Sci-Fi, Inspiration & Foodie Romance: Calls for Submission
January 31, 2012 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Calls for Submission, Louisa Bacio, OCC/RWA
Mmmm. How yummy can delicious foodie romance be? If you’re like me, and the Food Network is a favorite channel, then maybe you’ll want to slip out of the kitchen and in front of the computer. I’ve put together quite the eclectic mix this month, with calls for submissions from the writing worlds of science fiction to Harlequin’s Love Inspired line to Smut by the Sea. Enjoy the inspiration, and please let me know any success stories!
EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing: Professor Challenger Anthology
A broad range of new and original stories built around Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s LOST WORLD character Professor George Edward Challenger. Stories derived from the aftermath of events in the Lost World are welcome; however, simply revisiting or rehashing the Lost World without good cause is not. Challenger is a man of science first and foremost, not an explorer.
Deadline: May 31, 2012; short story: 1,000 to 7,500 words; novelette: 7,500-10,000 words.
For more information, http://www.duotrope.com/market_6864.aspx
Food Flair
Do you adore the Food Network? Do Bobby Flay and Rocco DiSpirito titillate your senses when they caress a flank steak, whip cream to a sensual cloud, or lay a beautiful table? Does a man’s skill in the kitchen impress and delight you as much as the way he kisses?


Then we want you to write a Foodie romance for Decadent Publishing!

Foodie romance focuses on romance, but food would win the prize for best supporting character. Maybe the heroine is a chef or a food critic, or maybe the hero just appreciates a meal masterfully prepared for maximum enjoyment. Like any art form, the Culinary Arts can be enjoyed as a sensual experience, exciting to the eyes and pleasing to the palate. Whether your taste is gourmet Kobe burgers in Seattle, European pastries in Salzburg, or delicate sushi in Sunagawa, foodie romance is about the culture of cuisine and the people who enjoy it.


Our general submission guidelines apply to this category. When submitting, please note that it is a Foodie romance. For more information, visit http://www.decadentpublishing.com and click on Submissions.
Smut by the Sea
A new collected anthology of stories, pictures and poetry with a saucy seaside feel, edited by The Northern Birds Lucy Felthouse and Victoria Blisse.
The Smut By The Sea Anthology will feature stories from a variety of genres, but they must have that overall “Seaside†feel, either in location or style. If you’d like some clarification before submitting your story then please Contact Us.
Length: 4,000 to 6,000 words;
Genres: Any:
Heat Levels: Any;
Ending: Any;
Orientation: Any;
Submissions Due: June 1, 2012. Also accepting Poetry submissions of any length.
Royalties will be split 50% of the net profits with contributing authors, exact values will be given once we know how many stories will be in the final anthology.
You can submit your story/poem by emailing it as an attachment to victoria[at]victoriablisse.co.uk. (Please include Pen Name, Author Bio, Genre, Word count)
For more information, visit http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/blog/call-for-submissions-smut-by-the-sea/?utm_source=rss
Love Inspired
The Love Inspired line is Harlequin’s series of contemporary, inspirational romances that feature Christian characters facing the many challenges of life and love in today’s world. Books run 55,000-60,000 words.
Each story should have an emotional, satisfying and mature romance; however, the characters should not make love unless they are married. These are “sweet†romances. Any physical interactions (i.e., kissing, hugging) should emphasize emotional tenderness rather than sexual desire or sensuality. Please avoid any mention of nudity.
All stories should focus on one hero and heroine who meet as early in the book as possible. The hero and heroine should be on the page together in the first chapter—the first page is even better. By the end of the story the main characters should be in a committed relationship.
Because Love Inspired sells to both CBA and ABA bookstores, we must adhere to CBA conventions. The stories may not include alcohol consumption by Christian characters, card playing, gambling or games of chance (including raffles), explicit scatological terms, hero and heroine remaining overnight together alone, Halloween celebrations, magic or the mention of intimate body parts. Lying is also problematic in the CBA market and characters who are Christian should avoid lying or deceiving others. Exceptions can be made but must be approved by an editor.
