1st August 2008

In December 2008, Comma Press will publish ReBerth, an anthology of short stories from the European port cities known collectively as the ‘Cities on the Edge’ (Bremen, Gdansk, Istanbul, Liverpool, Marseille and Naples).

We’re currently inviting submissions of Liverpool stories to be considered for the anthology.

About the Reberth Anthology

Featuring two 2 stories set in each of the ‘Cities on the Edge’, ReBerth aims to give a flavour of the peculiar cultural potency of these port cities: their diverse traditions and religions; their cultural practices (both old and new); their movement away from reliance on a shipping economy, and towards a model of cultural regeneration and exchange; and above all, their ‘edginess’.

We particularly welcome stories embracing the notion that port cities are a destination – and sometimes a stepping-off point - for migrant communities: people embarking on a new life; in search of sanctuary, salvation, or rebirth.

What we are looking for:
• Cohesive, subtle, insightful and well-shaped stories of literary merit.
• Stories which touch on one or more of the above themes.
• Stories set against the recognizable backdrop of the city of Liverpool (or in which geographical features of the city play a role in the story).
• Contemporary stories (stories set within the past twenty-five years).

What we’re not looking for:
• Character sketches, anecdotes, comic capers (particularly comic capers featuring ‘loveable rogues’), benign childhood memoirs.
• Stories which set aside clunky, separate passages for scene setting, characterization, plot exposition or flashback.
• Stories including any material to which the author does not own copyright (e.g. song lyrics).
• Previously published works.

Submissions should be between 1000 and 5000 words in length (approx).

2 submissions maximum per author will be considered.
We will pay authors £200 for stories we include in the anthology.

Please note: Comma Press will not publish anything that could be deemed libellous in character, or offensive to any individual or group of individuals, regardless of the intention of the author (for the avoidance of doubt, this includes any material which, in the opinion of the editors, could be regarded as racist, blasphemous, homophobic, offensive to minorities or to any specific groups or communities).

You are strongly urged to visit the ‘General Guidelines’ below and the Editorial page of the website (www.commapress.co.uk) for further guidance on submitting manuscripts to us.

The editors' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Please email submissions as a double-spaced word document attachment before Friday 1st August 2008 to [email protected]

Please see the Comma Press website for more details