Spectral Press are seeking submissions to their Christmas Ghost Story Annual 2012. They are looking for ghostly/supernatural tales of between 5,000 and 10,000 words, set around the time of the Christmas/mid-winter celebrations. They state: “Think of the kind of thing that M.R. James and Charles Dickens would have written at this time of year and you’ll be on the right track. The stories should primarily rely on atmosphere, tension, suspense, suggestion and implication to send shivers down peoples’ spines: whilst we are not averse to something of the more visceral kind (provided it works within the context of the story), we are not looking for slasher/unhinged psychopath with a sharp instrument/serial killer or gore-filled fiction.”

The deadline for submission of stories is 30 June 2012. All stories must be original, with the copyright belonging to the author in question, and must not have been published or submitted elsewhere. There will be a token payment for each story plus a physical copy of the book for each author.

For further details and full submission guidelines see the website HERE

Stumar Press are delighted to open their doors to unsolicited submissions for an ongoing horror anthology series Ten Terrors. Each volume in the series will contain ten horror stories from established and emerging writers in the horror genre. The first volume (Winter 2012) will feature Graham Joyce, Mark Morris and eight other writers. Volume two (Spring 2013) will feature Tim Lebbon and nine other writers.

There’s no theme – other than the story needs to be a horror one. By horror, they mean the full breadth of the genre from gentle ghost stories to nasty pieces full of blood, guts and gore. The horror can deal with the psychological or the supernatural, with the fantastic or the normal.

Check out the guidelines HERE for more details.

Further to its announcement that it is seeking submissions for The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes edited by Mike Chinn, Alchemy is also seeking submissions for The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders edited by Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber.

“Standing stones, burial mounds, ruined castles or sunken settlements, the ancient sites that litter our landscapes have a mysterious appeal which cannot be denied. Think myth come to life; old folktales updated; the consequences of tomb raiding; hidden guardians and secret civilisations; from archaeology to tourism; mysticism and myth; folklore to the fantastical. Take us on a journey around the esoteric and enigmatic places that cannot fail to fire the imagination. Intrigue us, thrill us, make us wonder about the where, the what and the who.

We are interested in fantasy, SF, weird and horror tales of all kinds (no erotica, romance or poetry).”

The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders will be published in paperback in September 2012, to be followed by an ebook edition later. Contributions must be in the range of 2,000 – 6,000 words. The submission period runs from 1 April 2012 to 30 June 2012.

Full submission details HERE

The Alchemy Press is seeking submissions for The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes, edited by Mike Chinn.

“The Shadow, The Bat, Doc Savage, The Spider; Dashiell Hammett’s Continental Detective Agency; Dusty Ayers & His Battle Birds; Sheena and Ka-Zar. Hard-boiled detectives, sinister vigilantes, bizarre villains – the staple of the Pulp tradition. We want fiction that celebrates (or subverts) that tradition – as well as taking a wild new look at it. Fiction set in the 1930s and 40s, the far future or mythical past, or the present day. Two-fisted heroes – and heroines – fighting for right and justice in the midnight city, foetid jungles or exotic, far-flung lands. Deranged villains for whom the world is never enough.

Sports stories, spy stories, aircraft and zeppelin stories, sea and pirate stories, Westerns, medieval romance, horror, science fiction and fantasy, movies and car racing – there’s no limit.

THRILL US, SCARE US – MAKE US CARE.”

The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes will be published in paperback in September 2012, to be followed by an ebook edition. The submission period runs from 1 April to 30 May 2012, and this is a paying market. For full submission guidelines see the website HERE

New small press publisher Nightscape Press (established by Robert S. Wilson and Mark C. Scioneaux) will open to submissions immediately following the World Horror Convention on 2 April 2012. They are seeking quality novellas (15,000 to 50,000 words) and novels (50,000 to 120,000 words) in the following genres: horror; science fiction with a strong horror element; and fantasy with a strong horror element.

They will not accept submissions for short story collections, graphic novels or erotica.

Full details on how to submit your manuscript HERE

Polluto Magazine is seeking submissions of fiction on the theme “Witchfinders vs The Evil Red” (an explanation as to what that might mean is given in the submission guidelines).

Polluto is an award-winning literary magazine from Dog Horn Publishing. They state: “Don’t give us typical genre fantasy or horror. We want stories that are out of the ordinary, surreal and twisted, or laced with dark, wicked humour. We want angry voices, new voices, voices that want to toy with the reader and teach them something new and exciting. Take us to dark places, dirty places, and show us things to make us giggle, gasp or gag. All submissions must have a countercultural element. By this we mean an engagement with, challenging of, or subverting of popular cultures and ideologies.”

The submission window for the next issue closes on 31 March 2012, or when the issue is full. For submission guidelines please visit the website HERE

Lovecraft eZine is seeking submissions for special themed issues this year, especially Halloween, Christmas and Sherlock Holmes themed issues. As always, the ‘zine seeks submissions throughout the year.

Full details and submission guidelines HERE

Inkspill Magazine are currently inviting genre submissions (throughout February 2012).

They state: “We are looking for short stories, poetry, articles and art relating to fantasy, science fiction, horror… and anything in between. We want to read fresh, original ideas, or classic ideas reinvented. Be part of a special issue and celebrate the diversity and imagination of genre.”

Submission information HERE

BFS member Andrew Hook, together with his partner Sophie Essex, have started a new magazine of poetry/prose/short fiction entitled Fur-Lined Ghettos. They are now seeking submissions. The magazine won’t be genre-specific so please look at the guidelines before making a submission.

They state: “We enjoy the surreal, the absurd, the nonsensical, the complicated, the simple, the truth, the lies, the complexity of words, the ecstasy of genius, the delightful power we find in the spaces between and dancing at the discothèque.”

More information can be found HERE

Horror For Good is a horror anthology for charity, with 100% of the proceeds going to amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.

Submissions of previously unpublished horror stories are invited by 15 December 2011. Read the full submission guidelines HERE