Announcing the Longlist

Congratulations to the longlisted authors and stories in the 2026 History Through Fiction Short Story Contest! Each of the titles below remains under consideration for our shortlist, which will be announced on October 15.

We are grateful to everyone who submitted their work and entrusted us with their stories. We look forward to continuing the selection process as we identify the exceptional historical fiction that will appear in our forthcoming anthology.

The Fireman by Angela Cort

Let’s Start a Revolution by Irving Kellman

Greater Love Hath No Man by David Wrathrall

Take Home a Memory by Bethany Bruno

The Quest for the Perfect Cherry Blossom by Andrew H. N. Kim

Barefoot From the War by Rick Forbess

Pineapple Upside Down Cake by Leslie Grover

A Perilous Trip Home by Charles Merkel

Hartnell by Hannah Shearer

La Peregrina by Shirley Kenyon

The Wedded Bachelors by Chad LeJeune

Stitched Up by Debbie Rainer

Homunculus by Robin Le Lovelace

The Nuckelavee by Joseph Kawaja

Murder on the Super Chief by Suzanne Stauffer

Passing History as Fiction by Evelyn F. Symes

D. Padgett, M.D. by Nancy R. Wilson

Toe to Toe by Regina Guarino

It Was Just Another Day by Lee McKerracher

Corregidor by Donna Kelly

Sea of the West by Cynthia Rawn

The Live Revolution by Adela Cepoi

State Line Driver by Lindsay Myers

How to Play Passatella by Elena M. Rodriguez

Mr Pitkin by Mary Ellen Fox

Firing by Cathy Hume

The Dowager by Phillippa Carr

Specularius by Mary Ellen Fox

Just Blood by Terry Mulhern

Mustang in France by Jean-Andre Parmiter

Wartime Harpist by Jennifer Kelly

The Billhook Nun by Vivian Solum

Painting the Light by Mary Ellen Fox

The Education of the Phillistine by Patrick Nazareth

The Palmwood Dress by Melissa Moschitto

Room by Fish Nealman

Ice Pick by Heidi Lee

Let It Be Me by Tairi Blair

Keeping Eyes to the Roof by Jennifer Kelly

Monkfish by Ellaine Ban

10:20 Pip Emma, Clear Skies by Christina Anderson

When the Bough Breaks by Maggie Bouldin

Flag over Mukaishima by Bryan Artiles

The Devils Lurk Inside by Marilyn Wolters

Room by Fish Nealman

Three Riding by Jatin Garg

The Woman in Black by Robert Fritsche

Grasshoppers by Michael J Klein

Winter’s End by John Horan

The Washerwomen by Annie O’Brien

The Departed Dancer – A Las Vegas Mystery by Amy Padden

Same Old Song by Eric Hall

Nacht Hexen by Ellen O’Brien

What They Carried by Chris Marcotte

Manitoba Gold by Bryony Lorimer

When Hell Arrives by Raquel Y. Levitt

Yankee Leaper by A. L. Bishop

They Named It Molly Maguire by Ryan F. Love

The Man in the Morris by Nishadi De Silva

Ultramarine by Liudmila Litviniene

Whiskey and Salt Water by Sue Anger

Rest Those Weary Bones by Aliss Langridge

The Archbishop’s Confession by Alice McVeigh

Like Drops of Blood by Erin Makela

Motecuhzoma and the Tears of God by Eric Habener

A Careful Hand by Daniel A. Quinn

A Memory Is a Box by Daniel Woodruff

All But Three by Mary Timony/Ellenburg

The Thegns Tax Collector by Alex Paige

The Milk-White Mare and the Ruby Prince by Jillian Forsberg

In the Holylands by Muiread O'Hanlon

The Change by Lydia Hinkle

History Through Fiction Short Story Contest

History Through Fiction is proud to announce our 4th annual short story contest. Open June 15 – August 15, all submissions have a chance to be published in a paperback anthology!

Submissions are now Closed

Submissions Open June 15 – August 15
$250 Grand Prize!

Read all the winning stories from last year’s contest in THE BLOOD OF ENGLISHMEN

Description
History Through Fiction is proud to announce its fourth annual short story contest. We're opening submissions on June 15, 2026, and they'll close on August 15, 2026. We invite writers to send in their historical fiction short stories. Each story will be reviewed by our editors, including one volunteer judge who will provide direct feedback. On September 15, we'll announce the longlist. Then, on October 15, we'll reveal the shortlist. All shortlisted stories will be published in a paperback anthology, and each author will get $75. The big announcement for the runner-up and grand prize winners will be on November 15. The runner-up receives a $150 cash prize, and the grand prize winner takes home $250. Look for the anthology's release on March 2, 2027.

Submission Period

June 15, 2026 – August 15, 2026

Submission Guidelines

Word Limit = 5,000
Time Period = Must take place prior to the year 2000
Historical Setting = Any
Publication Status = All submissions must be previously unpublished
Multiple Submissions = Accepted
We will accept any subgenre of historical fiction.

Submission Requirements and Details

Submissions will be accepted through our Duosuma Submission Manager and Submittable.
$20 Early Bird Submission Fee. Fee increases to $30 on July 15, 2026.
All submitters will be subscribed to the History Through Fiction newsletter. Submitters may unsubscribe at any time, but all contest announcements will be made through the HTF newsletter.
Stories must be in a PDF, .doc, or .docx format
Please remove all personally identifying information from your short story manuscript, including your name and any other details that could reveal your identity.
If our editors believe your submission does not meet the criteria, or is deemed inappropriate in any way, we reserve the right to disqualify your submission. Submission fees are non-refundable.

Judges

Click here to meet your judges

Judging Criteria

Your story feedback will be delivered on September 15, 2026. Your feedback form will include:

Strengths and Constructive Criticisms
Historical Relevance of the Story
Quality of character, plot, and setting
Quality of voice and point of view
Overall Impact and Quality

There will no longer be a point scale. Rather, editors will review all stories while also relying on the recommendations of the judges.

Prizes
1st Place, Grand Prize

2nd Place, Runner-Up

Shortlisted

  • $75 Cash Prize

  • Publication in our paperback anthology

All Submitters Receive:

  • One written feedback form for each submission

*Note – If your story is selected for publication, the author retains all copyright. Stories must be previously unpublished and History Through Fiction asks for first rights to publish +30 days. Thirty days after publication, the author is free to publish their story elsewhere.