Want to Be in the Bouchercon Anthology?

We still have seven months to go before Bouchercon 2019 opens its doors in Dallas, Texas. However, writers interested in seeing their work published in this year’s convention anthology should be aware right now of several refinements to the submissions process.

As previously reported on this page, Rick Ollerman, the editor of Down & Out: The Magazine, will serve as editor of the coming collection, with the finished product to be published by Down & Out Books. But Paula Gail Benson, who serves as contest coordinator for the inaugural Bill Crider Prize for Short Fiction, today sent me a “call for submissions” notice with the following information, which I have bullet-pointed for easier reference:

• All proceeds from the anthology’s sales will benefit LIFT, Literary Instruction For Texas, which works to enhance and strengthen communities by teaching adults to read.

• Stories must be original works (no reprints) of fewer than
5,000 words. The theme is the conference slogan: “Denim, Diamonds, and Death!”

• The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2019.

• Please send submissions to rick@downandoutmagazine.com. For additional information about the anthology, please contact rick@downandoutmagazine.com.

• The anthology will be published for distribution and signings at Bouchercon in Dallas.

• A story entered in the Bill Crider Contest may be submitted to the Bouchercon anthology; however, if the story is selected and the author agrees to publication in the anthology, the story must be withdrawn from the Crider Contest because the contest rules require that submitted stories not be published before the end of Bouchercon 2019. For additional information about Crider Contest entries, please contact subs.deepintheheart@gmail.com or Paula Gail Benson at pgbenson_4@msn.com.

Everyone hoping to see his or her work included in this anthology’s contents should probably get started soon on their writing.