Death's Desire Anthology Contest
What happens when a grim reaper falls in love?
Tell us the story of a reaper who falls for a human—who they were before the role, what draws them to their love, and how far they’ll go to protect that heart. Dark, sensual, and daring—these stories explore love at the edge of mortality.
Trope: Paranormal Romance
Theme: Grim reaper romance with stakes high and emotions deeper
Spice Level: 3 🌶️ and above
Darkness Meter: 3+ on a 5-point scale
Note: HEA is optional—anything goes
If you can weave passion and peril into a tale of love that defies death, we want your story.
Details
Submissions due: April 1, 2026 | Release date: October 1, 2026
Winnings: FREE buy-in fee | Featured story: your story will be the first one in the book, and we will write a page explaining how you are the contest winner, along with your bio, and where your books can be purchased.
Judging: The anthology coordinator will send your story anonymously to the judge; we want this to be 100% unbiased. The anthology coordinator will keep track of story titles and the authors' names.
How to submit your story: Click the submit form button below to fill out the form and get next steps.
What if I don’t win? Once the winner is announced, the anthology coordinator will be in contact with you to see if you would still like your story in the Death’s Desire Anthology. If so, you will get a discounted buy-in, and we will then invoice you for payment.
Submission Requirements
Trope: Paranormal Romance
Word Count: 5,000-20,000
Theme: Grim reaper romance with stakes high and emotions deeper
Spice Level: 3 🌶️ and above
Darkness Meter: 3+ on a 5-point scale
Note: HEA is optional—anything goes
-Tell a story of a reaper who falls for a human and would do anything to keep them alive.
-Who was the reaper before they were the reaper? What draws them to their love interest? How far will they go to protect their heart throb?
Referrals
We are so excited for this contest and hope you are too! Have a friend who you think would enjoy this contest? Refer them over to us. The author with the most referrals will receive an even bigger discount. On the paperwork, there will be a spot for the author to write in the referral name.
Rights
Publishing rights are held by us for six months from the release date. After six months, the publishing rights automatically revert to the author, allowing them to complete any continuations. However, the anthology will remain widely published to continue generating royalties for the authors. All stories will undergo editing prior to inclusion in the anthology.
Phoenix Voices Anthologies, where your story can rise from the ashes and soar!
Buy-in fee(non-refundable):
Winner: FREE
Referral winner: $10
Contest writer: $20
Non-Contest writer: $35