tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23346468477103503862024-02-20T06:00:46.004-05:00Anatomy Of An AnthologyThe Editorial Chronicles of the "Unspeakable Horror" Anthology SeriesDARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-56704473253936594272011-08-15T07:39:00.003-04:002011-08-15T07:44:27.796-04:00Status of SubmissionsJust a quick note to potential contributors: Please note that we are officially behind in our readings for <em>Unspeakable Horror 2: Abominations of Desire</em>.
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<br />Please know that we are endeavoring to give each submission the time and attention it deserves and apologize for the delay in getting back to everyone within the time frame we initially quoted. Thanks for your patience and understanding as we continue to move through the open reading period.
<br />DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-37019198685402465852009-03-24T10:19:00.005-04:002009-03-24T19:10:32.560-04:00'Unspeakable Horror' Named a Stoker Awards Finalist!<span style="font-family:verdana;">Dark Scribe Press is pleased to report that its debut title, UNSPEAKABLE HORROR: FROM THE SHADOWS OF THE CLOSET, has been named a finalist in the 2008 Bram Stoker Awards. Each year, the </span><a href="http://www.horror.org/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Horror Writer’s Association</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> presents the Bram Stoker Awards for Superior Achievement, named in honor of Bram Stoker, author of the seminal horror work, DRACULA. The Stoker Awards were instituted immediately after the organization’s incorporation in 1987.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Stoker Awards, like the Oscars, are non-juried awards. Any work of Horror first published in the English language may be considered for a Stoker during the year of its publication. The HWA membership at large recommends worthy works for consideration. A preliminary ballot is compiled using a formula based on recommendations. Two rounds of voting by the organization’s Active members determine first the finalists, and then the winners. The winners will be announced and the awards presented during a gala banquet held in California at the Burbank Marriott on June 13th in conjunction with the </span><a href="http://www.stokers2009.org/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">HWA’s annual conference</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Nominated for Superior Achievement in an Anthology, UNSPEAKABLE HORROR joins this year’s </span><a href="http://www.horror.org/news-2008stokernominees.htm"><span style="font-family:verdana;">other nominees</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> - including Stephen King, Gary Braunbeck, Nate Kenyon, and others - as they vie for honors in a total of (8) categories.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Vince Liaguno, co-editor of the project and Dark Scribe Press CEO, says that he’s “honored, humbled, and deeply appreciative of the HWA’s recognition of the UNSPEAKABLE HORROR anthology.”</span><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Dark Scribe Press is also thrilled to announce the nominations of several of its UNSPEAKABLE contributors:</span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Sarah Langan</span></strong>, nominated in the Superior Achievement in Short Fiction category for “The Lost” from Cemetery Dance Publications; </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Lee Thomas</span></strong>, also nominated in the Superior Achievement in Short Fiction for “Turtle” from Doorways Publications; </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Lisa Morton</span></strong>, nominated for Superior Achivement in Non-Fiction for her book A HALLOWE’EN ANTHOLOGY from McFarland; </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Kealan Patrick Burke</span></strong>, nominated for Superior Achievement in a Collection for THE NUMBER 121 TO PENNSYLVANIA from Cemetery Dance Publications, which was also won DSM’s Black Quill Award (Editors’ Choice) for Best Dark Genre Fiction Collection earlier this year. </span></li></ul>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-37724005552983698852009-01-08T10:24:00.005-05:002009-01-08T10:31:48.936-05:00'Unspeakable' Reviews...From <strong><span style="color:#990000;">Fear Zone</span></strong>, an excerpt:<br /><br />“In reflecting on this book, I'm reminded of how much fine work is being produced by the indie press. Liaguno and Helder, to their credit, took their time in producing the finest anthology possible, and the finished product doesn't disappoint. On the whole, <em>Unspeakable</em> is a highly recommended read for all horror fans, as it offers something for everyone. Lovers of the dark, the literary, the gruesome, and even the disgusting, will find something to treasure.” – <strong>Fear Zone </strong>(<a href="http://www.fearzone.com/blog/unspeakable-review">Full Review</a>)<br /><br />(Our sincerest thanks to reviewer Derek Clendening and Fear Zone editor Greg Lamberson!)