Ink of Ages Fiction Prize

Historical & Mythological Short Fiction
World History Encyclopedia's international historical and mythological short story contest

Ink of Ages Update #16 📖 Celebrating your writing in book form!

Welcome to the 16th issue of the Ink of Ages Update, a monthly email (during contest season) by me, Joanne Taylor, with a focus on writing, reading, and well ... more writing. Thanks for being here! If this email was forwarded to you, you can sign up here.

23 April 2026

Hello, Writer

As a newsletter subscriber, you're first to know that we're planning to accept submissions for the 2027 Prize 14 July – 22 August 2026! Website updates are underway with further information.

We hope you enjoyed reading the 2026 winning short stories! Due to popular demand, we've been busy making books behind the scenes, and the first one is ready!

Echoes & Origins: Ink of Ages Volume One

Seventeen prize-selected short stories, centuries of history and myth, one transporting anthology.

Echoes & Origins: Ink of Ages Volume One presents the seventeen winning and shortlisted short stories from the 2024 Ink of Ages Fiction Prize, transporting readers across centuries and cultures through historical and mythology-inspired fiction.

From ancient Egypt to Ottoman history, from London in 1665 to the Siege of Suiyang, these stories reimagine lives and moments both forgotten and familiar with wonder, depth, and heart. Published 23 April 2026 in hardback, paperback, and ebook.

Tell me more about the book

“In the imaginations of these talented writers, history and myth stand, move, and move us in ways that only the best fiction can.” —Stefan Vranka, Oxford University Press

What's inside?

If you love global storytelling from distant and not-so-distant times and places, real history, depth of human interactions, a dash of gods, folklore, and the occasional monstrous creature, then Ink of Ages short stories are for you!

🪶 17 winning and shortlisted short stories

🏺 Ancient Greece & Rome, eighth-century China, WWI

👹 Javanese folklore, Egyptian deities

🦭 Selkies, hungry ghosts

🌋 Disaster, hope, grief, humanity

And much more!

Show me on Amazon →

Also available on Google Play Books and Apple Books, Kobo and Barnes & Noble coming soon. Royalties support the longevity of Ink of Ages Fiction Prize 🙏

I'm really excited about the shortlisted stories included in this volume that have never been published before. If you give them a read and have time to leave a review, that would be incredible! I'd love to hear what you think.

Happy reading,

Joanne