Skip to Content
Duotrope®

Lanternfish Press 29

Recent cover image or website screenshot for Lanternfish Press © Lanternfish Press

Go to publisher's website

Report:
Submission/Query
Correction/Update
New Cover Art

Request (Editors only):
Interview
Duosuma Submission Manager

Support this Publisher:
Shop their Store

About

Lanternfish Press, founded in Philadelphia in 2013, publishes literature of the rare and strange: fiction that crosses the boundary between literary and speculative; real or imagined tales of characters at the margins of history; essays rooted in a strong sense of place; a cabinet of curious Victorian reprints. We seek the grotesque, the alien made familiar, the “I don’t know what this is—but I love it.” Lanternfish aims to make books and publication accessible to readers and writers who fall outside the literary mainstream, whether in race, sexuality, gender, situation, or pure individual oddity. We're a home for books that defy pigeonholes—and for the readers who love them.

Important: Some submission periods may have limited demographics; as always, check their current guidelines before submitting.

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States Established in 2013

Publication Media

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication 
Print Publication Print Publication 

Fiction Temp Closed

Tales on the border of literary and speculative, including magical realism. Fresh takes on gothic horror. We love to see a rich variety of gothics. Midwestern, in the vein of These Bones by Kayla Chenault; southern, like The Salt Fields by Stacy D. Flood. Or tropical gothic, or Rust Belt gothic—whatever kind of luxuriant and atmospheric decay floats your boat! We all love Shirley Jackson here. Well-researched historical fiction that breathes life into its material and cultural milieu. Bonus points if that milieu would be at home in a colorful oddities shop (e.g. Victorian circuses; old-timey New Orleans apothecaries) or doesn’t see enough representation in American fiction (e.g. BIPOC-focused historical events; midcentury mental health care systems).

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience. Excluding: Children, Middle grades, Young adults.

Genres:
GenreSubgenres
General GeneralSubgenres: Fabulism, Gothic, Magic Realism.
Fantasy FantasyOpen to all/most Subgenres, including: Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic, Contemporary, Dark Fantasy, Fabulism, Gothic, Historical, Light Fantasy, Magic Realism, Paranormal, Retrofuturism, Science Fantasy, Supernatural, Vampire.
Horror HorrorOpen to all/most Subgenres, including: Dark Fantasy, Fabulism, Gothic, Historical, Horror Western, Magic Realism, Noir, Vampire.
Science Fiction Science FictionOpen to all/most Subgenres, including: Alternate History, Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic, Contemporary/Near Future, Cyberpunk, Dystopian, Science Fantasy, Science Fiction Horror, Soft Science Fiction, Space Opera.
Lengths:
Novella Novella20,000 - 40,000 words.
Novel Novel60,000 - 100,000 words.
Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

Unknown advance + Unknown royalties Unknown advance. Unknown royalties.
Note: We list broad pay categories rather than prize specifics. Check with the publisher for details.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Unknown.
Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.
Media: Text.

Nonfiction Temp Closed

We are open to a broad range of memoir, focusing on the theme of being caught between a “here” and a “there”: immigrant stories, family sagas, experiences generating transformation. We look for strong descriptive writing that deeply roots the narrative in its setting.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience. Excluding: Children, Middle grades, Young adults.

Lengths:
Book Book60,000 - 100,000 words.
Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream, Personal.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics, including: Memoir (General, See guidelines), Society/Culture (See guidelines).

Payment:

Unknown advance + Unknown royalties Unknown advance. Unknown royalties.
Note: We list broad pay categories rather than prize specifics. Check with the publisher for details.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Unknown.
Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.
Media: Text.

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

Lanternfish Press Submission Statistics — Free Preview!

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.
AccuracyWe have received 9 reports from 7 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported5 min | 86.9 mean avg | 48.0 median | 267 max days (91.1 std dev)
Pending7 responses are pending (37 min | 61.0 mean avg | 61.0 median | 78 max days waiting | 14.3 std dev) from 7 different members This only includes pending reports from users who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days

Other Information

The editors will try to make a decision within 120 days. (33.3 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 120 days.)
Do not query on the status of your submission before 120 days have passed.
Most submissions are acknowledged within one day.
Most recent response reported was received on 09 May 2024.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 21 Apr 2024.

Work submitted here was also submitted to...

This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!

Members accepted here also had work accepted by...

This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today!

Your Submissions

This section is available to subscribers only. Join today!

Dates

Last Updated: 02 May 2024
Last Audited: 09 Apr 2024. (We audit each active listing twice a year. Learn more at link.)
Date Added: 29 Apr 2018

Before Submitting

We 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.
  • For book publishers, it is standard to submit a cover letter, synopsis, and sample instead of the full manuscript. Do this unless otherwise instructed.
  • Be professional, patient, and persistent.