Well, here we are, already a week into October, so I thought I’d take a few moments to share some updates with everyone. Before I do, though, if you’ve yet to check out the Call for Submissions and are wondering what this is all about, you can read the full details here:
Call for Submissions: Gender Ever After (Gender-Affirming Sapphic Romance Stories)
FAQs
For starters, let me address a few questions that authors have had, so that everyone is on the same page (no pun intended):
Q: Are supernatural stories allowed?
A: Yes, absolutely. I fully expect most of the submissions to be contemporary, but I would love to have some more imaginative stories to sprinkle into the collection.
Q: Does the submission call include erotica submissions that are romantic?
A: Yes, provided the romantic arc remains central, I am perfectly okay with a little spice.
Q: Will this book be published as a paperback? And will it be available on Amazon?
A: Yes to both. There will be an e-book and a paperback, both of which will be available on Amazon as well as the Bold Strokes Books website.
Q: Will AI be used at any point in this project, including the cover art?
A: Absolutely not. I’ve updated the original Call for Submissions to clarify that “stories must be entirely written by a human.” I can assure you they’ll be read, reviewed, and edited by a human (me), and having been part of the vetting process, I can assure you there was no AI involved in creation of the cover either.
Cover Reveal
On that note, I have seen the cover, and it is fabulous! I’ll be scheduling a cover reveal in the next week or two, teasing a new glimpse every day, so be sure to watch for that!
Current Submission Statistics
None of this has any impact on the submissions themselves, but I love numbers, so I thought I’d share for those who are curious.
Geography: 61% of submissions have come from the US, 15% from Canada, and the rest from around the world
Length: Currently, submissions are averaging 3700 words, with the shortest being 2600 and the longest 4100
Queer Authors: Approximately 40% of authors have self-identified as queer/nonbinary
Titles: There’s a wonderful variety in titles, with only 14% containing the word ‘love’
Write, Revise, Submit
You still have about 8 weeks to get your stories just right, so the only one who should be feeling any pressure or anxiety right now is me.
Seriously, I love seeing the submissions come in, but take your time, make sure you love it before you send it, and feel free to ask me if you’re unsure of anything.
I look forward to reading you!
S.B. Milne 
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