Saving Icarus

So, after reviewing Lethe Press's P&L statement, I noticed that I lost around four thousand dollars last year on Icarus, the Magazine of Gay Speculative Fiction. Now, I never expected to make a bundle or even a profit. My goal was to provide a venue for stories that some markets might consider "too gay" or "too odd." Also to spread awareness of gay fantasy, science-fiction and horror. But I did not want to lose so much.

Icarus is printed on full-color, glossy stock and runs 52 pages. The cover price alone does not cover the printing costs. Or the print subscription of $50 a year. Factor in paying authors (yes, I do pay authors, not professional rates, but something is better than nothing; paying artists, paying copyeditor and layout fellow) and each issue is expensive. If I send copies to stores to sell, I do so at 1/2 off the cover price = again losing money.

Digital subscriptions do help, as they avoid the printing costs and recoup the intellectual and design costs.

Alas, despite whatever % of the population is gay and whatever % of the population likes spec fic, we've really managed few readers and subscribers. I am worried that Icarus cannot go on past 2013 at this rate.

I would appreciate it if you would spread the word about the magazine. Consider subscribing to the print or digital editions (yes, I still want print subscribers, as I think owning a physical magazine, sharing a print magazine, has value -- it's a reason I'm not solely an ebook publisher). Not gay or wanting to read gay fiction? Buy an issue or four as a present for a gay friend or community center.

Here is a link to explore and purchase print and digigtal issues. You can preview all fifteen of our issues, which have published award-winning authors like Richard Bowes, Sandra McDonald, and Lee Thomas.

to buy a digital subscription, 24.99 for four issues, click here.

Please spread the word.