James Ward Kirk Publishing

This micro press run by (no surprise) author and editor James Ward Kirk puts out several unique anthologies per year, plus a couple of annuals. This is a for-the-love or a token payment press (two $25 awards for the top two submissions). I love many of their anthology concepts and come up with complete story ideas by the time I’m done reading the submission requirements on their open call page. I don’t mind submitting to this press because the ideas are usually instantaneous and I can whip up a story in a couple of hours. These detours make good palate cleansers between working on novel-length projects.

I’ve had stories accepted for several of their anthologies, including “We Are Dust and Shadow” for the anthology of the same name; “A Gift of Light” in Bones II; and “The Box”, which appears in Ugly Babies 2.  I also have a story in their horror sampler and the Barnyard Horror anthology. The anthology editors are great to work with, and they offer good discounts for contributors if you’d like to sell books at conventions and comic cons. They normally get back to you within a day when you send in a query.