We are thrilled to announce an open call for original short stories for stories of alien invasions that thrust humanity into cataclysmic encounters with extraterrestrial forces, on Earth or in space colonies. These high-octane tales of action and adventure explore humanity’s fight for survival while grappling with profound questions about life, sentience, and our place in the galaxy. Expect plans to go spectacularly wrong, escalating the stakes and chaos.

Submission Guidelines:

• Stories must be original, unpublished works of fiction between 5,000 and 10,000 words.
• We welcome a variety of genres—fantasy, science fiction, mystery, or blends—provided the story centers on the theme defined above.
• Submissions should be in English, double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font, and saved as a .rtf file.
• Dividers between sections need to be “***” centered.
• Include in your document your name, contact information, story title, word count, a short blurb (150 words or less) and a short bio (150 words or less) in your document.
• Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please notify us immediately if your story is accepted elsewhere.
• Multiple submissions are not permitted; please submit only one story per author.

Deadline: Submissions must be received by close of business on February 9, 2026.

How to Submit:

• Email to anthologies@jrhandleyinc.com with the subject line with the subject line: Alien Invasion – [story name], [author name]. Example: Alien Invasion – story submission, Jill Author.
• We aim to respond to all submissions within 12 weeks of the deadline.

Compensation:

• Accepted stories will receive an author share as described in our contract.
• Publication is planned for May 2026 in both print and digital formats.

We can’t wait to read your work!

Bayonet Books Editorial Team