What we want:
Calling all writers who love the Chesapeake Bay! From the misty marshes of the Eastern Shore to the bright lights of Baltimore, from crab shacks and lighthouses to hidden coves and ancient shipwrecks — we want stories that feel soaked in the spirit of the Bay. We’re looking for spooky, fantastic, and science-fiction tales with a strong sense of place in and around the Chesapeake Bay region. Think ghost ships in the fog, bioluminescent sea monsters, time-slips in colonial towns, sentient oysters, haunted lighthouses, climate-changed futures, or anything that makes the Chesapeake feel alive with wonder, dread, or strangeness.
Submission Window:1/1/27 – 13/31/27
Requirements:
Stories must contain a speculative element (Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Slipstream, Magical Realism, etc.) and take place in or near the Chesapeake Bay watershed (Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and D.C. are all welcome).
Feel free to mash genres — mystery, romance, adventure, literary, etc. The only thing we won’t accept is erotica.
Sex, Violence & Language:
We’re aiming for a PG-13 feel. No extreme gore or explicit sex. Watch the language.
Word Length:
2000 to 5000 words. Strict limits.
Original Stories Only:
No reprints.
Format:
Shunn Standard or Modern Manuscript Format.
Use three asterisks *** for scene breaks.
Italics for italics. Curly quotes and apostrophes. DOC or DOCX only. Do not use the Tab key.
We are doing blind submissions. Follow Shunn Format but remove your name and identifying information.
Eligibility:
Stories must be set in or near the Chesapeake Bay region. Writers from anywhere in the world may submit.
You must be 18 years of age by March 31, 2027 (or have parental/guardian permission).
Simultaneous Submissions:
Please do not send simultaneous submissions.
Multiple Submissions:
You may submit up to two stories. Only one story per author will be selected
Generative AI:
No.
Payment:
$25 flat payment per accepted story
- eBook copy of the anthology
- Option to purchase author copies at 40% discount
Rights:
Exclusive worldwide English-language rights (print + electronic) for one year after publication, and non-exclusive rights in perpetuity thereafter.
Questions?
Email us at WhitakerLyonPress [at] Gmail.com