Call for Short Stories About Valletta for Comma Press’ Reading the City Series 

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. 

Submission Guidelines

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. 

The email title must contain the phrase‘Book of Valletta Submission’, or it may be missed. Please note the rules of entry outlined below. Submissions:

• Must be your own original work of fiction
• Must not have been published in English elsewhere
• Must be 2,000 – 6,000 words
• May be of any genre
• Must not contain any libellous, blasphemous or copyrighted material
• Must not contain symbols, emojis or other unconventional text formatting
• May be written in Maltese or English

The following will NOT be considered:

• ‘Slice-of-life’ stories
• Autobiography or meditations
• Poetry
• Reportage or non-fiction
• Chapters or excerpts from a longer piece
• Stories that could take place in any other city

Translation

If writing in Maltese, authors are invited to submit the names of up to three preferred translators. Comma Press cannot guarantee that winning authors will be granted their chosen translator, but their preferences will be taken into consideration.

Payment & Rights

If selected for publication, authors will receive a one-time payment of £100. Authors will retain the rights to their story, with the rights to the specific English translation retained by the translator, with all other rights belonging to Comma Press. 

Authors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to showcase their work on an international platform that nonetheless invites a deep dive into the thrilling peculiarities of our historic capital city! 

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