Anthology 2012 Now Open for Submissions!

The Four Horsemen are pleased to announce their first print anthology scheduled for release on November 9, 2012 at the second annual Anthology Conference (AnthoCon 2012).  The Anthology will represent the combined talents of the authors, poets and artists who helped make the first ever AnthoCon a success in 2011. The Anthology will be a non-genre-specific endeavor, and will be edited by Mark Wholley and Danny Evarts, and copy edited and designed by Danny Evarts.

Submission Guidelines

Submission Period:  Now to July 30th, 2012

We are looking for the following:

• We are looking for work submitted by those authors, artists and poets that attended AnthoCon 2011
• Original fiction from 1500 to 5000 words, any genre; payment $30;
• Original Flash fiction from 300 to 1000 words, any genre; payment $15;
• Original Poetry from four to 20 lines, any genre; payment $5 per poem;
• Artwork and photography, any genre, original or relicensed; payment $30 per piece for one time use;
• Rights purchased = 1st North American Serial Rights.  Rights revert back to the owner on publication;
• Reprints considered on a case by case basis;  contact first;
• No simultaneous submissions;
• Multiple submissions are fine, but please do not inundate us with 10 poems etc. at a time.
• Format:  stories and poetry should be attached as an .rtf file; artwork can be linked or submitted as a low-resolution .jpeg or .gif attachment;
• All submissions should be sent to mark@anthocon.com, and must include a short (no more than 30 word) bio of the contributor;
• Response time:  1-3 months;
• All contributors will receive one free contributor copy.  Maximum two free contributor copies per contributor.  Additional copies will be available at the 40% off contributor rate.

Questions?  Contact mark@anthocon.com

Shroud Update August 2011 -- Going Strong!

Wow, the last several months have been crazy. In that time I have been laid off, reemployed, finished grad school, travelled and trained for the new job, and am in the midst of plans for Anthology 2011 (AnthoCon).  However, thanks to the efforts of my dear friend and Co-Shroudite, Danny Evarts, and an exceptional community of writers, editors, and artists, Shroud Magazine and Shroud Publishing continues to forge ahead with new issues, new books and new projects.  What hasn't been exceptional is my ability to get Shroud out to subcribers in one mailing, nor my ability to get all of my authors paid quickly.  While the afforementioned events may serve to explain, I make no excuses. My writers are what make Shroud a superlative publication, and my readers are our audience.  Please, writers, if you have not already done so, send me an email with your preferred payment delivery method.  Also send me your current address so I can make sure you get your contributor copy as well (for those few that have not received theirs' yet.)  Remember that all Shroud authors are entitled to a 40% discount for additional copies of the issue they appeared in.  Simply ask me for the coupon code in your email.  I am usually only to fill orders on weekends, but I'll try to come up with a plan to fix that.  If you are awaiting an order, trust that I am working on getting everything caught up.

So what can you expect from Shroud in the coming months?  A new digital edition is just about to be released, Issue 12 is in production.  Our Guest Editor, Jackie Gamber, is wrapping up Issue 13, a new novel from Nate Lambert is in production, as are The Terror In Miskatonic, and Epitaphs, an anthology from the New England Horror Writers.

Thank you for your continued support.  I am a writer as well.  I struggle with rejection letters, a competitive market, folding publications, and trying to develop my passion into an income.  I understand the importance of honesty and dependability in this market. My goal is, and has always been, for Shroud to be an honest and dependable enitity in the dark fiction ecosystem.  Subcribership continues to grow, but slowly.  As a result, we operate on a tight budget and are required to be flexibile about the publishing schedule.  You have all demonstrated understanding and patience in this regard, and I appreciate it.  In the end, we intend to sustain Shroud through a dynamically changing market landscape, and continue to maintain quality and relevance in a competitive environment that is filled with alternatives. Shroud will enter its 5th year of existence by the time we all convene in Portsmouth for AnthoCon.  I hope many of you will be on hand to celebrate with us.

--Tim

The Shroud Publishing 2011 Collegiate Fiction Award

Submission Dates:  March 1st, 2011 through July 31st, 2011

Response Time:  1 to 3 months after the end of the submission period

Submission email:  cfa@shroudmagazine.com

Format and word count:  Electronic submissions only; .rtf or .doc file attachment; no more than 500 words.

Awards:

1st place -- $100, publication in Shroud Magazine, two free contributor copies, and a hand-lettered “Hiram Award” presented at the Anthology 2011 Conference (anthocon.com) at the Wynwood Best Western in Portsmouth NH, November 11-13, 2011.

Honorable Mentions (4) -- Publication in Shroud Magazine, one contributor copy, and a hand-lettered “Hiram Award” presented at the Anthology 2011 Conference at the Wynwood Best Western in Portsmouth NH, November 11-13, 2011.

All awardees will receive a free weekend pass to the Anthology 2011 Conference, where they may participate in workshops and seminars focussed on the craft of genre writing.

Details:  Shroud Publishing, a Milton, NH-based publisher of Shroud Magazine, The Journal of Dark Fiction and Art, is accepting submissions of exceptional flash fiction from college students. Shroud endeavors to discover the bold new voices emerging from within the realm of dark speculative fiction. Stories may be on any topic, provided that they are speculative in nature, and would fit the thematic orientation of Shroud Magazine as stated in its submission guidelines at www.shroudmagazine.com. There is no fee to enter.

