Soma Nami Press, a recently launched publishing house in Nairobi, Kenya, is on the lookout for short stories for its inaugural Kenyan anthology centered around the theme of “Kenya-ness.” The anthology aims to capture the myriad voices and perspectives within the rich tapestry of Kenyan culture.
Dedicated to sharing exceptional East African narratives globally and bringing compelling Pan-African stories to East Africa, Soma Nami Press invites submissions that celebrate, explore, question, and critique the essence, beauty, and uniqueness of “Kenya-ness.” The focus is on encouraging submissions that are playful, enjoyable, and daring while maintaining communicative and accessible qualities. The call for entries is open to various genres that resonate with the subject matter.
Key Submission Guidelines:
- Submission Period: January 10th, 2024, to March 15th, 2024 (11:59pm, Kenyan time). Entries received after the deadline will not be considered.
- Use the online submission form for all entries.
- Short stories should be 2000-5000 words, including the title, author’s name, and contact details.
- Ensure that your submission aligns with the theme.
- Format: Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced, and submit in .doc or .docx format.
- Open to Kenyan citizens only, requiring proof of citizenship for accepted works.
- Include an author bio and links to previously published works.
- Entrants must be 18 years and above.
- Submissions should be in English, though other languages may be incorporated.
- Only original, unpublished works will be accepted and may undergo editing, copywriting, and proofreading.
- Multiple Submissions: Authors may submit up to two stories, but only one may be accepted per author.
- Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
- No submission fees.
Submission Deadline: March 15, 2024
Submit by attaching your story and a brief cover letter containing your name, contact information, and a short bio in the form here.
All submissions will undergo review by the editorial team, and selected authors will be notified by April 30, 2024. Accepted submissions will receive a one-time compensation based on the final word count, with compensation capped at Kes. 10,000.
