Category: Creator news

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Call for Submissions! We Belong, a Black, queer Sci-Fi and Fantasy Anthology, is Looking for Comics Creators!

 

We Belong: a Black, Queer Sci-fi and Fantasy Anthology 

We Belong is a full-color comic anthology exploring Black queer stories in the science-fiction and fantasy genres. It will be curated and edited by veteran comics creators Viktor Kerney (Strangelore) and William O. Tyler (Theater of Terror: Revenge of the Queers, Stress Fracture). We Belong is a joint venture with Prism Comics, a nonprofit organization promoting LGBTQAIU+ comics, comics creators, and fandom.  We Belong will be published by award-winning comics publisher Stacked Deck Press.

PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR SUBMISSIONS

  • The names and email addresses of all creators involved in the story.
  • A working title for the proposed story.
  • A summary of the proposed story, which includes the beginning, the middle, and the end. Please be succinct. More is not necessarily better.
  • A predicted page count. Estimates are fine. There will be time to settle on a final page count as we go through the publishing process.
  • Stories should be 4–10 pages long.
  • If your submission is accepted, the final art must be designed to fit standard American graphic novel dimensions: 6.625″ × 10.25″.
  • This is a full color publication, and color artwork is strongly preferred. However, grayscale, and black and white line artwork will be considered, if they meet with editorial approval.

WHAT WE WANT

Each story is to be told and illustrated by Black queer artists and writers. We’re looking for creativity, honesty, and authenticity in your sci-fi or fantasy stories.  In the final edit, each story will be between 4 and 10 pages in length. 

We are accepting pitches from  SOLO CREATORS (those who make the entire comic by themselves) or CREATIVE TEAMS (a group of writers and artists who collaborate on a finished story). You are responsible for forming and managing your team. 

WHAT WE DON’T WANT

Excessively graphic content.

This anthology is intended for the adult reader, and we are open to stories featuring nudity, sexual situations and violence. However,  we are not looking for pornographic situations or extremely graphic displays of violence. Please take that into consideration when writing your pitch.

Fanfic or fan art.

Please don’t submit stories using intellectual property you don’t own. This is your opportunity to develop something new and unique. Stacked Deck Press will not publish work including characters or situations that are owned by other publishers or creators.

PITCH GUIDELINES

We are looking for pitches that will give us a clear idea of your final product.

Your pitch should include:

  • 1-2 ideas for the stories you would like to work on.
  • A few sentences on why your story fits our anthology’s theme. Including why this story (or stories) is very significant to you.
  • A portfolio and/or art blog with examples of your work. Portfolio links for the proposed participants, which may also include any preparatory sketches done for the proposal, although this is not required.
CREATOR RIGHTS, COMPENSATION, AND PERKS

Creators will retain full publication rights to their work, as well as the characters and situations therein. Creators or creative teams will receive $50.00 per page and two complimentary copies of We Belong. Creators are welcome to buy further copies at 50% of cover price to sell on their websites or at conventions, conferences, or other venues.

Prism Comics and Stacked Deck Press make regular convention appearances throughout the continental United States, from small queer-focused events to major shows including San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic Con. If you wish, you can join us as a featured creator at these conventions, and if you like the spotlight, we might even be able to feature you on a panel discussion or other programming event. Your own work can be consigned with Prism Comics at its sales booth at these shows as well, providing creators with some exposure and some revenue from sales of their books.

WHERE TO SEND YOUR PITCH AND DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

If you would like to submit your pitch for a story for We Belong, please send it to [email protected]. We are accepting pitch submissions until March 31st, 2023. The We Belong editors will inform you whether your pitch has been accepted for the book in April 2023.

 

 

 

 

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Call for Submissions: Stacked Deck Press seeks contributors to The Polyamory Coloring and Activity Book

