Update! New Deadline!

*~*~*~*~*~*

In Vikings’ Arms (tentative title)
Editor: Delilah Devlin
Publisher: Cleis Press
Deadline: July 15, 2014 August 10, 2014
For publication in 2015.

IN VIKINGS’ ARMS is open to all authors.

Editor/Author Delilah Devlin is looking for historically-themed stories—centered around the Northmen—for a romantic erotica anthology tentatively entitled IN VIKINGS’ ARMS: Erotic Romance for Women.

Let your fantasies run wild to a time when men wearing bear shirts and conical helms captured fierce maiden’s hearts! Don’t feel you have to restrict your imaginings to any particular era or region—dream about the Rus who served in the Byzantine Varangian Guard; the Northmen bent on plunder for wealth and slaves; Vikings who traded with civilizations as far-flung as Persia; and those intrepid men who settled northern Europe (remember, they founded the city of Dublin!), Iceland, Greenland, and even North America. A few time-travel stories may be considered. And light paranormal is also acceptable.

Delilah will be looking for stories rich in sensory detail that explore women’s forbidden desires. For example, a Viking enters a British keep seeking gold and a comely slave. The lady’s journey might lead her on a rough sea voyage in a longboat to a cold foreign land. He’s expecting a servant; she’s determined to make the best of her plight, and despite his fierce appearance and rough ways, she seduces him… Imagine what happens next…

IN VIKINGS’ ARMS will seek stories to satisfy the reader who craves the romantic idea of that hard but questing man while exploring stories set in the Dark Ages. Traditional themes/tropes can be used, but writers are encouraged to create tales that surprise. Delilah seeks unique stories from authors with strong voices, and above all, she’s looking to be seduced by tales filled with vivid imagery and passion.

Published authors with an established historical world may use that setting for their original short story.

Keeping in mind that this volume is targeted at women, the editor seeks mainly hetero stories, but will consider bisexual or lesbian encounters and polyamorous relationships. This is erotic romance, so don’t hold back on the heat. Stories can be vanilla or filled with kink, but don’t miss describing the connection between strong-willed individuals learning to trust and love one another. Keep in mind there must be a romantic element with a happy-for-now or happy-ever-after ending. Strong plots, engaging characters, and unique twists are the ultimate goal. Please no reprints. These must be original stories.

How to submit: Prepare your 2,500 to 5,000 words story in a double-spaced, Arial, 12 point, black font Word document with pages numbered (.doc, NOT.docx) OR rich text format. Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch and double space (regular double spacing, do not add extra lines between paragraphs or do any other irregular spacing). US grammar (double quotation marks around dialogue, etc.) is required.

In your document at the top left of the page, include your legal name (and pseudonym, if applicable), mailing address, and 50 words or less bio in the third person, and send to invikingsarms@gmail.com. If you are using a pseudonym, please provide your real name and pseudonym and make it clear which one you’d like to be credited as. Authors may submit up to 2 stories. Delilah hopes to respond with decisions in November 2014. The publisher has final approval over the stories included in the manuscript.

Payment will be $50.00 USD and two copies of the published book upon publication. Contributors retain the rights to their work, although the editor requests the courtesy of authors not republishing their work until at least 6 months after the publication of this anthology.

Ms. Devlin has published over a hundred twenty stories in multiple sub-genres and lengths with Atria/Strebor, Avon, Berkley, Black Lace, Cleis Press, Ellora’s Cave, Grand Central, Kensington, Kindle, Montlake Romance, Running Press, and Samhain Publishing. In Fall 2011, she debuted her first anthology with Cleis Press, GIRLS WHO BITE. Since then, she published SHE SHIFTERS, COWBOY LUST, SMOKIN’ HOT FIREFIGHTERS, HIGH OCTANE HEROES, and COWBOY HEAT. HOT HIGHLANDERS AND WILD KNIGHTS releases in Fall 2014.

Direct any questions you have regarding your story or the submission process to Delilah at invikingsarms@gmail.com.

Click Here to Buy!

Thanks so much to everyone who ran out and bought Once is Never Enough! And special thanks to those brave and stalwart few who read it immediately. I really appreciate your comments back to me. If you have time, would you mind posting reviews on whatever site you bought the book? Other readers will want to know about your experience. Thanks, again!!

I spent the day putting together a couple of newsletters, including my own! I hadn’t issued one since October of last year! But it’s time to get into the monthly habit. If you’re not already signed up to receive my newsletter, now’s the time. I have a very nice prize I’m giving away to one lucky subscriber. Scroll down this page and look at the left hand column. See “Newsletter”? Enter your email address there and you’ll be subscribed. And if you’d like to read the newsletter I sent out yesterday and see a picture of the prize as well as read my news, just email me. I’ll send you one.

So, in yesterday’s newsletter, I asked readers to tell me what they wanted to see from me next. I asked:

“Do you still hunger for cowboy stories? Would you like to see more Lone Star Lovers or a new series? Have you been enjoying my Delta Heat series? Are you interested in more paranormal?  Do you prefer novellas or longer novels?”

The answers have been interesting. Most folks love the cowboys, the sexy BDSM stories, and paranormals. An equal small number of respondents aren’t that into cowboys or paranormals. Only a small handful weighed in on story length, preferring novels. Many said they were eager for the spinoff series to Delta Heat that will follow the boys in the firehouse—which is a good thing, since that’s what I’m starting on next!

Would you like to weigh in on what you’d like to see next? As I told my subscribers, I read your emails. I want to write what interests me, but you can influence my choices.

Again, thanks, for your support. You make it possible for me to do this writing gig full-time. I’m not rich, but I don’t have to worry about getting any part-time jobs, either. My job is writing stories readers want to read. The fact I can do it while I’m still wearing my pajamas, is just icing on the cake. 🙂

If you didn’t enter yesterday’s contest, there’s still time. I won’t close down that drawing until tomorrow!

With a very full and grateful heart, Delilah