For more information, visit http://www.harlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=559&chapter=0
— Compiled by Louisa Bacio
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Western Witches: Calls for Submission
December 31, 2011 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Call for Submissions, Louisa Bacio, New Year's Resolutions
Want to start the new year off with some creative inspiration? Why not kick it off with a short story? Here are the latest Calls for Submissions … perfect for helping meet those resolutions.
Hex Appeal
Ellora’s Cave is casting a magical spell for all things Wiccan. Charm readers with stories about wanton witches, lusty warlocks and sizzling spells! 18K – 70K words Deadline for internal submissions: June 15, 2012. Deadline for external submissions: May 15, 2012. Stories will release in October 2012. For more information, http://www.jasminejade.com/t-writerscircle.aspx
Western Escape
Decadent Publishing is accepting pitches for their new series, Western Escape.
If you have a tale of a hot cowboy, or a cowgirl who can hold her own in a man’s world, we want to hear about it. Give us lariats to tie up desire, a beautiful sunset over an open prairie to weaken inhibitions, or even the slow rocking of a horse to spark things off. Decadent Publishing’s Western Escape follows the lives of Freewill’s residents and visitors. Heroes and heroines can be locals or tourists, but they must all pass through or connect to Freewill in some way whether interacting with the town ghost or locals, attending a conference at the Misbegotten Gaines Ranch and Resort, or something only you have thought of.
All submissions must have a Western theme. Tell us of the city boy roped by the hottest cowgirl in the West. Show us the wild or simple joys of a trip to the rodeo. Offer a plea to the ghost of Pierre Dauville and demonstrate the power of believing in what you cannot not see. For more information about Freewill look around the blog and make yourself at home or contact us.
Due to the somewhat conservative nature of the setting, all stories should focus on heterosexual relationships with a satisfying HFN or HEA ending. If you have a wilder cowboy in mind, please send it through general submissions.
Genre: A Western connection is a must, but we are open to any sub-genre including but not limited to Historical, Time Travel, or BDSM, as well as some paranormal elements such as psychics or reincarnation themes. No sci-fi or extreme fantasy please. Although a little implied magic is acceptable, we would prefer our cowboys on horses rather than riding dragons or space ships. 12K -50K (We will consider longer works on an individual basis.) Sensual to Hot (2-4) See submissions link below for taboo subjects. Remember this is romance so no straight erotica please. For more information, visit http://westernescapedecadentpublishing.blogspot.com/p/submission-guidelines-for-decadent.html
Coming Out Stories
Loose Id wants Coming Out stories — Thoughtful, authentic erotic romances featuring men and women who come out. The coming out theme must be integral to the story. All stories must follow Loose Id submission guidelines. Final deadline for full submissions will be June 15, 2012 but the earlier, the better. Those accepted may be included for release in conjunction with Coming Out Day.
Coming out refers to the expression “coming out of the closet” meaning to tell others about your sexual orientation.
http://www.lasionline.org/the-issues/coming-out.html Note: Coming Out Day is observed in many countries, usually on October 11. In the UK it is celebrated on October 12. For more information, visit http://www.loose-id.com/submissions.aspx
Faery Rose
The Faery Tales at Wild Rose Press are not for children. The Faery line is a fantasy world where you can allow your imagination free rein, a place to enjoy romance with mystical or mythical characters. We are looking for a sensual hero who knows what he wants and who goes after his leading lady. The heroine should always be a female we can identify with—someone we want to see achieve her dreams with strength she draws from inside.
Here are some possible scenarios:
- Dragons in the mist that turn into mortal men and women while overcoming obstacles to their love may have a little lust on their minds as well.
- Elves with challenges to their emotions could be looking for love with a bit of mischief thrown in.
- Ghosts may come back for the love of their life—or serve as the conflict keeping hero and heroine apart
- Wizards, warlocks, and witches crank up the romance like they spit out a spell.
- Futuristic worlds reveal heroes and heroines capable of wielding a sword or a laser, who fearlessly go after what their hearts desire.
