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We love coffee and we love books. The two are made for each other. We’re Mocha Memoirs and we’re dealers of diverse speculative fiction. Like a favorite coffee house, we offer new flavors for every reader. Taste one of our delicious and daring titles today!

Open Call: Black Magic Women Anthology

The first of the new year brings us the beginning of something great. Mocha Memoirs Press and horror author, Sumiko Saulson, have come together to celebrate African American women’s contribution to horror as well as Women in Horror Month.

We’re looking for 20 short horror stories between 3,500 and 5,500 words in length, by black women who write horror. This anthology is in association with 60 Black Women in Horror’s upcoming update, 100 Black Women in Horror, so if you aren’t already part of the Black Women in Horror project, please include a 50 word bio and a photo to be added to it, along with your submission.

Theme: Black Magic Women. This is not only about the black women who write the stories. These stories should include black women in some meaningful way. That doesn’t mean a black woman has to be the main protagonist, but black women or a black woman should be key to the story. We are actively seeking stories with diverse people as the protagonists. Do not send us stories where the diverse characters are tokens and sidelined to secondary or villainous roles.

Magic in the title refers to Black Girl Magic, so bonus points for referencing that in some way in the story. Stories do not necessarily have to incorporate magic, but bonus points for incorporating some sort of magic practice or object into your storyline.

This will be curated and edited by Sumiko Saulson, author of “80 Black Women in Horror, and published on Mocha Memoirs.

We want your best, polished, and ready to publish work. We want fresh, invigorating, and diverse stories. We are actively seeking stories with diverse people as the protagonists.

Pay: $10 Flat Rate, and print books available at cost to author

Terms: First electronic and print rights (no reprints, please). Held 12 months after publication

Extended Deadline: January 15, 2018

Send your submissions in to Sumiko Saulson at [email protected]. Please format your manuscript 12 point Times New Roman double spaced. Include your name and story name at the top of the manuscript, centered.

Email Nicole Kurtz at [email protected] if you have contract or publishing questions.