AKA "Dear Lord, please help me out." We have three readers right now. We are most comfortable at five readers.

This is one of the things I do as a submissions editor for the Apex Magazine. I read a lot of stories. I can tell that it has helped my own writing immensely. You will also gain the respect and adoration of your peers. :)

---
From Jason:

We are in need of a talented submissions (aka ’slush’) editor.

Job duties include: Reading and responding to a couple dozen short story submissions a week
Knowledge of the type of fiction we prefer is a must. Interested parties with experience will be given priority. This is a voluntary position, though you will receive copious amounts of free books from Apex (and these I consider to be as valuable as gold bullion) as a token of my appreciation.

If you’d like to be considered, send an email to jason@apexbookcompany.com.

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/news/2009/12/apex-magazine-looking-for-a-submissions-editor

SOLD
I sold the reprint of "Nothing Left to Salvage" to the Zomobauts anthology by Library of Living Dead Press.

I sold "Eulogy for Muffin" to the Ladies of Horror anthology by Library of Horror Press.


IN PROGRESS
I am almost done with my Savajo Mojo RPG demigod book, Shanghai Vampocalypse. The final draft will be on the editor's desk no later than the 19th of December

I am in the middle of The Ross-Allen Letters, the website fiction serial that will be up on the Colonial Gothic website in 2010. I am writing this fiction series with the fabulous Dylan Birtolo AKA eyezofwolf.

As for Monica's December Marathon, I wrote 12,000 words this week. That puts me up to 19,000 out of 20,000 = 95% complete. I have about another 10,000 words to go to finish out my contracts gigs for December.


EDITOR
As Editor-in-Chief of the Edge of Propinquity, I signed on author Seanan McGuire AKA seanan_mcguire (Rosemary and Rue) as a Universe Author for 2010.

As a Submissions Editor for Apex Publications, I've passed my 300th slush story read for the magazine this year since I started in April 2009.

I am in the final stages of author edits for the "Close Encounters of the Urban Kind" anthology for Apex Publications before I start the anthology's layout.

Remember that a new issue of the Edge of Propinquity is posted on the 15th of every month. This is free fiction for your enjoyment.


FORTHCOMING
In a Gilded Light: 105 Tales of the Macabre, my forthcoming vignette collection just got its first blurb:

"Masterfully crafted, this collection of vignettes by Jennifer Brozek will take you on a spine-tingling rollercoaster ride that shatters any illusion that there is nothing to be afraid of in the dark. These beautifully written stories are a thrill to read, but be warned: enter the darkness of In a Gilded Light and nothing, not even an adorable puppy, will ever look the same again."
-- Lizzy Shannon, author of Time Twist, Dragon Moon Press

I went to my first OryCon as a pro-guest over Thanksgiving Day weekend with my husband. For 2.5 days, it was amazingly packed. There was so much for me to do and, somehow, I managed to get everything that was required of me done even if I didn't get to go to all of the panels and readings I wanted to go to.

I had 8 panels to speak on. I would say this is a record but I've done more at GenCon. Still, it was a whole lot. By the end of the day, my words had fled. Ditto with my memory. There were two guys, Patrick and Sean/Scott(?), that I kept mixing up. Either that or it was just one guy that was really messing with me.

I went to my first SFWA meeting and got to meet Mary Robinette Kowal. I'm pretty impressed with her, her ability to speak and her willingness to entertain questions. I had a couple of contract questions that she, while not being able to answer directly, had some good advice on.

I got to meet Maggie Jamison (submissions editor) and Deb Taber (senior editor) from Apex Publications! I've been emailing them back and forth since I joined the Apex team and it was lovely getting to meet and hang out with them. I really like both and we plan to meet up again soon. When I was not at panels, eating or writing, I was in the dealer's room at the Apex table. Which means I wasn't there nearly as much as I wished I could have been.

I wrote 4000 words over the three days of the convention. Normally, it is not hard to crank out 4000 words. However, doing it at a convention is another matter. It's not something I recommend anyone do. I did it because I'm on a deadline and it did force me to leave the parties early because I had not gotten my word count done for the day. On the bright side, no hangovers to contend with.

