Dear European SF Writers:
Things are not as cheery as we might like in E. – W. relations in Europe and my close friend Forry Ackerman is no longer around to be a role model and goodwill ambassador, so I am writing to you now.
Call For Participation for SF writers from E., W., N., and S., Europe for a brand, spankin’ new English-in-Translation European SF story collection.
We wish to include lesser-represented parts of Europe, especially. We tend to science fiction or ‘speculative fiction’ as a more general term, rather than genre fantasy or horror.
Our European “idea man” Cristian Tamas has suggested I get down to some specifics, so here are the Q&A about our proposed text:
What are the other conditions concerning the project of (working title) “Planet Europa” ?
It’s a non-profit project ?
It is non-profit. If a book is put out by a smaller press like McFarland, there are no royalties except a few dollars that trickle in over the first year or so. Copies sell in the tens, not tens of thousands.
The contributions will be paid ?
Just in copies of the text if we use a small-to-medium publisher like McFarland.
Authors’ rights ?
I think that McFarland keeps the rights until the edition is out of print, which happens after a couple years.
I will write our series editor Don Palumbo ( for the critical essay collection Orbiting Ray Bradbury’s Mars) for confirmation of their conditions.McFarland is a publisher where we have a good chance. I find any big publishers are will to take the book, then contributors might get paid.
Deadline ?
None until we have a publisher. But start now if anyone is translating a previously written story into English. Do not wait for our landing the publisher.
Editor’s e-mail address ?
Gloria McMillan : glomc[at]dakotacom[dot]net
Only texts translated into English ?
English texts make this easier because I can’t do translations from all the languages and good translators are expensive.
Reprints or just non-published works ?
We can use any story that has been published in another language than English, but just not if it has already been published in English. I think the best we can do is to give European SF writers a chance at exposure in English.
Dimension of the texts ? How many words or signs ?
I would set a rough limit at 8,000 words.
Manuscript guidelines ?
8000 words is about 20 pp. 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Use a Word .doc file or an .rtf file. Single-spaced is fine.
Short author’s bio ?
Just a few sentences would be wonderful for readers to have.
Author’s picture ?
If authors are comfortable with sending a photo, that is a way to get to know them, as well.
May the Good Universal Vibes be with us,
Gloria McMillan, Ph.D. Research Associate, Dept. of English, University of Arizona, U.S.A.
Editor, Orbiting Ray Bradbury’s Mars: Biographical, Anthropological, Literary, Scientific and Other Perspectives (Critical Explorations in Science Fiction and Fantasy), McFarland Pub., 2013.
