Northern Quill seeking horror stories from Northern authors

Northern Quill Publishing is looking for new submissions for a horror themed story anthology.

The collection is being developed by acclaimed Tłı̨chǫ Dene author and storyteller Richard Van Camp. In a statement that came with the project announcement, Van Camp explained that “Great horror should unzip your soul, and great horror can plant terrible seeds inside of you that grow years after you’ve read it or watched it. I can’t wait for you to unsettle me.”

Northern Quill has specified that any submissions should be between four thousand to six thousand words long, and should be properly proofread before they are sent in. Stories must be written by authors currently residing in Denendeh, Yukon, or Nunavut. Exceptions will be made only through direct invitation from Van Camp.

While the stories must be of the horror genre, writers are encouraged to explore different settings and themes under that umbrella, so long as the stories are written through a Northern lens. Stories may draw on the supernatural, psychological horror, monsters, isolation, the uncanny, dark humour, or something entirely unexpected—as long as the story feels distinctly Northern.

Myranda Bolstad, the co-owner of Northern Quill, spoke more on why this project was launched in the first place.

“The horror genre lends itself to exploring the tensions and fears people are experiencing in these turbulent times, and offers avenues to address those rapid shifts and uncertainties. We’re incredibly excited to be able to work with Richard Van Camp in bringing together a collection that gives us the opportunity to showcase unique Northern voices tackling these anxieties through their fiction writing.”

Submissions are open now and will be accepted until November 30th. Selected contributors will receive a flat fee of $500 per story, and publication of the anthology is anticipated for fall 2027.