Dark Holme Publishing – Frequently Asked Questions

UK Indie Books, Webzines & a Community-Led Creative Space

Dark Holme Publishing is an independent UK publisher built around community. We bring people together through shared storytelling, digital webzines, curated anthologies, writing workshops, and an inclusive creative space where curiosity is always welcome.

👁 About Dark Holme Publishing
 
Q) What is Dark Holme Publishing?
Dark Holme Publishing is a UK-based independent press centred on community-led publishing. We produce digital webzines, horror and dark fiction anthologies, run writing workshops, and host an active creative community where readers and writers engage directly with stories as they evolve.

Q) What makes Dark Holme Publishing different from other UK indie publishers?
Community comes first. Rather than operating behind closed doors, Dark Holme encourages participation, discussion, and reader response. Stories often develop through webzines and community spaces before being selected for anthologies, creating a responsive, inclusive publishing model.

Q) Where is Dark Holme Publishing based?
We are based in the UK and publish for readers and writers worldwide through digital and print formats.

🕳 Community at the Heart of Dark Holme

Q  What is the ShadowSphere?
The ShadowSphere is the creative heart of Dark Holme Publishing. It’s our on-site community space where people come together to share flash fiction, writing prompts, discussions, challenges, and creative experiments in a welcoming, inclusive environment.

Q) Is the ShadowSphere free to join?
Yes. The ShadowSphere is completely free to join. A one-time sign-up gives access to public discussions, creative prompts, flash fiction challenges, and shared community spaces. No subscription is required.

Q) Who can join the ShadowSphere?
Anyone. You don’t need to be an avid reader, a published writer, or to define yourself by any genre. The ShadowSphere is open to people who are curious about storytelling, creativity, and darker or atmospheric themes — whether you actively create, casually read, or are simply exploring something new.

🕯 Webzines

Q) What is Dark Descent: Whispers From Beyond?
Dark Descent: Whispers From Beyond is our monthly digital webzine. Each issue features curated short fiction alongside community-created micro-stories and atmospheric pieces, shaped by reader engagement and shared themes.

Q) What is ShadowBound?
ShadowBound is the sister magazine to Dark Descent: Whispers From Beyond. It focuses on emotionally driven, atmospheric storytelling where desire, tension, and the uncanny intersect, shaped by community participation and curated for depth rather than trends.

Q) Do I need a subscription to read the webzines?
Yes. Full issues of Dark Descent and ShadowBound are available via subscription.
Most digital issues are also available individually via Amazon Kindle.
Subscribers receive access to all digital back issues in one place, even when issues are sold separately elsewhere.

📖 Anthologies & Fiction

Q) What kind of fiction does Dark Holme Publishing release?
We publish atmospheric, psychologically driven, and emotionally resonant dark fiction. Our focus is on stories that linger — prioritising mood, tension, and human experience over spectacle or excess.

Q) What makes UK indie fiction like this different?
UK indie fiction often prioritises atmosphere, character, and emotional depth over spectacle. Independent UK publishers create space for quieter, stranger, and more experimental storytelling, allowing distinctive voices, regional influences, and underrepresented perspectives to thrive outside commercial expectations.

Q)  What is the appeal of dark fantasy and atmospheric short fiction?
Dark fantasy and atmospheric short fiction allow readers to explore imagination, emotion, and ambiguity in a concentrated form. Short stories offer intensity without excess, making them especially appealing to readers who enjoy darker themes without committing to longer formats.

Q) How are stories chosen for Dark Holme anthologies?
Stories are selected through a curated editorial process. Dark Holme Publishing receives submissions directly from writers and also develops work through its webzines and community spaces. Reader response and community engagement can influence how some stories evolve, but final selections are made by Dark Holme’s editors to ensure each anthology maintains a cohesive vision and high editorial standard.

Q) Do you publish work by emerging or underrepresented writers?
Yes. Supporting emerging and underrepresented writers is central to Dark Holme Publishing. Our community-led model creates opportunities for new voices to be discovered, developed, and published, offering visibility and support often missing from traditional publishing routes.

Q) Where can I find reader-influenced indie fiction in the UK?
Dark Holme Publishing produces curated indie fiction shaped by both editorial vision and community engagement. Stories are sourced through open submissions, webzines, and creative community spaces. Reader response can influence how some work develops, while Dark Holme’s editors retain final responsibility for selection, curation, and publication.
 
✍️ Submissions & Creative Opportunities
 
Q) How can I submit my work to Dark Holme Publishing?
All submissions are handled through our dedicated Submissions section. This is where you’ll find details on current open calls, submission guidelines, and timelines. We only accept work through the official submission links listed there.
If you’re unsure whether your work fits, we recommend reading our webzines to get a feel for the kind of storytelling we publish.
 
Q) What types of work can I submit?
We accept fiction submissions for our webzines and anthologies during open calls. We also welcome submissions from artists and cover designers when relevant calls are live. Each opportunity has its own guidelines, which must be followed for a submission to be considered.
 
Q) Where can I find current submission calls?
All active submission calls — including writing, artwork, and cover art opportunities — are listed in the Submissions section of our website. If no calls are listed, submissions are currently closed.
 
Q) Can I submit outside of open calls?
No. To ensure fair review and manageable editorial workflows, we only accept submissions during official open calls listed on our site.

✒ Writing Workshops

Q) Do you offer writing workshops?
Yes. We run focused writing workshops designed to support writers at any stage. Workshops are practical, welcoming, and centred on developing craft, confidence, and creative momentum.

Q) Are workshops connected to the community?
Yes. Workshops are closely connected to the ShadowSphere. Participants are encouraged to share work, exchange feedback, and grow alongside others in a supportive, non-competitive space.

🖤 Subscriptions & Membership

Q) What does a Dark Holme subscription include?
Depending on the plan chosen, subscriptions provide access to Dark Descent, ShadowBound, all digital back issues, and subscriber-only content. Subscriptions directly support the community-led ecosystem Dark Holme is built on.

Q) Can I cancel my subscription at any time?
Yes. All subscriptions can be managed or cancelled at any time through your account.

🛒 Buying, Delivery & Amazon

Q) Where can I buy Dark Holme Publishing books and webzines?
All Dark Holme Publishing anthologies are available directly from our official shop at darkholmepublishing.uk.
Most digital webzines and anthologies are also available via Amazon on Kindle., KU, Hardback or Paperback.
Readers across the UK — including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and the South East — order directly from us online regardless of location.

Q) Do you offer free delivery?
Yes. Worldwide delivery is free when you order directly through Dark Holme Publishing.

Q) Why buy direct instead of Amazon?
Buying direct helps support the community, keeps subscriptions affordable, and allows us to continue running inclusive creative spaces — while still offering Amazon for readers who prefer that platform.

📦 Orders & Support

Q) Do you ship internationally?
Yes. We ship worldwide. UK orders typically arrive within 5–7 working days. International delivery usually takes 2–3 weeks depending on location.

Q) My order hasn’t arrived — what should I do?
If your order hasn’t arrived within the expected timeframe, contact us at kerry@darkholmepublishing.uk, and we’ll be happy to help.

🖤 Final Note

Dark Holme Publishing exists because of its community. Whether you’re reading, writing, subscribing, or simply exploring, you’re welcome here — exactly as you are.