Curvy Girls: Er0tica for Women
Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel
To be published by Seal Press in 2012
Er0tica editor Rachel Kramer Bussel is looking for er0tic stories of 2,000-4,000 words celebrating women in all their curvy glory. We are living in a time when “plus-size” is a fashion catchphrase, but everyone from Meghan McCain to Jessica Simpson to Jennifer Love Hewitt has been attacked for being too big, when the slightest roundness in the belly sets off tabloid “baby bump” rumors, and stars' weight is scrutinized down to the very last ounce. This book is a chance to write about the s3nsual, er0tic side of having “more to love” and/or loving a woman of size. I want everything from big bu+ts to plus-size corsets to pregnant bellies and beyond; how you define "curvy" is up to you, but that should come across clearly in your story. I want partners who are bigger and smaller than their curvy lovers, who seek out fat/plus-size/curvy/fill-in-your-preferred-word-here women or who’ve never been with one. Please note that “curvy” or “plus-size” does not have to mean feminine; I’d also like some butch, androgynous, athletic and other perspectives.
The exact definition of “curvy” I will leave up to you. Stories can be from the POV of a “curvy girl” or her lover. These should be er0tic stories that fully explore all aspects of female s3xuality; excitement and adventure are welcome, as well as stories close to home. The final book will include a range of stories spanning from long-term relationships to on3-night stands. I’m mainly looking for contemporary stories, but a few stories featuring historical settings could be included.
Stories should grab me with the first sentence and not let go. Looking for characters with a range of voices, storytelling tones, diversity of age, race, and location, especially incorporating these varying viewpoints into the plotline and the characters’ outlook on body image and size. Think America Ferrera, April Flores, Kim and Khloé Kardashian, Crystal Renn, Gabourey Sidibe, Mia Tyler, or whoever your favorite “curvy girl” icon is (those are just a few names to get you pondering). No reprints, no poetry. All characters must be over 18. Authors of all genders may submit to this anthology, but the primary focus should be on the main curvy protagonist, though it can be from any character's POV.
How to submit: Send double spaced Times or Times New Roman 12 point black font Word document with pages numbered (.doc, NOT.docx) OR RTF of 2,000 to 4,000 words. 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.) required. Include your legal name (and pseudonym if applicable), mailing address, and 50 word or less bio in the third person to curvygirlsantho@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. I will get back to you by December 2011 at the latest.
Payment: $100 and 2 copies of the book on acceptance
Deadline:June 1, 2011 (earlier submissions preferred)
Rights (text of contributor contract you would be signing - You="Contributor," Rachel Kramer Bussel="Author"):
The Contributor grants to the Author the exclusive right to print, publish, reproduce, distribute and license the Contribution as part of the Work in all languages and in all formats and to exercise and grant to third parties the rights to the Contribution as part of the Work throughout the world (“the Territory”) for the full term of copyright available to the Work in the Territory.
Accordingly, the following are the terms of publication:
The Author and Contributor mutually agree that publication of the Contribution is contingent upon its acceptance for publication by the Author and the publisher of the Work (the “Publisher”) and upon its meeting the Publisher’s editorial standards. The Contributor agrees to revise or allow the Author and/ or the Publisher to revise the manuscript for the Contribution to meet those standards, and if the Contribution submitted is not acceptable to either the Author or the Publisher, the Author or the Publisher reserves the right not to publish it. This document in no way serves as a promise to publish.
The Contributor warrants that the Contribution is an original work; that it contains no matter which is libelous or otherwise unlawful or which invades individual privacy or infringes any proprietary rights or any statutory copyright; and the Contributor agrees to indemnify and hold the Author harmless against any claim or judgment to the contrary.
The Contributor warrants that the Contribution has not been published elsewhere and that no agreement to publish the Contribution is outstanding. Should the Contribution contain any content which requires written permission for inclusion in the Work, such permission shall be obtained at the Contributor’s expense from the copyright proprietor and submitted for review to the Author. Such permissions shall convey to the Author permissions that are consistent with the rights granted to the Author under this Agreement.
In consideration for the rights granted to the Authors, the Authors agree to pay to the Contributor the one time fee of ($100). Publisher will mail two complimentary copies of the finished Work to Contributor. It is the Contributor’s responsibility to alert Author and Publisher to any change of address prior to publication of the Work. The Contributor agrees and acknowledges that no further compensation will be due in regards to the publication of this Contribution.
Default in delivery of an acceptable manuscript by thirty (30) days from DUE DATE may be deemed cause for the termination of this Agreement, and if there is no evidence of satisfactory progress, the Contributor agrees that all monies received under this Agreement will be returned immediately to the Author. Approval of the Contribution will be provided in writing, and will not be unreasonably withheld.
The Contributor hereby grants to the Author the exclusive right to license the Contribution or any portion thereof to periodical, newspaper or other publications prior to or subsequent to the publication of the Work.
The Contributor agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the Author, publish or cause to be published text substantially similar to the text which comprises the Contribution and which would compete with the sale of the Work and/or diminish the value of the Work to the publishers.
Contact Information:
For inquiries: curvygirlsantho@gmail.com
For submissions: curvygirlsantho@gmail.com
Website: http://www.sealperss.com/
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