Projected Publication Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2025

Deadline for submissions: Sunday, March 1, 2026

Goal: To raise awareness of Retinoblastoma and share our stories with friends and family. Hopefully this book will find its way into the hands of a newly diagnosed family and offer encouragement and hope.

We are looking for stories that focus on one aspect of your family’s journey: diagnosis, treatment, life with RB, siblings and parents, finding strength, and testimonials from survivors who are now adults (what is life like). Continue reading for a more detailed explanation of each category.

You may submit to as many of the categories as you would like. You or your child must have been diagnosed with retinoblastoma to submit. Submission does not guarantee publication. The more voices that share their story the better. It is our hope that many families are able to share a portion of their journey.

There is no compensation available for participating in this journal/anthology. By submitting you are giving us First Time North American Rights* and Electronic Rights*. If your piece has previously been published we may be interested in Reprint Rights*, you must tell us in the email that this would be a reprint and where it was previously published (includes caring bridge, blogs, etc). The goal of this book is to raise awareness and encourage families newly diagnosed.

Submissions must adhere to the following guidelines.

You must be the parent of a child diagnosed with RB or a survivor. The last chapter of the book is for RB survivors only. I am accepting submissions from all over the world but they must be written in English.

500-2,000 words. Make sure it is well edited before submitting. I am not looking for journal entries, but clean well written pieces. My suggestion is to write the story, edit it yourself for spelling and grammar, then have at least two people read through it suggesting corrections. Once you (and two others) feel your story is publication worthy email it to hope@hopengriffin.com

Use font Times New Roman 12 double spaced. Attach the story to the email, do not embed it. In the subject line put RB: {category your story falls under}. For example RB: Diagnosis

Make sure to include in the body of the email your full name (as you would like it published), word count, and if the story you are sending me has been previously published please state where and what type of rights. By submitting your story you are giving me First Time North American Rights and Electronic Rights, unless otherwise stated in your email.

The goal is to publish in both anthology format and e-book format to get it out to the most possible people.

Prior to publication you will receive an edited version of your piece for approval.

Do not post your story on Facebook, blogs, or anywhere else on the internet as it will hold up publication.

Marketing

Prior to publication I will be sending out a marketing plan to everyone who has submitted. The goal of this book is to get it into as many hands as possible on September 1, 2025 to kick off childhood awareness month.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to send me a message at hope@hopengriffin.com or via facebook.

As promised here are the descriptions of each section:

Diagnosis: How did you discover something wasn’t quite right? Was it a picture? A comment from a friend? What was it like the moment you heard the news? What did you feel? Where did you go? Most of us can remember this moment fairly clearly. Share your surroundings, your feelings, your fear and your hope.

Treatment: What did treatment look like? What was/is your time at the hospital like? Don’t just give facts share a story. Tell us about that one nurse who brightened up the chemo treatments. Let us know about your favorite doctor. Tell us about the sickness in the middle of the night and the fear you felt while holding your child. But also tell us about the hope you felt. Tell us the story of sitting in the waiting room during his/her enucleation. Tell us how you got through the chemo treatments, games you played, books you read. Show us hope but let us feel your fear and emotions as well.

Life with RB: These stories are away from the hospital. What is life like for your child? Share a story about school, extended family, and friends. How is your child’s life different from other children and how is it the same? Remember to show, not tell.

Siblings and Parents: How did the family dynamics change? Share what adjustments had to take place in your family. How did the siblings and/or your spouse adjust? Is your marriage stronger because of this ordeal?

Finding Strength: Where did you draw strength from: family, friends, faith, science, giving back? This is your testimonial of how as a parent you discovered a way to persevere and be strong for your child.

Testimonials: We want to hear from those who have lived with RB and are now adults. What has life been like? What were your struggles? How did RB strengthen you as an individual? What were the obstacles you had to overcome and how did it help you become who you are today?

*First Time North American Rights- “First” rights give a publication the right to be first to publish your material in either a particular medium or a particular location.

*Electronic Rights – This will give the ability to offer the collection as an e-book.

*Reprint Rights- When you offer these rights, it is because first rights for the piece have been given elsewhere, but you are giving the right to print the piece a second time. If you have self-published or posted to a web site, it is considered previously published.