Issue 15 marks not only Blood Tree Literature’s milestone 15th issue, but a transition point for our magazine. A new phase in our journey is beginning, and we want to honor all the amazing creatives that helped us grow from a seedling dream. We are beyond grateful to showcase work by so many talented, thoughtful writers and artists. To continue supporting them as best we can and show our appreciation, this special print issue will feature all new work from past BTL contributors!

In line with our goal to honor past contributions to BTL, our featured artist for Issue 15 is Lee Reid Silversmithing, jewelry smith & vintage curator & our founding editor, Lee Reid.

Thank you for planting this seed, Lee — we’ll miss you!

Blood Tree Literature is entering a new phase in our publishing journey.

This includes changes to our masthead and reinvestment in community involvement, like joining the Community of Literary Magazines & Presses.

Be assured, however, that BTL’s mission and vision of being a home for compelling stories and art remains the same.

As BTL is working in a limited masthead after our unexpected hiatus, we feel it’s important that we act as transparently as possible throughout the Issue 15 process for our contributors and supporters. So, we’ve created this page to outline our plan for Issue 15, as well as any changes you may expect as we go.

The Issue 15 print will be available for purchase at $15 USD, with a discounted e-book version in consideration. While we wish we could offer this special print issue for free like all our regular digital issues, we are unfortunately not in a financial position at this time to do so. All funds from Issue 15 purchases go right back into running BTL (paying contributors, making themed donations, and paying for our subscriptions to Squarespace, Submittable, and CLMP membership).

We will provide more concrete details and dates as the process unfolds, as well as any changes during, both personally to Issue 15 contributors and publicly through our newsletter, social media channels, and this page.

Here you will find information on our printing process progress. Thank you for your patience while we prepare this info.

A pre-ordering system is currently in development. Stay tuned!

If we move forward with offering an e-book option as well, that will be available either through Lulu, a trusted publishing and distribution platform, or directly here on our website.

  • The sequencing and design of Issue 15 is currently underway, with electronic proof send-outs still slated for mid-June. We ask that all contracts, proof approvals, and honorarium confirmations be finalized by June 30.

    Issue 15 will release for public sale on July 31. At that time, contributors will be provided a discount code for further author copies.

  • Past contributors and artists, check your emails!
    (If you don’t see our message, please reach out to us at bloodtreelit@yahoo.com, or via Instagram or Facebook, as we may have an outdated email address on file for you.)

    May 15 Update: Solicitations of creative writing for Issue 15, as well as permissions requests for past Featured Art, were emailed to all past BTL contributors on April 1st, 2025. The grace period deadline for new work was May 15th.

    If we did not hear back from our April 1st email solicitation by April 30th, we tried alternate means of reaching contributors (social media, author websites, alternate emails) through May 15th. If we did not receive a reply by that point, we assumed our invitation was being declined.

    For writers:

    • New work for consideration should be 1-3 pieces of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or hybrid/experimental creative writing under 2,500 words that have not been previously published elsewhere (unless the previous publication is now defunct, in which case please indicate this and attribute the publication of first appearance).

    • There is no theme for this issue, but a reminder that we favor lyrical writing that does not withhold depth nor resonance, and we have a special interest in experimental pieces.

    Upon selection for inclusion in Issue 15, an acceptance contract will be emailed to contributors with details on rights and permissions, request for mailing address, etc., and the signed return of that contract will be required for publication. All confirmed Issue 15 contributors will receive a free copy of the final printed issue via mail; accepted contributions of poetry will receive $10, $15 for fiction and nonfiction, and $20 for hybrid and experimental pieces (all processed through PayPal in USD); and all accepted contributions will be eligible for nomination to industry awards (Best of the Net, Pushcart Prize, etc.).

    For artists:

    Alongside the Issue 15 Featured Artist, we also aim for BTL Issue 15 to champion our past Featured Artists with a 2-page spread on each artist’s previously featured work and interview, plus any professional updates. This showcase is pending artist permissions — a release request has been emailed to each past Featured Artist; the response dates/procedures outlined above apply here as well. Past featured artists included in Issue 15 will be receive a free copy of the final printed issue via mail, and we’re also offering a $50 USD honorarium (processed through PayPal only) for the inclusion of past featured art and quotes in the issue.

    4/30/25 Update:

    If we still have not gotten a reply from you at our email, reminder emails are being sent May 1st, as well as alternate contact methods (social media, author/artist websites) through May 7th. Our final deadline for new work and/or signed publication agreements is May 15th.

In conjunction with our efforts to help shine a spotlight on the BTL community, we’ll also be giving our Contributor Books page an update with new books released or announced during our hiatus, plus a digital facelift to make browsing more accessible. We’ll announce via our newsletter and social media when that upgrade is complete.

Some of our future goals for 2026 and beyond include expanded submission opportunities, collaborating with other publications and organizations, and participating in literary events such as AWP.

If you have any ideas or requests for how BTL can continue to elevate our practices of transparency, ethical professionalism, and community support, please let us know! If you’d like to make a donation to BTL that helps support our goals for Issue 15 and beyond, you can do so here.

Blood Tree Literature is an indie lit project based out of Canada & the United States, operating on the traditional territories of the Niitsítapi and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ nations, and the Homeland of the Métis.