Comma Press ‘Reading the City’ series: Call for short stories about Valletta

The UK-based publisher Comma Press, in collaboration with the National Book Council, is on the lookout for short stories about Valletta for an upcoming anthology: The Book of Valletta.  

The collection will form part of Comma’s ‘Reading the City’ series, each of which features ten stories by ten different authors from the city in question, specially commissioned or never previously translated into English – they each offer diverse and conflicting impressions of the city, exploring its many distinct boroughs and neighbourhoods as well as uncovering its different historical layers, unlocking the subcultures and secrets that ultimately make it the city it is.

Comma is looking for stories that ‘live and breathe’ Valletta, and which could not be set anywhere else. They could be set against an event in the city’s past, or perhaps explore a street, neighbourhood or landmark en route to telling a compelling tale. The story should touch on things that Valletta’s people would be very familiar with, but that readers outside of Malta might not be. Crucially, the stories should also work as compelling works of narrative fiction, and not stand as mere ‘travel guides’ to Valletta. 

Stories should be submitted as Word document or PDF via email to George Forster (Publicity and Marketing Officer, Comma Press) at commapublishing@yahoo.com. Deadline for submissions is 30 June 2025. 

For more information, read Comma Press’ call for submissions here.