Upending Genre Conventions One Story at a Time

No. Submissions may reopen after the publication of Tumbled Tales. Please check our website again this summer.

We’re looking for genre authors who cross boundaries. Send us the story that you can’t classify: a story that can’t be pigeon-holed into a single subgenre, or that pushes against your genre’s boundaries. For example, we’d love to read...

• Fairytales featuring witches in space,
• Medical thrillers set in the distant past,
• Romances that challenge gender roles,
• Something cool and exciting that we haven’t imagined!   

Most accepted stories are between 3,000 and 7,000 words. We will consider anything between 1,000 and 15,000 words.

Yes. You may submit a story you are also submitting to other publishers. As a courtesy, we ask that you promptly notify us if you need to withdraw your story from consideration.

• Word file format (.docx, .doc). Do not send pdf files.
• 12-point Times New Roman font.
• Double-spaced.
• 1-inch margins.
• Headers containing page numbers and story title.
• Identify the story title/author name & contact information (address, phone, email) at the top of the first page.

In your email sending your story, please tell us the story title, author name, word count, genre(s), and a brief (under 200 words) statement of why you think your story fits the anthology’s theme. If applicable, include a list of any published or forthcoming novels/stories related to your submission. This anthology will be marketed to readers looking to discover new authors, so preference will be given to emerging authors who have published (or will be publishing) related works.

No. Please do not submit previously published work, including work originally published in a language other than English, or anything substantially similar to a story you've posted online. Sharing your story with a limited group of people for the purpose of receiving a critique does not constitute prior publication.

You are welcome to submit multiple pieces (within reason) but must write a separate cover letter statement for each submitted work.

Our editor will respond to each submission email within three business days to confirm receipt of your work. We will inform you within 30-60 days whether your story has made it to the next round of consideration. In order to best shape the anthology, we often hold back acceptances while we consider other submissions. If you receive an offer of publication elsewhere, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can make a counteroffer or remove your story from consideration.

We offer $25 (USD) for first publication rights. If we accept your story for publication, we will send you a Publishing Agreement setting forth further details. After the agreement has been signed electronically, the author will receive payment by Zelle, PayPal or Venmo (author's choice).  Authors receive a complimentary eBook copy of the published anthology. We do not provide complimentary paperback copies.