<br /><br /><br />From <strong><span style="color:#990000;">Horror World</span></strong>, an excerpt:<br /><br />"Whether you’re a fan of crime, mystery, fantasy or straight-up horror, chances are something that lurks in this anthology’s closet will reach out and grab you. And if you wind up sleeping with the lights on...you will have gotten your money’s worth." - <strong>Horror World</strong> (<a href="http://www.horrorworld.org/reviews.htm">Full Review</a>)<br /><br />(Our sincerest thanks to reviewer Martel Sardina and Horror World editor Nanci Kalanta!)DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-56451528544938874062008-10-23T08:09:00.008-04:002008-10-23T08:23:57.087-04:00An 'Unspeakable' Pre-Order...<p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Announcing pre-orders for the <em>Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadows of the Closet</em> anthology!</span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260322923986075138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 207px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiivdw7dCROOmFy9UWtVGCDO4kwpu7uRt_erI8RSYI4V4KjMyA01T7SbUVWXb4RKDAH_QqSAd3CpozjaLZXCJZgw-0apSFi5VbnrA6NsXDze-E9iCTEZXYhOD4RjIGZNDoSSjrwl79zY/s320/Unspeakable-Horror.jpg" border="0" /> <ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">ISBN: 978-0981863207</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Trade paperback</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">340 pages </span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">More detailed product information </span><a href="http://www.darkscribemagazine.com/about-the-anthology/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">. </span></p><p><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/darkscrimaga-20/detail/0981863205"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Pre-order</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> today! </span></p>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-79326480595473388252008-09-26T07:20:00.006-04:002008-09-26T14:04:30.066-04:00An 'Unspeakable' Book Trailer...<span style="font-family:verdana;">Dark Scribe Press is pleased to present the official book trailer for its upcoming <em>Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadows of the Closet</em> anthology:</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxoBka4RWWkf9YkddyMVmnBbSkxtTKd6whw1Syjvk4JENCPN1xqjqfRiFgNRLVLxq7S_fFnV8yfR0xB7b2gEQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A <a href="http://www.cosproductions.com/">Circle of Seven</a> Production.</span>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-25290812190200345992008-09-21T16:34:00.005-04:002008-09-21T16:47:37.074-04:00Table of Contents<span style="color:#663366;"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#990000;"><strong></strong></span></span><br /><span style="color:#663366;"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#990000;"><strong>Peeking inside the closet...</strong></span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Introduction: The Case for Closets</span> / Vince A. Liaguno </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Opening the Box</span> / Chad Helder </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Emmeline</span> / C. J. Lines </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">The Bloomsbury Nudes</span> / Jameson Currier </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Epistle of the Sleeping Beauty</span> / Jan Vander Laenen </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Cask</span> / Jude Wright </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Black Annis</span> / Joy Marchand </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Memento Mori</span> / Elissa Malcohn </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">The Shallows</span> / Gary McMahon </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">I Am the Shadow That Walks There</span> / Michelle Scalise </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Bluff</span> / L. A. Fields </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">In Her Mirrors, Dimly</span> / Maria Alexander </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">The Portico Angel</span> / Kevin W. Reardon </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Vourdalak</span> / Michael Hacker </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Memory Box</span> / Reesa Brown </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Double Walker</span> / Lisa Morton </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Sublet</span> / Rick R. Reed </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">I’m Your Violence</span> / Lee Thomas </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">The Engine of Desire</span> / Livia Llewellyn </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">The Boys of Bald Cave</span> / C. Michael Cook </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">Prayers of the