Call for Submissions
Memphis Mysteries Anthology 7: Midnight in Memphis

​When the sun sets over the Mississippi, Memphis comes alive with neon lights, soulful music, and secrets that Pandora seeks. From smoky blues clubs, pinball cafes, to all-night diners, shadowy cemeteries, and restless waters. What happens in Memphis when the lights die?

We are seeking original mystery short stories for the seventh volume in our acclaimed anthology series. This collection, Midnight in Memphis, will feature tales that unfold entirely at night — cozy or chilling, historical or contemporary, crime-riddled or touched by the uncanny.

This anthology continues our tradition of celebrating Memphis and the Mid-South through mystery fiction. Previous volumes include Bluff City Mysteries, Ghost Stories, Elmwood Tales to Die For, Mayhem in Memphis, Lies Along the Mississippi, and Blues City Clues. Each book brings together a diverse cast of voices and styles, and Midnight in Memphis promises to be our darkest, most atmospheric collection yet.

Submission Deadline:
March 31, 2026
Submission Guidelines:
The purpose of the Malice anthology is primarily educational. We want to help writers hone their craft while producing a quality book for readers.

Please note: We strive to return manuscripts with critique notes within 1-2 weeks upon receipt. We’ll schedule a Zoom meeting with you at that time. Ideally, it is your responsibility to return your manuscript with corrections within 1-2 weeks following the Zoom meeting. We understand that “things happen” which might delay your response time, but editors must approve the extension.
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  1. Not all submissions are guaranteed to be included in the anthology.
  2. The initial submission deadline date and time are final. No exceptions.
  3. You must be a member of Malice to submit a story for consideration.
  4. Independent individuals who would like to submit a story for consideration must be a paid Malice in Memphis member by the initial submission deadline. To join Malice, click here.
  5. All contributors will receive a copy of the published anthology.
  6. The story must involve a crime.
  7. All stories will be set in Memphis, historical, present day, or future.
  8. All genres are welcome, including all forms of mystery, supernatural, fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi, and romance.
  9. No erotica. No graphic intimacy. No animal cruelty.
More Information:
  • Submission Deadline: March 31, 2026.
  • We hope to have the whole process completed by Aug. 11, 2026.
  • Word count: minimum 2500 – 6000 max. (use word count tabulated after headers/footers removed)
  • Times New Roman. 12-pt font.
  • Single space between sentences.
  • No extra space before or after paragraphs.
  • Use one-inch margins on both sides, top and bottom.
  • Use Microsoft Word for the first line indent (0.5 in); do not manually indent paragraphs.
  • Italicize the font when needed; do not underline (old-school publishing rule).
  • Review document for typos – hunt for squiggly red lines and correct as needed.
  • Use the FIND feature (Ctrl-F) to search out repeat or filler words e.g., JUST, ALWAYS, THAT or other frequently repeated words that serve only to increase your word count.
  • Do not include home address, or phone numbers. Leave only title, author name, and email address.
  • Remove headers/footers and page numbers, at the time of final submission.
  • Allow Microsoft Word to format your em dash. Your em dashes should look like this: “the park—that” (no spaces between) and not “the park--that”. To complete the em dash, go to the number keypad, press Ctrl-Alt and minus sign at the same time. For Apple products type Crt-Option-dash.
  • Writers should accept editorial feedback to improve the story, not as personal criticism. While polite disagreement is fine, writers should try the suggested edits and compare versions objectively. Remember, anything writers remove can be saved for future use in another story.
  • Prior to the publication process, writers will be required to sign a publishing contract with Malice in Memphis.
  • Malice dues are $40 a year and offer writers an opportunity to meet with other authors and work toward honing the craft.
  • There are no submission fees, no payments after publication and all proceeds go to Malice in Memphis.
  • Author rights are reverted to the authors after 1 year of publication.