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 Stone and Marrow, jewelry & vintage creation/curation owned and operated by 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 citizenship, 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 capacity 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.


Issue 15 will be printed and available for purchase through Lulu, a trusted publishing and distribution platform. The print issue will be sold for $15 USD. If we also offer an e-book version for purchase, it will be made available for $5 USD — this decision is still pending. 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).

Should we make any changes to our distribution plan as the process unfolds, we’ll notify Issue 15 contributors personally and also make public posts through our newsletter, social media channels, and this page.

Here is a breakdown of our current timeline of the Issue 15 plan:

  • Review and compile pieces for Issue 15 through the month of May

  • Send electronic proofs to Issue 15 contributors by mid-June

  • Finalize the issue by the end of June

  • Mail print copies of the completed issue to contributors by mid-July

  • Release Issue 15 for sale by the end of July

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

Solicitations of creative writing for Issue 15, as well as permissions requests for past Featured Art, have been sent to all past BTL contributors via email on April 1st, 2025.

So, past contributors and artists, check your emails!

  • If we have not heard back from our April 1st email solicitation by April 30th, we will try alternate means of reaching contributors (social media, Submittable, your website if applicable) through May 15th. If we still have not received a response after that point, we will assume our invitation is 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.

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. Stay tuned!

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.