Living</span> / Erin MacKay </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">The Next Big Thing</span> / Christopher Fox </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">The Shaping</span> / Scott Nicholson </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">A Letter from Phoenix</span> / Kealan Patrick Burke </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#990000;">The Agathas</span> / Sarah Langan </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.darkscribemagazine.com/unspeakable-horror-author-bios/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Contributor Biographies</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></li><li><a href="http://www.darkscribemagazine.com/contributor-interviews/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Contributor Interviews</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></li></ul>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-72839858603220464752008-08-14T09:33:00.016-04:002008-08-14T11:31:10.101-04:00Anthology Cover Revealed...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbirzbpx1eWZbGboQyOSmGub9QPEQcdRtOE3P8Pipjux6dNl_BX9KNxj6xVfgHfTGcxv05oi0wexqG2FzCU9JNTgtYsn4HEDM7I9LzckYIt5uu1uUN_Lqsyv1RNnXqww8av4_M7uNSgA/s1600-h/Unspeakable-Horror.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234367009081087986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbirzbpx1eWZbGboQyOSmGub9QPEQcdRtOE3P8Pipjux6dNl_BX9KNxj6xVfgHfTGcxv05oi0wexqG2FzCU9JNTgtYsn4HEDM7I9LzckYIt5uu1uUN_Lqsyv1RNnXqww8av4_M7uNSgA/s400/Unspeakable-Horror.jpg" border="0" /></a>Dark Scribe Press is pleased to unveil our final cover design, as created by the talented Deena Warner of <a href="http://www.deenawarnerdesign.com/">Deena Warner Design</a> using the magnificent original artwork we commissioned from artist <a href="http://www.poochisland.com/">Michael "Pooch" Pucciarelli</a>. (Click on cover for larger image.)<br /><br />"Monsters in the Closet" is part of Pucciarelli's acclaimed “rides” series - intricately detailed carnavalesque worlds in which characters are sent careening on macabre rollercoaster rides through worlds populated by movie monsters, skeletons, and underground pop culture icons that reflect his constant exposure to Florida theme parks, where surreal carnival ride facades reflect the false fronts of modern society.<br /><br />Below is an image of the full wraparound (click on image for a larger version):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2CMs0gjj5aHDciKPUv0n8rGc8ks5lzQSZPZi9f2btEcm5j19hi7vVMUu-V-Oda9ZZzbwsMm4SStDt_VyRT0oHXbPIMoXysrojAOSsB0tcBqK7N-oszzx2f1bU6AqnZFUDwXZWeXMDBA/s1600-h/UH-cover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234372105427026882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2CMs0gjj5aHDciKPUv0n8rGc8ks5lzQSZPZi9f2btEcm5j19hi7vVMUu-V-Oda9ZZzbwsMm4SStDt_VyRT0oHXbPIMoXysrojAOSsB0tcBqK7N-oszzx2f1bU6AqnZFUDwXZWeXMDBA/s400/UH-cover.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Stay tuned for more news as DSP preps for the fall launch of what promises to be the year's most intriguing anthology with an eclectic roster of talent that includes <strong><span style="color:#660000;">Lee Thomas</span></strong>, <strong><span style="color:#660000;">Sarah Langan</span></strong>, <strong><span style="color:#660000;">Scott Nicholson</span></strong>, <strong><span style="color:#660000;">Kealan Patrick Burke</span></strong>, <strong><span style="color:#660000;">Rick R. Reed</span></strong>, <strong><span style="color:#660000;">Jameson Currier</span></strong> and 17 other unspeakably dark scribes!DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-61984373002930402742008-07-09T18:08:00.004-04:002008-07-09T18:11:14.515-04:00An Alternate View...<span style="font-family:verdana;">...of our amazing table of contents:</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><a title="Wordle: Unspeakable Horror" href="http://wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/60257/Unspeakable_Horror"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ddd 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 4px; BORDER-TOP: #ddd 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 4px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; BORDER-LEFT: #ddd 1px solid; PADDING-TOP: 4px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ddd 1px solid" src="http://wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/60257/Unspeakable_Horror" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Some fun with words while we edit, edit, edit!</span>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-39826548803159029472008-06-22T10:54:00.004-04:002008-06-22T11:32:41.588-04:00Open Letter to All Who Submitted & Final Submissions Tally...Dear Writers,<br /><br />We wish to thank all those who submitted their stories for consideration in the <em>Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadows of the Closet</em> anthology. As writers ourselves, we understand that nagging sense of uncertainty once the 'Send' button is pressed and your creation is sent hurtling across the Internet en route to some random editor's inbox. Please know that we treated each and every submission received with the same respect that we'd hope for our own work, giving each story submitted a full read and careful consideration. We offered useful feedback and constructive criticism where we felt such would help and hope all who submitted took something away from the process. Our sincerest thanks for trusting your submission to us.