Welcoming Emily Ruth Verona

Flame Tree Press welcomes Bram Stoker Award-nominee Emily Ruth Verona to the blog to talk about her story Bangs, which appears alongside a stellar line-up in the groundbreaking anthology This Way Lies Madness, releasing in September from Flame Tree Press in our Beyond & Within series. In the introduction to the work, the book’s co-editors, Dave Jeffery and Lee Murray, say the anthology "defies convention by bringing together authentic, sensitive portrayals of mental illness in a genre that has notoriously lacked such tenets." Comprising 23 stories and poems, the book also includes accompanying vignettes offering insight into the authors’ motivation for their work.

We’re pleased to announce the authors included in our upcoming anthology: Afrofuturism Short Stories! Earlier this year, we opened for submissions that explore the many angles and interpretations of Afrofuturism, a genre and an aesthetic that envisages all kinds of Black futures, alternative pasts and possibilities. Award-winning author of Everfair, Nisi Shawl, provides the foreword, alongside an insightful introduction by Associate Editor Dr. Sandra M. Grayson and invaluable editorial support from Sistah Sci-Fi founder Isis Asare. We’re delighted to have chosen the stories below for inclusion:

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of a brand new series: Flame Tree Romantic Fantasy – a captivating blend of our signature Gothic Fantasy collections with the passion and magic of Romantasy. Our open call for submissions is now live for the first two enchanting titles: A Breath of Time and Of Love & Dragons. Please read through the submission details carefully as we’ve changed some of our guidelines and it could result in your submission not being acknowledged if you do not follow them.

* THIS SUBMISSIONS WINDOW IS NOW CLOSED *

Welcoming Jonathan Maberry

Flame Tree welcomes NYT bestselling author Jonathan Maberry to the blog to talk about his story The Scarlet Angels of Regret, which appears alongside a stellar line-up in the groundbreaking anthology This Way Lies Madness, releasing in September from Flame Tree Press in our Beyond & Within series. In the introduction to the work, the book’s co-editors, Dave Jeffery and Lee Murray, say the anthology "defies convention by bringing together authentic, sensitive portrayals of mental illness in a genre that has notoriously lacked such tenets." Comprising 23 stories and poems, the book also includes accompanying vignettes offering insight into the authors’ motivation for their work.

Confessions of a Reformed Queue-Jumper

Let me tell you about the day I discovered I had become a monster. Not the kind that lurks under beds or haunts Victorian mansions, but something far more sinister: a person who actually enjoys queuing. Yes, you read that right. I now derive genuine satisfaction from standing in perfectly spaced lines, and frankly, I'm not sure if this is personal growth or a complete personality breakdown.

Welcoming Kayleigh Dobbs

Flame Tree welcomes writer-podcaster Kayleigh Dobbs to talk about her story TBR, which appears alongside a stellar line-up in the groundbreaking anthology This Way Lies Madness, releasing in September in our celebrated Beyond & Within series. In the introduction to the work, the book’s co-editors, Dave Jeffery and Lee Murray, say the anthology “defies convention by bringing together authentic, sensitive portrayals of mental illness in a genre that has notoriously lacked such tenets.” Comprising 23 stories and poems, the book also includes accompanying vignettes offering insight into the authors’ motivation for their work.

This Way Lies Madness: Short Stories from the Edge of Darkness

We are excited to begin a new blog series, taking our readers on a tour of all of the authors who have contributed to This Way Lies Madness, an upcoming anthology edited by Lee Murray and Dave Jeffery which showcases "madness" in horror in ways that challenge stigma and promote understanding.

Comprising stories and poems from 23 authors, from well-established to new and emerging, the anthology serves as a vehicle for the development of quality genre literature on the theme of mental health. With accompanying vignettes revealing authors' reflections & personal experiences that inspired their stories, the book offers a valuable benchmark resource for horror creatives, while also offering insights for scholars, social groups and practitioners... and solace for sufferers.

When I stepped into Flame Tree Publishing's London office as their new writer-in-residence, I couldn't help but smile at the turn life had taken. Two and a half years ago, I traded Mumbai's relentless pulse for London's literary and artistic heartbeat - a journey that has been more than geographical. It's been a migration of perspective, pace, and creative purpose.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Shilpa Varma as our Writer in Residence, marking an exciting new chapter in our commitment to storytelling that crosses borders, cultures, and genres.