Tales of Blood and Roses

Tales of Blood and Roses is an annual dark fiction anthology seeking unsettling, disturbing, and disquieting work for its 2026 edition. The theme is Dangerous Games, and submissions should engage directly with this concept through horror, gothic, dark fantasy, or other macabre lenses. The anthology welcomes prose, poetry, visual art, and cartoons that reflect its signature blend of beauty and brutality.

Prose submissions must be presented in standard Shunn manuscript format and should be approximately 1,500 words or fewer. Poetry may use special spacing where required by the form. All submissions must be original, and creators from any country or background are eligible to enter. A brief third-person biography of around 50 words must accompany each submission.

Simultaneous submissions are permitted. Payment is made in contributor copies: two mailed physical copies of the anthology and one PDF download.

Top prize: Publication in the 2026 Tales of Blood and Roses anthology (two print copies and one PDF).

Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.

FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.