The debut volume in the Story Strolls series celebrates the endless tales found within our home; the great State of Maine. North of Somewhere invites you to wander through diverse voices and moods, discovering stories that capture the grit, humor, mystery, and warmth of life in Vacationland. Together, these stories build a vivid portrait of Maine, its traditions, its stories, its myths, and its enduring allure.
About Vol. One
This volume celebrates stories rooted in, inspired by, or reflective of Maine — its land, people, seasons, sounds, and mythologies.
Theme
Accepting heartfelt and haunting, journalistic and lyrical. The mood is up to you!
Mood & Tone
Open to fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, and journalism. As long as it's a story, we'll take it!
Formats
How Story Strolls Works
Writers from all backgrounds submit short stories, essays, or journalistic pieces inspired by a specific theme. Submissions are open to fiction, nonfiction, and creative takes — as long as they reflect the spirit of the volume. There's a small entry fee to help fund production and promotion. Submit by 09/01
Submit your story.
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Each Story Strolls volume centers around a common theme—such as place, memory, or emotion. Our editors review all entries and select stories that best capture the collection’s tone, voice, and variety while delivering a lasting emotional impact.
Curation by theme.
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The book is carefully assembled, professionally designed, and paired with a unifying Story Scape—an original ambient soundscape that reflects the tone of the volume. Together, the book and audio offer a uniquely immersive storytelling experience.
Assembly with sound.
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Contributors will earn a portion of revenue and receive online/in-store exposure based on our publishing model. Volumes will appear in bookstores and online in physical and ebook formats, giving writers meaningful reach as Story Strolls audience continues to grow.
You're published!
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We accept short fiction, creative nonfiction, and journalistic storytelling — as long as it aligns with the theme of the volume. Stories can be emotional, eerie, heartfelt, humorous, reflective, or experimental. All voices are welcome.
The small $6 fee helps us cover the real costs of independent publishing — including editing, design, printing, and marketing. It ensures we can continue producing high-quality, thoughtfully curated volumes while remaining independent and accessible. We keep the fee as low as possible to reduce barriers of entry.
We also believe writers deserve to be part of a process that values their work — and that means investing in a publishing model that’s sustainable, fair, and transparent.
Submissions can be up to 10,000 words. There’s no minimum, but most selected stories fall between 1,500 and 7,500 words. Shorter works are welcome if they fit the theme and deliver impact.
Yes. Writers will receive a percentage of the revenue share determined by the number of writers in each volume. Payment terms will be clearly communicated upon acceptance.
Story Strolls uses a shared rights model:
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If selected, you grant Story Strolls the non-exclusive right to publish your story in print and ebook formats as part of the designated volume.
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You retain full ownership of your story and may share it as a standalone piece on personal websites, blogs, or in readings.
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However, to preserve the integrity and exclusivity of the collection, your story may not be submitted to or published in any other literary publication — digital or print — while it appears in Story Strolls.
This model ensures that our volumes remain original, curated works while respecting the creative rights of each contributor.
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Generally, no. We prefer original, unpublished work. If your story has been published in a personal blog or limited-run zine, you can note that in your submission. We may consider reprints on a case-by-case basis.
Yes! You're welcome to submit multiple stories. Each story must be submitted separately with its own $5 fee. We recommend focusing on quality over quantity.
Yes. All selected stories go through a light editorial process to ensure clarity, flow, and fit with the collection. We respect your voice and always collaborate with writers on any changes.
We aim to respond to all submissions within 6–8 weeks after the deadline closes. If you’re accepted, we’ll contact you with next steps. If not, we always encourage future submissions — your voice matters here.
Story Scapes are original soundscapes created to enhance the reading experience. Each volume includes a custom Story Scape available to readers through a private link, giving them an immersive storytelling experience.
Along with your story submission, please include the following:
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Your name and contact information (email required)
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A short author bio (50–100 words) written in third person — this may be included in the final publication if selected
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Story title and word count
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Preferred name for publication, if different from your legal name
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Optional: A brief note about your connection to the theme or inspiration for the story (1–3 sentences max)
You do not need to include a cover letter — just make sure everything is clearly labeled within your file or submission form.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Story Strolls Works
