We are looking for creative nonfiction essays written in the first-person.  Focus on one slice-of-life or a few connected events; do not send rants or political speeches. Stories should be titled. They should run between 1000-5000 words, double-spaced, paginated and word-processed. No funky fonts, please. Please include your name and email ON your actual story!

Deadline: December 31, 2011

Submissions may be emailed to: submissions@pinchbackpress.com. You MUST put the name of the anthology you are submitting to in the subject line of your email or we will NOT read it. Example: Submission for Charmed.

Love and technology have tied the proverbial knot, for better and for worse. Human interaction has gone hi-tech — it’s now both more immediate and global. Does courtship even still exist in the world of instant-everything? Can a real connection ever be made from afar? Robot Hearts is a collection of true stories from writers navigating the relationship maze of new media. Strange, diverse, heartbreaking and hilarious — each story, at its core, is 100 percent human.

“At the core of every cyber-intrigue is a human heartbeat. Robot Hearts captures the vulnerability that fuels our never-ending affair with technology. It is testimonial to the ways that love will always triumph over machines, even as it speaks through them.” – Lily Burana, I Love a Man in Uniform: A Memoir of Love, War and Other Battles

Cover art by Tony Acosta

Our experiences shape us. Certain moments leave us drastically changed. Tarnished is a collection of true stories about coming-of-age and coming to terms with harsh realities; it is about fairy tales dashed and word-views rocked. We are all born innocents, yet none of us pass through life unscathed.

“There’s nothing in this world so beautiful as innocence, and nothing so tragic as the loss of it. This book chronicles the ever-so-important junction of the two — that place where we decide between becoming forever bitter and jaded or remaining open and childlike.  Its stories are heartfelt handy reminders to always strive for the latter.”
-Cherry Vanilla, author of Lick Me: How I Became Cherry Vanilla

Featuring stories by:

Amanda Kingsbury
Jennifer D. Munro
Jennifer Rhodes
Marcy Sheiner
Julie Geen
Cara Bruce
Amy Yelin
Joy Wilson-Young
Angela M. Graziano
Terri Elders
Leslie Tucker
Jennifer Levy
Jennifer Tress
Tammy Dietz
Tambre Leighn
Thomas Burke
Anthony D’Aries
David Henry Sterry
Tiffanie Gabrielse
Jillian Lauren
Valley Haggard
Corey Ginsberg

Edited by Cara Bruce & Shawna Kenney

If you would like a review copy please email info@pinchbackpress.com. Please let us know where your review will be appearing.

Cover art: Linas Garsys

Deadline: October 31, 2011

Whether you’ve stolen, conned, lied, or cheated here is your chance to come clean. Tell us about the times you’ve ripped someone off, the five finger discounts you’ve taken, the little white lies you’ve told.  Confession is good for the soul and we want to hear every crafty detail of yours. Tell us the tactless, the tricky and the downright terrible and we may want to publish it.

We are interested in unique personal essays that will disgust and delight readers. We want to hear from everyone, from petty criminals to hardened cons. Submissions might play with the nurture vs. nature theme, could be mastermind masterpieces, or may even be ‘anti’ crime; the collection as whole will evoke strong emotion and stand out in this popular genre.

Guidelines
All essays should be nonfiction narratives, written in the first-person. Focus on one or a few selected events; do not send rants or political speeches. Stories should be titled. Essays should be between 1000 – 5000 words, double-spaced, paginated and word-processed. No funky fonts, please.

Please include a brief bio (1-3 sentences) at the end of your submission.

Deadline: October 31, 2011
Please send your submissions to: blue@pinchbackpress.com

Each contributor receives two free copies of the finished book.
Feel free to repost and forward!