It is hard to put down on paper all of the things that happen at a convention: the meets-and-greets, the inside jokes, the funny mistakes, the advice given or received, the reconnections, meeting someone you admire and thousands of other things that invariably happen when a large quantity of like-minded people get together.

So, I'm going to borrow a bit from my Apex Overlord, Jason, and give you 10 things that might or might not have happened while at OryCon 2009. Five of these happened. Five of them did not. You guess which is which.

1. I might or might not have been mistaken for author Patricia Briggs.

2. I might or might not have stolen a drink from author Phoebe Kitanidis.

3. I might or might not have taken compromising pictures of Talebones editor Patrick Swenson.

4. I might or might not have wandered off alone with author Mary Robinette Kowal.

5. I might or might not have forced author Jeff Soesbe to entertain IROSF's editor Stacy Janssen.

6. I might or might not have dodged a pen thrown at me by author Marti McKenna.

7. I might or might not have bribed author Alma Alexander with chocolate.

8. I might or might not have flirted with authors William F. Nolan and Jason V. Brock.

9. I might or might not have abandoned editors Maggie Jamison and Deb Taber at a party.

10. I might or might not have teased author Lizzy Shannon mercilessly at her book party.

It was a good time and I hope to be invited back. The one complaint I had (that the readings were not put in with the rest of the panels) was told to CS Cole and she put it down on her list of programming reviews. I suspect, if I am invited back I will be happen to attend in 2010.

Jennifer's Apex Slush Pile Scorecard for 2009
(The other submission editors have their own scorecards.)

303 total submissions

303 total submissions read.

301 total rejections.

00 total submissions currently kept for round-robin editorial evaluation.

02 published in Apex Digest

00 submissions to go.

Stories rejected because:
1. Not enough Horror.
2. Not enough Science Fiction
3. Fantasy story
4. Boring, stale, incoherent


TEoP Slush Pile Scorecard for 2010

49 total submissions

49 total submissions read.

41 total rejections.

03 total submissions kept for rereads ('maybe' reactions).

05 total "Yes!" responses.

00 submissions to go.

Stories rejected because:
1. Not set in a modern era.
2. Not set in a hidden world within mundane society.
3. Not on theme.
4. Not interesting.

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/blog/2009/11/everywhere-like-quicksilver-part-1/

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/?p=1273

by Jason Sizemore
Apex editors and authors are all over the Internet. We have blogs, websites, and Twitter accounts. Occasionally, we’ll say something funny or interesting. For example, just this morning I was stopped at a red light on the drive to the day job and randomly tweeted “Red lights can bite my butt.”

See what you’re missing?

Today, I’ll list places where you find Apex editors on Twitter and Facebook.

Twitter:
Jason Sizemore - @apexjason
Jennifer Brozek - @jenniferbrozek
Chris Einhaus - @chriseinhaus
Sarah Brandel - @initialdescent
Justin Stewart - @justin3000
Apex Book Company - @apexbookcompany
Mari Adkins - @mariadkins

Facebook: (Editor's Note: All of the links are at the article. I'm too lazy/busy to stop and link each one.)
Apex Publications
Chris Einhaus
Deb Taber
Jennifer Brozek
Justin Stewart
Mari Adkins
Sarah Brandel
Maggie Jamison

I read slush for two magazines and for the anthologies I edit. I've discovered that I read each publication in a very different light. For the Edge of Propinquity, I read it in the vein of "do I like this enough to spend money on it and does it fit what TEoP is all about (as well as the theme)?" This is the easiest publication to read for. It is my publication. I know what I like and what I want and what I am willing to spend money on. I only answer to me.

For every other publication, it is different. For Apex Digest, I read slush looking for stories that fit the theme and genre of the magazine and then, knowing what I know of the guy, Jason Sizemore, who owns the publication, I have to think, "Do I like this story enough to ask him to spend money on it?" There is a real difference between me spending my money on a story and asking him spending his money on a story. Will the story make him smile or cringe (in a good way) or will he roll his eyes at me and wonder why he has me on staff?

