Call for Submissions: Into the Deep Dark Woods
Posted: August 5, 2025 Filed under: Anthology, Call for submissions, Dark fiction, Short Fiction, Stories | Tags: Call for submissions, Into the Deep Dark Woods, Short Fction, Stories, Western State Colorado University, Writing to be Read 4 Comments
The 2025-26 cohorts for Western Colorado State University’s Master’s in Publishing program have put out a call for submissions. As always, this call is a paying gig, so be sure to READ THE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES AND FOLLOW THEM. If you’ve got a story that fits, or a story idea that you want to bring to life with this theme, then get busy writing and polishing because the deadline is October 15th, 2025. You can find their submission guidelines at the link below.
https://wordfirewestern.moksha.io/publication/into-the-deep-dark-woods/guidelines?fbclid
Good luck and happy writing! 🙂
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WordCrafter News: “Poetry Treasures 5: Simple Pleasures” Release & Deadline for Anthology Submissions – Plus Welcoming a New Member of the WtbR Blog Team
Posted: March 31, 2025 Filed under: Anthology, Book Release, Books, Call for submissions, Dark fiction, Poetry, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press 16 Comments
We’re approaching the end of March, and hasn’t this month gone fast. This month began with my birthday on the 3rd, and a came down with a nasty flue the following week, which set everything behind for me. Life hasn’t dished out a bowl of cherries for me this month, more like a bowl of sour grapes. But I’m finally getting things back on track, although I’ve had to play a little catch up.
I’m still looking for sponsors here on Writing to be Read, so if you’d like to see your book or blog at the end of a series post once, or repeatedly, please consider sponsoring a series. You can sponsor a blog series from the WtbR Sponsor Page. All sponsors will also be listed on the Sponsor Page. Or, if you prefer to make a one time donation, you can do that here. All support is greatly appreciated.
New Release! Poetry Treasures 5: Simple Pleasures
Poetry Treasures 5: Simple Pleasures will be released in April, in honor of National Poetry Month, but due to a couple of delays on my end I don’t have the release date yet. I’m still doing my final edit on it, and then it’s off for a final approval from the poets. Once that is complete, I’ll be able to give you a release date, as the dates for the blog tour, so stay tuned.
I must say we have a fine group of poets this year. Featured poets are DL Mullan, Barbara Harris Leonard, Jude Itakali, Ivor Steven, Robbie Cheadle, Michelle Ayon Nevajas, Gwen M. Plano, Liz Gauffreau, David Blogomony, Dawn Pisturino, Maggie Watson, and Colleen Chesbro. These poems about the simple pleasures in life are sure to warm your heart, and I’m proud to place the WordCrafter brand on this collection.
Submissions Deadline for WordCrafter 2024 Dark Fiction Contest
The submissions deadline for the 2025 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest is fast approaching on April 30, so get those stories into me. Contest submissions may be offered the opportunity to be featured in the Midnight Oil Anthology, which will be released in October of 2025. The winner is guaranteed a spot in the anthology and display their winner’s badge in social media and on their site.
You can find all the submission guidelines here: https://writingtoberead.com/2025/01/01/call-for-submissions-2/
A Big Welcome to Lindsey Martin-Bowen From Writing to be Read
I hope you will all join us in giving a big welcome to the newest member of the Writing to be Read team, Lindsey Martin-Bowen. I met Lindsey as a fan who left comments which sparked a conversation between the two of us. Last year, I reviewed her poetry collection, Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison here. More recently, she offered a rave review of The Rock Star & The Outlaw, which prompted me to invite her to join the WtbR team. Lindsey has spent many years teaching, so a series with writing lessons seemed to be the obvious choice. You can learn more about her on our newly updated WtbR Team Member’s page, so please drop in and see what’s new there.
April will bring the first segment of Lindsey’s new blog series, “Lindsey’s Writing Practice”. In it, she will share writing exercises, tips and advice to help improve craft. Say hello in the comments. Then join us the first Wednesday of each month as we stretch our writing muscles and add to our writer’s toolboxes to make our writing shine.
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This post sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
Stop by and check out our services today: https://writingtoberead.com/readings-for-writers/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services/
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WordCrafter News: Calls for Submission & an Upcoming Release
Posted: January 27, 2025 Filed under: Book Release, Books, Call for submissions, Dark fiction, Story Bundle, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press | Tags: 2025 WordCrafter Short Fiction Contest, Call for submissions, Midnight Oil, Story Bundle, The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Seeing Doubles, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press 1 CommentCall for Submissions for Midnight Oil
The Call for Submissions for the Midnight Oil anthology went out on January 1. Submissions which submit the required $5 entry fee will be entered in the 2025 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest for a chance to be featured in the anthology, which is the third book in the Midnight Anthology Series from WordCrafter Press and display the winner’s badge on your site. The deadline is April 30, 2025.
