Warren Lapine — former publisher of DNA Publications, which “at its heyday published fiction magazines Absolute Magnitude, Fantastic Stories, Weird Tales, Dreams of Decadence, and Mythic Delirium, news magazine Science Fiction Chronicle, the non-genre Whole Cat Magazine, and KISS: The Official Magazine ” — has returned. SFScope reports on the man’s past and future in their article Warren Lapine returns to sf with magazine, books, and checks By Ian Randal Strock.

Keep an eye out for his new publishing venture, Tir Na Nog, which will bring out a reconstituted Fantastic Stories.

I was just pointed at this new e-zine today. Pays professional rates, yet lets readers read for free. And it looks very high quality, too. I’m very impressed.

Here’s what they’re looking for:

“Beneath Ceaseless Skies publishes “literary adventure fantasy”: stories with a secondary-world setting and some traditional or classic fantasy feel, but written with a literary flair.”

They go into more detail in their guidelines.

Under 10,000 words, pays 5 cents per word. E-mail only. Aiming to reply in 4-6 weeks. They also have a forum, where the editor — Scott H. Andrews — posts Slush Updates.

Received this today in my e-mail:

“Overview

Bill Naughton’s success as a writer stems from his ability to appeal to a very broad spectrum of readers in a manner and style that can be easily understood. Therefore, in judging our annual short story competition priority is given to stories, which, in our view, display qualities similar to those found in Bill Naughton’s work. However, this rule is by no means exclusive and we are most eager to acknowledge excellence where we find it.”

Entries must be unpublished short stories up to a maximum of 2500 words long.

Entry fee: $8 US
Deadline: September 5, 2008.

See the web site for more information.

Well, there’s been some activity at the Speculations forum, in the New Markets category. I thought I would pass a couple on to you, my loyal readers (you must be loyal, if you’re still reading…)

As usual, I do not guarantee ANYTHING.

Permuted Press is putting out an anthology called Robots Beyond. “But speculative fiction is, at its heart, the art of what-if. That’s what this collection is all about: Robots Beyond the normal sci-fi boundaries, crossing into other genres with their customary logic and precision.” Guidelines can be found on the Permuted Press web site. Lane Adamson is looking for stories between 3000 and 7500 words, and will pay 1 cent per word US. No fanfiction. Submissions period opens on January 2, 2008, so wait a few days before sending your stories out. Deadline is April 4, 2008.

WolfSinger Publications will publish This Ain’t No Rodeo, an anthology based on the sport of Bull Riding. 75% of proceeds go to the Resistol Relief Fund for injured riders and their families. “We are looking for stories up to 7500 words in length that feature the sport of Bull Riding. They can be in any genre as long as the sport of Bull Riding is a key part of the story.” Payment is $10 flat. Deadline: March 31, 2008. Call for Submissions.

Maybe in 2008 I’ll be able to dedicate more time to The Word in Writing. I may even make a few changes — but I’m not making any promises. So, here’s hoping your holidays have all been happy, and that the new year brings you more sales than you ever thought possible!

A good friend of mine has nothing but good things to say about this company, the magazine they publish, and their small press.

Sheer Speculation Press

Sheer Speculation Press is a small press focusing on the speculative fiction genre. Our intent is to publish quality pieces within the genre that take the time to enlighten the reader, rather than shock them. Stories submitted to Sheer Speculation Press should be literary in nature – in other words, send us stories that you would feel comfortable sending to a non-genre review or magazine but which are still easily discernable as taking place within the boundaries of the two genres.

Staffs & Starships

Staffs & Starships is a magazine imprint of Sheer Speculation Press looking to print amateur and little-known authors who are hoping to edge their way into the world of science fiction and fantasy. It is our hope to bring to light some of the hidden talent within the North American world of writers. Submissions. Submission Guidelines.

Now, I’ve been on hiatus for a few months. Rather than try to catch up on everything I’ve missed, I’m just going to give April’s news to date, over the next few days. Most of today’s information came from or through Ralan.com. Thanks, Ralan!