<br /><br />We enjoyed the scope and depth of the stories submitted for this project and marvel at the creativity that abounds in the writing community. We were moved by what we came to discover was a universality in the closet experience - and that the experience of hiding in/coming out of closets takes many shapes and forms. Whether your story was accepted or rejected, held for a second reading or requested to be re-submitted with some revision, each writer who submitted played a part in the anthology's evolution in terms of tone and mood. The project, as a whole, is indebted to the 164 writers whose work we considered.<br /><br />In the end, we're very proud of the eclectic lineup of literary talent selected for inclusion in the project and believe the anthology will be enjoyed by many readers in the coming years.<br /><br />We've now completed our final two rounds of readings and have added (2) additional stories to our table of contents - both of which will be unveiled at <em><a href="http://www.darkscribemagazine.com/unspeakable-horror-from-the-sh/">Dark Scribe Magazine</a></em> in the coming week. Those who submitted stories to us during the months of April and May should have already received notification of our editorial decisions regarding their submissions.<br /><br />Here are the final results of our open reading period, which spanned from October 7th of 2007 through May 30th of 2008:<br /><ul><li>Total # of queries = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">197</span></strong> </li><li>Total # of greenlighted queries = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">180</span></strong> </li><li>Total # of stories submitted = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">164</span></strong> </li><li>Total # of stories not submitted = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">16<br /></li></ul></span></strong>Final Disposition of submissions:<br /><ul><li>Accepted = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">23</span></strong></li><li>Rejected = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">141</span></strong><br /></li></ul>Stay tuned to the blog for more announcements in the coming months as the anthology moves into the production process. More unspeakable things to come...<br /><br />The EditorsDARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-36517970057740958032008-05-31T06:33:00.009-04:002008-05-31T06:55:49.250-04:00We Are Officially...(Part 2)<span style="font-family:verdana;">...now closed to submissions. Thanks to everyone who submitted.<br /><br />Some statistics on where we stand to share with you: </span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">19</span></strong> submissions received in April </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">38</span></strong> submissions received in May</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">4</span></strong> submissions remain in our "Held for a 2nd reading" pile</li><li><strong><span style="color:#990000;">16</span></strong> additional approved queries - never received submissions by May 30th deadline</li></ul></span>A few choice slots remain.<br /><br />More to come...<br /></span>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-2321974877254048532008-05-28T09:36:00.004-04:002008-05-28T09:52:52.788-04:00We Are Officially...<span style="font-family:verdana;">...behind a bit on the April submissions. Happily, we were inundated with last minute queries before the May 15th deadline. The downside to that influx is that our reading schedule got thrown a bit.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Our revised target is to finish up with the April submissions within the next two weeks. Hopefully, by the time we post April's submissions recap, we'll be well on our way through the final batch of May submissions and the small handful of stories we've been holding for a second reading. We know that waiting to hear back on the fate of one's blood-sweat-and-tears creation is the least favorite aspect of the craft for most writers. Please know that we're sensitive to this and are endeavoring to get back to those who've submitted in as timely a timeframe as possible - without sacrificing the time and attention we devote to each submission.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Thanks for your patience!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The Editors</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><u>Reminder</u>: Submissions of stories that received a green light during the query process are <strong><span style="color:#990000;">due no later than midnight EST on Friday, May 30th</span></strong>.