- Time travels moving through centuries with the hero and heroine seeking not the secrets of the ages but of love.
And because our line is limited only by your imagination, if you have any other mystical creatures you think might be a fit, we will certainly look at those also. For believable romantic interaction, the hero and heroine must be of the same species or both humanoid. Your work should be a Romance above all, and every story should have clear goal, motivation, and conflict no matter how long or short. “Show†us the trials and tribulations of your hero and heroine—make them suffer. We want to “see†their emotions, don’t tell us; put the reader in the story rather than telling a “bedtime story†to a friend. For more information, http://wildrosepress.us
Compiled by Louisa Bacio
See something that piques your creativity? Louisa Bacio will be teaching Writing a Short Story for Anthology Call-Out on SavvyAuthors.com in January, and for OCC/RWA in November 2012. Make publication a goal. For more information, visit http://louisabacio.com
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December Calls for Submission: Naughty & Nice
December 1, 2011 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Calls for Submissions, Louisa Bacio
Ready to wrap up the year? Making some publishing goals for 2012? Well, here’s a round-up of a few anthology calls to kick-start the inspiration. Get published after reading one of these calls? Drop me a line … would love to hear about success stories.
“Dangerous Places-Dangerous Menâ€
Pink Petal Books, a high-quality boutique publisher, is actively searching for erotic short stories between 7k-15k words for an anthology to be released in April 2012. At this time, we are looking for four to six tales for a 50k-word finished electronic and print book. Both published and unpublished authors are welcome.
Do you have a survivor-type story? A shipwrecked hero, a heroine stranded on a desert island with a hot rogue, or a couple who’s lost in the steamy jungles? Did your hero drop into a war zone or does he work in an extremely perilous occupation?
Submission deadline is January 15, 2012. Submit the full short story plus a blurb to anthologysubs@pinkpetalbooks.com with “Dangerous Places-Dangerous Men†in the subject line. For more information, visit http://pinkpetalbooks.com/Submissions.html.
Virgin Vampires
Darkness falls and they rise, leaving behind a trail of blood and lust. Ravenous Romance is seeking 2000-5000 word short stories for their new virgin vampire anthology, FIRST BITE. We want to see stories that delve deep into virgin territories, whether it is a vampire’s first night, first bite, first f—you get the idea. Let your imaginations run wild…amongst other things. Please submit stories to Tabitha@literarypartners.com, including a short story query letter, your bio, and your short story and a word document. Deadline is Dec. 30. Payment is a flat fee of $25.
A Mind is a Sexy Thing
The guy sitting in the library with a mountain of books, disheveled hair, glasses hiding the beautiful baby blues….we want him. In fact, we want any romance you may have with the nerdy guy, or the computer geek who doesn’t realize just how sexy he actually is…or the guy with the lab coat who spends his days working out long equations for fun. Silver Publishing wants your romance stories with the Brainy Guys!
• M/M Only
• Contemporary
• 15k+ words
• Must have romance and either a happily ever after (HEA) or a happy for now (HFN) ending
• Heat rating: Any
These stories will each be released individually on the same day and will share the same cover art design. Submission Deadline: Feb. 25, 2012. For more information, visit https://spsilverpublishing.com/pages-title-page-24
Bound For Love

Editor Sascha Illyvich
and publisher Sizzler Editions is seeking romantic BDSM stories for our upcoming anthology, Bound for Love. Throughout history love and sex as submission and love and sex as pain have been linked. For example, this link is revealed in commonly used phrases like “the bonds of love,†“the chains of love,†“the ties that bind,†“prisoner of love,†“captive heart,†“love hurts,†“love is pain.†
 
Stories should reflect this connection be between B&D and romance. What after all could be sweeter than a bottom’s submission to a top? In some ways love between leather folks, slaves and master/mistresses, is the most honest straightforward love there is. In short, we want stories that capture the romance in bondage and the bondage in romance made explicit. 
