Call for Submissions: Into the Deep Dark Woods

Posted: August 5, 2025 | Author: kayelynnebooth | 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! 🙂

WordCrafter News: Calls for Submission & an Upcoming Release

Posted: January 27, 2025 | Author: kayelynnebooth | 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 Comment

Call 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.

________________________________

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.

__________________________________

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

WordCrafter News: Special Christmas Edition – Looking Forward to 2024 & Early Call For Submissions

Posted: December 25, 2023 | Author: kayelynnebooth | 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 Comments

Looking 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

Author Jeff Bowles

Text: Pop with Jeff Bowles

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!

____________________________________________________

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

Open Call for Submissions

Posted: August 31, 2022 | Author: kayelynnebooth | 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.

____________________________________________________________________

2022 WordCrafter Short Fiction Contest: Call for Submissions

Posted: January 3, 2022 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost Stories, Horror, Science Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter, WordCrafter Press, Writing Contest | Tags: 2022 WordCrafter Short Fiction Contest, Call for submissions, Submission Guidelines, Visions, WordCrafter Press, Writing to be Read | 2 Comments

The 2022 WordCrafter Short Fiction Contest is now open for submissions. The submission deadline of May 31, 2022. The winner will receive a $25.00 Amazon gift card and their story will be guaranteed to be featured in Visions. All finalists will also receive an invitation to be included in the anthology, which offers a small royalty share for your story contribution. Submission guidelines are pretty simple, but as they are different from last year, I suggest you read and follow them carefully.

Submit your story with a cover letter to KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com with “Submission: [Your Title]” in the subject line and pay the $5 entry fee below.

Contest Entry

Enter the 2022 WordCrafter Short Fiction Contest for a chance at an invitation to the Visions anthology and a grand prize $25 gift card.

$5.00

WordCrafter Press wants your visions.

For 2022, WordCrafter Press is looking for original short stories in the fantasy, science fiction, horror or paranormal genres. Past contests and anthologies have been limited to paranormal, and for Visions, your story can still have a ghost if you like, but it is not required. What I’ll be looking for for the 2022 WordCrafter anthology are your very best thought provoking stories, the kind of stories that will stay with readers long after they close the book.

WordCrafter Press is looking for original short stories to include a mix of fantasy, science fiction, horror, magical, and paranormal elements. Previously unpublished stories only.

Genres: Paranormal, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror or any combination there of.

Length: up to 5000 words

Submission Deadline: May 31, 2022

Pay: Royalty share

Rights: First Anthology Rights and audio rights as part of the anthology; rights revert to author one month after publication; publisher retains non-exclusive right to include in the anthology as a whole.

Open to submissions from January 1 through April 30, 2022.

Submit: A Microsoft Word or RTF file in standard manuscript format to KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com

If you don’t know what standard manuscript format is, review, for example, https://www.shunn.net/format/classic/

Multiple and simultaneous submissions accepted.

Find some helpful tips for submitting short fiction here, but mainly just follow the guidelines.

Updates & Reminders

Posted: August 30, 2021 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, book marketing, Book Promotion, Books, Fiction, Paranormal, Promotion, Stories, WordCrafter, WordCrafter Press, Writing | Tags: Anthologies, Call for submissions, Mirror Mirror, Paranormal, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Submission Guidelines, Where Spirits Linger, WordCrafter Press, WordFire Press | 2 Comments

Update – Where Spirits Linger

The 2021 WordCrafter paranormal anthology Where Spirits Linger is scheduled for release on September 20th, and is now available for pre-order. Featuring original paranormal tales by Kaye Lynne Booth, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Stevie Turner, Enid Holden S.L. Kretschmer, and Christa Planko, author of the winning story in the 2021 WordCrafter Paranormal Short Fiction Contest. It will be available in both print and digital formats, so be sure and order your copy today.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reminder – Open for Submissions

Submissions open today for the WordFire Press Mirror, Mirror anthology. This is a paid writing gig, so be sure to get your story in for consideration. For those of you who missed the submission call, you can learn more and read submission guidelines in my oroginal post.

