Skin Short Stories Wanted

New Submission guidelines posted by Route

Route are currently sourcing stories for a byteback entitled Skin. The title is
the only parameter for the compilation and so the theme can be interpreted in
several ways.

Skin colour; body art; acne, eczema; wrinkles, aging; disease; birth-marks,
hare-lips; the mark of Cain; stigmata; totemic value of skin as predator's trophy.
It's a metaphor for empathy or irritation - I've got you under my skin. Skincare
products proliferate to help us 'face' the world, mask our age, cover flaws, or
protect us from the outside: sun, wind, city pollution.

Skin: it's how some are defined in the eyes of others, as a signifier of race, a
cosmetic rather than a scientific category. It is depth defined by the surface.
Our largest body organ, that protects us, yet also needs protection, against
discrimination, against disease, against aging. A canvas for art, rebellion or
sentiment (tattoos that declare the name of loved ones, indelibly). A history of
hurt: bruises and scars. Skin afflictions. Notions of acceptable/desirable
appearance that may or may not be gendered. Writing on the body. There are so many
ways of exploring the idea of Skin, but they all share a common interest, that is,
the porous barrier between what's on the outside and the inside; appearance and
reality.

Writers: submit stories of between 2000 - 5000 words, or non-fiction prose pieces
of between 1000 -1500 words on the theme of skin. Interpret it as you wish: show
us what you're made of. Deadline for submissions Friday 28 April 2006.

Send your submissions to Skin, Route, PO Box 167, Pontefract, WF8 4WW

For details of byteback books please visit http://www.route-online.com
For full submission guidelines please visit http://www.id-publishing.com
To contact Route - mailto:info@route-online.com

Cheers,

Mark Brown, editor (on leave), www.ABCtales.com