 

Stories for Bound for Love should be 4-9k in length with a focus on the relationship development. Each needs to have a strong focus on both BDSM with a classic romance type of plot and a HEA ending. If either can be removed, the story is not for this anthology. We seek unpublished submissions though we will consider reprints. Deadline: Dec. 15, 2011; expected release Feb. 1, 2012. The advance payment against a prorated share of the royalties will be $25 for stories under 5000 words and $35 for stories over 5000.
Submit to wolfprinceeditor@gmail.com in MS WORD format, 14 point, single spaced, Times New Roman. Make sure to put Bound for Love Anthology submission in the subject line of your email.
See something that piques your creativity? Louisa Bacio will be teaching Writing a Short Story for Anthology Call-Out on SavvyAuthors.com in January, and for OCC/RWA in November 2012. Make publication a goal. For more information, visit http://louisabacio.com
— Compiled by Louisa Bacio
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Indies, Superheroes & Novellas, Oh My!
October 31, 2011 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Call for Submissions, Louisa Bacio, OCC/RWAThis month brings an interesting mix of calls. First up, is a collection of “indie” authors that are looking to compile some special themed anthologies. The erotic romance publisher Ravenous Romance put out a call for superhero stories, and Entangled Publishing delves into the novella market. As always, this selection represents only a sample of what’s out there. If you come across any that should be shared, please send them to me!
All-For Indies Anthologies
We have planned six anthologies with different themes that are spread throughout the year. A couple of examples might be: Martini Madness/chick-lit and humorous fiction genres, Summer Fling/Romance genre, etc. Each anthology will include a mix of genres and sub-genres centered around a main theme.
Each author is responsible for writing/editing their own work. WE ARE NOT A PUBLISHER! We are not going to read your story for approval. If you are picked, we trust you are a professional.
The first anthology is going to be coming out in January 2012. Winter Wonderland is the theme (not the name), and is going to feature every genre. The deadline is Dec. 10, 2011. The second anthology is coming out in February 2012 in time for Valentine’s Day and will carry that theme. The deadline for manuscripts is Jan. 10, 2012.
For more information, visit http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/self-published-author-unite-in-anthologies-on-wg2e
Under the Cape
What’s up in the sky, is not a bird or a plane, it is your hero or heroine. Under the Cape – is a super-hero / super-heroine anthology for Ravenous Romance. We are looking for original erotic romances about heroes of your own creation. They should not be modeled after or based on current comic book entities. Fan fiction need not apply.
Think about strong, passionate characters and world building. Who is to say what excitement lingers after the city is saved and villain routed? Do the heroes fly home at super-sonic speeds to their lovers or does the “victor†strike a new costume to wear? What if the hero of the story has had a tryst or more with their foe? And don’t forget about the possibilities of a sidekick.
This anthology is for the non-everyday heroes. We’re looking for the kind of heroes who fly, shoot bolts of energy or phase through walls…among other abilities. Of course, that’s not to say your hero or heroine can’t have a hidden identity. A war hero crusading at night to stop an other-worldly nemesis? Maybe a firefighter who controls the flames when no one else is looking? Make the abilities so super, they can only be contained by a skin tight costume and cape flying in the breeze. And make your hero or heroine so sexy they can’t be contained at all.
All stories should be original and unpublished stories. Aside from strong characters, don’t forget to give us a good story and world building. Make your heroes and villains believable and sexy. Ideally we’d like to see stories in the 5K range, but no less than 3K – please query for longer works. We’re looking for 10-12 stories to fill this anthology.
Reading period is open and will go until 12/31/11 or filled. Please do not query for status until after the reading period has ended. Payment is $25 flat fee upon publication. No additional payment will be offered. For more information, visit http://ravenousromance.blogspot.com
Contemporary Novellas
Entangled is looking to expand our novella line, and with release dates as early as mid-December 2011 available, we’re actively acquiring. If you write contemporary romance that falls between 20k to 40k words, we would love to hear from you!
- Manuscript should fall between 20k and 40k words in length
- Story must contain strong romantic elements, ending with either a HEA or a satisfying HFN.
- Entangled is not an erotic romance publisher, however we’ll consider any heat level so long as the erotic elements are not the main focus of the story.
