Chantal Boudreau's Blog - Posts Tagged "anthologies"
Charity Anthologies
If you do a quick scan of the writer and publisher blogs out there, you’ll find a vast number of complaints about authors giving work away for “exposure” and how it devalues the work of authors in general. Of course, this usually comes from established writers who already have name recognition and don’t understand just how much the publishing industry has changed recently and how hard it is to create a name for yourself. And it does make a difference. There are plenty of publishers out there that won’t even consider your work unless you already have a name they recognize. Also, sampling is supposed to be one of the most effective means of marketing for writers.
That being said, while I might post the occasional story for free on a few sites out there so people can sample my work, ignoring the naysayers, and I gladly agree to the freebie weekends for my ebooks that my publishers have used for promotional purposes, I’m not keen on contributing my work to for-profit anthologies where I don’t even get a contributor copy. In fact, I have said “no” to specific requests of this type that have come my way. I’ll willingly, however, contribute to charity anthologies. I have two stories now in these types of books and a third submitted and waiting for a response. I don’t see a problem with donating my work for a good cause. I do it all the time in other ways. I donate money regularly to charity, I’m O negative, so I make a point of donating blood, and I donate artwork and baked goods and books for raffles and the like – so why not simply donate my words?
Surprisingly, you’ll find folks criticizing this choice out there as well, although it is less common and usually limited to the more abrasive types who just like to rant and be negative. I witnessed one small press publisher go on a tirade while attacking his peers who were not paying contributors and he included charity anthologies in his rant. But in general, these anthologies are well received. They are also a potential opportunity to have your work in the same book as established writers whom you respect. I’ve enjoyed that experience as well.
If you want to check out the charity anthologies to which I have contributed they include:
Waking the Witch- from May December Publications – all proceeds go to the Red Cross
http://www.amazon.com/Wake-The-Witch-...
Slices of Flesh – from Dark Moon Books – Net proceeds from this book will go to several charities including literacy programs, the Horror Writers of America hardship fund and the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation
http://www.amazon.com/Slices-Flesh-St...
That being said, while I might post the occasional story for free on a few sites out there so people can sample my work, ignoring the naysayers, and I gladly agree to the freebie weekends for my ebooks that my publishers have used for promotional purposes, I’m not keen on contributing my work to for-profit anthologies where I don’t even get a contributor copy. In fact, I have said “no” to specific requests of this type that have come my way. I’ll willingly, however, contribute to charity anthologies. I have two stories now in these types of books and a third submitted and waiting for a response. I don’t see a problem with donating my work for a good cause. I do it all the time in other ways. I donate money regularly to charity, I’m O negative, so I make a point of donating blood, and I donate artwork and baked goods and books for raffles and the like – so why not simply donate my words?
Surprisingly, you’ll find folks criticizing this choice out there as well, although it is less common and usually limited to the more abrasive types who just like to rant and be negative. I witnessed one small press publisher go on a tirade while attacking his peers who were not paying contributors and he included charity anthologies in his rant. But in general, these anthologies are well received. They are also a potential opportunity to have your work in the same book as established writers whom you respect. I’ve enjoyed that experience as well.
If you want to check out the charity anthologies to which I have contributed they include:
Waking the Witch- from May December Publications – all proceeds go to the Red Cross
http://www.amazon.com/Wake-The-Witch-...
Slices of Flesh – from Dark Moon Books – Net proceeds from this book will go to several charities including literacy programs, the Horror Writers of America hardship fund and the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation
http://www.amazon.com/Slices-Flesh-St...
Oodles of October
Overtime season has finally come to an end for me at my day job, I’m closing in on the last chapter of the first draft of Providence, and my home life is more subdued because the garden has been reaped and the kids are back at school. As much as I might wish this means things will calm down for me, I’m afraid I’m not that fortunate. October is creeping up, after all, and October is the month for horror writers, so October finds me as busy as ever. What do I have on my plate, you may ask? Well how about I share that with you:
Editing, editing, editing - My regular publisher, May December Publications, has experienced a few delays, so the edits for Transcendence I was expecting to review in September have yet to arrive. I’m anticipating they’ll come my way in October. This also means preparing my blurb, my preface and my acknowledgements, all time consuming to some degree. On top of that, Harper Voyager is opening up a brief two week window when they’ll be accepting unsolicited, unagented submissions. I have three manuscripts, Elements of Genocide, Sleep Escapes Us and Intangible, I intend on editing and submitting within that two week span (they’ve all been edited at least once or twice previously, but I’ll be polishing them up again.) By the end of those two weeks, I’ll be lucky if I have any hair left.