</span>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-38182032980618779222008-04-28T10:53:00.007-04:002008-05-01T09:11:34.185-04:00Announcing 'May Days of Unspeakable Horror'...<span style="font-family:verdana;">Here at Dark Scribe Press, we like our horror slow and agonizing, building in momentum until the breaking point of sanity and endurance. In keeping with this predilection for simmering anticipation, we’ve decided to torture our potential readership with the <strong><span style="color:#990000;">May Days of Unspeakable Horror</span></strong>.<br /><br />It’s been one of the best-kept industry secrets (even our own authors don't know who they'll be sharing the TOC with), but starting on Thursday, May 1st, we will begin unveiling the table of contents for our upcoming <em>Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadows of the Closet</em> anthology at <em><a href="http://www.darkscribemagazine.com/unspeakable-horror-from-the-sh/">Dark Scribe Magazine</a></em> – one incredible author at a time. Each weekday, we will be posting a new TOC announcement until our entire roster of literary talent is revealed.<br /><br />So get ready as we open our closet door one painstaking inch at a time to reveal the unspeakable horrors lurking within…</span>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-40897356535622986602008-04-27T15:54:00.002-04:002008-04-27T16:04:36.209-04:00Important: Submissions Deadline Changed...Please note that an important deadline for submissions has changed. Queries will still be accepted until May 15th, but the deadline for actual submissions for any greenlighted queries has been moved up from June 30th to <span style="color:#990000;"><strong>May 30th</strong></span>. <br /><br />We've had the good fortune of receiving some exceptional stories, and the process of putting the project together is moving ahead faster than anticipated. We would suggest having your story ready or near-ready for submission before querying.<br /><br />Thank you.<br /><br />The EditorsDARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-40580302303783994802008-04-20T16:12:00.005-04:002008-04-20T16:19:48.004-04:00Anthology Submissions Tally: March<span style="font-family:verdana;">We've now completed our sixth month of readings. Those who submitted stories to us during the month of <strong><span style="color:#990000;">March</span></strong> will be receiving notification of our editorial decisions regarding their submissions by week's end. Here are the results of our March readings:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Total # of queries = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">28</span></strong> </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Total # of greenlighted queries = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">25</span></strong></span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Total # of actual new submissions = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">21</span></strong> </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Total # of re-submissions from previous month(s) = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">0</span></strong> </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Total # of 2nd readings that were re-considered = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">0</span></strong></span></li></ul><span style="font-family:verdana;">Disposition of submissions:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Accepted = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">4</span></strong> </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Rejected = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">17</span></strong> </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Held for second reading = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">0</span></strong> </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Revisions requested from authors = <strong><span style="color:#990000;">0</span></strong><br /></span></li></ul>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-55106466407525382772008-04-18T13:04:00.004-04:002008-04-18T14:09:37.826-04:00Tips From the March Submissions...<p>OK. So we've realized that perhaps using plain English to get our message out there isn't necessarily the best approach. This month, consider the following mathematical equation: </p><p>No + Queer + Theme = Instant Rejection</p><p>Seriously, our guidelines are rather clear on this. And while we realize that submission guidelines get copied and posted around the Internet, we've been diligent about including a link to this blog with our response to each and every query we receive and respond to, strongly suggesting that each potential contributor give this (helpful) blog a read. </p><p>In any event, we are nearing the end of our reading period and can now point out some specifics in terms of what stories <u>not</u> to submit, based either on what we've already accepted or what