Stacked Deck Press is seeking illustrators and activity designers for a new project, The Polyamory Coloring and Activity Book. We are accepting proposals for coloring book illustrations and pen and paper activities relating to polyamory. Illustrations and activities should take as their subjects aspects of polyamorous culture, figures, cultures or moments in polyamorous history, humorous observations about poly life, or any number of related topics. Activities can take the form of classic pen and paper amusements such as crossword puzzles, word searches, and spot the difference exercises in addition to anything you may devise on your own. We have enlisted the assistance of an affirmative marriage and family therapist who specializes in working with polyamorous clients to assist us in devising our activities and ensuring that they reflect best practices. However we are still committed to making this book as much fun for the reader and user as possible.
Illustrations and activities will be compensated at the rate $50 per item. Contributors are free to propose more than one item to this project. However, they will be compensated only for those illustrations or activities which make it into the final book. Each contributor will also receive two comp copies of the Polyamory Coloring and Activity Book and will be able to purchase further copies at a wholesale rate. Contributors will retain the full rights to their illustrations or activities.
Topics for illustration and activities include, but are certainly not limited to:
  • Attachment Styles
  • The Bloomsbury Group
  • The Cadmus-French-French Triad
  • Communication Among Partners
  • Drawing and Understanding Polycules
  • Handling Jealousy
  • Intersectionality and Polyamory
  • The Kerista Community
  • Love Languages
  • Partners and Time Management
  • Non-monogamy in Ancient Greece
  • Non-monogamy in African Cultures
  • Non-monogamy in Huron Culture
  • Non-monogamy in Lakota Sioux Culture
  • Non-monogamy in Pawnee Culture
  • The Oneida Community
  • Partners and Time Management
  • Professor William Moulton Marston, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, and Olive Byrne
  • Relationship Agreements
  • The Self as Partner
  • Simone de Beauvoir and Husband
  • Terminology of Polyamory
  • To Be or Not to Be Polyamorous
  • Types of Polyamory
It is our goal to publish The Polyamory Coloring and Activity Book in Spring 2021. Deadline for submission proposals is January 15th, 2021. Those whose proposals have been selected for the final book will be notified by February 14th, 2021. Please send your submission proposals to [email protected].
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Stacked Deck Press Seeks Book Designer for 1,001 Black Men

Stacked Deck Press is seeking a book designer for a hardcover art book project based on Professor Ajuan Mance’s illustration series 1,001 Black Men. This book will also include essays and poetry on the topic of Black masculinity from prominent academics and authors. The illustrations are in color, and showcasing them while fluidly integrating them with the written content is the goal.

Compensation will include a payment upon completion of the project and percentage of book royalties. The designer, if willing and available, may be invited for promotional appearances at comic conventions and book shows across the United States.

It is the strong editorial preference of Stacked Deck Press to find a Black, male-identified book designer for this project, and we will prioritize consideration of applications from Black men for this position. However, we will also consider the work of book designers of other ethnic backgrounds and gender identities for this project, if for any reason their work best meets our editorial criteria.

It is the goal of Stacked Deck Press to have this book ready for print no later than Spring of 2021 and available for purchase no later than Summer of 2021.

If you are interested please send your resume and a links to sample artwork to Tara Avery at [email protected].

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See Primahood: Magenta’s Tyler Cohen at the 2017 Comic Arts Fest and the Lambda Litfest!

Tyler at the 2017 Comic Arts Fest!

This February San Mateo Libraries will be presenting the 2017 Comic Arts Fest! SDP’s own Tyler Cohen, cartoonist behind Primahood: Magenta, will be appearing in a special panel discussion at the Half Moon Bay Library, Bay Area Women in Comics, February 11th at 5:30 PM! She will be appearing alongside Liz Mayorga and Shaenon Garrity for a lively discussion of their work.

Tyler at the 2017 Lambda Litfest in Los Angeles!

Primahood: Magenta is in the running for a Lambda Literary Award this year, but while we wait for the judges’ decision, come see Tyler at the Lambda Litfest in Los Angeles! She will be appearing on the panel discussion MUTHA UP AT LAMBDA LITFEST! STORIES OF MODERN QUEER PARENTING FROM MUTHA MAGAZINE, March 9th at 7:00 PM at the Poetic Research Bureau! Other panelists include Elizabeth Earley, Jillian Lauren, Carla Sameth, and Wendy C. Ortiz! Come out for a great discussion and get your personal copy of Primahood: Magenta signed by Tyler herself!

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SDP News for February 2017!

There are plenty of developments here at Stacked Deck Press, from new releases to upcoming projects! Let’s get to the details…

Calogrenant Book the Second: Maiden Britannia is now available!

The much awaited second volume of Gillian Cameron’s saga about a transgender knight of the Round Table is now available here on our site and on Amazon! Calogrenant Book the Second: Maiden Britannia tells the story of Callie’s further exploration of her newfound womanhood, and her guide to this new life is none other than Morgan Le Fey! Cameron’s deft storytelling touch takes the reader through moments of adventure, humor, and uncanny spirituality!

Remember, it’s a little less expensive if you purchase it directly from us at SDP! In addition to getting it on our website you can get it from us at…

San Diego Comic Fest 2017: Meet Gillian Cameron in person!

Gillian and I will be in Artist Alley at this year’s San Diego Comic Fest from Feburary 17th through the 20th! We will be launching Calogrenant Book the Second there. So, be sure to come and get your copies signed by Callie’s creator herself! We’ll both be selling sketches, and all of your favorite SDP titles will be available at our booth. If you’re in the San Diego area, don’t miss this one-of-a-kind, creator-focused convention!

