Michael Kelly's Blog, page 13
August 4, 2016
Kind words for ‘Singing With All My Skin and Bone’
James Everington has some very nice things to say about Sunny Moraine‘s “Singing With All My Skin and Bone.” Which means you should pick up a copy.
August 1, 2016
Shadows & Tall Trees, Vol. 7
Shadows & Tall Trees Vol. 7 is now open for submissions. Deadline August 31. Based on the number of subs already received in the first few hours, (and the terrific writers submitting wok) I am going to be rather busy, and also will likely have some hard decisions to make.
SHADOWS & TALL TREES, VOL. 7 (Undertow Publications)
Open to submissions from August 1 to August 31 only! (Standard Manuscript Format)
– I want literary horror, weird fiction, strange tales, à la Robert Aickman.
– Original, previously unpublished fiction only, please.
– Manuscripts should be 2500 to 8000 words
– Payment is a princely $50 – $100 and a copy of each edition, for first English-Language rights for Hardback, Trade and eBook editions.
– No overly long and effusive cover letters. I don’t read them.
– No simultaneous or multiple submissions, please
– No familiar tropes. i.e. vampires, werewolves, and zombies. Ghosts, though? Hell, yes.
– No science fiction, high fantasy, or poetry please
Stories, in standard manuscript format, as attachments, are to be sent to this address only:
ShadowsAndTallTrees7@gmail.com
Full guidelines:
Quiet horror and weird fiction. Fiction that is offbeat and eclectic; dark, bizarre and psychological. Stories both subtle and prosaic. Weird, strange tales. Shadows & Tall Trees is an anthology of the dark and fantastic, with mainstream sensibilities. I am seeking low-key, literary work. Voice is very important.
Volume 6 was a World Fantasy Award, and Shirley Jackson Award Finalist. Several stories published in Shadows & Tall Trees have been selected for reprint in various “Best Of” anthologies. Peter Straub has declared it “A beautiful and courageous volume.”
I am looking for stories that share the same weird and strange sensibility experienced in the works of Robert Aickman, Laird Barron, Shirley Jackson, Vernon Lee, Thomas Ligotti, Daphne du Maurier, and Arthur Machen.
I am not interested in any of the familiar tropes of the genre, i.e., vampires, werewolves, and zombies, in any of their forms. Nor am I interested in urban fantasy, occult/paranormal detectives, or magick. No elves, dragons, or faeries.
Other authors that I enjoy include Nina Allan, Nathan Ballingrud, Charles Beaumont, Italo Calvino, Ramsey Campbell, Angela Carter, Raymond Carver, Gemma Files, Elizabeth Hand, Helen Oyeyemi, Kelly Link, Franz Kafka, Kathe Koja, Alison Moore, Haruki Murakami, Joyce Carol Oates, Flannery O’Connor, Mary Rickert, Nicholas Royle, Simon Strantzas, Steve Rasnic Tem, Lisa Tuttle, etc.
Undertow Publications encourages and welcomes a diverse range of voices and perspectives.
Response times will vary. Some stories may be held until November. The book is due to be published March 2017.
About Undertow Publications:
Undertow Publications is an independent press dedicated to short fiction of exceptional literary merit. Our goal is to keep this art form alive and viable; to share great new contemporary writing; and to prove that the short story is a vital mode of literature that displays great craft, is entertaining, provocative, and comments on society and the human condition in imaginative ways.
Year’s Best Weird Fiction, and Shadows & Tall Trees are the flagship publications of Undertow Publications (UP). Our books have won the Shirley Jackson Award, and been finalists for the World Fantasy, and British Fantasy Awards.
July 28, 2016
Review of Almost Insentient
The July issue of Rue Morgue contains a review of DP Watt’s ‘Almost Insentient, Almost Divine.’ Reviewer Dejan Ognjanovic states the collection contains ‘gems and glass beads,’ ‘with shades of Ligotti,’ and that ‘an ambiguous, nightmarish whimsy colours the stories.’
If that sounds like your type of thing — and why wouldn’t it? — please consider buying a copy.
July 22, 2016
Limestone Genre Expo
Undertow Publications will be in beautiful Kingston, Ontario this weekend for the Limestone Genre Expo. We’ll have a table full of great books. Hope to see you there.
July 20, 2016
Dark summer reads
Theresa DeLucci has a summer round-up of dark fiction reads over at Tor.com and recommends Sunny Moraine‘s “Singing With All My Skin and Bone,’ among some other fine reads. http://www.tor.com/2016/07/20/bright-...
July 11, 2016
Amazing news
I am just back from an amazing weekend at ReaderCon, where I sold many books, had great conversations, and attended the Shirley Jackson Awards. And I am so very happy to announce that ‘Aickman’s Heirs,’ edited by Simon Strantzas, has won the Shirley Jackson Award for Edited Anthology, and that Lynda Rucker’s story from the volume, ‘The Dying Season,’ has won best Short Story. Congratulations Simon and Lynda! I am thankful for your faith in me. And the raucous cheer that went up when ‘Aickman’s Heirs’ was announced was truly overwhelming.
