A Dark Fiction Anthology
Gritty fiction takes on the literary journal
Ink Stains Anthology is back!
Following a hiatus caused by the pandemic, the publishing of the popular anthology will resume with our new edition to be released in October 2022!
Submissions for future editions will be open from February 1 through April 30 annually.
Who says genre work can’t also be literary? We give you Ink Stains Anthology – a literary journal filled with dark tales of fiction from Dark Alley Press, under the direction of Senior Managing Editor N. Apythia Morges.
The first edition of Ink Stains Anthology hit shelves June 2016, with our latest post-pandemic issue publishing in October 2022.
Praise for Ink Stains
“Wow! This anthology of Dark Fiction really packs a punch! Ten strong stories without a dud in the bunch. This is my first brush with Dark Alley Press and I sure hope it won’t be the last because they are bringing some serious talent to the table.”
— Brian James Lewis, Hellnotes.com
“Hand-selection is the mark of excellence in cheeses, chocolates, and wines; likewise, if it exists in the lit/horror world, it’s in the pages of Ink Stains. Carefully curated with a multifarious eye, these volumes have something for every taste as they present the horror in so many of the things that spice our lives: trust, choice, relationships, families, decay, boundaries, and death.
Every horror connoisseur will take delight.”
— Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Editor, 34 Orchard dark literary magazine
Editions
Click on each cover for more information. Ink Stains is available in print and digital formats online and in bookstores.
Latest edition
Ink Stains, Vol. 14
Pub date: Oct. 4, 2022
Previous editions
Submissions
The annual submissions window is February 1 through April 30 of each year via Submittable.
We are looking for short stories that are 3,000-15,0000 words for all works that fit under the Dark Alley Press banner, including those in the following categories:
- Dark fiction (including lit fic)
- Gothic fiction
- Supernatural/paranormal fiction
- Horror
- Black comedy
- Dark fantasy
Note: We are not looking for poetry or traditional mystery/thriller/crime/sci-fi stories.
Authors of acquired pieces for Ink Stains Anthology will receive a flat fee payment of $5 for stories 4,999 words and under, $10 for stories 5,000-$10,000 words, and $15 for 10,000-15,000 words. Payment is made upon publication. Exclusive worldwide English print and digital rights for one year are required. Previously published work will not be accepted if it is still available for purchase or is accessible online.
Please submit your work through Submittable. Be sure to include a synopsis, word count, and a short bio. Submissions without a synopsis and word count will be rejected without being read.