When it comes to anthologies, I read those slush piles much more in the vein of Apex Digest with the added complication of "Will this story fit in with every other story I have decided is worth me asking someone else to pay for it?" Anthologies are a huge bundle of complications when it comes to looking at them because you also look at them with the mind that you can have them rewritten just a bit to suit your anthology's needs. Underneath the story cuts, you also have to look at how easy or hard it will be to work with the author for the rewrite requests and what you know of their ability to get a story done on time.

Reading slush, for me, often means I'm willing to put my reputation as a professional editor on the line for the story in question. Yes, it is about the story but it is also about who is buying the story and what you have to do to that story after it is sold.

I will be at OryCon this year as a pro-panelist and as part of the Apex Book Company table in the Dealers room. Not only that, I'm going to be selling GRANTS PASS anthologies there as well. (I just realized that I need to do flyers about upcoming books... I have six scheduled to come out in 2010.)

Come out and see me and the rest of the OryCon Apex crew. We'd love to talk with you.

OryCon Programming Schedule

Friday, Nov 27, 4-5pm: Bribing Your Muse
When ideas fail to materialize. Having trouble thinking up new story ideas? What to do when your muse skips town. - Bruce Taylor, Jennifer Brozek, Elton Elliott, Rebecca Neason

Friday, Nov 27, 5-6pm: Stalking the wild anthology - tips for success
How to get invitations to anthologies, and once you`re in, how to balance standing out vs. fitting with the anthology, how stories work in the grand scheme of total word count, and other anthology lore. - Kal Cobalt, Jennifer Brozek, William F. Nolan, Mary Robinette Kowal, Rhea Rose

Friday, Nov 27, 6-7pm: The physics of magic
Writers often talk about magic systems and magic having a cost. It's fantasy--can't you do anything you want? Should magic hold to a law of conservation of energy? The nuts and bolts of magic in fantasy, and what readers want or don't want to see. - Brenna, Christopher Lester, Jennifer Brozek, Blake Hutchins

***

Saturday, Nov 27, 11:30am-12pm: Reading
I will be reading from my upcoming collection: "In a Gilded Light"

Saturday, Nov 27, 12pm-1pm: Accounting for writers, artists and fen
Paperwork, Taxes and the IRS. Who gets paid what? Who deducts what? Can I really write off that trip to Belize and do I have to keep every receipt? When can I start treating some of my hobbies and start-ups as real businesses? - John Hedtke, Jennifer Brozek, Phoebe Kitanidis, Richard A. Lovett

Saturday, Nov 27, 1pm-2pm: My villain is too mwa ha ha. Help!
How to make your antagonists more than a cackling evil caricature without turning them into marshmallows. - Alma Alexander, Jennifer Brozek, Christopher Lester, Elton Elliott, Louise Marley/Toby Bishop

Saturday, Nov 27, 3pm-4pm: Writing for the RPG industry
A how-to workshop. - Rhiannon Louve, Michelle Lyons, Jennifer Brozek, Anthony Pryor

Saturday, Nov 27, 8pm-9pm: Self-Publishing, Indie and Vanity
What are the differences between self-publishing, independent publishing and vanity publishing? How do writers produce successful books outside the traditional publishing process? - Patrick Swenson, Jennifer Brozek, Elton Elliott, Doug Odell

***

Sunday, Nov 28, 1pm-2pm: All our cats are green
Exploration of everyday applications of science fiction technology in the lives of Joe-average characters. What are the societal consequences of transporters, and do you really want to go there with your story? What if all major diseases were conquered, or all people were immortal? - Elton Elliott, Mary Robinette Kowal, Jennifer Brozek, David W. Goldman, Richard A. Lovett

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/news/2009/11/how-you-can-support-apex-magazine/

How you can support Apex Magazine
by Jason Sizemore

After yesterday’s post asking for reader feedback about a ’subscription’ option to Apex Magazine, I received many emails of support. Apex Magazine has a large base of loyal fans willing to toss a coin in the hat to keep the ‘zine going. It was a nice boost of confidence.

To that end, we will go forward with the ’subscription’ plan. One reader commented to me that it’s like donating to NPR…you make a token payment to keep the content free (and alive). I liked that comparison because I’m a big NPR junkie! Via the Apex Book Store you’ll be able to make your annual subscription donation. Anyone subscribing for $25 or more will receive a copy of Descended From Darkness: Apex Magazine Vol I.

