Gothic Blue Book Anthology Series

A project of Burial Day Books (see other related projects).

This project is believed to be defunct. (November 2021)

About

What was a Gothic Blue Book? Gothic Blue Books were abridgements of full-length Gothic novels. The subjects of these books fell into one of two categories; the first being set in a monastery or convent and the second being set in a castle. In terms of the physicality of the book, they were three and a half to four inches in width and six to seven inches in height, with a page count of thirty-six to seventy-two pages. These little pieces of terror were popular at the time because they were affordable, a sixpence or a shilling each. Their cost affordability led them to be nicknamed Shilling Shockers or Sixpenny Shockers. What are we looking for? Original Gothic Blue Books typically took place in either a monastery, convent or castle. In years past we have asked for short stories that take place in one of these locations, or a modern day location such as a morgue, haunted house or cemetery. This year, we have added new location recommendations – hotel, inn, or bed and breakfast. The haunted hotel has a long, complex history in the field of horror and we look forward to your entries.

Country of Publication

United States

Publication Media & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication: Published 1 x per year
Print Publication Print Publication: Published 1 x per year

Collapse section Fiction Believed Defunct

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

Horror Subgenres: Gothic, Supernatural

Lengths:

Short Story: 1,000 - 3,500 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.

Topics:

Other: See guidelines.

Payment:

Token payment (under 1 US cent per word) to Semi-pro payment (1-4.9 US cents per word) Pay ranges from Token payment (under 1 US cent per word) to Semi-pro payment (1-4.9 US cents per word).
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.

Collapse section Poetry Believed Defunct

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

Horror Subgenres: Gothic, Supernatural

Lengths:

Poem: No line limits known.

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.

Topics:

Other: See guidelines.

Payment:

Semi-pro payment (US$5-49 per poem) Semi-pro payment (US$5-49 per poem).
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: Unknown.
Media: Text.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.

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Gothic Blue Book Anthology Series 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.

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Burial Day Books Monthly Short Fiction BELIEVED DEFUNCT

Before Submitting

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Dates

Last Updated: 22 May 2026