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Home > Writers' Corner  > Submission Guidelines

Here are all of our current guidelines. Please note that we cannot accept any email submissions/queries for any of our publications. Please use the appropriate mailing addresses below. Thank you.

Book guidelines
Cemetery Dance magazine guidelines
Grave Tales comic guidelines
Artwork guidelines
Guidelines for submitting material for possible review in Cemetery Dance magazine


BOOKS:
Sorry, we are not currently reading unsolicited submissions for the book line.

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MAGAZINE:
Cemetery Dance issue #50Cemetery Dance magazine
Editor: Richard Chizmar
P.O. Box 623
Forest Hill, MD 21050

Fiction: Horror, dark mystery, and suspense short stories up to 5,000 words. Query for longer material. We want tales that are powerful and emotional -- creepy, chilling, disturbing, and moody. Suspense/mystery/crime tales with a horror element are always welcome. Both supernatural and psychological stories are fine. Most common reasons for rejection are: lack of power, lack of originality, slow pacing, poor writing, boring themes. Read the magazine, see what type of fiction we are publishing -- don't submit with a blind eye!

Submission Format: Send us manuscript and SASE. No electronic submissions. Simultaneous submissions are okay, if noted in cover letter. Let us know immediately if your story sells elsewhere. Please do not send us multiple submissions -- please only send us one story at a time and do not send your next submission until we can reply to the first. Authors outside the United States should send disposable manuscripts with a business sized SAE and proper US postage. US postage can be purchased online at usps.com from anywhere in the world. No IRCs, please. Submissions sent with an IRC may not receive a reply.

Response Time: Averages 2 to 4 months, but stories kept for further consideration by the editors may take longer.

Artwork: We solicit all our cover and interior artwork directly. Query first with samples. Please see the "Artwork Guidelines" below for more information.

Payment: Professional rates, minimum of five cents per word, plus two contributor copies. Payable within 30 days of publication. Up to 5,000 words; maximum payment of $250. All rights revert to the author upon publication.

Reading Period: We are open to submissions year round.

Please do not send any email submissions, queries, proposals, or pitches.

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COMIC:
Grave Tales #4Grave Tales
Editor: Richard Chizmar
Associate Editor: Brian Keene
P.O. Box 623
Forest Hill, MD 21050

Current Needs: Authors and Artists

Grave Tales is a horror anthology comic book presented by the World Fantasy Award-winning publisher Cemetery Dance. Each issue is comic-sized (48 pages, color cover, B&W interior) and features three tales of terror from today's most popular authors. Previous contributors include Edward Lee, Richard Laymon, Al Sarrantonio, Nancy Collins, Thomas F. Monteleone, and others. As always, it is strongly suggested you read a copy of Grave Tales first to get a feel for the publication.

Author Submissions: We're looking for stories that can be adapted to comic format, in the tradition of Warren's Creepy and Eerie, Marvel and DC anthologies like The Witching Hour and Ghosts, and the EC's legendary Tales From the Crypt and The Vault of Horror. We are also in need of short prose stories, up to 1,000 words. Again, prose stories should have the pulp horror feel. What we don't want: anything modern or that doesn't fit the concepts described above. Query at address above with description of story and a short sample, or, if you prefer, the script. The ideal script will run no longer than 8 pages. Also include a biography and list of sales. Samples cannot be returned without SASE.

Artist Submissions: We are looking for artwork in the tradition of Warren's Creepy and Eerie, Marvel and DC anthologies like The Witching Hour and Ghosts, and the EC's legendary Tales From the Crypt and The Vault of Horror. Think the retro look of Bernie Wrightson or Mike Ploog. No manga or other modern styles. We are in need of both interior and cover art. Either send samples to the mailing address above or online via the "Artwork Guidelines" below. Samples cannot be returned without SASE. DO NOT send originals or your only copy!

Payment: Professional rates

Response Time: up to four months

Please do not send any email submissions, proposals, or pitches.

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ARTWORK:
At this time, art director Mindy Jarusek would prefer to receive and view artwork samples and submissions online, if possible. Please do not send LARGE attachments. Links to your website, online samples, or a web-based portfolio would be best. If you must send attachments, please email first for our requirements. For all artwork related questions and submissions, please contact art@cemeterydance.com and Mindy will reply if she's interested in seeing more. Thank you.


MATERIALS FOR POSSIBLE REVIEW IN CEMETERY DANCE MAGAZINE:
If you have a book, disk, or other product that you'd like to have considered for review in Cemetery Dance, please send copies to each of the following addresses:

Richard Chizmar, Publisher/Executive Editor
ATTN: CD Reviews
P.O. Box 623
Forest Hill, MD 21050

Robert Morrish, Editor
ATTN: CD Reviews
22393 Old Logging Road
Los Gatos, CA 95033

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last updated: April 27, 2007


 

Cemetery Dance Publications • 132-B Industry Lane, Unit #7 • Forest Hill, MD 21050
410-588-5901 (ph) • 410-588-5904 (fax) • info@cemeterydance.com

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