doesn't work in terms of the direction in which the anthology is evolving:</p><ul><li>Coming of age stories / teenage angst / runaways</li><li>Nothing with a gay bar setting (although we've been saying this for some time now)</li><li>Stories involving a therapist, therapist's office, therapy of any kind</li><li>Vampires</li><li>Stories in which traumatic childhood events or abuse triggers the repression of memories and/or sexual orientation. </li><li>Stories at the higher end of our word count </li></ul><p>Conversely, there have been certain stories and story elements that we haven't seen coming across our desks that we have a strong interest in:</p><ul><li>Surprisingly, we haven't received one story involving an actual closet yet. Come on, people. Closets are scary places!</li><li>We haven't accepted many stories with "traditional" horror monsters. Have a few good ghosts and an outstanding vampire on board, as well as a marvelous mummy on hold. We haven't seen hide nor hair of zombies yet, and the werewolves who've crossed our paths so far haven't made us howl at the moon. Tough sell unless done extraordinarily well, but we're still open to these.</li><li>We've yet to find a good story involving a drag queen or transgendered character.</li><li>Period pieces with a strong sense of time and setting.</li><li>Stories in the 1,000 to 2,500-word count range are being given preference at this stage in the process. </li></ul><p></p>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-72885988532035394482008-03-26T10:03:00.006-04:002008-03-26T10:14:32.700-04:00Anthology Submissions Tally: FebruaryWe've now completed our fifth month of readings. Those who submitted stories to us during the month of February will be receiving notification of our editorial decisions regarding their submissions by week's end. Here are the results of our Febuary readings:<br /><ul><li>Total # of queries = <span style="color:#990000;">22 </span></li><li>Total # of greenlighted queries = <span style="color:#990000;">22</span> </li><li>Total # of actual new submissions = <span style="color:#990000;">20</span></li><li>Total # of re-submissions from previous month(s) = <span style="color:#990000;">0</span></li><li>Total # of 2nd readings that were re-considered = <span style="color:#990000;">0</span><br /></li></ul><p>Disposition of submissions:<br /></p><ul><li>Accepted = <span style="color:#990000;">3</span> </li><li>Rejected = <span style="color:#990000;">15</span> </li><li>Held for second reading = <span style="color:#990000;">1</span> </li><li>Revisions requested from authors = <span style="color:#990000;">1 </span><br /></li></ul>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-76934624226871067962008-03-24T13:25:00.005-04:002008-03-24T13:57:48.134-04:00Tips From the February Submissions...<ul><li>Interesting month. On the upside, there was nary a psycho tranny nor man-hating lesbian in sight. <em>That</em> was downright refreshing, and you have our eternal thanks. </li></ul><p></p><ul><li>On the downside, there were several solid stories that were creative in concept and competent in execution but derailed in the final act from over-ambition or predictability. </li></ul><p></p><ul><li>We're winding down now in the process so the "wow" factor is critical for your story to move ahead in the process. The good news is that we're receiving far more good stories than bad; the bad news is that the stories need to be great.</li></ul><p></p><ul><li>Narratives that are little more than rambling, free-association aren't making the grade. Think <em>characters</em>, <em>plot</em>, <em>conflict</em>...</li></ul><p></p><ul><li>Characters need motives, and they need to act on those motives in a manner logical to the situation you've placed them in, to the time period and setting, and to themselves. </li></ul><p></p><ul><li>Most satisfying literary tickle of the month: "jingoistic claptrap." Pure word harmony!</li></ul>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-62183897604090015332008-03-07T08:37:00.008-05:002008-03-07T10:58:35.542-05:00Cover Art Unveiled...<span style="font-family:verdana;">Dark Scribe Press is pleased to unveil the central artwork for the cover of its upcoming anthology project, <strong><span style="color:#990000;">Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadows of the Closet</span></strong>:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 401px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="471" alt="" src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/VLiaguno/BookCover_18x24Small.