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California Cantata Anthology
California Cantata Anthology
Here at the Kaz, were looking to combine two of the things we love the most: fantasy fiction and California. Thus, we’re opening up a call for fantasy (not science fiction…sorry) short stories about California–specifically about Californian counties–with a historical fiction bent.
Here’s what we mean:
There are 58 counties in California. Each has a history–a real history free of dragons and sorceresses and enchanted forests, which is a real shame. So, we want you to remix some part of the real history of a Californian county with fantasy fiction. For example, did griffins really help miners in Nevada County, California transport their gold to market? What role did telepathy have in opening up Monterey County, California to exploration? You see our idea. Fantasy + a county in California. Just shy away from libel.
We might not have a story for each county, but perhaps we will get close. We won’t know until you submit.
In your story, you must tackle the history of only one county in California. You, as the writer, will be the spokesperson, as you will be the only writer for that county’s history–if your story is selected, of course. Think of it as a fun research project. That said, if we get two stories about, say, San Diego County, we’ll be publishing the stronger one, so consider a story about one of the lesser known counties to up your chances of inclusion in this anthology. Maybe Yolo? Plumas? Modoc?
Make sense? If not, feel free to twitter us @kazkapress and ask a clarifying question.
Oh, and time for the one really anal-retentive, this-is-to-enfore-the-editor’s-worldview rule: if your story says that places like San Francisco or Monterey or San Jose are in Northern California, your story will be scowled at and edited. Northern California means from the west in Sonoma to the east in Alpine and the way north to the Oregon border. Anything south of those counties is not Northern California. Not. No matter what people say. So spaketh the editor.
Payment: 1 cent a word + 1 contributors copy (eBook in .epub or .pdf format (and print copy if we print it)). Anthology is scheduled to be eBook only. (However, we said that about Bronies, so who knows.) Payment will be upon publication. We can pay via Google Checkout, Amazon Payments, Paypal, or check.
Length: 500-5,000 words. Anything over 5,000 will be considered, but you will be paid a flat rate of $50 if accepted.
Format: .rtf, .doc, .docx, or .odt. (We’ll open the Submittable link once the submission period opens.) Standard manuscript format–however, italicize your italics. No underlines to denote italics, please.
More Rules & Response Time: Please no simultaneous submissions or reprints (though you likely don’t have a story like this in your trunk). Feel free to send multiple submissions though. We’ll publish up to two pieces by any one author. We’re aiming to respond to your submission within 30 days. Unless everything comes in on 30 September. (Yikes!)
Rights Sought: First worldwide electronic English Language rights. Exclusivity for 6 months from date of release. Non-exclusive rights to keep the anthology in print across different publishing platforms afterward. [We'll also ask for first worldwide print English language rights if we decide to do a print version of this anthology.]
When to submit: 1 July – 30 September 2012.
Publication projection: Dec 2012 or Jan 2013. Take the word ‘projection’ seriously here.
Show California love, folks! Get to writing. SUBMIT HERE!
Reserved/Purchased Counties, by story (updated as needed):
Humboldt
Inyo
Orange
San Luis Obisbo
Kern
San Bernardino
Kings
I’m working on one for Placer County.
San Luis Obispo. On it.
Just submitted my Orange County story.
Excellent. We’ll send it out to our readers forthwith, bit in the meantime, we’ll reserve Orange for you.
I have juicy Tulare County. There are quite a few surprises I discovered about my home county
Thanks, all, for letting us know what counties you’re working on. However, just to be clear, unless the county is reserved/purchased and in our list on this page, the county is fair game for anyone to write about. A comment doesn’t claim a county or up chances of acceptance into the anthology.
We hope to see many strong submissions for each county.
Competition is motivation =^)
We hope so. We’re excited about some stories we’ve received so far and shall be making some decisions soon (after Comic-Con).
I am interested in submitting to the California Cantata Anthology. Will you accept a story based on the Little Amador Railroad, “the world’s largest model train” located in Amador City, Amador County?
A great story with said railroad wouldn’t be rejected because it had said railroad, if that answers your question.
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Two questions:
1) Do you NEED a cover page?;
2) Do you need me to list all my sources as the Index?
Thank you.
Just submitted 5 stories — I ran out of time or I would have submitted more. This was a fun project and I learned a lot about California history!