Anthologies a plenty – With Halloween approaching, it is prime time horror anthology release season. I know I’ve mentioned these before (in My Hurricane Season), but now I have more details. To begin with, Crooked Cat Publications is releasing their Fear charity anthology, a scary collection of tales from 60 different authors, in two volumes. My phobic tale, “Octavia,” will be appearing in volume one. You can find out more about it at their online launch party on October 3rd. Another anthology from Crowded Quarantine is scheduled for October release, Tales for the Toilet: Volume 1, a horror Johnny reader containing my short tale “And Then the Crow Said ‘Henry’”. I’m also pleased to say that my wicked tale, “Orbs” will be sharing the pages of the Mistresses of the Macabre anthology from Dark Moon Books with other frightful female writers. It had an anticipated October release, but the schedule is not firm and from what I’ve seen with small presses, expect to be flexible.
Preparations Galore – Preparations will be required for two upcoming events. The first is Hal-Con at the end of October. While I won’t be appearing as a guest this year, I will still be there - only with much more freedom to attend panels, hang out and be friendly, and come and go as I please. I’ll also have a backpack full of books and business cards with me and I’m working towards showing up in costume. I’m hoping to see some of you there. The other event is NaNo. I have a great deal of research to do on Lapp mythology, culture and language for my planned “The Trading of Skin” novel. I’ll also be doing more research into North American mythology, for a separate project. I loooove doing research, so this part of my chaos will also be my bliss.
And just a quick mention that I plan on making October a “My Favourite Monster” month for my blog. All my non-review blog postings will offer up something about some of my most-loved monsters, until I start my NaNo blog hiatus in November. I’ll be on the hunt for guest bloggers before then.
Toodles, until oodles, for now!
Editing, editing, editing - My regular publisher, May December Publications, has experienced a few delays, so the edits for Transcendence I was expecting to review in September have yet to arrive. I’m anticipating they’ll come my way in October. This also means preparing my blurb, my preface and my acknowledgements, all time consuming to some degree. On top of that, Harper Voyager is opening up a brief two week window when they’ll be accepting unsolicited, unagented submissions. I have three manuscripts, Elements of Genocide, Sleep Escapes Us and Intangible, I intend on editing and submitting within that two week span (they’ve all been edited at least once or twice previously, but I’ll be polishing them up again.) By the end of those two weeks, I’ll be lucky if I have any hair left.
Anthologies a plenty – With Halloween approaching, it is prime time horror anthology release season. I know I’ve mentioned these before (in My Hurricane Season), but now I have more details. To begin with, Crooked Cat Publications is releasing their Fear charity anthology, a scary collection of tales from 60 different authors, in two volumes. My phobic tale, “Octavia,” will be appearing in volume one. You can find out more about it at their online launch party on October 3rd. Another anthology from Crowded Quarantine is scheduled for October release, Tales for the Toilet: Volume 1, a horror Johnny reader containing my short tale “And Then the Crow Said ‘Henry’”. I’m also pleased to say that my wicked tale, “Orbs” will be sharing the pages of the Mistresses of the Macabre anthology from Dark Moon Books with other frightful female writers. It had an anticipated October release, but the schedule is not firm and from what I’ve seen with small presses, expect to be flexible.
Preparations Galore – Preparations will be required for two upcoming events. The first is Hal-Con at the end of October. While I won’t be appearing as a guest this year, I will still be there - only with much more freedom to attend panels, hang out and be friendly, and come and go as I please. I’ll also have a backpack full of books and business cards with me and I’m working towards showing up in costume. I’m hoping to see some of you there. The other event is NaNo. I have a great deal of research to do on Lapp mythology, culture and language for my planned “The Trading of Skin” novel. I’ll also be doing more research into North American mythology, for a separate project. I loooove doing research, so this part of my chaos will also be my bliss.
And just a quick mention that I plan on making October a “My Favourite Monster” month for my blog. All my non-review blog postings will offer up something about some of my most-loved monsters, until I start my NaNo blog hiatus in November. I’ll be on the hunt for guest bloggers before then.
Toodles, until oodles, for now!