There is more great news! I just woke to find out that two Undertow titles have placed on the final World Fantasy Awards ballot: ‘Aickman’s Heirs,’ edited by Simon Strantzas, in the Anthology category; and ‘Skein and Bone,’ by V.H. Leslie, in the Collection category. Wahey!! It’s been quite a couple of dizzying days here at Chateau Undertow. Congratulations to Simon and Victoria. Well done, and well-deserved!
Thank you to everyone who has supported the press and the writers. And thanks to the reviewers, critics, and award jurors and administrators who work tirelessly with little recognition to ensure that deserving works are unearthed and brought to light.
Stay weird, my friends!
July 2, 2016
Announcing Shadows & Tall Trees, Vol. 7
SHADOWS & TALL TREES, VOL. 7 (Undertow Publications)
Open to submissions from August 1 to August 31 only!! (Manuscripts sent prior to August will be deleted)
– I want literary horror, weird fiction, strange tales, à la Robert Aickman.
– Original, previously unpublished fiction only, please.
– Manuscripts should be 2500 to 8000 words
– Payment is a princely $50 – $100 and a copy of each edition, for first English-Language rights for Hardback, Trade and eBook editions.
– No overly long and effusive cover letters. I don’t read them.
– No simultaneous or multiple submissions, please
– No familiar tropes. i.e. vampires, werewolves, and zombies. Ghosts, though? Hell, yes.
– No science fiction, high fantasy, or poetry please
Stories, in standard manuscript format, as attachments, are to be sent to this address only:
ShadowsAndTallTrees7@gmail.com
Full guidelines:
Quiet horror and weird fiction. Fiction that is offbeat and eclectic; dark, bizarre and psychological. Stories both subtle and prosaic. Weird, strange tales. Shadows & Tall Trees is an anthology of the dark and fantastic, with mainstream sensibilities. I am seeking low-key, literary work. Voice is very important.
Volume 6 was a World Fantasy Award, and Shirley Jackson Award Finalist. Several stories published in Shadows & Tall Trees have been selected for reprint in various “Best Of” anthologies. Peter Straub has declared it “A beautiful and courageous volume.”
I am looking for stories that share the same weird and strange sensibility experienced in the works of Robert Aickman, Laird Barron, Shirley Jackson, Vernon Lee, Thomas Ligotti, Daphne du Maurier, and Arthur Machen.
I am not interested in any of the familiar tropes of the genre, i.e., vampires, werewolves, and zombies, in any of their forms. Nor am I interested in urban fantasy, occult/paranormal detectives, or magick. No elves, dragons, or faeries.
Other authors that I enjoy include Nina Allan, Nathan Ballingrud, Charles Beaumont, Italo Calvino, Ramsey Campbell, Angela Carter, Raymond Carver, Gemma Files, Elizabeth Hand, Helen Oyeyemi, Kelly Link, Franz Kafka, Kathe Koja, Alison Moore, Haruki Murakami, Joyce Carol Oates, Flannery O’Connor, Mary Rickert, Nicholas Royle, Simon Strantzas, Steve Rasnic Tem, Lisa Tuttle, etc.
Undertow Publications encourages and welcomes a diverse range of voices and perspectives.
Response times will vary. Some stories may be held until November. The book is due to be published March 2017.
About Undertow Publications:
Undertow Publications is an independent press dedicated to short fiction of exceptional literary merit. Our goal is to keep this art form alive and viable; to share great new contemporary writing; and to prove that the short story is a vital mode of literature that displays great craft, is entertaining, provocative, and comments on society and the human condition in imaginative ways.
Year’s Best Weird Fiction, and Shadows & Tall Trees are the flagship publications of Undertow Publications (UP). In 2010 and 2013 Shadows & Tall Trees was a finalist for the British Fantasy Award for Best Periodical/Magazine. In 2014 it changed to anthology format and was a finalist for the World Fantasy Award, and Shirley Jackson Award. Our first book, Apparitions (2009), an anthology of ghost stories, was also a finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award.
Meet Me in the Middle of the Air reviewed in Toronto Star
Woke up to an absolutely fantastic review of Eric Schaller‘s ‘Meet Me in the Middle of the Air,’ in the Toronto Star. It isn’t online yet. ‘…bold, original stories that startle the reader at nearly every turn.’ Full review attached. Very pleased.
June 26, 2016
Aickman’s Heirs on sale
Finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award.
Finalist for the British Fantasy Award.
‘The Dying Season,’ by Lynda E. Rucker, Finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award.
‘Seven Minutes in Heaven,’ by Nadia Bulkin, Finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award.
‘Underground Economy,’ by John Langan, reprinted in the Best Horror of the Year.
‘Seaside Town,’ by Brian Evenson, reprinted in Year’s Best Weird Fiction.
‘Seven Minutes in Heaven,’ by Nadia Bulkin, reprinted in Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror.
‘Camp,’ by David Nickle, reprinted in Wilde Stories: The Year’s Best Gay Speculative Fiction.
http://amzn.to/28U6GIB
June 25, 2016
Skein and Bone eBook on sale
In honour of the British Fantasy Awards nominations for ‘Skein and Bone,’ and ‘The Blue Room,’ the kindle version of Victoria Leslie‘s ‘Skein and Bone’ is available for a paltry 3 bucks. http://amzn.to/28YF2h2
