My writing day: Australian thriller author Allie Reynolds shares her writing routine

GLOBAL SF MARKET Feminist SF wanted

Gary Dalkin

Aqueduct Press is a US small press which dedicates itself to publishing challenging, feminist science fiction, as well as works about feminist sf or of particular interest to readers of feminist sf. Founded in 2004, this award-winning press has published over 160 books, including titles by Suzy McKee Charnas, Gemma Files, Karen Joy Fowler, NK Jemisin, Ursula K Le Guin, Tanith Lee, Maureen McHugh, Nnedi Okorafor, Nisi Shawl, Lisa Tuttle, Jo Walton and Cynthia Ward. They have occasionally published work by men, including Richard Bowes and Geoff Ryman.

Managing editor Kathryn Wilham will consider feminist science fiction novels of any length, as well as, for the Conversation Pieces Series, novellas, poetry, and prose work of every kind at lengths ranging from 20,000-35,000 words.

Electronic submission is greatly preferred. Send by email to editor@aqueductpress.com. Attach your manuscript in one file and a cover letter in a second. Your letter should be a brief introduction of yourself and your work to date; include your website or other web locations that showcase your writing. Attach a third file with s synopsis of your submission, not more than two pages single-spaced. Attachments should be doc or rtf files. For non-fiction and collections enquire before submitting.

Follow the full guidelines at www.aqueductpress.com/submissions.php which include detailed formatting requirements.

GLOBAL SPECFIC MARKET Baddies bouncing back

PDR Lindsay-Salmon Inkd Publishing have an editorial team who want to publish ‘Bold, imaginative fantasy, horror, and sci-fi sculpted to thrill and entertain readers with the bizarre or delve into the shadows. ’ As a new press the team are working with anthologies at the moment and seek stories for an anthology Hidden Villains: Arise. The team want writers to think about the theme word ‘Arise ’ . It could mean ‘ to appear, emerge, come to light, surface, befall, ensue, stand up, transpire, etc ’ . They want writers to express themselves as the theme moves them and write brilliant stories. Stories, up to 7,000 words, in the genres of fantasy, horror, and SF should ‘ weave the theme into an engaging story with welldeveloped characters and deep emotion ’ . Think of a PG level if writing about sex and/or violence. Submit a doc file online and strictly no reprints, simultaneous or multiple submissions.

The deadline is 31 August. Response time is ‘ reasonable ’ . Payment is ‘ at least 5¢ per word’ plus a copy for electronic and print first publication rights.

Website: https://inkdpub.com

Nature calls

The Working Class Writers Nature Prize 2022 is inviting entries.

The competition from Octopus Publishing Group imprint Gaia, Class Nature and the Working Class Writers Festival is for new nature writing by unpublished writers who identify as working class.

The winner will receive a £300 commission to write a National Parks-inspired piece for Viewpoint Magazine, a year ’ s membership to Campaign for National Parks, a free Arvon course, three mentoring sessions with a Gaia commissioner and a book bundle from Octopus. Two runners-up will each receive an Octopus bundle.

To enter, send up to 1,000 words of original nature writing (fiction, non-fiction or poetry).

Entry is free. The closing date is 5 September.

Website: https://m.lndg.page/SD5dkW

DIVERSITY OF CRIME WRITERS WANTED

The second Joffe Books Prize wants to discover unagented crime fiction writers from Black, Asian, Indigenous and minority ethic backgrounds with the aim of encouraging the publication of more diverse voices in this genre. Favourites in this genre are ‘ electrifying psychological thrillers, cosy mysteries, gritty police procedurals, twisty thrillers, unputdownable suspense mysteries and shocking domestic noirs ’

Specialising in commercial fiction, especially crime and mystery fiction, Joffe Books is an independent publisher, founded in 2014, which has published over 500 books by more than seventy authors and sold over 10m copies of their books.

The winner of the prize will receive £1,000 and a two book publishing deal along with a two year Society of Authors membership and an editorial consultation with one of the judges, who this year are author Oyinkan Braithwaite, literary agent Ella Diamond and Joffe Books Editorial director Emma Grundy. Shortlisted writers will receive editorial feedback.

Submit a full length book manuscript which has been written in English along with a synopsis and your biography before the deadline of 23.59pm BST on 30 September.

Email to: prize@joffebooks.com

Website: www.joffebooks.com/prize