Behind the Shadows IV
Submission Period: January 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026
Theme: Behind the Shadows IV – we’re searching for horror.
Gore is accepted, but good characters we engage with are paramount and a satisfying ending is a must.
Express yourself as the theme moves you.
There is no restriction as to how you incorporate the theme into your story. However, we’ll be seriously impressed if you can work within Sci-Fi or Fantasy, but they won’t be the bulk of the accepted submissions. We encourage you to weave the theme into an engaging story with well-developed characters and deep emotion. Stories that contain infanticide, or rape will not be accepted.
Submission Period: January 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026
Submissions: No AI 1 submission per author; no reprints, no simultaneous submissions;
Submission Cost: Free
Word Limit: 2,000 to 6,000 words
Submission Guidelines: Anonymous submission with no author name in document; 12 pt Times or Arial; .Doc or .Docx; double-space; first line indent; no tabs used.
Genres: Horror
Anticipated Pay: $10 + Royalty share of Draft to Digital “D2D” sales
Each collaborator will receive a share from the sales on the D2D platform. This does not include: Kickstarter funds unless detailed in the Stretch goals; wholesale to authors; or non-D2D retail outlets. Links will be available to direct your customers to D2D outlets.
Timeline Projections:
Submissions close: March 31st, 2026
Review: April 2026
Acceptance / Rejection: April / May 2026
Edits: February – May / June 2026
Production: July 2026
Published: August 2026
Upon acceptance, the author is expected to work with the editor on at least one round of revisions in MSWord. Our publication goal will be the summer of 2026; however, the extensive time needed to review and edit submissions may vary depending upon the submitted works and author’s response times. Inkd Publishing LLC will hold first publication rights for four months after publication and the continuing non-exclusive right to reproduce the work in the anthology.
Authors must provide assurance that their story submission is an original, previously unpublished work, was not generated by AI, is not currently under consideration elsewhere, and that it will not be submitted for publication elsewhere prior to receiving notification that it has not been accepted for inclusion..
D2D royalty sharing: contributors can expect ongoing financial compensation from Draft 2 Digital for stories published in the anthology. An account with Draft 2 Digital will be required to provide royalty share payments.
One complimentary copy of the printed anthology shipped to the US only.
Heightened Anxiety – our Thriller Anthology
Submission Period: December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026
Theme: Heightened Anxiety – we’re searching for the thrills and suspense that quicken the heartbeat of the reader.
There is no restriction as to how you incorporate the theme into your story. We encourage you to weave the theme into an engaging story with well-developed characters and deep emotion. Suspense and thrillers are encouraged over horror for this anthology, but a great horror story may rise to the top.
Stories that contain infanticide, rape, or gratuitous gore will not be accepted.
Submission Period: December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026
Submissions: No AI, 1 per author; no reprints, no simultaneous submissions;
Submission Cost: Free
Word Limit: 2,000 to 7,000 words
Submission Guidelines: Anonymous submission with no author name in document; 12 pt Times or Arial; .Doc or .Docx; double-space; first line indent; no tabs used.
Genres: Mystery with accepted sub-genres of Fantasy, Sci-Fi as well
Anticipated Pay: Royalty share of D2D sales and $10.00
For D2D royalty share, all collaborators will receive a share, including the publisher, for the sales on the D2D platform. Only sales through D2D retailers are shared. An account with Draft 2 Digital will be required to provide royalty share payments.
Timeline Projections:
Submissions close: February 2026
Review: March 2026
Acceptance / Rejection: April 2026
Edits: May 2026
Production: June 2026
Published: July 2026
Upon acceptance, the author is expected to work with the editor on at least one round of revisions in MSWord. Inkd Publishing LLC will hold first publication rights for four months after publication and the continuing non-exclusive right to reproduce the work in Heightened Anxiety.
Authors must provide assurance that their story submission is an original, previously unpublished work, is not currently under consideration elsewhere, and that it will not be submitted for publication elsewhere prior to receiving notification that it has not been accepted for inclusion in the anthology
US authors will also receive one complimentary copy of the printed anthology, other shipping destinations will depend on shipping costs and are at the sole discretion of Inkd Pub.
Detectives, Sleuths, and Nosy Neighbors III
Submission Period: November 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026
Theme: Detectives, Sleuths, and Nosy Neighbors III – we’re searching for the murder mysteries, detectives noir, cozy, and humorous. This is our Mystery anthology and if you think it comes close to the genre, give us a shot.
There is no restriction as to how you incorporate the theme into your story. We encourage you to weave the theme into an engaging story with well-developed characters and deep emotion. Suspense and thrillers are encouraged over horror for this anthology, but a great horror story may rise to the top.
Stories that contain infanticide, rape, or gratuitous gore will not be accepted.
Submission Period: November 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026
Submissions: No AI, 1 per author; no reprints, no simultaneous submissions;
Submission Cost: Free
Word Limit: 2,000 to 7,000 words
Submission Guidelines: Anonymous submission with no author name in document; 12 pt Times or Arial; .Doc or .Docx; double-space; first line indent; no tabs used.