I’ll keep a subscriber database like I did back in the Apex Digest days. On a yearly basis, I’ll remind you that your subscription is up.

Alternatively, you can straight up order a copy of Descended From Darkness for $18.95. All profits from the sales of the book goes straight into the Apex Magazine fund.

Thank you for all the great feedback. Looks like Apex Magazine will be around for quite awhile!

(If I didn't believe in the Apex Book Company and its products, I wouldn't work so darned hard for the company. If you can help out, please do.)

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/news/2009/11/apex-magazine-and-options/

There’s been some debate on the series of internet tubes about workable business models for online content. Some, like Cory Doctorow, believe free is good. If you give out a quality freebie, people will shell out money for more of that product. I like to think of this as the ol’ street dealer’s trick of giving out samples of coke to get people hooked on their drug. Others have argued to me that offering content such as short stories online, you have to go to a subscription or pay-per-play system.

I can’t say either one has worked for Apex Magazine. A combination of the two has not worked. Sponsorship worked for two months before enthusiasm for it died.

I’d like to try an alternative.

I’d like to see how many fans of short fiction (and Apex Magazine) are out there that would donate $10 (or more) on a recurring, yearly basis to help pay for magazine costs. Our yearly cost is around $10,000. Doctorow was given $10,000 to write one single story. For your $10,000, you get 24 months of Apex Magazine.

If you’d like to give Apex Magazine a hand then please send me an email to jason@apexbookcompany.com. I don’t want to start collecting $10 (or more!) from people unless I know there are enough fans interested.

Please spread the word by reposting and retweeting this blog post.

Jason Sizemore
editor-in-chief

One of the best things about working for a publishing house is receiving books. There is one in particular that I am interested in right now. It is The Apex Book of World SF edited by Lavie Tidhar. I won't get my copy until the end of the month. I'm really looking forward to it.

The Apex Book of World SF edited by Lavie Tidhar

The world of speculative fiction is expansive; it covers more than one country, one continent, one culture. Collected here are sixteen stories penned by authors from Thailand, the Philippines, China, Israel, Pakistan, Serbia, Croatia, Malaysia, and other countries across the globe. Each one tells a tale breathtakingly vast and varied, whether caught in the ghosts of the past or entangled in a postmodern age.

Among the spirits, technology, and deep recesses of the human mind, stories abound. Kites sail to the stars, technology transcends physics, and wheels cry out in the night. Memories come and go like fading echoes and a train carries its passengers through more than simple space and time. Dark and bright, beautiful and haunting, the stories herein represent speculative fiction from a sampling of the finest authors from around the world.

Edited by Lavie Tidhar

S.P. Somtow(Thailand)—“The Bird Catcher”
Jetse de Vries(Netherlands)—“Transcendence Express”
Guy Hasson (Israel)—“The Levantine Experiments”
Han Song (China)—“The Wheel of Samsara”
Kaaron Warren (Australia/Fiji)—“Ghost Jail”
Yang Ping (China)—“Wizard World”
Dean Francis Alfar (Phillippines)—“L’Aquilone du Estrellas (The Kite of Stars)”
Nir Yaniv (Israel)—“Cinderers”
Jamil Nasir (Palenstine)—“The Allah Stairs”
Tunku Halim (Malaysia)—“Biggest Baddest Bomoh”
Aliette de Bodard (France)—“The Lost Xuyan Bride”
Kristin Mandigma (Phillippines)—“Excerpt from a Letter by a Social-realist Aswang”
Aleksandar Žiljak (Croatia)—“An Evening In The City Coffehouse, With Lydia On My Mind”
Anil Menon (India)—“Into the Night”
Mélanie Fazi (France, translated by Christopher Priest)—“Elegy”
Zoran Živković (Serbia, translated by Alice Copple-Tošić)—“Compartments”

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/news/2009/11/announcement-apex-halloween-contest-winner-runner-up/

After the Apex Halloween Story Contest submissions were whittled down to the top fifteen entries, I read them. All of them were good stories but, as all authors know, ‘good’ doesn’t cut it with anthologies. The story must both suit the theme and play well with the other stories already chosen for the anthology. It is my pleasure to announce the two winners of the Apex Halloween Story Contest.

