No Monsters Allowed is a forthcoming anthology from Dog Horn Publishing edited by Alex Davis.

Horror is a genre overrun by its monsters – whether it be bloodsucking fiends, shuffling undead hungry for brains, feral werewolves rampaging under a full moon, or the squamous terror that Lovecraft called Cthulhu.

No Monsters Allowed is an anthology which will feature none of these things. In this collection, the editor is looking for stories focusing on the horrors that humanity can inflict upon itself. He says: “I don’t want a ghost, ghoul, gremlin or goblin in sight – this is a completely monster-free zone! I’m looking for stories of ‘human horror’, stories that zoom in on the darkness that can surround us every day, filling our newspapers, televisions and radios. Themes might include, but are not limited to: the horrors and spoils of war; human trafficking and kidnap; sweatshops, factories and corporate colonialism; political torture and incarceration; espionage and conspiracy; domestic violence; plastic surgery, S&M and self-harm; murder and cannibalism; religious fanaticism, cults and terrorism; exploitation, neglect and abuse; health and science; etc. It’s the horror in our own minds and in our own lives – whether endured or inflicted – that this anthology will explore.”

Submissions information is as follows:
1) Stories must be at least 1000 words, maximum 5000 words (query for longer).
2) Stories must be submitted as a .doc file to nomonstersallowed [at] doghornpublishing [dot] com
3) Stories must be laid out in Standard Manuscript Format – please follow the guide at http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html
4) Violence, swearing and sexual content are acceptable, PROVIDED THEY FIT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE STORY. Anything gratuitous, or featured simply for shock value, will be deemed unsuitable for publication.
5) When we say No Monsters Allowed, we mean it! Any story featuring vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, demons, trolls, orcs, etc., will be deemed unsuitable for publication. This includes imagined creatures, hallucinations, and creatures that are evil, magical or ‘monstrous’ in nature. Human characters only please!
6) We are looking for stories with a strong horror element. However we are happy to consider dark stories with a science-fiction or fantasy setting, provided they meet the criteria above.
7) Deadline for submission is 31 October 2012, or until full. Stories sent after this time will not receive a reply.
8) Please note that a reply may take 4-6 weeks. If you have not heard within this time, please query.
9) Reprints will be considered – please query with the editor at nomonstersallowed [at] doghornpublishing [dot] com. Multiple submissions will not be considered – please send in your best work!
10) Accepted authors will receive two complimentary copies of the anthology. Unfortunately we are unable to pay for stories accepted.
11) Please send any queries to Alex at nomonstersallowed [at] doghornpublishing [dot] com

For the past six years, Abaddon Books has been publishing genre-busting novels from break-out authors and in brand new formats. So to celebrate its birthday this summer, we are is calling for open submissions for our new e-novella series.

Starting later this year, Abaddon will publish a series of brand new e-novellas – and authors can either play in one of our ten shared worlds or create their own! Whether you’ve an agent or are going solo, whether you’re an established writer or trying to get your first project, we’re interested. Our books are pacy and action-filled, but smart and sharp, with characters that pull you in and challenge you. And our stories are dark, whatever the genre.

Since 2006, we have published almost eighty original novels in ten shared-world series, and have given the world the talented and irascible Chuck Wendig his fiction debut, not to mention the wildly imaginative Al Ewing. It has uncovered Kitschie-nominee Scott K. Andrews, and gave the brilliant Gary McMahon, Pat Kelleher and Toby Venables their mainstream fiction debuts.

If you know Abaddon’s work, you’ll also know what we like. Choose a genre, make it fast, make it tense, make it dark. And make us care about your characters. Make it original! Make us want to come back and see what happens next.

Submissions will be open for the month of September 2012, from midnight BST on 31 August 2012 to midnight on 30 September 2012.

For full details on the submissions process, go to www.abaddonbooks.com

Successful writer, editor and this year’s BFS Short Story Competition judge, Allen Ashley, will be running a regular weekly writing group at Alexandra Park Library, London N22 from Wednesday 19 September 2012. The group is called “Ways into Writing” and will be particularly suited to beginner writers, those who enjoy writing as a hobby, as well as those who want to start getting published or be published more frequently. The group will meet from 5.30pm till 6.30pm every Wednesday, from 19 September. For more details or to register an interest, please email Allen on allenashley-writer [at] hotmail [dot] co [dot] uk

All enquiries will be dealt with in the strictest confidence. So, don’t be shy, ask away!

Cemetery Dance magazine will open to submissions again later this year (please don’t send anything now – it’ll still be returned unread). However, they are only going to open to submissions for two months at the very most. Prior to closing to submissions, they state that they were receiving up to 500 stories per month, with a limited number of fiction slots available per issue, hence the change.

In addition, they will have a new electronic submission system in place, allowing quicker response, saving on the cost of postage and being more environmentally-friendly.

They will be seeking: “Horror, dark mystery, and suspense short stories up to 5,000 words. Originals, no reprints. We want tales that are powerful and emotional—creepy, chilling, disturbing, and moody. Suspense/mystery/crime tales with a horror element are always welcome. Both supernatural and psychological stories are fine. Most common reasons for rejection are: lack of power, lack of originality, slow pacing, poor writing, boring themes. Read the magazine, see what type of fiction we are publishing—don’t submit with a blind eye!”