You can find submission guidelines here: https://wp.me/pVw40-9SL
Looking for Books for Story Bundles
In 2025, I hope to currate a couple of Story Bundles. Specifically, I’m looking at one Supernatural Fantasy bundle, and one Paranormal bundle. However, I still don’t have enough authors interested to make it work. So, I’m looking for authors with books in these catagories who would like to be considered for the bundles. If you are one of those authors, I’d like to1 hear from you. You can contact me at KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com and put “Story Bundle Submission” in the subject line.
The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Seeing Doubles to be released in March
The second book in my Time Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Oulaw 2: Seeing Doubles, will be coming out in March, and I’m really excited about it. If you thought the first book was crazy, this one will blow your socks off. Amaryllis and LeRoy are back after the disastrous jump in time which seperated them, along with most of the characters you came to love or hate in the first book, and a few new ones. With multiple story lines, multiple time loops, and multiples of the characters. This book was so much fun to write, and I know that you’ll enjoy reading it.
About The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Seeing Doubles
In 1887, LeRoy is stuck, bringing trouble down on those around him. When Sissy is kidnapped and he’s the only one who can save her.
In 2030, Amaryllis will stop at nothing to find LeRoy fix what she messed up in the past, when she wakes up in a future very different to the one she knows, one in which she may not be born.
She and a version of Monique which is different from the one she grew up with travel back to 1887 to try and make things right.
When they cross the other time loops, already created, things change, but not the way Amaryllis intended.
Add two time travel regulators from the future who are after the time module, and things start to get wild.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This segment of “Writer’s Corner” is sponsored by The Rock Star & The Outlaw and WordCrafter Press.
A time-traveler oversteps his boundaries in 1887. Things get out of hand quickly, and he is hanged, setting in motion a series of events from which there’s no turning back.
In 1887, LeRoy McAllister is a reluctant outlaw running from a posse with nowhere to go except to the future.
In 2025, Amaryllis Sanchez is a thrill-seeking rock star on the fast track, who killed her dealing boyfriend to save herself. Now, she’s running from the law and his drug stealing flunkies, and nowhere is safe.
LeRoy falls hard for the rock star, thinking he can save her by taking her back with him. But when they arrive in 1887, things turn crazy fast, and soon they’re running from both the outlaws and the posse, in peril once more.
They can’t go back to the future, so it looks like they’re stuck in the past. But either when, they must face forces that would either lock them up or see them dead.
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/RockStarOutlaw
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WordCrafter News: Special Christmas Edition – Looking Forward to 2024 & Early Call For Submissions
Posted: December 25, 2023 Filed under: Anthology, Books, Call for submissions, Children's Books, Dark Fantasy, Dark fiction, Dark Humor, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Holidays, Horror, Kickstarter, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Short Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Stories, Uncategorized, Western, Women's Fiction, WordCrafter, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing, Writing to be Read | Tags: 2024, Anthology, Call for submissions, Charlie Chickadee Finds a NEw Home, D.I.Y. Author, Dark fiction, Heather Hummingbird Makes a NEw Friend, My Backyard Friends series, Poetry Treassures 4: Natural World, Sarah, Tales from the Hanging Tree, Timothy Turtle Discovers JEllybeans, Women in the West adventure series, WordCrafter Press, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services, Write it Right Quality Editing Services, Writing Reference, Writing to be Read 16 CommentsLooking Forward to 2024
WordCrafter Press
2024 promises to be exciting at WordCrafter Press and I am thrilled to tell you about it.
In January, book 2 of the Women in the West series, Sarah launches on Kickstarter and its going to be a good one. Rewards will include not only early digital and signed print copies of Sarah, but Special Edition Illustrated copies of both Sarah and Delilah, never before offered.
In March, Sarah will be released through distributors, and will be available at your favorite online retailers. I’ll be launching with a book blog tour and giveaway, so be sure and watch for that.
In April, Poetry Treasures 4: Natural World will be released through distributors. (The cover pictured above is just a fill in.) Featuring poetry written by guests of the 2023 “Treasuring Poetry” blog series with Robbie Cheadle. There will be a book blog tour for this book, with audio/video readings by the poets.
In May, my nonfiction writing reference book, D.I.Y. Author will be released through distributors, and will be available at your favorite online retailers. If you’re an author on a shoestring budget determined to find ways to write and sell books, this book is for you. Naturally, a book blog tour and giveaway will accompany this release.
In July, we have a Kickstarter campaign planned for my children’s book series. I’ll be releasing the first three books in the My Backyard Friends series, Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend, Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans, and Charlie Chickadee Finds a New Home. After a first illustrator experience which turned sour, these books have been awaiting an illustrator for eight years. But I finally found one, whose illustrations I am proud to have featured in my books, Robbie Cheadle. If you know her, you might be familiar with the wonderful illustrations she’s begun to do recently, and you’ll understand why I am so thrilled to have her as an illustrator. These stories feature animal and bird characters in tales that each teach a social lesson. With Robbie’s beautiful illustrations, they are not to be missed.
