By Lori Perkins
Have you always wanted to write a Christmas/holiday story? Now is the time.
Riverdale Avenue Books, the award-winning boutique publisher, has just put out a call for short stories (up to 5,000 words) for two new anthologies of holiday-focused stories.
Found Families will focus changing the holiday gathering narrative—to give voice to the non-traditional communities –LGBTQ+, Goth, polyamorous, “bohemian,” --hope that although a present moment may feel dark and gloomy, there’s always a family to be found and a sense of home, and sometimes real joy, which is what the holidays are truly about.
Said editor David Valentin, “If you have a story of capturing a moment of peace and a feeling of belonging, that’s perfect. Have a story where a holiday didn’t go as planned, but your character(s) friend’s turned it around and made it a moment to always remember? Send it in. Even a story centered around the complex relationship between a parent and their child struggling to understand each other will work. Stories dealing with intersecting identities and the way in which they interact are also welcomed.”
For the SantaCon anthology, they re looking for stories around the annual New York City event where people of all ages dress up as Santas, Misses Clauses, and elves, head to the bars to get obliterated and blast Christmas music from dusk ‘til dawn. Some put on the traditional outfits we’re used to: the classic Santa outfit, the cutsie Misses Clause outfits, and so many worker elves. But others put on a sexy twist—opened Santa jackets, short skirts and shorts, and slutty worker elves—and that’s where Riverdale Avenue Books is going this year.
Editor David Valentin adds, “For this anthology, we want to exist in the Christmas spirit that happens away from the public eye, behind doors when no one’s watching, and the clothes start to come off and the snow turns to steam. We’re looking for sexy, mischievous, romantic stories that give us a different kind of warm tingling inside. Whether it be a worker elf seducing their boss, Santa Claus or a Misses Claus taking charge for once, we welcome any stories that bring a smile to our face, and a little hope that we may feel that warm, Christmas spirit with someone else.”
The deadline for these stories is short, December 10. If there are enough stories accepted, a print edition will be released. Otherwise the stories will be published digitally.
Please send stories as a word doc attachment to submissions@riverdaleavebooks.com.