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">This magnificent artwork was created by <strong><span style="color:#990000;">Michael “Pooch” Pucciarelli</span></strong>, an extraordinary up and coming artist in the Pop Surrealism/ Lowbrow scene. Visually captivating, Pucciarelli’s paintings blend the fantastic and surreal - Mexico’s Dia De los Muertos imagery, a bit of Bosch and Brueghul, and MC Escher's' architectural elements with an infusion of tattoo culture. His acclaimed “rides” series - intricately detailed carnavalesque worlds in which characters are sent careening on macabre rollercoaster rides through worlds populated by movie monsters, skeletons, and underground pop culture icons - reflects his constant exposure to Florida theme parks, where surreal carnival ride facades reflect the false fronts of modern society. Pucciarelli, who is also a renowned South Florida tattoo artist, created an original work in his “rides” series specifically for the anthology.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">From his <a href="http://www.poochisland.com/">website</a>:<br /></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><em><br /><blockquote><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><em>"Raised on a diet of Ray Harryhausen films, H. P. Lovecraft novels, comics, Walt Disney World and other Florida tourist traps, Pooch paints images that seem to exist in a bizarre afterlife. His art is a visual cocktail of these influences—with a shot of lowbrow culture—shaken and stirred, then served up in a souvenir tiki skull on the Day of the Dead. A self-taught artist, he owes much of his painting skills to over ten years of daily tattooing and drawing."</em></span><br /></blockquote></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cover design duties now fall to the equally talented Deena Warner and her team from <a href="http://deenawarnerdesign.com/">Deena Warner Design LLC</a>. Check back for more updates and announcements as our TOC comes together for what promises to be an eclectic and amazing anthology!<br /></span>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-80364536368440254682008-02-25T17:34:00.002-05:002008-02-25T17:39:49.126-05:00Anthology Submissions Tally: JanuaryWe've now completed our fourth month of readings. Those who submitted stories to us during the month of January will be receiving notification of our editorial decisions regarding their submissions within the week. Here are the results of our January readings:<br /><ul><li>Total # of queries = <span style="color:#990000;">24</span> </li><li>Total # of greenlighted queries = <span style="color:#990000;">23</span> </li><li>Total # of actual new submissions = <span style="color:#990000;">20</span> </li><li>Total # of re-submissions from previous month(s) = <span style="color:#990000;">3</span> </li><li>Total # of 2nd readings that were re-considered = <span style="color:#990000;">4</span></li></ul><p>Disposition of submissions:</p><ul><li>Accepted = <span style="color:#990000;">3</span> (2 new / 1 re-submission) </li><li>Rejected = <span style="color:#990000;">23</span> (17 new / 2 re-submissions / 4 second readings) </li><li>Held for second reading = <span style="color:#990000;">1</span> </li><li>Revisions requested from authors = <span style="color:#990000;">0</span></li></ul>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-42421862502086967072008-02-25T11:45:00.002-05:002008-02-25T12:08:32.830-05:00Tips from the January Submissions...<ul><li>If we're open enough to reconsider your work and request changes, either make the changes or politely withdraw the piece. Don't re-submit the same story with one or two minor revisions to placate us. We're going to notice; then, we're going to reject your work.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>It doesn't take an authentic gay person to imbue a work with an authentic gay POV. It takes talent.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Please. We beg of you...no more man-hating lesbians.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>There's a difference between seamlessly weaving keen political commentary throughout the fabric of a story and dropping a political rant into the middle of it. Save the political speeches for Barack Obama - chances are, he's better at them. </li></ul>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-87891350178636459482008-01-27T12:37:00.000-05:002008-01-27T12:54:32.501-05:00Anthology Submissions Tally: December<p><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We've now completed our third month of readings. Those who submitted stories to us during the month of December will be receiving notification of our editorial decisions regarding their submissions within the week. Here are the results of our December readings:<br /></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Total # of queries = <span style="color:#990000;">14</span> </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Total # of greenlighted queries = <span style="color:#990000;"><span style="color:#990000;">13</span> </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Total # of actual new submissions = <span style="color:#990000;">12</span> </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Total # of re-submissions from previous month(s) = <span style="color:#990000;">2</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Total # of 2nd readings that were re-considered = <span style="color:#990000;">3</span></span></li></ul><span style="font-family:verdana;">Disposition of submissions:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Accepted = <span style="color:#990000;">4</span> (3 new / 1 re-submission) </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Rejected = <span style="color:#990000;">10</span> (7 new / 3 second readings)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Held for second reading = <span style="color:#990000;">3</span> </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Revisions requested from authors = <span style="color:#990000;">0</span><br /></span></li></ul>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-87833178757532568412008-01-25T15:26:00.000-05:002008-01-25T15:52:17.054-05:00Tips from the December Submissions...<ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">No...science...fiction.</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span> </p><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">We want to experience terror from the stories - not suffer nightmares from the grammar. Line edit, proofread, line edit some more, proofread. Repeat until verb tenses agree, the punctuation doesn't upstage your characters, and sentences enjoy self-actualization.</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span> </p><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">The stories that are blowing our socks off are the ones with a strong sense of setting and mood. Avoid the clichéd gay bar scene unless you possess the extraordinary talent to bring something mind-numbingly unique to the table.</span></li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Subtle endings are fine if executed well. Watch for endings that fall flat or take the action from 60 mph to a complete halt within the span of mere sentences.</span></li></ul>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-8467257065659409342007-12-31T07:42:00.000-05:002007-12-31T07:54:10.293-05:00Anthology Submissions Tally: November<p>We've completed our second month of readings. Those who submitted stories to us during the month of November will be receiving notification of our editorial decisions regarding their submissions within the week. Here's the outcome of our November readings:<br /></p><ul><li>Total # of queries = <span style="color:#990000;">19</span> </li><li>Total # of greenlighted queries = <span style="color:#990000;">19</span> </li><li>Total # of actual new submissions = <span style="color:#990000;">18</span></li><li>Total # of re-submissions from previous month(s) = <span style="color:#990000;">1</span></li></ul><p><br />Disposition of submissions:</p><ul><li>Accepted = <span style="color:#990000;">3</span> (2 new/1 re-submission)</li><li>Rejected = <span style="color:#990000;">10</span> </li><li>Held for second reading = <span style="color:#990000;">4</span> </li><li>Revisions requested from authors = <span style="color:#990000;">2</span></li></ul>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-28321524618676100402007-12-21T15:16:00.000-05:002008-01-02T13:47:15.688-05:00Tips from the November Submissions...<ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">If we don't want science fiction, chances are we aren't going to like stories with flying taxis and dancing holograms.</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Please. No more psycho trannies or lesbian revenge tales in which someone's unmentionables are chopped, eaten, or otherwise lopped off.</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Once more, all together now: This is a queer horror anthology. That means there should be gay characters, gay themes and subtext. Somewhere. Anywhere. </span></li></ul><p></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Proofread your work before submitting. When your main character starts off as "Michael" and becomes "Mark" a page later, it's not going to endear you to us.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334646847710350386.post-62997207803964960912007-12-14T07:10:00.000-05:002007-12-14T07:21:51.585-05:00What ARE We Looking For...?<span style="font-family:verdana;">Establishing guidelines for a themed anthology can be a tricky business. Get too detailed in your likes and dislikes and risk turning potential contributors off or limiting the creativity of the submissions; be too general and risk submissions that are all over the map - and not in a good way. In the spirit of information being a good thing, Vince recently sat down with author D.L. Snell for his <em>Market Scoops </em>blog, in which he interviews editors at magazines and anthologies to help writers tailor submissions for specific markets. He shared his "wish list" and some helpful tips for the <em>Unspeakable Horror</em> anthology. Potential contributors may find the information useful as they craft their stories.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://marketscoops.blogspot.com/2007/10/unspeakable-horror.html">Market Scoops Interview</a> </span>DARK SCRIBE PRESShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197343877048893275noreply@blogger.com0