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This anthology will feature
stories that take place in
Maine, or at the very least have Maine as a central part of the story (say, a
character from Maine living in California or on Mars and wishing he were
home). Stories should absolutely reflect what Maine is all about in some
way—either through historical exposition, or focusing on things that
typify Maine: lobster, Aroostook County potatoes, Bar Harbor, Mt. Katahdin,
blueberries, or
whatever.
What I Want
The subject matter is entirely
up to you, so long as you observe what I consider a story to be (which
you already know since you're read about my
five requirements). And, of course,
there must be a speculative element: science fiction, fantasy,
supernatural horror, whatever. It can be set at any time in Maine's
history or be in an alternate reality. However, be sure that the Maine you
depict isn't so vastly different from the Maine we know so as to bear no
resemblance.
I want stories that capture the essence
of what Maine is. If you don't live here or visit here, you'll be at a
disadvantage. I'm a lifelong Mainer, I've hiked and motorcycled and driven
to every corner of the state, and I know what Maine is. If you don't
capture that, it won't sell.
I want stories where the Maine elements
are either necessary, and the story will fall apart without them, or at
least where the Maine setting makes them unique and flavorful.
I can't say I'll give a strong preference for
Maine authors; I want great stories no matter where they come from. But I
would like to have more Maine authors than non-Maine authors. If you're
not from here, I hope you once lived here, frequently visit here, or have
some other powerful Maine connection. Simply reading Stephen King books
isn't likely to be enough (although King is a great start if you're not
from Maine... or even if you are).
What I Don't Want
I don't want stories by people who
obviously have no idea of what the flavor of Maine is. I also don't want
500 stories set in Bar Harbor or along the coast or in Portland. There is much more to Maine than those things,
despite what the tourists think. There are mountains and hiking trails,
whitewater rivers, fields of potatoes and blueberries, the Golden Road,
the expanse of Baxter State Park. There's the Allagash, the Penobscot, the
Kennebec; there's Gulf Hagas and the Bold Coast; there's Indian history
and European history; there's Fort Knox and the Desert of Maine; and so
on. If you think that capturing Maine simply means writing in scenes of
lobster feasts and
clambakes and having all your characters say "Ayuh," you'd be wrong. If
you're writing only about what the masses write about when it comes to
Maine, it likely won't be enough. And you need more than a place; you need
to capture the culture, the lifestyle, the flavor of Maine.
In other words, I don't want stories where
I could do a global replace of "Maine" with "Arizona" and nobody could
tell the difference—or even replace "Maine" with "New Hampshire," even. Like
every state, Maine has a unique feel. Find it and depict it.
Length
Stories should be from 3,000 to 9,000
words; however, I am unlikely to accept long stories unless they are very,
very good. Long stories mean multiple shorter stories won't make the cut.
So, make sure the longer it is, the better it is. Ideally, I'd like to see
stories in the 3,000-5,000-word range.
Deadline
As always, until filled. I
am very picky and slow to fill, which you'd know if you read my
five requirements.
How
to Submit
Observing everything under
my five requirements, submit to
editor@epicsagapub.com.
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