For this sequel to the highly successful anthology, Aqua Erotica, I'm looking for short unpublished erotic fiction, any orientation, any (erotic) genre. I strongly recommend that you look at a copy of Aqua Erotica, to get a sense of what type of stories worked well the first time around. In addition to excellent literary fiction, we included fantasy, science fiction, gothic/horror, and fairy tales re-imagined for the 21st century. The common denominator was great (and fun) writing.
Some of the authors previously included are: Louise Erdrich, Barry Yourgrau, Poppy Z. Brite, Francesca Lia Block, Michael Hemmingson, Carol Queen, Simon Sheppard, and Cecilia Tan.
As in the first volume, the only ground rule is that the stories must address desire, sexuality, and, in some form, water. Whether the water appears as a setting (seashore, lakeside, cruise) or as an indispensable plot element is up to you. Think about the title -- Bodies of Water -- and see where it leads. Some stories might look at summer and the need to escape: vacation homes, resorts, tropical islands, sailing, seclusion and privacy where people can indulge desires that they would never have the courage to face at home. Travellers meet strangers, in cities where no one knows their name. Lovers cool each others' sweaty bodies with wet kisses, with water, with ice. Summer is about heat, and so it is also, inevitably, about the need for water. Other stories might take liquidity as a way to explore the transformation of identity in erotic passion. Others might look at the surreal or fantastic. If you want to use a swimming pool, use it imaginatively.
Tell me a story about water and the body, about sex and wetness, about liquidity.
We pay 5 cents/word and buy first anthology rights, for stories of 6000 words or less. The book will be published on waterproof paper.
Bodies of Water will be edited by Mary Anne Mohanraj, editor of Aqua Erotica. She is the author of Torn Shapes of Desire, Senior Editor at Clean Sheets (www.cleansheets.com), and Consulting Editor for Herotica 7. Mohanraj also publishes Strange Horizons (www.strangehorizons.com), has published stories in Herotica 6 and Best American Erotica: 1999, and currently teaches writing at the University of Utah.
Format: E-mail submissions strongly preferred, cleanly formatted in plain text (not an attachment). Any attachments will be deleted unread. Snail mail with SASE acceptable, if you must; expect a much slower response.
E-mail to: m@mamohanraj.com with a header reading:
BODIES SUB: title
Snail mail (if necessary) to:
Mary Anne Mohanraj
1012 E. 2nd Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Include word count, author's name, address, phone number and e-mail address.
DEADLINE: June 1, 2001