Paula Guran's Blog, page 5

Cover Reveal

Cover Reveal: Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror 2018

Editors’ Roundtable

Interested in writing and/or editing? Here’s a link to a unique Editors’ Roundtable that features general and specific comments on a promising story from some of the most respected editors in the field: Paula Guran, Ellen Datlow, Gardner Dozois, Liz Gorinsky, James Patrick Kelly, Nick Mamatas, Ann VanderMeer, and Sheila Williams.” It has been published as part of the “celebration” of the release of the expanded, revised edition of Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction by Jeff VanderMeer at Wonderbooknow.com. We editors did this over five years ago for the first edition, but I think you can see why it never made it into the book. Great idea, but it is a bit much for a print edition!

Lots of other writing goodies at the site, too. And the book itself is both helpful—if you want to write imaginative fiction—to study and lovely to look at—even if you aren’t interested in writing.

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Style Note:

*Why use an apostrophe to make “editors” possessive? Associated Press style would probably not use the apostrophe. The Chicago Manual of Style probably would use the apostrophe. The style question is whether “editors” should be possessive (the roundtable belonging to the editors) and thus take an apostrophe or attributive (it is just a roundtable of editors). How do you decide? In theory, you ask: is possession clearly indicated? Not much help, is it? Okay, are ALL editors included in this roundtable? Mmm, no. So, add the apostrophe.

Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror: 2018 ToC

“Sunflower Junction,” Simon Avery (Black Static #57)

“Swift to Chase,” Laird Barron (Adam’s Ladder: An Anthology of Dark Science Fiction)

“Fallow,” Ashley Blooms (Shimmer #37)

“Children of Thorns, Children of Water,” Aliette de Bodard (Exclusive for The House of Binding Thorns preorders/Uncanny #17)

“On Highway 18,” Rebecca Campbell (F&SF 9-10/17)

“Witch Hazel,” Jeffrey Ford (Haunted Nights, eds. Ellen Datlow & Lisa Morton)

“The Bride in Sea-Green Velvet,” Robin Furth (F&SF 7-8/17)

“Little Digs,” Lisa L. Hannett (The Dark #20)

“The Thule Stowaway,” Maria Dahvana Headley (Uncanny #14)

“The Eyes Are White and Quiet,” Carole Johnstone (New Fears, ed. Mark Morris)

Mapping the Interior, Stephen Graham Jones (Tor.com)

“Don’t Turn on the Lights,” Cassandra Khaw (Nightmare #61)

“The Dinosaur Tourist,” Caitlín R. Kiernan (Sirenia Digest #139)

“Survival Strategies,” Helen Marshall (Black Static #60)

“Red Bark and Ambergris,” Kate Marshall (Beneath Ceaseless Skies #232)

“Skins Smooth as Plantain, Hearts Soft as Mango,” Ian Muneshwar (The Dark #27)

“Everything Beautiful Is Terrifying,” M. Rickert (Shadows & Tall Trees, ed. Michael Kelly)

“Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™,” Rebecca Roanhorse (Apex #99)

“Graverobbing Negress Seeks Employment,” Eden Royce (Fiyah #2)

“Moon Blood-Red, Tide Turning,” Mark Samuels (Terror Tales of Cornwall, ed. Paul Finch)

“The Crow Palace,” Priya Sharma (Black Feathers, ed. Ellen Datlow)

“The Swimming Pool Party,” Robert Shearman (Shadows & Tall Trees 7, ed. Michael Kelly)

“The Little Mermaid, in Passing,” Angela Slatter (Review of Australian Fiction, Vol.22, #1)

“Secret Keeper,” Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam (Nightmare #61)

“The Long Fade into Evening Steve,” Steve Rasnic Tem (Darker Companions, eds. Scott David Aniolowski & Joseph S. Pulver, Sr.)

“Moon and Memory and Muchness,” Katherine Vaz (Mad Hatters and March Hares, ed. Ellen Datlow)

“Exceeding Bitter,” Kaaron Warren (Evil Is a Matter of Perspective, eds Adrian Collins & Mike Myers)

“Succulents,” Conrad Williams (New Fears, ed. Mark Morris)

“The Lamentation of Their Women,” Kai Ashante Wilson (Tor.com 8.24.17)

Yes, I Know: First Post in Many Months

Well, I’ve been busy. I downsized from a BIG old house (with a lot of STUFF in it) to a smallish apartment. I sold the big house. I settled into the apartment. As you can see from the photo, Nala—although very upset that she can no longer go outside—has also more-or-less settled in.

And I take more time to take care of myself physically these days because I have to. (Better late than never.)

And yes, I’m still looking for that job! I have picked up some freelance work, but it is not regular or sufficient. Someone asked me the other day if I was retired. Uh, no. That will not happen. Have to earn the kitty treats for Nala. I wish, but I am pretty much a poster child for how to not plan your financial life.

Otherwise, right now (among other things) I am finishing up the content for THE YEAR’S BEST DARK FANTASY & HORROR: 2018 Edition (covering fiction from 2017). So, back to work…

I Need a Job

The kitten and puppy are merely a ploy to catch your attention. Bluntly: I need a job. I can do a lot of things. Here’s a brief resume and my bio. Why am I posting this online? Who you know (or who knows you) usually matters the most in such quests. This is the best forum I have. (And yes, I’ve spent months unsuccessfully applying for scores of jobs.) I am not looking for expressions of sympathy or advice, just income. So, please email me if you can offer it: paulaguran@paulaguran.com.

Strap on those swords & swash all buckles!

Swords Against Darkness snuck out in late July! Prime Books has had some major schedule changes, but things are now rolling along and books are barreling down the old retail trail. So if you’ve been waiting for this one—or are just now getting excited about it—you will find its glorious thickness (in print) in bookstores online and off or its tons of text (in ebook) in the usual places! I’m rather proud of this one. I think I (inadvertently) took a fresh look at sword & sorcery while paying homage to what you usually think you might find in such a tome.

ToC & Cover Reveal: NEW YORK FANTASTIC

Will Work for $$$!

I happily remain as senior editor for Prime Books, but, for now, our schedule has been reduced as has my salary. I am seeking new opportunities. I am NOT looking to edit for individuals. Otherwise, I’m open to most anything I’m qualified to do. You can get an inkling of my background in the field here Download my brief resume (PDF) here or email me: guran@literaryservice.com.

The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror 2018 Call

Call for Submission

As the editor of the anthology series The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror (Prime Books) I am reading for the 2018 edition, which will include material published in 2017.

We define “dark fantasy” and “horror” broadly. Try reading the previous volumes and read this introduction to the first volume. And yes, we select dark SF as part of the mix. You can see the most recent ToC in this post.

Guidelines: The work must be published during the calendar year of 2017. If serialized, it may have begun in the previous year and ended in current. Direct submissions to the editor as well as suggestions are greatly appreciated. PDF, Word doc, or RTF are preferred, ebook if needed to paula@prime-books.com, subject: YBDF&H. If a physical copy is submitted please email for mailing address

Deadline: November 1, 2017. If your work/publication is being published late in the year, please try to get it to me in some form by that date. Overall: the earlier I get the material the better.

Please post and/or pass this on to others.