I do not guarantee ANYTHING

New Markets:

Drollerie Press is looking for “fiction works of all lengths that examine fairytales in unique and unusual ways. We are also interested in re-tellings of, or stories using characters from, Native American myth and legend.” Guidelines

Cat Tales: Fantastic Feline Fiction is a new anthology series being put out by Wildside Press, publishing “fantasy and suspense stories of 500-5,000 words involving cats.” Guidelines can be found at Ralan.com and Wildside Press.

Staffs & Starships Magazine is a PDF magazine of “literary quality speculative fiction”. Guidelines.

Tower of Light Fantasy, a new online magazine, is looking for “almost any kind of fantasy especially stories that blend genres, such as dark fantasy, science fantasy, and superhero fantasy.” Guidelines.

Blazing! Adventures Magazine will open to submissions on August 20, 2007, and will close again on September 20. “I’m bringing back the good ol’ style of writing that was made popular by the Pulp.” Guidelines

Hayseed Novellas will publish novellas in most styles and genres. “We want rich characters, interesting plots, and a developed voice. Unlike some small publishers, we don’t think commercial is a bad word.” Guidelines

Goblin Reader is currently accepting “Science Fiction (Cyber Punk ), Horror, Anything strange and unusual that is not in the mainstream.” Guidelines

Market Updates:

Backroom Publications says “Beginning in April, we will be reading submissions of novella and collections of fiction and poetry up to 50,000 words.” Guidelines

Withersin is open to submissions until September 1, 2007. Guidelines

Due to increased popularity, Aberrant Dreams has taken on a number of new editors. For a list of the new editors, check their news blog. Guidelines

Trabuco Road is open to submissions until May 3, 2007. Note that response time is now 6 weeks, and they now pay 5 cents per word. Guidelines

Interzone will be open to e-mail submissions during the months of May and November, 2007. Guidelines

As Hub is becoming a free e-zine, author payment rates have declined. Guidelines

Ralan’s says that Atomjack is going quarterly, but is doubling its pay rate to $10 per story. This isn’t reflected in Atomjack’s guidelines yet, though.

Afterburn has a new owner/editor, but somewhere along the way all previous submissions got lost. If you’ve got a sub in there, please resubmit. Guidelines

Electric Velocipede is open to all submissions, and has a new URL: electricvelocipede.com

Flytrap is open to submissions until May 31, 2007. Guidelines

Closed Markets:

Shadowed Realms is closed to submissions, and the next issue will be their last. Read the announcement on the Shadowed Realms Readers Forum.

Walking Bones is gone.

Hub is closed to fiction, except flash fiction between 800 and 1500 words. Guidelines

Rogue Worlds is closed to submissions until August 15, 2007. Guidelines

SpecFicWorld.com’s Featured Fiction is closed to submissions until January, 2008. SpecFicWorld’s Guidelines

Dark Energy SF is not accepting any submissions until September 1, 2007. Dark Energy SF website

Dated Markets (Anthologies, Contests, Special and Themed Issues):

Ticonderoga Press is looking for speculative “which focus on the migrant experience, both from the experience of the migrant and resident, stories of forced refugees and voluntary migrants” for an anthology entitled Belong/A Place Called Home. There will be two volumes: one containing stories by Australian authors, and the other by international writers. Deadline: September 1, 2007. Guidelines

News:

AnotherRealm is having a run of bad luck. Earlier this month, the website “was hacked by some not so nice people.” Now, as they rebuild their site, they are being sued by a certain unpopular agent, because they ‘mirror’ the Preditors & Editors site, and P&E says this agent is ‘Not recommended’, among other things. You can get more info at AnotherRealm’s website.

Noctem Aeternus is a new e-zine featuring horror with plot and characters. It will open to submissions on June 1, 2007 — DO NOT SUBMIT EARLIER. The first issue will be out January 1, 2008. Check out the Web site and Submission Guidelines.