The top prize goes to Bev Vincent for his excellent story, “The Fingernail Test.” Bev’s story will be published in the Apex anthology, Close Encounters of the Urban Kind at $0.08/word.

The runner up prize goes to Jonathan McKinney for his story, “Shiny Eyes.” Jonathon’s story will be published in the Apex anthology, Close Encounters of the Urban Kind at $0.05/word.

There are three honorable mentions: “Don’t Follow Any Ugly Dogs” by Daniel Johnson, “Finger Prick” by Val Muller and “Pod N” by Michael Britton.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a story to the Apex Halloween Story Contest. We appreciated each and every one.

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/blog/2009/10/close-encounters-of-the-urban-kind-table-of-contents/

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/?p=1228

by Jennifer Brozek

After months of receiving, reading, rejecting and accepting stories for my Apex Publications anthology, Close Encounters of the Urban Kind, I am pleased to announce that I have accepted the following stories for the book. Please congratulate these authors. It was a very tough choice. I received more stories than I expected.

Alma Alexander - I Am Sorry for Talking So Rarely to Strangers
Erik Scott de Bie - Racing Lights
Richard Lee Byers - End of Life
Nate Crowder - Frames of Reference
Ivan Ewert - Waterheads
Robert Farnsworth - A Late Night Snack
Pete Kempshall - Dead Letter Drop
Carole Johnstone - The Invitation
Rosemary Jones - Two Out, Wendigo
Martin Livings - Lollo
Eric Lowther - It Came from the Backseat
Ramsey Lundock - Tea Cups & Saucers
Shannon Page - The Hippie Monster of Eel River
Joshua Palmatier - Mastihooba
Jennifer Pelland - Headlights
Rick Silva - Roadkill
Jeff Soesbe - Green Tears on Black Velvet
Eddy Webb - Gloomy Sunday

Remember, two talented writers will join this cast of authors when they win the Apex Magazine’s Halloween contest. In addition to this dark and wonderfully weird anthology, Apex Magazine will publish a companion Apex Digest issue featuring Mark Henry and Seanan McGuire when the anthology publishes in Spring 2010.

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/blog/2009/10/review-shadows-of-the-emerald-city/

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/?p=1227

by Jennifer Brozek
Review: Shadows of the Emerald City
Type: Anthology
Pages: 325
Editor: JW Schnarr
Publisher: Northern Frights Publishing
Rating: 5 of 5


Sometimes it is not enough to return to childhood favorites and simply enjoy them. Sometimes, those of us with just the right twist to our brains, like to return to old stories and reread them in a new light…an emerald light…tainted by something wholly evil and corrupt. This is exactly what JW Schnarr did as the editor of Shadows of the Emerald City anthology from Northern Frights Publishing.

Shadows of the Emerald City showcases nineteen stories set in the fabled land of Oz. However, this is not the Oz your grandmother grew up with—or you for that matter. Seen through the refracted lens of a broken emerald, this Oz is not a land of Technicolor dreams you would want to visit. It is filled with familiar people in unfamiliar roles that make you cringe, wince, gasp and turn the pages even faster.

JW Schnarr hit it out of the park with this collect of macabre, dirty, perverse, corrupted stories. I have never paused while reading to say, “That is so f’d up!” so many times before while reading an anthology. And I meant in the nicest way possible. Though, nice is not a word to be used with this anthology—ever.

Not every story is a homerun but there are no duds in this book. Not one and, for me, I’m amazed. I usually don’t like all stories in an anthology. However, those stories that stand out, really stand out.

DR WILL PRICE AND THE CURIOUS CASE OF DOROTHY GALE by Mark Onspaugh – This opening story of psychiatry and finding a place in Oz left me with my mouth hanging open and shaking my head. I turned to my husband, saying, “If all of the stories are like this one, you won’t see me until morning.”

TIN by Barry Napier – This is a lovely and wicked tale of how the Tin Man came to be and what his original purpose was… and what it becomes once the Wicked Witch gets hold of him after a long sleep.

