ARTISTS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BOOK
COVER
MORRIS-JUMEL MANSION ANTHOLOGY OF
FANTASY AND PARANORMAL FICTION
The Morris-Jumel
Mansion, in connection with Riverdale Avenue Books, is publishing an anthology
of fantasy and paranormal fiction based on the Morris-Jumel Mansion,
Manhattan’s oldest house. The working title for our anthology is “The
Morris-Jumel Mansion Anthology of Fantasy and Paranormal Fiction.” The by-line
is “edited by Camilla Saly-Monzingo.”
We are looking for a
cover design that reflects the paranormal and/or fantasy aspect of the
anthology, and features an image of the Morris-Jumel Mansion as part of the
design. The deadline for submissions is
Friday, September 9th, 2016.
Finalists in the book
cover design competition will display their work at the Morris-Jumel Mansion as
part of a gallery show. If your book cover design is selected as the cover of
the published book, you will receive a $100 honorarium from Riverdale Avenue
Books, and your name will appear in the book as a byline for your cover
artwork. Your submission will also be the featured as the first place winner in
a gallery exhibit of book cover submissions that will be held at the Morris-Jumel
Mansion.
Submissions must
include an image of the Morris-Jumel Mansion as part of the book cover design.
You may visit the Mansion and take a picture, or create artwork by painting,
sketching or designing work on your computer yourself, or you may utilize any
public domain photograph or artwork depicting the mansion. Non-public domain
images may not be used. The Mansion’s website, http://www.morrisjumel.org, may be used as a reference, but the
non-public domain photographs on that website are the property of the Mansion
and associated photographers, and may not be used.
Please be inspired by
the content of the anthology: Fantasy and Paranormal Fiction.
You may choose to
include a font and display the title and editor’s name, but text is not a
requirement of this call for submissions. If you do choose to include text in
your book cover image, you must retain the ability to change the text and font
on your book cover submission, so that the title and editor’s name will appear
correctly.
Each image should be sent
as a jpeg (300 dpi, 2500 pixels on height x 1667 on width is best ratio).
Please attach all submissions in an email to mjmanthology@gmail.com, with your legal
name and any pseudonym, should you wish to use one. You must also include contact
information, including your address and a phone number through which you can be
reached.
A Brief Overview of
the History of the Morris-Jumel Mansion:
Built in 1765, The
Morris-Jumel Mansion was designed and built by Roger Morris, for himself and
his wife, Mary Philipse. As loyal subjects of the British Crown, when the rumblings
of the Revolutionary War began to be felt in New York, Morris and his wife fled
to England. The house then served as headquarters for George Washington during
the Battle of Harlem Heights, and after the war it had a brief stint as a
tavern, and President George Washington’s Cabinet held a formal dinner there.
Among the guests were Martha Washington, Alexander and Eliza Hamilton, Thomas
Jefferson, Henry Knox, John Adams and others. Hessian soldiers in the employ of
the British Crown were housed there after George Washington’s army lost New
York, and history records that a Hessian soldier fell on his bayonet, probably
on the staircase of the house, and died as a result of his wounds. There is
also a record of a housemaid hanging herself, although the reasons for that are
unknown.
Several decades after
the Revolution, the Mansion was purchased by Stephen and Eliza Jumel,
originally serving as their country home, but becoming Eliza Jumel’s full-time
residence for the greater portion of her long life. Eliza Jumel lived to the
age of 90, dying in 1865. Her rags-to-riches story is one of the most
compelling in American History. Eliza was born in a brothel in 1775, and rose up
through society, eventually marrying a successful French wine merchant.
Remaining in France for lengthy stays, her husband’s business faltered, while
Eliza, armed with her husband’s “power of attorney” in New York, made
investments and, through her business acumen, tripled his fortune. Upon the
death of Stephen Jumel, Eliza married Aaron Burr, probably because of his
social stature. Burr most likely married Eliza for her money, but when he
played fast and loose with her fortune, she divorced him. Interestingly, he died
the day the divorce was granted, but hours before it became official, thus
granting Eliza the benefit of calling herself “Eliza Jumel Burr” as it suited
her, for the remainder of her life. It is Eliza Jumel who many believe still haunts
the Mansion, as many paranormal investigators, visitors and employees of the Mansion
attest – to this very day. For further fascinating stories about the
Morris-Jumel Mansion and its inhabitants, or for answers to any questions,
please email the editor, Camilla Saly-Monzingo, at mjmanthology@gmail.com.
We look forward to
your submissions!
Sincerely,
Camilla Saly-Monzingo
Editor
Morris-Jumel Mansion
Anthology of Fantasy and Paranormal Fiction