I'm so happy to announce that Tomo 友, a young adult anthology of fiction set in or related to Japan, will be published by Stone Bridge Press in Spring 2012. Since the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11, I have been eager to find a way for Japan-connected fiction to raise funds specifically for teens in the hard-hit areas of Tohoku. Stone Bridge Press, with its focus on books about Asia and Japan, is a perfect fit for this project. Tomo will enable teens and adults worldwide to contribute to long-term relief efforts for teens in quake- and tsunami-affected Tohoku, while immersing themselves in short stories set in and related to Japan. Please read about this new YA anthology project and help us announce the call for submissions by tweeting and posting on your blogs and Facebook pages.
This Tomo blog will include news about the anthology, contributor interviews, information about the organizations, locations and teens that Tomo will support, and much more. Please follow this blog and share the link.
So please join me in celebrating--with some Tohoku sake? Tohoku kamaboko? Tohoku wakame? Tohoku rice? You choose!
Holly Thompson, Editor of Tomo 友
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Tomo 友—YA Anthology of Fiction
Tomo (written友, meaning “friend” in Japanese) is a forthcoming benefit anthology of short fiction set in or related to Japan for readers ages 12 and up. Tomo will be edited by Holly Thompson and published in print and digital formats by Stone Bridge Press in Spring 2012. Proceeds from the sale of Tomo will support teens affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.
Tomo will feature original short fiction in English by authors with a significant connection to Japan by heritage or experience, as well as short fiction in translation (Japanese to English) by Japanese authors.
Submit by August 15, 2011.
Tomo seeks short fiction up to 5,000 words (up to 3,000 words preferred) set in or strongly related to Japan for readers age 12 and up, either original stories in English or stories translated from Japanese. In addition to standard prose fiction, submissions of fiction in verse, flash fiction, and comics (black and white) will also be considered.
Tomo aims to enable teens and adults worldwide to contribute to long-term relief efforts in Japan while exposing them to Japan through YA short fiction.
Contributors will not be paid. Proceeds from the sale of the book will support teens affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.
Contributors will not be paid. Proceeds from the sale of the book will support teens affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.
Submission Guidelines
1. Stories submitted must be short fiction set in Japan or strongly related to Japan written by authors connected to Japan by experience or heritage.
2. Stories must be original stories in English or stories translated from Japanese into English. No translations will be accepted without written permission from the original author or rights holder.
3. Stories of 3,000 words or less are preferred. Longer submissions, up to 5,000 words, will also be considered. Excerpts will be considered only if they work as stand-alone stories.
4. Stories must be young adult (YA) fiction with a protagonist aged 13 to 17.
5. Stories that reflect contemporary Japan are preferred. Stories in in any style or genre (historical, fantasy, paranormal, manga, experimental, etc.) will be considered.
6. Like the best YA stories, submissions should have a unique and powerful voice; be an emotional/funny/surprising/moving read; be fast paced, not be bogged down with description; and be exquisitely crafted.
7. Contributors will not be paid. Each contributor will receive two copies of Tomo.
Permissions Guidelines
1. If you are the original author, with your submission you only need state that you are the author, that the story is original, and that you are able to give permission for its use in Tomo. If your story is selected you will be asked to sign an agreement that will give the publisher of Tomo the right to publish your story in print and digital formats.
2. If you are the translator, in addition to giving permission to use your work you will need to obtain a letter from the original author or current rights holder that (1) grants you the right to translate the work into English and (2) grants the publisher of Tomo the right to publish the translation in print and digital formats.
Submission Instructions
1. Submit by sending your story as an email attachment in Word or Word-readable (e.g., rtf) format to tomoanthology (at) gmail (dot) com by August 15, 2011. For illustrated works use jpeg or pdf format. Query for guidelines if the size of your file submission exceeds 10 MB.
2. In the email subject line write your last name, your first name, title of story (e.g. Thompson, Holly, Mikan Wars)
3. In the body of the email, above the story, include the following information in this order (for translations include the information for both author and translator):
● Name
● Bio (up to 50 words) and website or blog URL
● One-sentence statement explaining author’s (or translator’s) connection to Japan (up to 30 words)
● Word count
● Contact information name, e-mail, address, phone
● Permission/rights status (for translations)
Queries
For queries, email tomoanthology (at) gmail (dot) com with the word Query in the subject line.
