It's All in the Story 

California, The Sequel

An Anthology

Dust off that magnum opus sitting in your desk drawer. Bring on your finest flash. Dazzle us with your prose and world-building. The It's All in the Story, California, The Sequel anthology is intended to bring recognition and publication to the great writers of SCWA and beyond. We're looking for short fiction that incorporates the theme of California in some way.

Whether your main character surfs the Wedge or sells pot in Humbolt, we want your story. If your piece is about the dystopian aftermath of California's most catastrophic earthquake or someone from afar just California dreaming, we want it.

This book will be a broad-based literary publication. If you're an author, this is a magnificent opportunity to gain exposure and be part of a professionally produced, nationally distributed book. It will be formatted in both paperback and e-books.

We're honored that Janis Thomas has agreed to serve as the editor. Publishers Weekly says of Janis' newest novel, Finding Grace (Blackstone Publishing, 2023) "Engrossing...Those who value character driven suspense will be rewarded." She is the bestselling author of What Remains True and All That's Left of Me (Lake Union, 2017, 2018)

Submission Guidelines

Submit an original, previously unpublished piece in a Word file. You may submit more than one, but each entry will require a separate entry fee. Please make sure your submission is edited, polished, and formatted correctly (1 inch margins, 12 point Times New Roman font, double-spaced lines, and half-inch indents for paragraphs) and does not contain any text created by artificial intelligence (AI).

Entry Fee:  SCWA paid member: $25.00 (nonrefundable)

Nonmembers: $40.00 (nonrefundable)

Theme:  California

Genre:   Open to all fictional genres

Word Count: 1,000 - 4,000 words

Submission Deadline: November 25, 2024

Notification of acceptance: January 15, 2025

Publication date: TBD

Please email submissions with your name, phone number, and email address to our Anthology Committee Chair, Nancy Klann, at: klanncy@aol.com. Your entry will be processed after payment is received. If your story is accepted, you will be invited to participate in the publication.