Submission Call: Gouda & Cozy
Anthology: Gouda & Cozy (estimated publication date November 2027)
What’s cozier than a dish with warm, gooey cheese except maybe cozy fantasy where cheese is the center. Perhaps your gnome chef is trying to make the perfect grilled cheese. Or maybe your fearless hunter is searching caves for the last remnants of a well-aged cheddar. Whatever is happening in your world, it must be cozy and it must involve cheese, if you please.
Cozy fantasy stories where cheese plays a major role. Whether the cheese is magical or made with the milk from heirloom goats, it should be the focal point of your story. You can’t just put a slice of cheese in your story and call it done.
Stories must be cozy or cozy adjacent that leave you with warm and well-fed feelings. The kind of book or world you’d want to go to again and again that’s the perfect antidote for real life.
What we’d like to avoid: Please nothing that isn’t cozy. That means no explicit violence, gore, animal abuse, dark or horror elements, and please no explicit sex/erotic content.
Length: 2000-10000 words.
Reprints? Original works preferred. Reprints may be considered if the story has been out of print for at least three years and has not been available elsewhere.
NO Generative AI WRITTEN or PROMPTED WORKS!
No simultaneous submissions and no multiple submissions. Authors, please only send one story.
Epona Muse Publishing requests the exclusive rights to publish the story in print and ebook for one full year after publication. Beyond that, the anthology will remain in print for a minimum of 2 years, and then the publisher reserves the right to retire the anthology. The story can be reprinted/republished after the first year of exclusivity. We will also ask for audio rights for the short story (nonexclusive). We will not ask for any other rights or the rights to any subsequent/related works. Any questions, please ask!
Payment: Authors will receive royalties based upon their share of 70% of the royalties received from each sale. The remaining 30% remains with the publisher to cover costs associated with the anthology. Royalties are split equally among contributor and the publisher reserves the right to use PubShare to distribute royalties, which unfortunately does take an additional 10% (leaving 60% for the authors). If you have any strong feelings either way, please indicate so in the cover letter.
Other requirements: It is suggested that authors share the anthology in their newsletter (if applicable) and on social media at least once a month. Remember a rising tide lifts all boats.
Authors will sign a publication agreement outlining the responsibilities of both publisher and author. A W9/W8 (non-US authors) will be required for tax purposes.
Due dates and how to submit
Submissions are due by Sunday, August 30, 2026
To submit please use the form on our website and decisions will be made within 30 days of the submission period closing (so by Sept 30 at the latest).
Anticipated publication date is November 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact us. Thank you.
