Thalia Press is currently accepting manuscripts for the following anthology. In order to avoid wasting your time, please review the details below and ensure that your manuscript satisfies the guideline before you submit a story. New writers are welcome to submit but preference will be given to established writers who have a back catalog of novels or short stories they wish to promote through this anthology. Both anthologies will give writers an opportunity to get their work in front of a pool of potential new readers.
Stories will be chosen based on the quality of the writing and reader appeal. If you have not yet written a mystery short story, please know that we consider a plot essential, with bonus points for creating a puzzle that readers have a shot at solving before the conclusion. Slice of life short stories or character portraits are unlikely to be accepted. Most of all, though, your short story must fall in the mystery/crime genre. This includes spy and thriller short stories. Absolutely no fantasy, science fiction, or romance, please.
Deadline for submissions is September 30, 2025.
Special UNNAMED Project
Thalia Press is also currently accepting submissions or author nominations for a special anthology of short stories that feature cats. If you are an existing published author, or know of one who has a particular interest in the well-being and care of either feral or domestic cats, please contact us for more information at thaliapress@gmail.com. If you are nominating someone else you know who might be interested, please provide us with their name and contact information. Both cozy and dark stories are strongly encouraged as this anthology will contain stories featuring a variety of tones, including noir. Details:
- Submit your query, finished short story, or author nomination to thaliapress@gmail.com using the following naming convention in your subject line: Cats — [Your name or author nomination name].
- If you nominate another writer, Thalia Press, at our discretion, will take care of contacting them with an invitation to participate in the anthology.
- If you are the author of a submitted story, please include an author bio of no more than 200 words at the end of your submitted story or in your query letter.
- We do not accept AI generated stories or reprints of stories already published elsewhere..
- Simultaneous submissions are fine.
- Please double space your manuscript, if you choose to submit one. Word document format is strongly preferred.
- There are no requirements for the plot other than that it be mystery/crime fiction featuring one or more cats as an integral part of the plot. Bonus points for creating a dark or neo noir story that contradicts the stereotype of cat stories being primarily in the cozy sub-genre.
- Authors whose stories are accepted will receive $25 in payment, three author copies of the finished book, and an ad in the back of the anthology, where they can publicize their other work, including their novels. Publicized novels can be either traditionally published or self-published.
- If selected for publication, Thalia Press will hold exclusive world rights for your short story for the period of one year following publication of the anthology. After that, while we may continue to publish the anthology, you are welcome to republish your short story elsewhere.
- Accepted stories will be subject to editing, primarily for style and copyediting purposes. However, content changes may be requested if the editor feels they are needed. While content changes are always the prerogative of the author, if you do not feel comfortable at least considering an editor’s advice, we recommend that you apply elsewhere.
- Deadline for submissions is September 30, 2025.
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