About House of Ember

House of Ember is a literary magazine devoted to short fiction that lingers — the kind that smolders long after the page is turned. We believe good stories don’t have to shout. They can burn slow, spark quietly, and still light something unforgettable.

We publish writers who are still finding their audience, especially those who have the craft, the voice, and the intention but haven’t yet been featured in big-name journals. If you’re writing with honesty and heat, you belong here.

Issue One launches in 2026.
Submissions will open soon.

House of Ember is presented by Write Side Media Group and built in partnership with Backwood Writers, a community committed to developing emerging voices and supporting writers at every stage of the creative process.

Whether you’re a reader looking for something new or a writer ready to share your work with the world, welcome. Take your time. Warm your hands by the fire. Stay until the story shifts something in you.

This is where quiet stories catch flame.

Founders & Editors

David Yancey — Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief
David is an author, publisher, and the founder of Write Side Media Group. His work focuses on emotional honesty, psychological depth, and the quiet tensions that shape ordinary lives. He helped create House of Ember as a place for emerging voices to share stories that linger long after the final line.

Editorial interest: David gravitates toward quiet tension, emotional complexity, and stories that unfold in the spaces between what’s said and unsaid.

Elena — Co-Founder & Community Editor
Elena is a writer and the founder of Backwood Writers, a community dedicated to critique, connection, and the development of creative talent. She believes good stories come from trust and curiosity. Elena helped create House of Ember to offer writers a place where growth and craft matter as much as publication.

Editorial interest: Elena loves character-driven narratives where voice matters and vulnerability has room to breathe.

Briana — Co-Founder & Editor
Briana is a writer and part of the editorial team at Write Side Media Group. She brings a keen instinct for character, pacing, and emotional resonance. She helped create House of Ember to champion new voices and guide stories toward their strongest, most authentic expression.

Editorial interest: Briana is drawn to fiction that surprises quietly — moments of unexpected clarity, subtle twists, and endings that echo after the final paragraph.