Stories will be judged by Shroud’s editorial team using the following general criteria:

Originality, uniqueness;
Exceptional use of craft techniques (dialogue, narrative tension, subtext, POV, etc.)
Basic compositional ability;
Adherence to Shroud’s submission guidelines at www.shroudmagazine.com

Shroud will acknowledge receipt of submissions, but will be unable to personally respond to, or critique every submission.

Learn more about Shroud at www.shroudmagazine.com; Twitter: Shroudmag

Anthology 2011 Conference Welcomes Jonathan Maberry, Rick Hautala!

Though the event is more than a year-away, we've already been fortunate enough to secure a stellar list of special guests and attendees for Shroud's Anthology 2011 Conference.  Among them, is New York Times Bestselling author, Jonathan Maberry. Mr. Maberry is a multiple Bram Stoker Award winner, a freelance comic book writer, and recently penned the novelization of THE WOLFMAN film, starring Benicio del Toro.

Maberry's wildly successful novel, Patient Zero: A Joe Ledger Novel, is a bioterrorism thriller that launched a new series for St. Martin's Press, and was followed in 2010 by The Dragon Factory. In 2011 Joe Ledger returns again in the third installment, The King of Plagues. The first three books in the series have been optioned by producer Michael De Luca (Se7en, Magnolia, Blade) on behalf of Sony.

We are thrilled to have Jonathan Maberry in attendance and participating in several panels and workshops.

Rick Hautala has offered a firm commitment to attend as well.  Rick Hautala has more than thirty published books to his credit, including the million copy, international best-seller Nightstone, as well as Twilight Time, Little Brothers, Cold Whisper, Impulse, and The Wildman. He has also published four novels—The White Room, Looking Glass, Unbroken, and Follow—using the pseudonym A. J. Matthews. His more than sixty published short stories have appeared in national and international anthologies and magazines. His short story collection Bedbugs was selected as one of the best horror books of the year in 2003.

A novella titled Reunion was published by PS Publications in December, 2009; and Occasional Demons, a short story collection, is due in 2010 from CD Publications. He wrote the screenplays for several short films, including the multiple award-winning The Ugly Film, based on the short story by Ed Gorman, as well as Peekers, based on a short story by Kealan Patrick Burke, and Dead @ 17, based on the graphic novel by Josh Howard.

We are absolutely honored to have Rick join us at Anthology 2011!

The guest list is growing.  Stay tuned to the blog for more announcements!

ANTHOLOGY 2011: A Sneak Peek

By this time, you may have seen a stray Tweet or Facebook post that suggested that Shroud is hosting a con in 2011.  The fact is, Mark Wholley, Danny Evarts, and John Morse and I had been discussing the possibility since returning from Context in Ohio earlier this year.  We realized that with all of the expense, effort, and stress that went into attending cons, Shroud could quite reasonably host one and achieve many of the same goals.

Mark came up with the name, "Anthology."  It is a word that we are all very familiar with.  A collection of stories from different authors, and sometimes expanded to include other forms of art as well.

Anthology 2011 (or "AnthoCon") will showcase the creative brilliance of authors and artists within imaginative genres including (but not limited to) Horror, Mystery, Noir, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Historical, Steampunk, Bizzaro, and the convergence of art and literature within these genres in graphic novels, comics, and games.


Here are some of the details:


WHEN IS IT?

November 11-13, 2011 (Veteran's Day weekend)

WHERE IS IT?

Best Western Wynwood Hotel & Suites

580 US Route 1, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801
Phone/Fax: 603.436.7600

And,

The Roundabout Diner and Lounge (adjacent to the hotel)

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

 In our planning discussion, we quickly agreed on a few key principles:

1.  The conference would encompass a variety of genres;
2.  It would provide an enriching experience for writers, artists and the fans of both;
3.  We would provide a comprehensive schedule of panels, workshops, and activities, but would not overburden or overwhelm our guests and attendees;
4.  We would create excellent commercial and networking opportunities for visiting authors, publishers, and vendors by maximizing our substantial contacts within the local community, media, art and literary scene, and universities;
5.  Finally, as it is now a Shroud tradition, there would be opportunities for fun, frivolity and friendship.

WHAT WILL THE SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE?


Simple, functional, uncluttered.  It is our goal that each workshop, reading and panel be well-designed and well-attended.  Fewer workshops translate into greater attendance for each.  Furthermore, we want to continually drive traffic to the dealer room.  We have found that an overburdened workshop schedule inhibits the ability of attendees to browse at their own relaxed pace.  As a result, we have decided on a TWO track workshop/panel discussion format.  This means that workshops will occur in two conference rooms, instead of six or eight.

Schedule Outline

Friday, Nov. 11, 2011

2PM:  Arrival, check in, registration
5PM:  Dealer Room Opens
7PM:  Welcome reception (passed appetizers, cash bar)

Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011

9AM:  Dealer Room Opens
9AM to 5PM: Workshops, panel discussions
7PM to 1AM:  Shroud Party, Awards, Open Mic, Dancing (passed appetizers and cash bar)

Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011
9AM: Dealer Room Opens
9AM to 12PM:  Panels, reading, signings
3PM:  Dealer room closes
6PM:  Dead Dog Party in the Roundabout Lounge

While this is subject to change, we feel that the schedule is loose enough for attendees to network, visit Portsmouth's historical and cultural attractions, and visit the dealer room.  We are also working on additional content and activities including:

Gaming
Independent films
A juried art exhibit
Slam poetry
A field trip to downtown Portsmouth

WHO'S GOING TO BE THERE?

The list is growing so quickly I'll need a whole new post to tell you!  Coming up soon.

Contact Tim for more information.