Bibliotheca Alexandrina, whose devotional anthologies I have contributed to in the past, are in the process of calling for submissions with respect to an upcoming anthology dedicated to the Dark Gods. Deities that fall within this category include Hecate, Kali, Loki, Set, Lilith, Ereshkigal, Hel, and Hades, amongst others. Even benevolent deities such as Apollo, Freyja, Isis, and Brigid all have their shadow sides.
Dark is often associated with things like death, war, destruction, and violent change. But dark does not equal evil, even if the ways of the dark ones are often sombre, mysterious, and even frightening.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina are seeking stories and poems of the Dark Gods and Goddesses of any pantheon or religion. Make these deities accessible, turn the old stories on their heads, or show the Dark Ones in all their glory (but in a way that makes them more than just a villain or nemesis for some other deity).
Poems and short stories in any speculative fiction genre are welcome: urban fantasy, epic fantasy, hard science fiction, military science fiction, space opera, horror, magical realism, steampunk, et cetera.
Short stories should run 100 to 10,000 words. The longer the story, the stronger it needs to be. Long-form poems are welcome, but again, they must hold our interest. Prose-poems will find an appreciative audience.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina are not looking for overly gruesome or erotic outings. If you think you have something that is a little outside these guidelines, but might work, query.
No attachments; please submit the story or poem in the body of an email. You can submit more than one item.
Poems can be submitted together, but send stories or prose poems separately.
No plagiarism.
Reprints are acceptable, provided the author retains control of the work.
Upon acceptance, the author will be required to sign a permission to publish form; contributors retain all rights.
All contributors will receive a coupon code which will allow them to purchase three copies at-cost; contributors will also be provided with a free .pdf for personal use.
The submissions period opens 1 November 2015 and closes 1 April 2016, with a projected release date of Summer 2016 (that is Summer in the Northern Hemisphere).
