Swashbuckling Cats: Nine Lives on the Seven Seas
If you think cats and water don’t mix, think again.
I’m putting together an anthology full of feisty felines on the high seas! I want pirate cats, and Viking cats. Submariner cats and explorer cats. This book is going to be filled with adventure-loving cats, puns and fun. I want it to be a wild, rollicking ride complete with sword fights, sea monsters, treasure hunting, discovering new worlds and lots and lots of kittehs.
Be careful not to get too caught up in the fun and forget to include a strong plot and detailed characters for your story, though.
I’m a sucker for a great setting, three-dimensional characters and high stakes. And if your story elicits real emotion from me–laughter, tears, anger or anything in between–you will have increased your chances of success significantly.
Rights and compensation: Payment: $50 CAD flat fee and a paperback copy of the anthology. In exchange we are seeking first world rights in English and exclusive right to publish in print and electronic format for six months after publication date, after which publisher retains nonexclusive right to continue to publish for the life of the anthology.
Open submission period: June 1, 2019 – July 31, 2019
Length: Under 9,000 words
Publisher: Tyche Books
No simultaneous or multiple submissions.
No reprints.
Canadian spelling, please.
Submission form –> https://niteblade.submittable.com/submit/141693/swashbuckling-cats-nine-lives-on-the-seven-seas
Edited to add an FAQ:
Q: What if I’m not good at Canadian spelling?
A: Do your best. I won’t be judging your story based on how well you nailed Canadian spelling and if it’s accepted myself or the copyeditor will catch and correct any words you missed. But try.
Q: Does Canadian spelling mean you are only open to submissions from Canadian authors?
A: Not at all. I am open to submissions from anyone, anywhere.
Oh this looks wonderful! I am tempted to write something for it. Before I do, a few questions: 1) do you accept American submissions? 2) how do we American writers honor the request of Canadian spelling? and 3) would anything Cthulhu Mythos be welcomed? Thank you!
Hola! To answer your questions:
1) Absolutely
2) Try your best, I won’t be judging your story on how well you nailed Canadian spelling. Just be open to myself or the copy editor changing any words spelled in American English to Canadian English prior to publication.
3) I’m not a huge fan of Lovecraft-type stories so it might be a tough sell but I’ve accepted them before, so maybe.
This sounds great and I’m interested in trying it out. However, I have a few questions: 1) What age demographic is this anthology aimed for? 2) I assume anthro cat characters are allowed so the sword fights and such can happen– but I never want to assume, so I just want to be sure.
Hi Ellis,
We’re aiming for an adult audience, I figure about PG-13 level? And as for anthropomorphic cats, yes, they are welcome indeed 🙂
Any chance you might run this theme again in the future? Work on my entry got derailed this weekend, and I’d love another shot at it!
Hi Deb,
It is really unlikely that I’ll do another anthology with this theme in the future. With a little luck perhaps you can still finish your story on time, and if not, I bet a lot of fantasy markets would be happy to read it even if I can’t.