As the shapely librarian kneels down to pull a book from a lower shelf, the back of her gray sweater rises up, revealing a tattoo etched across her lower back: “The Primrose Path.” A classic nod from Shakespeare’s Ophelia.
The harried stay-at-home mom crawls, hands and knees, across the hardwood floor, searching for the fallen back of her earring before the baby can find it. Her T-shirt rises to uncover a tattoo of fairies freely dancing in a V.
Lawyers. Doctors. Carpenters. Bartenders. Professors. Who knows what will be revealed in the revered Tramp Stamp position. Even more alluring is the story and inspiration behind the tattoo.
Keith Publications would like to see your stories dealing with “the tramp stamp,” the tattoos that wrap around the lower back. Short stories will run 2,000 to 5,000 words. Please send to submissions@keithpublications.com with “Submission: Tramp Stamp” in the subject line.
Deadline is January 15, 2011, with a spring publication date. Editor/writer Louisa Bacio will edit the anthology.