Payment will be: “Professional rates, minimum of five cents per word, plus two contributor copies. Payable within 30 days of publication. Up to 5,000 words; maximum payment of $250. All rights revert to the author upon publication.”

Full details on how to submit will be posted on the website once the new submission system is ready. The publishers stress that writers must not submit until the appropriate time – all manuscripts submitted before they have the new system ready will be returned unread.

Following the launch of their first anthology, a volume of dark fiction entitled Wolf-Girls: Dark Tales of Teeth, Claws and Lycogyny (seventeen new stories of female werewolves), Hic Dragones are seeking submissions for a new anthology of short stories set in impossible spaces. Impossible Spaces … and the Things we Find There will be edited by Hannah Kate.

They state: “From the conceptual impossibilities of China Mièville’s worlds, to the illogicality of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland, the retro-futurism of steampunk and the Kafka-esque repetitions and restrictions of dystopia – we love fiction set in places that could not (or should not) be. We’re looking for new and established writers to contribute dark and weird fiction for a new collection of stories set in places that bend the mind.”

They are seeking “edgy, dark and weird fiction. While setting is very important, we’re also looking for compelling characters and original plots. Any interpretation of the theme is welcome – and we have no preconceptions about what ‘place’ and ‘space’ might mean. Any genre considered: dark fantasy, urban fantasy, horror, SF, steampunk, cyberpunk, biopunk, dystopian, slipstream. We’re looking for original and fresh voices that challenge and unsettle.”

The required word count is between 3,000 and 7,000 words, and the submission deadline is Thursday 13 December 2012. Since Hic Dragones is a new press they regret they are unable to pay contributors, but one contributor copy will be supplied. Full submission guidelines can be found HERE

Allen Ashley, judge of this year’s BFS Short Story Competition, sends this gentle reminder to anyone who has yet to enter:

“Thank you to everyone who has already sent me a story for consideration. I have my work cut out reading the stories already received and have booked out most of July to do so… but there is still time to send in an entry for this year’s Short Story Competition which offers fantastic, generous prizes to the winner and two runners-up. Full details are available HERE but, in brief, I want to see new, unpublished stories in the broad fantasy / science fiction / horror/ slipstream / fabulation genres. 5000 words strict maximum. One free entry for BFS members. £5 entry fee for non-members (or Paypal calculated equivalent for non-UK residents). Send your story as an attachment saved in Rich Text Format or Microsoft Word 2003. Not .docx format please, it upsets my computer!”

The competition closes at midnight British Summer Time on Saturday 30 June 2012, so don’t delay too long in sending your story to Allen. If you are sending from abroad, allow for time differences.

If you have any queries, or if your manuscript is ready to go, you can email Allen on shortstorycomp@britishfantasysociety.org

The debut issue of new magazine, Fur-Lined Ghettos, co-edited by BFS member Andrew Hook with his partner Sophie Essex has just been published and is available for purchase HERE

The first issue features poetry/fiction from Valentina Cano, Angharad Davies, Matt Hemmerich, Ian Hunter, Travis McCullers, David Spicer, Kate Tattersfield, Douglas Thompson, Harry Wilson and Paul Woodward. With cover art from Jordan Pundik of pop punk band New Found Glory.

Fur-Lined Ghettos is also currently open for submissions for the next issue. Guidelines are on the website, but buying a copy will give writers a better idea of what they are looking for.

Eibonvale Press – publishers of horror, magic realism, slipstream and the surreal – is open for submissions for an anthology of stories connected to the railway. The book aims to gather a collection of works revolving around the railway with a modern and innovative aesthetic ranging from horror to surrealism and beyond. The anthology, entitled Rustblind and Silverbright, will be published in 2013.

More information and submission guidelines can be downloaded from the website HERE

A new magazine of speculative fiction, Plasma Frequency Magazine, is launching soon and is seeking submissions. They are looking for stories ranging from 100 words to 7,500 words (stories under 5,000 words preferred) in all aspects of speculative fiction, including science fiction, fantasy and horror. They state: “We don’t care much for typical clichéd plots and characters with little depth. We want a story that engages us from start to finish.”

Plasma Frequency Magazine is a paying market, paying 1 US cent per word for fiction. They are also seeking cover and interior artwork and books for review.

Full details can be found HERE

Don’t forget that the BFS Short Story Competition closes this month. Allen Ashley, judge of this year’s competition, sent this message:

“Now, I know that some people who enter competitions leave it till the last minute to get their entry in. I’m also sure that many of you are frantically writing and revising your entry to this year’s BFS Short Story Competition. So, this is just a gentle reminder to all you authors out there to make sure you do not miss the boat on this year’s competition. Entries close at midnight British Summer Time on Saturday 30 June 2012. Full details are available at the BFS website HERE.”

If you have any queries or if your manuscript is ready to go (as an attachment in Rich Text Format or MS Word 2003, but NOT doc.x) you can email Allen on shortstorycomp@britishfantasysociety.org