Submissions

SUBMISSION CALL

TWISTED TALES TO TELL IN THE NIGHT
A YULETIDE HORROR ANTHOLOGY

Submission Window: 9/1/25 - 10/31/25
Submit via email: info(at)deathbytbrbooks(dot)com

 

Death by TBR Books is seeking short (500 - 2,000 words) Creepmas horror stories for FALL 2026. We want to be terrified, scaried, and shaking not just from the cold but from your story. The story needs to take place around Christmas and can focus on Christmas itself, Krampus, or Yule.

SUBMISSION WISHLIST
Holiday horror themed slashers, zombies, psychological horror, suburbia setting, pink horror, folk horror with a fresh take on Krampus, and horror taking place in 1990s-2000s.

PAYMENT
$25 payment and an electronic copy of the anthology.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
- Length*: 500 to 2,000 words (*no exceptions)
- Emailed to: info(at)deathbytbrbooks(dot)com
- Attach short story in .docx or .doc
- Format: Double-spaced, Times New Roman, include email address and byline on the first page
- Include a brief cover letter (A third-person bio — no more than 100 words) in the body of the email
- Include a one paragraph summary of your submission in the body of the email
- Subject line: YULETIDE HORROR SUBMISSION: Story Title — Word Count — Author Name
- Submissions sent before and after the submissions period will not be read
- One submission per author and no reprints
- If the guidelines are not followed the submission will not be read

If we want to move forward with your submission we will contact you by December 31st, 2025. If you don't hear from us we wish you luck submitting in a future open call. As a very small indie press we don't have the time to contact each and every one of you. We appreciate all of you that support our bookshop and indie press. Preorder our first anthology HERE.

 

SOME TITLES TO READ FOR INSPIRATION:
Candy Cain Kills by Brian McAuley
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
The Visitor by Sergio Gomez
Snowball by Andre Gonzalez
Where the Dead Go to Die by Aaron Dries & Mark Allan Gunnell
Everything is Temporary by Jon Cohna
We Bleed Red and Green by Jeff C. Carter
To Hell With Hallmark by Brad Ricks

SOME FILMS TO WATCH FOR INSPIRATION:
Krampus
Black Christmas
Better Watch Out
P2
The Conjuring 2
A Christmas Horror Story
Terrifier 3
Wind Chill

SUBMISSION CALL: HOLIDAY HORROR NOVELLA
Submission Window: 8/6/25 - 10/31/25
Submit via email: info(at)deathbytbrbooks(dot)com

 

Death by TBR Books is seeking a novella-length (20K-40K words) holiday horror story for FALL 2026. We want to be terrified, scaried, and shaking not just from the cold but from your story. The story needs to take place around Christmas and can focus on Christmas itself, Krampus, or Yule.

WISHLIST
Holiday horror themed slashers, folk horror with a fresh take on Krampus, and horror taking place in 1990s-2000s.

PAYMENT
50% of royalties of net earnings paid quarterly

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
- Length: 20,000 to 40,000 words (*no exceptions)
- Emailed to: info(at)deathbytbrbooks(dot)com
- Attach full manuscript in .docx or .doc
- Format: Double-spaced, Times New Roman, include email address and byline on the first page
- Include a brief cover letter (A third-person bio — no more than 100 words) in the body of the email
- Include a one paragraph summary of your submission in the body of the email
- Subject line: HOLIDAY HORROR SUBMISSION: Story Title — Word Count — Author Name
- Submissions sent before and after the submissions period will not be read
- If the guidelines are not followed the submission will not be read

If we want to move forward with your submission we will contact you by December 31st, 2025. If you don't hear from us we wish you luck submitting in a future open call. As a very small indie press we don't have the time to contact each and every one of you.

 

SOME TITLES TO READ FOR INSPIRATION:
Candy Cain Kills by Brian McAuley
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
The Visitor by Sergio Gomez
Snowball by Andre Gonzalez
Where the Dead Go to Die by Aaron Dries & Mark Allan Gunnell
Everything is Temporary by Jon Cohn

SOME FILMS TO WATCH FOR INSPIRATION:
Krampus
Black Christmas
Better Watch Out
P2

General Submission Guidelines

All submissions must be original and previously unpublished in any format (including your personal website, KDP, Kindle Vella, etc). We do not accept any submissions involving AI.

Diversity and Inclusivity Statement
Death by TBR Books encourage people with disabilities, BIPOC, women, 2SLGBTQ+ and gender expansive people, and anyone from traditionally marginalized or underrepresented communities to submit their work to us.

Content Warnings
If your work has any particular triggers for people, please let us know in your cover letter. In particular, please include content warnings about suicide, sexual assault, violence, and animal death.