Genres: Mystery with accepted sub-genres of Fantasy, Sci-Fi as well
Anticipated Pay: Royalty share of D2D sales and $10.00
For D2D royalty share, each collaborator will receive a share, including the publisher, for the sales on the D2D platform. Only sales through D2D retailers are shared. An account with Draft 2 Digital will be required to provide royalty share payments.
Timeline Projections:
Submissions close: January 2026
Review: February 2026
Acceptance / Rejection: March 2026
Edits: April 2026
Production: May 2026
Published: June 2026
Upon acceptance, the author is expected to work with the editor on at least one round of revisions in MSWord. Inkd Publishing LLC will hold first publication rights for four months after publication and the continuing non-exclusive right to reproduce the work in Detectives, Sleuths, and Nosy Neighbors III.
Authors must provide assurance that their story submission is an original, previously unpublished work, is not currently under consideration elsewhere, and that it will not be submitted for publication elsewhere prior to receiving notification that it has not been accepted for inclusion in the anthology
US authors will also receive one complimentary copy of the printed anthology, other shipping destinations will depend on shipping costs and are at the sole discretion of Inkd Pub.
Upcoming
Closed
Dance, When They Want You to Cower
Inkd Pub is soliciting authors and artists to donate stories and art for an anthology titled:
Dance, When They Want You to Cower
A queer anthology of defiance, survival, hope, and love
We are looking for queer protagonists in any setting or genre where the narrative fits any of the above themes (defiance, survival, hope, love).
Our intended timeline:
- Acceptances by the middle of December 2025
- Edits completed in February 2026
- Crowdfunding in Winter 2026
- Published in Spring 2026
Submission Period: Oct 1, 2025, to December 15, 2025
Submissions: No AI, 1 per author; no reprints, no simultaneous submissions;
Submission Cost: Free
Word Limit: 2,000 to 6,000 words
Submission Guidelines: Anonymous submission with no author name in document; 12 pt Times or Arial; .Doc or .Docx; double-space; first line indent; no tabs used.
Genres: LGBTQIA+
Pay: None: charity donation – Author copy for US address
Noncorporeal IV: Phantom Dusk
Submission Period: CLOSED September 1, 2025 to November 30, 2025
Theme: Noncorporeal IV: Phantom Dusk – we’re searching for the spooky stories. This is not horror, though there may be suspense and even a dash of horror. A spooky, haunting, incorporeal element is certainly expected. Humor and mystery beats are welcome.
Incorporeal – At least one paranormal entity must be not composed of matter; having no material existence.
Phantom Dusk – Some stories selected will have a component of phantom or dusk to them, it is not required for submission
Express yourself as the theme moves you.
There is no restriction as to how you incorporate the theme into your story. However, we’ll be seriously impressed if you can work within Sci-Fi or Fantasy, but they won’t be the bulk of the accepted submissions. We encourage you to weave the theme into an engaging story with well-developed characters and deep emotion. Suspense and thrillers are encouraged over horror for this anthology, but a great horror story may rise to the top.
Stories that contain infanticide, rape, or gratuitous gore will not be accepted
Submission Period: September 1, 2025 to November 30, 2025
Submissions: No AI 1 submission per author; no reprints, no simultaneous submissions;
Submission Cost: Free
Word Limit: 2,000 to 6,000 words
Submission Guidelines: Anonymous submission with no author name in document; 12 pt Times or Arial; .Doc or .Docx; double-space; first line indent; no tabs used.
Genres: Spooky
Anticipated Pay: $10 + Royalty share of Draft to Digital “D2D” sales
Each collaborator will receive a share from the sales on the D2D platform. This does not include: Kickstarter funds unless detailed in the Stretch goals; wholesale to authors; or non-D2D retail outlets. Links will be available to direct your customers to D2D outlets.
Timeline Projections:
Submissions close: November 30, 2025
Review: December 2025
Acceptance / Rejection: December2025/January 2026
Edits: February – March 2026
Production: April 2026
Published: May 2026
Upon acceptance, the author is expected to work with the editor on at least one round of revisions in MSWord. Our publication goal will be the spring of 2025; however, the extensive time needed to review and edit submissions may vary depending upon the submitted works and author’s response times. Inkd Publishing LLC will hold first publication rights for four months after publication and the continuing non-exclusive right to reproduce the work in Noncorporeal III: Phantom Dusk.
Authors must provide assurance that their story submission is an original, previously unpublished work, was not generated by AI, is not currently under consideration elsewhere, and that it will not be submitted for publication elsewhere prior to receiving notification that it has not been accepted for inclusion in Noncorporeal II Submission Period: CLOSED August 1, 2025 to October 31, 2025
Projected Open Submissions:
Behind the Shadows – Horror
Beyond – Science Fiction
Cthulhu – Horror
Yay! – Queer
Hidden Villains – Mixed Genre
Noncorporeal – Spooky
Detectives, Sleuths, & Nosy Neighbors – Mystery
(This list may change)
