Submissions Are Open!

Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime Anthology: Frequently Asked Questions

The Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime Worldwide is issuing a call for short stories for their upcoming anthology.

What’s the name and theme of the anthology?

Passion, Palm Trees, and Payback is the title for the upcoming anthology.

All submitted short stories must take place within the state of Florida and must include a crime.

Who is eligible to submit a short story?

Authors must be members in good standing with Sisters in Crime Worldwide and be a member of a Florida SinC chapter (e.g., FLGC, Citrus Crime Writers/Orlando, Northeast Florida SinC., and Florida Treasure Coast) before submitting their short story for consideration in the anthology.

Non-members can join Sisters in Crime Worldwide and/or Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime here: https://sistersincrime.org/page/join-now

What type of stories are you looking for?

If you’re unsure if your story is a good fit, we recommend reading our previous anthology, Paradise is Deadly – Gripping tales from Florida’s Gulf Coast. It provides a clear sense of the tone, themes, and range of stories we’re looking for.

Are there any content limitations?

Stories must be 100% human-authored, without any generative artificial intelligence (AI) content. The use of AI-powered technical review tools, such as Grammarly or Microsoft Editor, is allowed.

Stories must not include torture or killing of children or animals. For more information, refer to the Sisters in Crime Worldwide sensitive content guidelines found here: Content Warnings – Sisters in Crime.

When will the anthology be published?

We are targeting a late second-quarter 2027 publication date.

When is the short story submission deadline?

The submission deadline is Midnight EST on September 30, 2026. No stories will be accepted after September 30.

How many stories can an author submit?

One short story entry per author.

What’s the story word count?

Between 1,500 and 5,000 words.

How many stories will be selected?

That depends on the length of the stories selected. The completed anthology will be about 80,000 words.

What are the formatting requirements for this anthology?

Stories must be submitted as a Microsoft Word .doc or .docx only. No other formats will be accepted. Standard formatting, including 12-point Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins, double-spaced, .5-inch indent on paragraphs, is required. Please include page numbers; however, no other headers or footers.

May I submit a previously published story?

No. All stories must be unpublished—that includes your website or Substack.

How will the stories be selected for inclusion in the anthology?

An anonymous review process will be implemented. The author’s name must not appear on the short story document. Each story will be assigned a Submission ID number so that the author’s identity remains unknown to our reviewers and judges. The Anthology Triage Manager will assign the Submission ID number.

Who is the Anthology Triage Manager?

Teresa Michael, Anthology Committee Chairperson and FLGC SinC Secretary, is the Anthology Triage Manager.

Will I need to sign a publishing contract?

Yes. Authors accepted for the anthology will need to execute a standard publishing contract. Publication rights will revert to each author one year after the anthology’s publication date.

Who are the editors?

Wendy Dingwall, Martha Reed, and Barbara Ryan will serve as co-editors. After the story selection is completed, an editor will be assigned to work with the author.

Who are the judges?

We are actively recruiting 4 judges to select stories for the anthology. At least 2 judges will read each story. The judges will use a scoring system to rate the stories. The judges’ selections will be final.

Will the anthology be an eBook or a Print Edition?

Both an eBook and a paperback print edition are planned.

Who is the publisher?

The decision on how to publish this anthology has not yet been made. This document will be updated with that information when available.

How are royalties being handled?

Royalties will be paid to the FLGC SinC Treasury. Individual authors will not receive royalties for their stories.

How are rights being covered?

As noted in the publishing contract, publishing rights revert to each author one year after the publication date.

Can I purchase author copies to sell on my own?

Yes. Authors will be able to purchase author copies and sell them themselves at festivals, book fairs, and similar events. More information on purchasing author copies, including price, will be updated once the publication decision is made.

How will the anthology be promoted?

The anthology will be available on Amazon. We anticipate that individual authors will do most of their own marketing and promotion. The chapter plans to host an anthology book launch and will promote it on social media—more information to follow.

What are some of the benefits of submitting a story to an anthology?

There are several benefits to having a story accepted in an anthology, including: