Tales of the Unanticipated is a long-running semi-pro magazine, having been published consistently since 1986. Edited by Eric Heideman, the magazine features a range of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and is now an annual trade paperback 7.5 x 9.75 inches in size containing 130 plus pages and a full-color glossy cover. Among the authors they have published over the years include Damon Knight and Neil Gaiman.
TOTU issue 30 will be published April 1st and includes stories by Eleanor Arnason, Stephen Dedman, Martha A. Hood, Patricia S. Bowne, Patricia Russo, and many others, including myself. The issue will be priced at $14.95. But until April 1, you can pre-order your copy for only $12.50.
To entice more people to buy and subscribe, TOTU is offering samples of a number of stories from issue 30. These PDF download samples include:
- My own "A Twenty-First Century Fairy Love Story"
- "If You Enjoyed This Story..." by Sarah Totten
- "Personal Jesus" by Martha A. Hood
- "Right There" by William Mingin
- "Sticky" by Patricia Russo
- "Tacklesmooches" by Douglas J. Lane
- "The Danger of Her Muse" by T.J. Berg
I should also note that TOTU is very supportive of new writers. Many writers have received their first genre publication in TOTU, including myself. But be aware that TOTU has very specific guidelines. Basically, they open for submissions for about a month each year, then give each story a lot of consideration and feedback. Notice that last word: FEEDBACK! When Eric has rejected my stories, he has included a good bit of dead-on feedback from all of the TOTU editors on exactly why they passed on the story. As any new writer can tell you, this level of feedback from a magazine is almost unheard of these days. So while their response time is slow due to this feedback, the payback is immense.
So consider purchasing issue 30, or a subscription, and help support this great semi-prozine.