OPEN CALL
AURELIA LEO presents Sovereign: An Anthology of Black Fantasy Fiction seeking authors from Africa and the African Diaspora exploring certain aspects of the genre.
More specifically, we want fantasy in the following sub-genres/themes:
- Heroic
- Mythic
- Flintlock
- Gaslamp
- Medieval
- Religious
- Weird West
- Arcanepunk
- High/Epic Fantasy
- Sword and Soul/Planet
- Noblebright/Nobledark
- Fables/Fairytale Retellings
The cover illustration will feature “Knight Duties” by the wonderful Nigerian-based artist LA Draws/Ajayi Olajide.
GUIDELINES
Submit? pridebookcafe.com/submit or or heypublisher.com/publishers/aurelia-leo
(Flexible) Deadline: July 16, 2022
Publication Date: TBA 2023 (post-Kickstarter campaign)
Payment:
- Original Fiction: $0.08/word for the first 1,000 words, and $0.01/word after
- Reprints: $0.01/word
Payment will be rendered within 30 days of the finalization of the TOC. If a Kickstarter campaign is successfully funded, original fiction will be raised to $0.08/word for their full word count.
Demographic? Only Black authors
Length? Flash (1,000 words) up to novella length (39,999 words) (NOT FLEXIBLE)
Format? Shunn Modern Manuscript Format
Track submissions using Duotrope and The Submission Grinder.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Supreme Deceivers by RJ Mustafa (2,577): TBA
A Pod of Mermaids by Eugen Bacon (2,700) (REPRINT): TBA
The Mythology of Us by La Toya Hankins (3789): TBA***
How the End Begins by Gabrielle Emem Harry (4,500): TBA
Ogbanje by Kasimma (4,500): TBA***
A Matter of Redemption by Mhembeuter Jeremiah Orhemba (5,000): TBA
The Tenth Medjay by Amrit B. Pandey (6,630): TBA
The Killing Storms: A Ki Khanga Adventure by Milton J. Davis (9,076): TBA***
Luela: The City of Outcasts by Shanice Ndlovu (12,300): TBA***
An Irrational Love by Marika Bailey (15,000) (REPRINT): TBA
RULES
- Translations are accepted
- Simultaneous submissions to other markets are accepted
- Only two submissions allowed in total (one original and one reprinted story)
RIGHTS
- Copyright remains with the author at all times
- Non-exclusive archival rights as long as the website(s) hosting the work are online
- First world electronic and print rights in English with exclusivity for 12 months from the date of publication
- If selected to be republished in another anthology in the future, payment in royalties is $0.01USD per word
- If selected for a podcast or audiobook, payment is $0.01USD per word for non-exclusive electronic audio rights
HARD SALES
- Excerpts out of a novel
- Poorly formatted and edited work
- Overtly racist, sexist, or violent work
ABSOLUTE NO
- Fanfiction of any kind
- Works above the word count
- Taboo elements (rape in all forms, incest, pedophilia, etc.) in almost all cases
OF INTEREST
- Settings outside of the United States of America, or the United States of America as we know it
- Protagonists that are Queer, Trans, Plus-Sized, Woman, and other types of diversity beyond just race
- Intersectionality in regards to gender, class, ability status, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, and so on
We take 2-3 weeks to respond to submissions. If you haven’t received a response by then, please query. If you have any questions, please contact us.
