After the Storm
A Romance Anthology for a Cause
A collaborative anthology celebrating healing, resilience, and love after hardship — with all proceeds benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
About After the Storm: Romance for a Cause
When the world quiets after the storm, love is what rises first.
After the Storm: Romance for a Cause is a charity romance anthology organized by Hawthorn & Aster — a creative studio dedicated to supporting indie romance authors and helping their stories reach new readers.
This anthology brings together romance writers from every subgenre — contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, historical, dark, and beyond — to share stories of resilience, recovery, and second chances. Each submission celebrates the belief that love heals, even in the wake of loss or hardship.
Every $10 submission fee directly funds professional editing and production costs, ensuring every selected story receives the care it deserves. Once production is complete, all proceeds are donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, helping families find hope after their own storms.
Whether you’re an emerging indie author or an established romance writer, this is your opportunity to give back, grow your readership, and join a community of storytellers writing for a cause.
Join us — because love always finds a way through.
What we’re looking for
We’re seeking heartfelt, beautifully told romance stories about healing, resilience, and second chances — tales that remind readers love can bloom again, even after the storm has passed.
This anthology welcomes indie romance authors across all subgenres and pairings. Whether your story is grounded in contemporary small-town love, charged with paranormal magic, or set in a dark, emotional world — we want stories that carry heart, depth, and hope.
Theme
Love Heals. Each story should explore how love — romantic, platonic, or self-love — helps characters recover, rebuild, and rediscover their strength.
Tone
Emotional, authentic, and hopeful. The ending doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should leave the reader with a sense of peace and possibility.
Genres & Pairings
All romance subgenres and pairings are welcome: contemporary, historical, paranormal, fantasy, dark romance, queer romance, and more.
Tropes We Love
Second chances • Wounded heroes/heroines/theorines • Friends to lovers • Love after loss • Found family
Representation
#OwnVoices and diverse creators are enthusiastically encouraged to submit. We welcome authors of all backgrounds, identities, and orientations.
Boundaries
Explicit content is welcome when handled with emotional authenticity and enthusiastic consent.
Please include clear trigger warnings if your story contains sensitive material.
If your story carries the heartbeat of healing — we want to read it.
Why submit?
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Make a Difference: Every dollar supports children’s health through St. Jude’s.
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Professional Quality: All submissions fund professional copy editing and proofreading.
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Author Retained Rights: You keep full rights to your story.
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Creative Visibility: Your work reaches new readers through H&A’s marketing network.
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Community Impact: Join a collaboration between indie authors who believe love heals.
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A Gift for You: Every contributor receives a free digital copy of the anthology.
Timeline
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Open Call
Oct 29 – Dec 21, 2025
Public call for submissions. Authors have eight weeks to polish and submit their short romance stories.
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REVIEW & SELECTION
Jan 5 – Feb 1, 2026
The Hawthorn & Aster editorial team reads and selects ten stories that best fit the “Love Heals” theme. Authors receive acceptance emails and contracts by early February.
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EDITING & DESIGN
Feb 2 – Apr 5, 2026
Copy editing, proofreading, interior formatting, and cover design take place. Authors will have the chance to review light copy edits before finalization.
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ARC TEAM & TOUR PREP
Apr 6 – May 17, 2026
ARC readers are recruited, digital copies distributed, and early reviews collected in preparation for launch.
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PRE-LAUNCH CAMPAIGN
May 18 – Jun 14, 2026
Marketing graphics, preorder links, and social media features roll out. Authors can share sneak peeks with their audiences.
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PUBLICATION DAY
Jun 15, 2026
After the Storm: Romance for a Cause officially releases! All proceeds beyond production go to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
FAQs
Have questions about the After the Storm romance anthology? Find submission guidelines, deadlines, rights info, and how indie romance authors can participate in this St. Jude’s charity anthology organized by Hawthorn & Aster.
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Any romance author, published or unpublished. After the Storm: Romance for a Cause welcomes indie authors, hybrid authors, and emerging writers across every subgenre and pairing.
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This charity romance anthology celebrates healing and second chances — stories where love helps characters rebuild after hardship, grief, or trauma.
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Stories should be between 5,000 and 15,000 words, submitted as a .docx file in standard manuscript format.
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Your submission fee covers professional copy editing and proofreading for the anthology. Once production costs are met, all remaining funds are donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
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Even if your story isn’t chosen for publication, you’ll receive a thank-you digital copy of the finished anthology as appreciation for supporting the cause.
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Submissions Open: October 29, 2025
Deadline: December 21, 2025
Selections Announced: January 26 – February 1, 2026
Publication Day: June 15, 2026
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Yes. Authors retain full, non-exclusive rights to their work and may republish it after the anthology’s one-year print term.
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No. We’re only accepting original, unpublished stories to ensure readers receive new, exclusive content.
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Hawthorn & Aster provides copy editing and proofreading to ensure consistency and polish. Authors should submit a clean, line-edited draft — structural or stylistic revisions must be completed before submission.
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Yes! Steam and spice are welcome as long as scenes are consensual, emotionally grounded, and aligned with the “Love Heals” theme. Please include clear trigger warnings for sensitive material.
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Email admin@hawthornandaster.com — we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.