Anthology Submissions Information Page

SAPPHIRE BOOKS PUBLISHING CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!

    

ATTENTION AUTHORS + ASPIRING WRITERS
Anthology Name (Working Title): 

Her Compass Was A Woman: Love Stories Inspired by Olivia Travel and Beyond
Publisher: Sapphire Books

Deadline for Submissions: December 1, 2025

Estimated Release Date: April 5, 2026

Book Release Party: April 26 – May 3, 2026*

*The Book Release Party will be held onboard Olivia Travel’s Alaska In Spring Cruise, April 26-May 3, 2026, as part of the Literary Adventures at Sea III program, produced by Sapphire Books, on sea days.

About Literary Adventures at Sea III:

Plot your course with Olivia Travel and Sapphire Books for Literary Adventures at Sea III. Join bestselling authors Georgia Beers, Virginia Black, Felice Cohen, Isabella, and Karelia & Fay Stetz-Waters for a Sapphic literary love celebration at sea. Enjoy exclusive panels, intimate readings, and book signings, plus enlightening publishing tales from Sapphire Book’s leadership. From steamy fiction to loving memoir, this is where lesbian and queer romance meets the wild beauty of Alaska. Add to this the joy of traveling with a vibrant community of 2,000 LGBTQ+ women, and you know we're on the same page! Your next chapter starts here. 


Anthology Theme:
Sapphire Books and Olivia Travel take readers on a journey from friends to steamy in this anthology that explores the spark of romance ignited while traveling. From brief encounters to soulmates, on a cruise ship, in a quiet coastal town, in an airport, on a road trip, at a tropical resort, amid any adventure. Have your short story published alongside best-selling sapphic authors. We are seeking original, unpublished, fiction short stories with travel as a key element to the plot, alongside lesbian, LGBTQ+ women-centered characters with travel themes at the nucleus. These stories should feature characters in a love story, a crush, or the wanderlust central to the story,
as relationships come to life. The use of real characters, shows, books, etc., or reference to the same, is strictly prohibited. 

Guidelines for Submissions:
First consideration will be given to Literary Adventures at Sea lII and Alaska in Spring Cruise registered guests. Indicate if you are registered with your submittal.

  • Unpublished fiction short stories
  • The author must own all rights to the materials submitted
  • The use of any real character names, titles, shows, etc., or references to the same, is strictly forbidden and owned by their respective production companies.
  • All stories must be Fiction (no non-fiction, no poetry)
  • Word count: 3500 – 5000 words
  • Story Format:
    • Word document
    • Font: Times New Roman, 12pt.
    • Line spacing: Single
    • Spaces after period: Single
    • Paragraphs: Single-space and indent (0.41)
    • Do not skip lines between paragraphs
    • No HTML formatting
    • Insert page numbers upper right corner
    • Triple-space scene breaks with ***
    • File Name: YourNameStoryName (ie: JoanSmithTheRedCat)
  • Grammatical Criteria
    • Avoid use of capitals, quotes, etc., to emphasize words
    • Avoid the use of semi-colons to connect sentences
    • Use Em Dashes (the longer one —) and Ellipses (…) sparingly
    • Sapphire uses the Chicago Manual of Style & Merriam Webster’s Collegiate
    • Dictionary, most recent editions
    • Italics: Limit their use to:
      • Use for flashbacks and internal dialogue
      • Use for foreign phrases and words
      • Used to indicate the name of a book, periodical, newspaper, play, movie, television program, music CD/Album/Video, or radio program. Use quotation marks to indicate a short story, poem, or single episode in a television series
      • Use for names of specific ships and other vessels
      • Avoid italicizing common phrases (ie, latte, cappuccino, café)

Submissions:

  • Electronic submissions only to [email protected]
  • Send the story as a Word document attachment in an email
  • In the subject line, write: Travel Anthology
  • In the email body, include the:
  • Story Title
  • Word Count
  • Author’s legal name
  • Author’s penname/pseudonym (if applicable)
  • Author’s mailing address
  • Author’s phone/fax
  • Author’s email address
  • Author’s website URL
  • 50-word bio written in third person
  • Indicate if you are a registered guest of Literary Adventures at Sea III.
  • The anthology is scheduled for publication by Sapphire Books on or about April 5, 2026
  • The Book Release Party will take place on board the MS Noordam during the Literary Adventures at Sea III Program, on Olivia Travel’s Alaska in Spring Cruise, between April 26, 2026, to May 3, 2026
  • Anthology Authors in attendance will have the opportunity to participate in the Book Release Party at the Literary Adventures at Sea III Conference on sea days
  • You will receive an email confirmation confirming receipt of your submission within 48 hours
  • Submission decisions will be communicated to you no later than December 31, 2025
  • Erotic content is accepted in keeping with the story theme and narratives
  • We don’t publish domestic violence, necrophilia, non-con, or other stories that push the envelope 
  • No AI-generated content
  • Any anthology-related mention of an Olivia trip should be positive and not parody
  • Multiple submissions will not be accepted
  • Author Compensation:
    • Payment of $50.00
    • eBook File
    • 2 print copies (must have a USA mailing address to receive print copies)
  • Inquiries: Please address all inquiries to [email protected]

Important Note: Selection of your story for publishing in the anthology does not  include a complimentary trip. If you wish to attend the release party, you must book the Alaska in Spring Cruise separately.