The CZP / Rannu Fund For Writers of Speculative Fiction

TORONTO, Ontario (December 6, 2010) – Submissions are now open for the 3rd annual Rannu Fund for Writers of speculative fiction.

The Rannu Fund was established by Sandra Kasturi to reward those who contributed to the speculative fiction community. It was named in honour of her mother and step-father’s contributions to the arts in Canada and Estonia.

In collaboration with ChiZine Publications (CZP), the Rannu Fund offers two awards: $500 CDN prize for fiction, and another $500 CDN prize for poetry. Additionally, two honourable mentions from each category will be awarded a $50 prize. All winners and honourable mentions will be selected by a panel of judges composed of writers of science fiction, fantasy, horror, magic realism, and surrealism.

The 2010 judges include horror legend Peter Straub, Governor General’s Award winner Jacob Sheier, in addition to CZP co-publishers, Sandra Kasturi and Brett Alexander Savory. All judging will be blind.

Poetry submissions may include up to five poems and fiction submissions may include short story or a novel excerpt up to 7,000 words. All submissions must be previously unpublished, and in English. There is a $10 reading fee or $15 reading fee for two submissions. Submissions should be sent to rannufund@gmail.com

The deadline is midnight on Sunday, January 15, 2011, and the winners will be announced May 15, 2011. For more information go to http://www.rannu.webs.com or email Sandra Kasturi, Co-Publisher of CZP at sandra@chizinepub.com.

ChiZine Publications (CZP) is an independent publisher of weird, subtle, surreal and disturbing dark fiction. It is the book-length, print version outgrowth of ChiZine, an online professional market in operation since 1997 focused on the same type of story material. All of CZP's publications are hand-picked by Co-Publishers and Bram Stoker Award-winners Brett Alexander Savory and Sandra Kasturi. Other staff members include Artistic Director Erik Mohr, Marketing Director Matt Moore, Managing Editor Helen Marshall, Marketing Manager Laura Marshall, Slush Readers Halli Villegas, Gemma Files, Samantha Beiko and Clare Marshall.