In August, the first three books in the My Backyard Friends series will be released through distributors, and will be available at all your favorite distributors. I’ll be launching with a book blog tour and giveaway.
In September, a by invitation only themed anthology, Tales From The Hanging Tree, will be released through distributors and launched with a book blog tour and giveaway, with audio/video readings by the authors.
In October, the 2024 WordCrafter anthology will be released. Each year I release the annual anthology in October, which is just a scary month. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I love scary stories, and other scary stuff, so releasing in October is condusive to dark fiction. In 2023, we had a great line-up of dark and scary stories in Midnight Roost, so we’re going with a dark fiction theme again this year. It will include both by invitation submissions and contest submissions that are worthy, and feature the winning story from the contest. (See Call for Submissions below.)
WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services
I’m happy to announce that in 2024, WordCrafter will be adding Book Trailers to our list of quality author services. We will have three different trailer designers available to choose from: myself, Robbie Cheadle and DL Mullan, and they will be offered at affordable prices.
Other services offered include editing and publishing services and WordCrafter Book Blog Tours. I still have time slots available for editing services into 2024. Learn more at Write it Right Quality Editing Services.
Writing to be Read
On Writing to be Read, 2024 promises more of the new monthly blog series, “POP with Jeff Bowles”, which has been well recepted. A blog series about all things POP, the first Wednesday of every month.
We also have a new addition to the WtbR team. Starting in January, DL Mullan will be bringing us another new blog series the first Friday of each month, “Undawntech: Technology and the Creative Arts”. Be sure to check it out and give Dawn a big welcome.
Call for Submissions – 2024 WordCrafter Anthology
It’s time for the Call for Submissions for the 2024 WordCrafter Anthology, which we’re calling “Dark Fiction” for now. Dark fiction is the theme: horror, paranormal, dark fantasy, science fiction, speculative fiction. Any genre as long as it is dark or scary will do. I’m leaving it wide in the hopes of bringing in a diverse selection of stories that will keep readers awake at night.
Submission Guidelines
Genres: Paranormal, Dark Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Dark Humor, Speculative Fiction any combination there of.
Length: up to 5000 words
Submission Deadline: April 30, 2023
Submissions open January 1 and close on April 30. Watch for the January 1 post for full submission guidelines and contest entry.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All!
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Join Kaye Lynne Booth & WordCrafter Press Readers’ Group for WordCrafter Press book & event news, including the awesome releases of author Kaye Lynne Booth. Get a free digital copy of her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction, as a sampling of her works just for joining
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Open Call for Submissions
Posted: August 31, 2022 Filed under: Anthology, Call for submissions, Fantasy, Fiction, Writing, Writing Challenge, Writing Opportunity | Tags: Call for submissions, Merciless Mermaids, Paid Writing Opportunity, Western Colorado University, WordFire Press, Writing to be Read 2 Comments
The call for submissions for the 2023 Western Colorado University & WordFire Press anthology is open… the theme revealed. So, put on your author caps and break out the keyboards, and submit your story today. Professional rates paid. Read full guidelines here: https://wordfirewestern.moksha.io/publication/merciless-mermaids-tails-from-the-deep/guidelines
MERCILESS MERMAIDS: Tails from the Deep
Think deep—the deep of the sea, the deep of space, the deep of our souls, our fears, ourselves. Here, it’s not the monsters under your bed; it’s the mermaids under your boat.
Can you see the shapes in the waters that watch you? Can you hear the mermaid’s call?
Old sailors tried to warn us. You can find their stories in water-stained journals and letters throughout histories and cultures. People of the land laughed at them, calling their stories mere legends and fairy tales. Now it’s your turn to tell the real stories behind these tails found in the deep, the dangers in dark waters.
Will the merfolk prey on humans once the land-bound civilizations fall? Do they snatch men for research? What of the siren who is wildly tone deaf? Does your merman surface on some faraway planet, stare through mists at the newcomers and think Never. Again.
We’re sounding the ship’s bell for stories about malevolent and merciless merfolk of all kinds. Give us your mermaids who fought for the wrong reasons, made tough by their circumstances or by their own choices. Show us their schemes and villainous wiles, the fairytales that end in blood. Or laughter. Tempt us with their twisted workings across time and space, colors and creeds.
Deep down you know that the darkness has a tail.
Edited by Kevin J. Anderson and Allyson Longueira with an editorial team provided by Western Colorado University Graduate Program in Creative Writing, Publishing MA students. Anthology made possible by a generous contribution from Draft2Digital.
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Join Kaye Lynne Booth & WordCrafter Press Readers’ Group for WordCrafter Press book & event news, including the awesome releases of author Kaye Lynne Booth. Get a free digital copy of her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction, as a sampling of her works just for joining.
