A SONG TO REMEMBER SERIES--FIRE STAR PRESS
Theme: The music of life and love
Length: 15,000 to 25,000 words
Deadline: FEBRUARY 28, 2016
Heat: sweet to spicy (no erotica, please)
When you think of the song "Someone To Watch Over Me," you probably think of the comfort of a safe haven in the arms of your true love. But what if the “someone” was not what he or she appeared to be? What if he were a ghost from the past, or a figment of the future? What if she were an alien from another world or a shapeshifter? This novella duet lends itself to all kinds of intrigue. Stories should be set in the 1940s. We’re not looking for graphic horror or sex—just an “aha” moment and the inevitable decision: What will your hero or heroine do when they discover exactly who—or what—watches over them?
If I Loved You will contain two stories of misunderstood love set in the 1950s. This could be anything from a series of events that are misunderstood by one partner or the other to one big misunderstanding that could cloud the issue of a relationship forever. A man sees his intended bride kiss another man on the cheek and gaze into his eyes and calls off the wedding, only to discover later the man is her brother. A woman learns her boyfriend’s tumultuous break up with her happens because he’s found out some devastating news: He’s suffering from an illness that will take all his energy to battle, and he doesn’t want to burden her. The possibilities are endless.
This Magic Moment will contain two stories set in the 1960s, one of the most turbulent times in American history. "Free love," rock-and-roll, and the civil rights movement changed society daily. In these stories, a revelation changes everything. Maybe a civil rights worker must decide between his passion for his job and his passion for his woman. A Woodstock musician realizes the love he feels for his girlfriend is stronger than the music he makes with his band when he sees her leaving the festival. A preacher’s daughter becomes pregnant and her boyfriend, whom her parents despise, shows them what love truly is when he learns he’s going to be a dad. These are just a few examples of the kind of thing we’re looking for in This Magic Moment. What “magic moment” will drive your story?
Eric Clapton's “Wonderful Tonight” tells the story of what happens to a couple in one single night. That’s what we’re looking for in this novella duet, set in the 1970s, with a twist. In the song, the couple has been together a while, but in these two stories, we are looking for tales about couples who may be barely acquainted, or maybe just met. An incident throws them into a situation where they find love. We’re not talking about just lust, but also a mutual caring that blossoms into the fragile beginnings of love between two people. These stories should be no hotter than spicy, given these parameters. We’re eager to see what kind of wonderful—or maybe not so wonderful—night brings your characters to the brink of true love.
Bruce Springsteen’s hit "I’m On Fire" is the inspiration for this duet of 1980s-set stories about love between two people who are a highly unlikely match. Remember Pretty Woman? Trading Places? The real-life romance of Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson? If you have a story about an interracial couple, a librarian and a party guy, a rock star and a schoolteacher, a wealthy heiress and her chauffeur—any unlikely pair for the decade—we’d love to see it. Make the story sizzle: This duet will be spicy to hot, but no erotica, please. What would make your hero or heroine say "I’m on Fire"?
Chris Isaak’s haunting hit “Wicked Game” makes us wonder about the things people will do for desire. The two stories in this volume will feature characters who do something they wouldn't ever have done ordinarily…but are driven to do for the love or desire of another person. Maybe the “wicked games” people play trap two people in a web of deceit. Perhaps a faulty news report threatens to destroy one or both lives, or maybe friends, family, or life itself conspire against the couple to keep them apart by playing one against the other. Could be the hero sets out to destroy the heroine for some reason, only to realize the object of his hatred is not the monster he thought she was.It’s up to you to determine the reasoning and rules for love’s "Wicked Game."
If you have a novella-length story idea for one or more of the “duet” books, e-mail editor Cheryl Pierson at prairierosepublications@yahoo.com and let let her know your interest so she can plan accordingly and “pair up” potential stories. Please put DUETS INQUIRY in the subject line. Both published and un-published storytellers are encouraged to submit.
The line will debut in 2016.
We're also looking for submissions in our SUNDOWN PRESS imprint for the next MEMORIES FROM MAPLE STREET, U.S.A. anthology. This one is called PAWPRINTS ON MY HEART and is, as you may have guessed, a collection of stories about animals that have been special to us in our lives. Yes, it does include horses.
MEMORIES FROM MAPLE STREET, U.S.A.—PAWPRINTS ON MY HEART--SUNDOWN PRESS
To be released in March, 2016
We’ve all had a pet that left indelible pawprints—or hoofprints—on our hearts. Our next edition of our successful series, Memories From Maple Street, U.S.A., will be all about animals! Pawprints On My Heart will include stories about special pets we’ve had in the past that can still evoke loving memories of days gone by when these animals played a huge part in our lives—either as pets we had as children or adults. We especially love rescue stories!
This book will be chock full of stories about animals that had a special place in the lives of the authors. Anatole France once said, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” This collection of heartwarming stories will serve to prove him right!
This third volume of Sundown Press’s MEMORIES FROM MAPLE STREET, U.S.A is sure to be another winner—we want YOU to be a part of it!
Please remember, we are looking for TRUE stories. No “as told to by” stories.
Word length: 1500-3000
Please send your submissions to: Cheryl Pierson, Editor in Chief, PRP at: prairierosepublications@yahoo.com or fabkat_edit@yahoo.com
DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 22, 2016
LARIATS, LETTERS, AND LACE--PRAIRIE ROSE PUBLICATIONS
YOU STILL HAVE TIME! If you are working on a story for the PRP Valentine's Day anthology, LARIATS, LETTERS, AND LACE, I can extend the deadline to the 15th of January. Just let me know you have something in the works and on the way!
LARIATS, LETTERS, AND LACE
Prairie Rose Publications is looking for some tender, touching Valentine stories for our Valentine anthology, LARIATS, LETTERS, AND LACE.
These submissions will be western historical romances, 10,000-15,000 words, and will involve the receipt or sending of a letter. Here’s a bit of inspiration, taken from one of the most famous love letters of all time. It was written by Union officer Sullivan Ballou to his wife, Sarah, one week before he died:
I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me - perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar—that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.
Your letter can be anything from a true love letter to a letter that announces a break-up of a relationship; maybe the death of a family member that signifies a change for the hero or heroine, or summons one of them back home in a difficult time…use your imagination and write a story about the consequences of the letter you come up with for your tale.
We don’t necessarily need to see the actual letter—only know that it brought the news that created the story your characters are living through—for better or worse.
Valentine’s Day is the day we celebrate love—and we’re anxious to see what you come up with for us, the true love that came about as a result of a single piece of paper…the letter that set things in motion and brought your characters their very own HAPPY EVER AFTER ending!
Stories can be re-issues, with proper rights reversion documentation.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: JANUARY 15, 2016
MORE DETAILS? CLICK HERE: http://www.prairierosepublications.com
WHERE TO SUBMIT: cheryl@prairierosepublications.net OR fabkat_edit@yahoo.com
COMING SOON! Get ready ladies, because we have another medieval anthology we're looking for stories for! This is going to be one of those summer reads that everyone will want to get their hands on--title is ONE HOT KNIGHT. We have not unveiled the cover yet, but will do so shortly--the story length we are looking for will be 10K-15K, as usual. Stories will need to take place in the summer. Easy enough, right? Everything hot--hot men, hot season. More details to come soon!
If you have questions, please e-mail me at fabkat_edit@yahoo.com or prairierosepublications@yahoo.com
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