But perhaps you’re NOT in the San Diego area. Perhaps you’re in the Long Beach area, and you want your SDP titles. Then don’t miss…

Long Beach Comic Expo 2017: Prism Comics and SDP!

Prism Comics will once again be at the Long Beach Comic Expo this February 18th and 19th! You can get all of your favorite titles at their rainbow festooned table at booth 903, including the popular Queer Heroes Coloring Book! Remember Prism Comics is America’s leading non-profit organization supporting LGBTQ comics, comics creators, and fandom! Your purchase of ALPHABET supports the Prism Comics Queer Press Grant, which each year goes to an up-and-coming queer comics creator!

Now we know about SDP titles present and past. But what about the future?

Final lineup for all-trans+ comics anthology “We’re Still Here” to be announced in February!

Editor Jeanne Thornton and I have been pleasantly overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and volume of response to our call for submissions to We’re Still Here, our all-trans+ anthology! Because we have so many submissions, and so many of obvious quality, but limited space in our book, Jeanne and I have been busy evaluating the proposals to come up with a selection we feel will make for the best book possible. Later this month she and I will announce the final lineup of creators who will be contributing to this very special and important publication. All of you who submitted, don’t worry, we will take the time to review your proposal carefully. It’s just taking a bit longer than expected.

Thank you all for your support and the wonderful response!

Your pal,

Tara

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SDP Announces All-Trans Comics Anthology! Call for Submissions!

STACKED DECK PRESS is pleased to announce We’re Still Here, our forthcoming anthology of comics by transgender cartoonists, edited by Tara Avery (coeditor of ALPHABET with Jon Macy) and Jeanne Thornton (copublisher of Instar Books)!

Our goal is to present work 100 percent conceived and executed by trans artists, showcasing the breadth of themes, genres, and approaches trans people are taking to comics work today. And if you’re a trans person who makes comics (or would like to), we’re definitely interested in seeing what you’ve got to offer.

Confirmed contributors thus far include:

  • Christianne Benedict (The Exile of Natalie Rios)
  • Anna Archie Bongiovanni (Grease Bats)
  • Dylan Edwards (Transposes)
  • Mia Rose Elbo (Becoming Me)
  • Melanie Gillman (As the Crow Flies)
  • E Hetrick Jackson (Pretty Heart Bouquet, Love Bite)
  • Sophie Labelle (Assigned Male)
  • Winter Lake
  • Sybil Lamb (Lost Little Girl Show, I’ve Got a Time Bomb)
  • Knave Murdok (TransCat)
  • Annie Mok (Swim thru Fire, Florals)
  • Ronnie Ritchie (GQutie)
  • Morgan Sea (Misgendered!)
  • Christine Smith (The Princess, Eve’s Apple)
  • Bishakh Som (Apsara Engine)
  • Scout Tran-Caffee (Failing Sky)
  • Bis Thornton (Keys & Doors)

If you’re a cartoonist who identifies as trans, we definitely would like to consider running work from you! Here are some details:

  • We’re buying new work rather than reprints. Ideally we’d like to work with you on the editorial process for it rather than buying already-completed pieces, but happy to consider those too!
  • The page rate starts at $20, and will go higher depending on Kickstarter funding results. Full color art. Art will be printed at 6 x 9, so original art needs to be proportionate to this & at least 300 dpi.
  • We’re considering pieces from 1–8 pages long, but to make sure we have room for as many people as possible, you’re advised that the shorter your piece, the likelier your chances. 🙂
  • Trans creators of color to the front of the line.
  • To be in this anthology, you should be comfortable identifying as transgender. We’re not the identity police, so we’re committed to taking you at your word about this. (If you’re a trans creator in the closet and looking for a fantastic coming out vehicle, we humbly invite you aboard this train. J)
  • There’s no explicit theme (other than “stuff trans people are interested in.”) If possible, we’re looking for work with a more personal slant and that’s about transness somehow. But we’d also absolutely like to see your horror comics, sci-fi epics, romantic doom comedies, political thrillers, generational sagas, and all other themes. We would like to see everything!
  • Adult themes considered, as long as we will not go to jail for selling it at conventions. 🙂

 

Submissions packages should include:

  • A short pitch for your idea OR a full script
  • How many pages you’d need
  • Roughs/thumbnails for at least 1-2 pages
  • Samples of your finished art in the style you’d be using

 

That’s it—the rest is up to you! Please direct submission packages to [email protected] by January 9, 2017. And please spread the word about this call for submissions (and our upcoming Kickstarter.) We look forward to hearing from you!

 

All best,

Tara Avery & Jeanne Thornton