Summer Shadows
Coming 2027
Summer Shadows Anthology:
June, 2027.
There is something timeless about sharing horror stories.
People have always gathered around campfires to tell stories about what waits just beyond the trees. Every hike disappears into unfamiliar territory. Every quiet lake hides deep, dark depths. Every summer vacation promises escape... until there is none.
This anthology celebrates the unique power of seasonal summer horror.
Whether the threat is supernatural, folkloric, monstrous, or something Other that can't quite be explained, these are tales where the wilderness or season becomes more than a backdrop - it's part of the terror itself.
We're seeking original horror stories set in and around the places people go to relax, explore, and reconnect with nature. Think camping trips that take a sinister turn, haunted hiking trails, monsters lurking in the woods, ghost stories shared around a dying campfire, forgotten cabins, cursed lakes, swimming holes with hungry secrets, family vacations gone horribly wrong, remote parks, lonely roads, abandoned campsites, and places where the map simply... ends.
We welcome a wide range of horror, from creeping dread and folklore to creature features, cosmic horror, psychological suspense, and supernatural chills. Whether your story leaves readers unsettled, terrified, or unable to look at the treeline the same way again.
We want tales that capture the feeling of summer screams.
Submission Guidelines
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Original, unpublished horror fiction (no AI accepted).
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5-10,000 words..
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Outdoor or seasonal settings should play a significant role in the story.
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Camping, hiking, forests, lakes, rivers, cabins, national parks, road trips, summer vacations, campfires, cryptids, ghosts, folklore, monsters, and other nature-centered horrors are all welcome.
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No explicit romantic scenes.
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Strong characters, memorable atmosphere, and satisfying storytelling are valued above shock or gore alone.
Summer is supposed to be a season of adventure.
Show us what waits in the dark beyond the campfire.
Pitch Here
Parameters:
No AI generated or AI assisted submissions. Any suspected AI work will be declined.
Submission deadline: October 10, 2026.
Every submission will receive a response.
Length: 5,000-10,000 words.
Payment: $25 USD upon acceptance; 1 complimentary print copy upon publication.
All rights revert to author 1 year post publication.
All accepted authors will have
opportunity for advertising and marketing.
Accepted stories may require minor edits or revisions before publication. Any requested changes will be discussed with the author, and no substantive edits will be made without the author's approval.
Title and cover art subject to change.
