Submission Guidelines for SIBLING SYNDROME

Red Polka Books invites romantic fiction and erotica submissions for its anthology "SIBLING SYNDROME" (To be edited by Rasiika Sen).

Submissions are invited from authors around the world for publication in our anthology (Expected release: March 2026. To be available in paperbacks as well as Epubs). The final date of submission is January 31, 2026

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Sibling Syndrome is an anthology exploring the most potent and taboo of human magnetic fields: the inevitable, gravitational pull of desire between siblings.

Please note that this is NOT an anthology about family. It is an anthology about attraction.

We want stories where biology whispers an eternal secret. Where shared history always holds the possibility of a shared fantasy. Where the person who knows you best becomes the object of a want you never knew you had. We are looking for romance, dark romance and erotica that treats this attraction as a fundamental force of nature: a "syndrome" in the truest sense.

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Feel free to send us your own stories or consider one of these Story prompts below:

1. Brought up in a large, isolated Gothic manor, Alicia and Raymond know they are siblings, but fear, loneliness and age gradually bring them together.

2. A college production of one of Sophocles' classic, controversial dramas brings twin brothers Amit and Rohit closer than they had ever been before.

3. Born without a sibling, Amyra from Sweden keeps having dreams of her Egyptian kingdom and her love of that past life.

4. When her twin brother quits society and goes missing in the mountains, Mon embarks on a journey to find him and the reason for his departure.

5. Separated during childhood upon their parents getting divorced, when siblings Ray and Rina reconnect years later, the spark between them is palpable.

6. Days before Lyra's wedding, her brother returns to attend the ceremony. The memory of their mutual sexual awakening makes Lyra wonder whether she ought to get married at all.

PLEASE NOTE that we shall NOT be considering stories featuring underage characters who indulge in sexual acts. Also, we shall not be considering stories featuring sexual violence.

WE ARE INVITING:

Short Story: (between 1.5k-8k words): Send no more than ONE short story.

Flash Fiction: (between 100-1500 words) Send no more than TWO flash fictions.

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Translations are welcome (Submission of translated works must be accompanied by a statement declaring that the translator has obtained the author’s permission and their publisher’s, if required.)

Simultaneous Submissions are welcome but the author must inform us by e-mail as soon as the submitted piece is accepted elsewhere. Pieces cannot be withdrawn once Red Polka Books informs the author of its acceptance for publication.

We consider reprints but generally do not publish them unless they are exceptional.

There are No Reading or Publication Fees.

At present, we cannot offer our authors any monetary honorarium for their stories.

Each author shall get a Complimentary Digital Copy of the anthology when it publishes

Red Polka Books uses non exclusive rights to publish in its anthologies and website. Authors are free to republish their work anywhere else once it has been published.

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Manuscripts should be sent to RedPolkaBooks@gmail.com

Please write "Submission for SIBLING SYNDROME" in the subject line of your e-mail

Please submit your files in the following formats: .doc /.docx /.txt. DO NOT submit PDFs. 

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Please submit only original pieces. Red Polka Books or the editor/s of the anthology shall not be responsible for any disputes of plagiarism or copyright infringement.

Each piece MUST be attached with a short bio of the author, preferably within 50-100 words.

If possible, please send an author's photograph for publication with the bio as well.

NOTE: We typically reply within a month after receiving submissions.