous submissions please.

In the subject line of your email, please state: Red Velvet and Absinthe

Send to: submissions @ mitziszereto.com

I look forward to reading your work!

About Mitzi Szereto:
Mitzi Szereto is an author of erotic and multi-genre fiction and non-fiction, an anthology editor, blogger for her own blog “Errant Ramblings” (http://mitziszereto.com/blog), and creator/presenter for the web TV channel Mitzi TV (http://mitziszereto.com/tv), which offers a quirky take on London. Her published titles include Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts (spring 2011); In Sleeping Beauty’s Bed: Erotic Fairy Tales; Getting Even: Revenge Stories; Dying For It: Tales Of Sex & Death; Wicked: Sexy Tales Of Legendary Lovers; The New Black Lace Book Of Women’s Sexual Fantasies; the Erotic Travel Tales anthology series; The World’s Best Sex Writing 2005; and the M. S. Valentine erotic novels. Her short fiction and erotic novels have been translated into Russian, Italian, and German. Mitzi is a pioneer of the erotic writing workshop in the UK and Europe, teaching them from the Cheltenham Festival of Literature to the Greek islands. She’s been featured in publications ranging from the Sunday Telegraph, Independent, Times, Observer, Toronto Star, The London Paper, Love It magazine, Company Magazine, Dare Magazine, Family Circle, Writing Magazine, Scarlet Magazine, and Forum, to Bravo UK Television, Telecinco TV 5 (Madrid), BBC Radio, Newstalk Ireland, and FM4 ORF (Vienna). She’s performed readings of her work from Los Angeles to London, Vienna, and the Scottish Shetland Islands, and has given talks on such subjects as erotic writing, women’s publishing, and social media. She also travels in academic circles, having lectured in creative writing at a number of British universities as well as presenting papers on erotic literature at conferences. Her work as an anthology editor has earned her the American Society of Authors and Writers’ Meritorious Achievement Award. Her anthology Erotic Travel Tales 2 is the first anthology of erotica to feature a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.