Unbound joins forces with Creatd for short story anthology

Unbound is teaming up with Creatd, the US parent company of digital storytelling platform Vocal, to launch an anthology featuring 25 stories. 

The partnership will see the production and publication of the first Vocal-branded book, which will include stories from the The Vocal+ Fiction Awards, a prize worth $125,000 (£101,678) that launched on the platform earlier this year. 

Over 13,000 entries were recorded, from which the judges curated a shortlist of 1,025, followed by the 25 selected prize-winners. In addition to receiving a $5,000 (£4,067) cash prize, each finalist will be published in Vocal’s inaugural book, expected to be released in early 2023.

John Mitchinson, Unbound’s publisher and co-founder, said: "Like Unbound, Creatd is in the business of democratising creative voices and access. I believe platforms like Vocal represent the new frontier of literary discovery and we’re thrilled to partner with them to help showcase Vocal’s unique voices in a whole new way.” 

Novelist Erica Wagner, Creatd’s lead editorial innovator, added: "As with everything we do at Creatd, the mission of the Vocal+ Fiction Awards was to recognise and elevate the full breadth of creativity that pours into Vocal each and every day. But we didn’t stop there. Through our partnership with Unbound, with whom we will develop Vocal’s first-ever book, we can give our deserving winners even more prominence. I look forward to sharing more details about the release of the book and continuing to find innovative ways to amplify Vocal’s impact in the literary world and beyond."