THE FUDDLES OF OZ by Mari Ness – This story reads like the old versions of a Grimm’s Fairy Tale. It made me smile in delight of such strange creatures and shiver at their eventual fate. This story reminds the reader that there are things far worse than death in the lands of Oz.

Shadows of the Emerald City is a page-turner but it is best not to read this anthology all in one sitting. Each story has different take on Oz so sharply it will cut you long before you notice the blood. Savor it, enjoy it and then put it away and dream of any land other than Oz. Oz is not the place you remember behind your rose-tinted glasses. All you have to do is take those glasses off and read. Then you’ll see what I mean.

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/news/2009/10/check-out-the-october-issue-of-apex-magazine/

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/?p=1218

We feature four short stories, an interview, and a poem.

Fiction:
“A Poor Man’s Roses” by Alethea Kontis
“To the Stars: An Astromer’s Lament” by Peter M. Ball
“Ghost Technology from the Sun” by Paul Jessup
“Yellow Warbler” by Jason Sizemore

Interview with Brandon Massey

Poem “After, Thoughts–A Pantoum” by J.C. Hay

Ekaterina Sedia searches for Brain Matter.

Don't let this be you. You don't want to receive this email from me.

Dear XXXX,

I am sorry but I cannot accept this submission. If you had contacted me before the due date and asked for an extension, I might have been able to allow it. As it is, almost 2 weeks after the deadline, that is not possible.

If you wish, you may submit it as part of the Apex Halloween Contest - http://www.apexbookcompany.com/news/2009/06/announcing-the-fourth-annual-apex-halloween-short-story-contest/

In the future, if you are writing for me and cannot make your deadline, it is best to contact me before the due date to work something out.

Thank you,
Jennifer

I expect professionals to be professional. If you are writing for me and you are not going to make your deadline, you'd better contact me before the deadline and ask for an extension.

I plan out my writing projects. I know weeks in advance if I will not make my due date and talk to my editor about it 2 weeks in advance of the due date. If I need an extension, I will ask for it. If you need an extension, I will look at what I have and decide if I can allow it. Sometimes the answer will be "Yes." Sometimes the answer will be "I'm sorry, no."

As a note, the person I sent this email to was gracious about my inability to accept their submission and said they would submit it to the contest. I am pleased at the professional response to the bad news.

We at Apex are proud to present the latest issue of Apex Magazine!

This month, we have three great stories:
“Fungal Gardens” by Ekaterina Sedia
“Advertising at the End of the World” by Keffy R.M. Kehrli
“The Girl in the Basement” by Matthew Kressel

We present an interview with "When Darkness Loves Us" author Elizabeth
Engstrom.

Writing and marketing guru Monica Valentinelli shares an essay
concerning world-building in science fiction.

Finally, the ubiquitous and smart Jeff VanderMeer lets us tap his
brain for reading recommendations.

As always, free here: http://www.apexbookcompany.com/apex-online

Naturally, the free fiction for you isn’t free for us at Apex, so if
you’re inclined, buy a fancy full-colored PDF version for $2.50 or a
full-colored print version for just $8.00.

PDF Version for $2.50 from DriveThruSciFi
http://scifi.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=64352&filters=0_0&manufacturers_id=2735

Print Version for $8.00 from Apex
http://www.apexbookstore.com/collections/apex-magazine/products/apex-magazine-vol-iii-issue-iii

Print Version for $8.00 from Magcloud
http://magcloud.com/browse/Issue/33955

Amazon Kindle for $3.00 (coming soon!)

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE URBAN KIND is now closed to submissions (unless you made prior arrangements). There is an Apex Digest contest linked to the anthology. The top two winners will be added to the anthology. I will post more about that when Jason finishes having a word with the Apex ISP host.

As expected there have be flurry of submissions for CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE URBAN KIND in the last week. I expect to see a few more today and tomorrow before the submission deadline closes. Then, after that, people will need to participate in the Apex Contest to have a chance to get into the anthology.

Email Cover Letters & You.

I felt compelled to write this article after reading hundreds of short stories with varying degrees of information in email cover letters. Apex was kind enough to publish it.