- To submit a manuscript for consideration, paste the following into an email:
- A one-page query letter containing your genre, title, wordcount, a brief blurb about the book, and any pertinent writing credentials
- The first five (5) double-spaced pages
- Where we can find you on the web (links will do)
Send your email to submissions(at)entangledpublishing(dot)com. Standard Entangled Publishing royalty rates apply. For more information, visit http://www.entangledinromance.com/2011/10/11/call-for-submissions-contemporary-novellas/
What OCC Means to Me …
October 4, 2011 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Louisa Bacio, OCC/RWAOCC/RWA acts as my supportive writing family. It keeps me sane, provides inspiration and lets me know that when things get crazy … I’m not the only crazy writer out there. (Notice how the first and last cancel out?)
Usually, I use this blogging date to post reminders about the upcoming meeting … but since we’re headed toward our 30th Birthday bash, and we all should know about it, right? – I’m going to share what this wonderful community means to me, and why I’ve gotten more involved.
Honestly, I don’t want to remember how on ago I joined OCC/RWA with the hope of writing and publishing a romance. I’ve blocked so many of those non-productive years, but it has to be at least eight. Yes, eight years …
At my very first meeting, I met the wonderful Mary Castillo, and Jackie Diamond was ever so gracious, as she still is with new writers. The members were warm and inviting, and then I didn’t go back for a long time. Why?
· Guilt – I wasn’t writing as much as I wanted.
· Work – Several of the colleges I work at require teaching on Saturdays, and they always seemed to conflict with the OCC/RWA schedule.
· Children – I had one infant, and started infertility for a second. For those who haven’t gone through it, the drugs mess with your hormones and it’s not pretty.
· Bedrest – When I was pregnant, I was relegated to bed for five straight months. That meant I couldn’t even really sit up. I bought an AlphaSmart and wrote laying on my side, and forgot to charge it … and lost everything.
· Second master’s degree – With my first master’s degree in communications, journalism, I went back to school for a second in English.
· Too busy – For so long, everything else took priority. And with two small children (who are still only 4 & 8), that’s the priority. I didn’t possess mental room to finish my writing.
· And did I mention guilt?
Still, I continued to be a member of RWA, paid my dues for OCC and became involved in a variety of Online chapters, including Chick Lit Writers of America, Passionate Ink, FF&P and YAWRA.
My first book, Sex University: Physical Education, published in June 2010. At that time, I told myself that I would attend my first RWA National conference. I signed with my agent Saritza Hernandez of the L. Perkins Agency. This past weekend, I turned in my fourth novel, an erotic paranormal, Chains of Silver, which is a sequel to The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf: A New Orleans Threesome.
And, I became active within the OCC/RWA family. The group has been supportive and encouraging. If time gets tough, another member is there to offer help and most often, someone else has been there. Being part of the board the past year has been unforgettable, whether it’s simply knowing that Eve Ortega still balances work, family life and her writing, or that strength of character that comes from Debra Holland. The expertise of our published authors Kathleen, Pat Wright and Jackie. Or knowing that our unpublished, Liz, Jaimee, Val, Ottilia and Jann, will have their moment. And, we’ll be there to support them the entire way.
But that’s only the board members. Within our chapter, we have such a wealth and diversity of experience, and so many dreams. Thank you to Brenda, Laura, Erin & Erin, Beth, Debra, Charity, Joyce & Cora, Karen, Julia, Nancy, Susan & Harry, Lex, Tara, Marianne, Mary, Kitty, Vicki, Charlotte, Alexis, Jenny, Jennifer, Charlene, Shannon, Shauna, Bobbie, Linda O., Verna, Judy, Maureen, Roberta, Marilee, Stacy, and so many more. It’s impossible to name everyone, but I appreciate every smile, and hopefully I can be there to help and encourage others, too.
Thank you for being there, and know that you are not alone in your journey either.
This weekend, I’m looking forward to spending more time with my writing family through the 30 Birthday Bash. Hopefully, you’ll be coming! If not, I’ll see you online and at the next meeting. For more information, you should know where to go … OCC/RWA.org.
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