CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

A Cup of Comfort® is a bestselling anthology series featuring uplifting true stories about the experiences and relationships that inspire and enrich our lives. These slice-of-life stories are written by people from all walks of life and provide unique personal insights into powerful universal truths.

We are currently accepting submissions for the following books:

A Cup of Comfort for Fathers

The connection between father and child can be as deep as the ocean, as strong as a mountain, and as uplifting as fresh air. For all its rewards, though, fatherhood is not without its challenges. And for all the gifts dads bring to their kids' lives, dads sometimes falter and fumble. Yet, the father-child bond forms, holds, and grows. A Cup of Comfort for Fathers will feature inspiring and insight true stories about the life-defining and life-enriching relationships and experiences shared by fathers and their children. These personal essays will be of varying topics and tones (heartwarming, humorous, poignant, provocative, etc.); about fathers and children of all ages and varying circumstances; and written by fathers, daughters, and sons. Story length: 1000–2000 words.

Submission Deadline: April 1, 2009
Finalist Notification: April 15, 2009

A Cup of Comfort® for Mothers:
Stories that celebrate the women who gave us everything

While it’s true that each of us has “only one mother the wide world over,” there are many different ways to be a mother and many different forms and flavors of mother-child relationships. And in this Cup of Comfort anthology we want to capture it all—with personal stories about a wide range of mothering and mother-child experiences, including those that test your mettle as well as those that enrich your life. The book will include stories written both by mothers and about mothers (by their adult children, spouse, own mother). Any topic and tone goes, as long as it’s meaningful to mothers and suitable for Cup of Comfort. Whether a story is endearing or entertaining, inspiring or insightful, humorous or heartwarming, poignant or empowering, or all of the above, it must be uplifting and authentic. And most should be about living mothers/children. Although a story may be about a deceased mother (or a deceased child, if written by the mother), it should focus on her life, not on her death. Narrative essays preferred. Story length: 1000–2000 words.

Submission Deadline: May 15, 2009 Submit Your Story Now
Finalist Notification: June 1, 2009

A Cup of Comfort® for a Better World:
Stories that celebrate generosity, compassion, and volunteerism

To coin a phrase of President Barack Obama, Yes, we can make a positive difference in the world. And this Cup of Comfort anthology will feature living examples of good Samaritans whose good deeds inspire others to do their part to make the world a better place or to just make life a little bit easier—for loved ones, neighbors, strangers, future generations, or any of God’s creatures, great and small. Potential themes include (but are not limited to) charitable work, random acts of kindness, paying it forward, or lending a helping hand, a port in a storm, or a shoulder to lean on. Stories must be uplifting and personal, preferably narrative essays; we are not interested in journalistic articles or thinly disguised PR pieces for charitable organizations. Story length: 1000–2000 words

Submission Deadline: June 15, 2009
Finalist Notification: July 1, 2009

Before submitting a story, please review the Writers Guidelines.

Deadlines are sometimes extended. Any submission-deadline extensions will be posted here and in the Cup of Comfort News forum.

SUBMIT YOUR STORIES HERE