📦 Signed, Sealed… Deceased
A Cozy Mystery Anthology - Coming in August 2025
Call for Short Stories
Submissions Open: June 1 – 21, 2025
Payment: 50$ CAD
Eligibility: Canadian citizens only
Theme:
We are seeking quirky cozy mystery short stories (3,000–5,000 words), specifically Postal, delivery, and communication-themed mysteries
Stories involving letters, missing packages, messages from the past, or unexpected deliveries—each leading to a mystery.
Content Requirements:
PG-13 max: no gore, explicit sexual content, or graphic violence
Original, unpublished work only
No AI-generated content
No simultaneous submissions or reprints
Canadian citizens only (proof required upon acceptance)
File Guidelines:
Submit your story as a .docx or .rtf file
Do not include your name anywhere in the manuscript
File name format: Signed, Sesled...Deceased_Story Title
Formatting: Times New Roman, 12 pt, douple spaced, no indents.
Submission Process:
Submissions will be accepted via Google Form.
Authors will be notified of decisions in early July, 2025.
Call for Cover Design / Cover Art
Application Deadline: June 21, 2025
Honorarium: 100$ CAD
Eligibility: Canadian citizens only
Anthology Concept: “Murder in the Mail”
Visuals: A torn envelope with a wax seal or bloodstain, a gloved hand holding a telegram, or a vintage mailbox spilling mysterious letters. Background could include a foggy village lane or cozy post office counter.
Mood:
Intriguing, nostalgic, and clue-driven—cozy mystery with a postal twist
Palette:
Cream, navy, vintage red, parchment brown, soft teal
Fonts:
Classic serif or typewriter-style for title; script or handwriting overlay as accent Comparable Covers:
The Thursday Murder Club, The Postscript Murders, cozy mystery anthologies with postal or letter-based themes
Requirements:
Emerging or established Canadian illustrators, visual artists, or graphic designers
Must be a Canadian citizen (proof required upon selection)
Previous book cover experience not required, but portfolio samples expected
A brief pitch, moodboard, and a concept sketch.
Submission Process:
Submissions will be accepted via Google Form
Artists will be notified of decisions in early July, 2025.
📣 Call for Proposals: Anthology Guest Editor
You’ll be responsible for editing 10-20 selected stories (3,000–5,000 words each).
A curated longlist of finalists will be provided. You’ll review these and make final selections.
Honorarium: 400$ CAD
Click here for sample contract.
Application deadlines:
Signed, Sealed...Deceased - June 15, 2025
Unseen Agreements - August 15, 2025
Kissed by the Elements - November 15, 2025
Split Ends - March 15, 2026
Role
Provide developmental or line edits on accepted stories
Offer editorial feedback to authors in a collaborative and supportive tone
Ensure stories meet the anthology’s thematic, tone, and content guidelines
Support final proofing and continuity checks before publication
Requirements
Canadian citizen (proof of citizenship required if selected)
Familiarity with the anthology genre you are applying for
Professional or volunteer editorial experience in fiction (paid or unpaid)
Excellent communication and collaborative editing skills
Comfortable working on Google Docs
Strict adherence to deadlines
to apply
A letter of interest (250 words max) outlining your relevant experience and editorial strengths
A one-page CV or résumé (PDF)
Links to previously edited anthologies or editing references