To increase the chance of being accepted, I recommend reading the newly released, Slushpile Memories: How NOT to Get Rejected, by Kevin J. Anderson. It is written as a guide for authors submitting their work to publishers in the hopes that their work will be accepted and published, offering tips and advice to avoid the fateful rejection slip. The major points that came through were to me from this helpful guide were to be professional at all times, and to READ AND FOLLOW THE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES. I know from the preparation that I’ve been given for being a slushpile reader that these can and will be crucial factors in submitting a story that will make the final cut, so take heed as you prepare your submission.

Submissions will be open through October, so there is plenty of time to write and polish your submission. Click on the link to the submission guidelines above and read them over. It’s a theme that you can have a lot of fun with. Send us your best stuff.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Like this post? Let me know in the comments. You can be sure not to miss any of Writing to be Read’s great content by subscribing to e-mail or following on WordPress. If you found this content helpful or entertaining, please share.

Paid Writing Opportunity – Call for Short Fiction Submissions

Posted: July 30, 2021 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Books, Dark Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Science Fantasy, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Stories, Writing | Tags: Anthology, Call for submissions, Fairytales, Mirror Mirror, Myths, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Writing to be Read | 8 Comments

I recently embarked on the journey toward yet another degree – an M.A. in Publishing at Western State Colorado University – and I am studying under the prolific bestselling author and founder of WordFire Press, (and inductee into the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame), Kevin J. Anderson. For one of the publishing projects that must be completed for graduation is a cohort produced anthology. This will be the third year that the publishing cohort at Western has been headed by Kevin, and the third anthology that they have published.

Each of the previous year’s cohorts have produced an outstanding anthologies featuring stories by reputable author names, as well as new discoveries. You can see my review of Unmasked, last year’s anthology, here. The first year, Monsters, Movies & Mayhem received the Colorado Book Award. Both of these exceptional anthologies are available from amazon, your favorite bookstore, or buy direct at wordfirepress.com/gpcw.

This year’s cohort worked hard to develop the theme and guidelines over the past two weeks, and I’m really excited about this anthology. One of the cool things about this opportunity for writers is that it pays per word, if your story is chosen. Since I am a part of the publishing team, I’m not eligible to submit, but all of my readers are. I strongly encourage you to check out the guidelines below, get the gears turning and crank out an original story to submit for this year’s anthology. Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested.

Tips for getting your story accepted: Read the submission guidelines and follow them.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MIRROR, MIRROR:

Modern Myths

Executive Editor: Kevin J. Anderson

When you’re alone with your reflection, are you prepared for what you see?

A prince in disguise? A monster revealed? An alien race?

Mirrors can be truth-tellers, wish-granters, face-concealers, illusion-makers, even monster-summoners. Maybe the mirror shows an evil twin, or an echo of the life that should have been. Or a portal to another world.

What happens when it shatters?

Once upon a time, no one knew the phrase “Once upon a time.” You’ve read the classic stories. Now write the lore you’ve always wanted to read. Explore this creative challenge from your own unique perspective informed by your roots, culture, and background. We want original fables, folklore, and fairy tales for an eclectic anthology showcasing a new dawn of an old artform.

Imagine a canon of diverse characters for today’s readers to love and loathe. Gaze into the mirror, whether literally or figuratively—classic or genre-bending, grim or whimsical, as long as it is new and fresh.

We are looking for original short stories (prose poems will also be considered) to include a mix of fantasy, science fiction, horror, magical, and romance elements. Must be appropriate for a “PG-13” audience. Please, no copyrighted characters. Previously unpublished stories only. Women, BIPOCs, LGBTQIA+, neurodiverse individuals, and other minorities are strongly encouraged to submit.

Length: up to 5000 words (firm limit)

Rate: 6¢/word on acceptance.

Due: We are open to submissions from August 30 through October 15, 2021.

Submit: A Microsoft Word or RTF file in standard manuscript format to

https://wordfirewestern.moksha.io/publication/2/3/submit

If you don’t know what standard manuscript format is, review, for example, https://www.shunn.net/format/classic/

One submission per person, please. NO SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS.

Edited by Kevin J. Anderson 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.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________