PITTSBURGH SISTERS iN CRIME
CALL FOR SHORT STORIES
GOLD BRIDGES, DARK RIVERS
A NEW CRIME FICTION ANTHOLOGY
We're thrilled to announce submissions will open May 1st for Gold Bridges, Dark Rivers, a new crime short-story anthology from the Mary Roberts Rinehart Pittsburgh chapter of Sisters in Crime.
The submission window is May 1 to July 31, 2026.
Guidelines and Rules:
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Submissions are only open to Pittsburgh Sisters in Crime chapter members. Non-members are encouraged to join the chapter if they wish to submit.
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For chapter members living outside Western Pennsylvania, the story should be set in Western Pennsylvania. Chapter members living within Western Pennsylvania are encouraged to set their story in the area, but are not required to do so.
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Submissions must be previously unpublished (in print or electronically).
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No story should exceed 5,000 words.
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Submissions may include crime stories within any of the following genres: mystery, thriller, suspense, caper, or historical. (No torture/killing of children or animals)
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Deadline for submissions is July 31, 2026, at midnight.
Submission Instructions:
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Type “Submission for Gold Bridges, Dark Rivers” in the subject line.
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Send your formatted story as a Word file (.doc or .docx) attachment to your email. See FAQs for manuscript formatting tips.
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Do not include your name or any contact information on the manuscript.
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Double-space your manuscript.
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Use Times New Roman font, 12 pt.
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Provide a story title on the first page.
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Other Information: Publication date is scheduled for Fall 2026. All authors whose stories are accepted will receive a free copy of the anthology.
ANTHOLOGY SUBMISSION FAQs
What’s the name and theme of the anthology?
Gold Bridges, Dark Rivers. Pittsburgh’s Best Crime Stories.
Who is eligible to submit a short story?
Authors must be a member in good standing with Sisters in Crime Worldwide and be a member of the Mary Roberts Rinehart Pittsburgh Chapter of Sisters in Crime. Anyone joining the Pittsburgh chapter in order to submit a story to the anthology must become a registered member of the Pittsburgh Chapter no later than July 31, 2026.
Are stories required to have a specific setting, or take place in a particular location?
Setting is determined by the physical location of the writer. If a writer lives outside Western Pennsylvania, the story must be set in Western Pennsylvania. For writers who live within Western Pennsylvania, it is highly recommended the story is set in Western Pennsylvania, but not required.
What genre of story is acceptable?
Mystery, thriller, suspense, crime, caper, and historical.
What type of stories are you looking for?
If you’re unsure of whether your story is a good fit, we recommend reading our previous anthology. It provides a clear sense of the tone, themes, and range of stories we’re looking for.
Are there any limits to content?
Stories must be 100% human authored without any Artificial Intelligence (AI) content. Stories must not include torture or killing of children or animals. For more information refer to the Sisters in Crime Worldwide sensitive content guidelines found here: Content Warnings - Sisters in Crime.
Will reprints or previously published works be accepted?
Submissions must be previously unpublished (in print or electronically). However, it should be noted that two award-winning and previously published stories by chapter authors were selected to also appear as reprints in the anthology.
What’s the story word count?
5,000 words maximum. Stories exceeding 5,000 words will be automatically disqualified.
What about formatting?
Stories must be submitted as Microsoft Word .doc or .docx only. No other formats will be accepted. Standard formatting, including 12-point Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins, double spaced, .5 indent on paragraphs, including page numbers, is required. No headers or footers. Correct submission guidelines can be found here: https://www.shunn.net/format/story/#google_vignette. Note: Kindly use The Modern Format mentioned in the link.
How many stories can an author submit?
One entry per author.
How will the stories be selected for the anthology?
An anonymous review process will be implemented. The author’s name must not appear anywhere on the short story document or within the file Properties. Each story will be assigned a Submission ID number so that the author’s identity will be unknown to our judges. Two judges, in conjunction with the anthology editor, will review the stories and choose which ones will appear in the anthology.
When is the short story submission deadline?
Midnight on July 31, 2026. No story submissions will be accepted after this date.
Where do I submit my story?
All submissions must be sent to the email address pgh.anthology@gmail.com. Any questions about submissions can be addressed via the same email address.
If my story is accepted, will I receive a publishing contract?
Yes. Authors accepted for the anthology will be required to execute a standard publishing contract. Publication rights will revert to each author one year after the anthology’s publication date.
How are rights being covered?
As noted in the publishing contract, publishing rights revert to each author one year after the publication date.
When will the anthology be published?
We are targeting a fourth quarter 2026 publication date.
Who is the anthology editor?
Chapter member Peter W. J. Hayes.
Will the anthology be digital eBook or Print?
Both. The anthology will be distributed on Amazon/KDP (via ASIN) and through Ingram/Spark (ISBN). The anthology will include a professionally designed cover
Will I receive monetary compensation if my story is accepted?
No. Because this anthology is a fund-raising vehicle for the Pittsburgh Sisters in Crime chapter, authors will receive a copy of the printed anthology in lieu of payment. Royalties will be paid into the Pittsburgh Sisters in Crime Treasury. Individual authors will not receive royalties for their stories.
How will the anthology be marketed?
The anthology will be available through a sales site on Amazon and through Ingram/Spark. We anticipate that individual authors will do the majority of their own marketing and promotion. The chapter may develop a 2026 roadshow to highlight the anthology among local festivals and bookstores.
Who do I contact with questions?
pgh.anthology@gmail.com
DISCOVER OUR PREVIOUS ANTHOLOGY
Inside LUCKY CHARMS you’ll find twelve crime tales from the members of the Mary Roberts Rinehart Pittsburgh chapter of Sisters in Crime, Inc (PGH SinC). You’ll dig into gritty police procedurals; enjoy a spangle of suspense; tuck into a cozy or two; and thrill to a cool touch of noir. Each story tells a tale of surprising good luck or of good luck gone sour.
We invite you to brace yourself for an entertaining read.
#CrimeFiction
Grab your copy now from Mystery Lovers Bookshop or Bookshop.org, or wherever ebooks are sold (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks).