Cipher Sister A project of ThunderDome (see other related projects). Permanently Closed: This project is permanently closed to submissions. We provide the following information as an archive. About CIPHER SISTER follows a simple premise inspired by a true story: “The sheriff's department in El Dorado County broke protocol this week and released the names of two deceased residents without notifying their relatives. The problem is they can't find any relatives of the twin sisters who were found dead inside their South Lake Tahoe home last week. The bodies were discovered on Feb. 27, according to the sheriff's department. Authorities say they most likely died within a short time of one another of natural causes. They had been dead for several weeks before they were discovered, according to reports. The sheriffs haven't been able to locate the next of kin of the women. Apparently throughout their lives, they always listed each other on all official forms.” Their names are Lucy and Darcy. We’re putting their lives back together in imperfect fragments. We want your take on things: not of how they were born or died, but how they lived. Pick a spot on their timeline (1939-2012) and show us a piece of their lives, be it five minutes of childhood or ten years of adulthood. Who were they? Where did they work? What kinds of adventures did they experience? Who did they love? Country of Publication United States Publication Medium & Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationOne-time publication Fiction Closed Audience:UnknownGenres: GeneralLengths: Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words. Short Story: 1,000 - 7,500 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics:None found.Payment:No monetary payment Royalties No monetary payment. Royalties.Note: We list broad pay categories rather than payment specifics. Check with the publisher for details.Submissions:Method: Electronic submissions. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.Multiple entries: Multiple entries are NOT allowed.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to project webpage Report: Correction/Update Cipher Sister Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. This listing is inactive and does not have any submission reports for the past 12 months. Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Related ProjectsBloody Knuckles CLOSEDLegend: True Stories From a Friend of a Friend CLOSEDThunderDome DNQ Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 22 May 2026 Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only