Deeply troubled by recent acts of violence against Black and Brown lesbian, bisexual, and trans* bodies, this work seeks submissions that explore the ways in which LGBTQ women find solace: in each other, in their communities, and from within themselves, as they traverse the dangers of living as LGBTQ women of color in the United States. BLF Press and Resolute Publishing will produce a collection of writing that explores our pain, as well as our attempts to find solace in a world that seeks to destroy us. Audre Lorde writes that “We were never meant to survive,” yet here we are.  What are our strategies for survival? Where do we find solace? We welcome submissions from writers in varying stages of their writing careers, from seasoned to novice.

Solace: Writing, Refuge, and LGBTQ Women of Color embraces the complexities of our lives, revealing the depths of our pain and the artistry of our healing. The editors seek writing that:

• cross a range of literary genres (creative non-fiction, short fiction, and poetry)
• merge the themes of WOC and LGBTQ; affirm the interconnectedness of race+gender+sexual orientation
• express how Black America/America experiences our race+gender+sexual orientation
• showcase the resilience and strength of WOC and LGBTQ communities
• affirm our gifts as writers and women of color.

SUBMISSIONS: All submissions should be previously unpublished work. Short stories, essays, and creative non-fiction should range from 1500–5000 words. Two poems count as one entry. Two entries per person are welcome, although only one may be selected for publication. Submit Microsoft Word or rich text files (.rtf) with one-inch margins and 12-point Times New Roman font. Each submission should be a single document. Name the document as your first and last name [e.g. “Janesha Doe” or “Janesha_Doe”].  We also request a bio of 200 words.

All submissions must be made through Submittable.

COMPENSATION & RIGHTS: Authors will receive one payment of $25.00 USD upon publication and one printed copy of the anthology. Authors may purchase print copies of the anthology at cost.

The publisher (BLF Press) requests exclusive rights to the print and electronic/digital editions of submissions for two years from publication. After two years, contributors retain all rights to the publication of their work. Contributors are asked to sign a one-page publishing agreement.

DEADLINES & ACCEPTANCE: Submissions are due on April 30, 2016. The editors will acknowledge the receipt of all submissions. Contributors whose work is selected for publication will be notified on 5/31/16. The anthology will be published and available on 12/1/16. Contributors will receive updates about the progress of the publication.

THE EDITORS:  Solace is a collaborative effort between BLF Press publisher S. Andrea Allen and Lauren Cherelle, manager of Resolute Publishing. Stephanie and Lauren co-edited Lez Talk Books: A Collection of Black Lesbian Fiction (2016) and co-host Lez Talk Books Radio, a podcast featuring Black lesbian writers. Solace will be their second literary collaboration.

S. (Stephanie) Andrea Allen’s works in progress include A Failure to Communicate (2016), a collection of short fiction, and an as yet untitled collection of creative non-fiction.

Lauren Cherelle is the author of the novels Accept the Unexpected (2011) and The Dawn of Nia (2016), and the short story “A Secret Validation” (2013).