AMA - I'm an editor for Eraserhead Press, head editor of Deadite Press, and bizarro author

[Jeff]

Hi everyone! I'm Jeff Burk. I thought this would be a fun topic for readers that would like to know more about the behind-the-scenes work at the oldest and largest bizarro press.

I'm an editor for Eraserhead Press. I read submissions (one of several people), design interiors, and do marketing and promotion. I have been full-time at the company for six years.

Most of my work is Deadite Press where I am the head editor. That means I basically do EVERYTHING with Deadite other than cover art.

I am also the author of SHATNERQUAKE, SUPER GIANT MONSTER TIME, CRIPPLE WOLF, and SHATNERQUEST.

Feel free to ask me whatever you like about writing, editing, business, and being a full-time weirdo.

[Emma Alice]

How wide is the gap in quality between what you accept and what you don't accept?

[Brandon]

Are you accepting submissions currently? Do you only print Bizarro, or do you dabble in fringe horror?

[Teresa]

Brandon wrote: "Are you accepting submissions currently? Do you only print Bizarro, or do you dabble in fringe horror?"

Not sure about the submissions thing, but Deadite Press is the horror imprint of Eraserhead Press :-)

[Donald]

Horror fringe is a style as long as it is done right it's a go.
I have heard of it before slightly.

The best way to tell what a publisher is looking for is read some of their books.

[Jeff]

Matt - the main thing we look for is a kick ass idea. We call it "high concept." Our ideal book is one that can be summed up in one sentence that makes the reader say "I have to fucking read that!"

For example, for my book CRIPPLE WOLF the pitch line is:
"A wheelchair bound werewolf loose on a flight catering to fetish sex enthusiasts."

[Jeff]

M.P. - Jesus, that's a tough question. In terms of everything that comes our way, we probably have a ninety-nine percent rejection rate. Eraserhead publishes about 50 to 60 books a year (counting all the imprints such as Lazy Fascist and Deadite) but, between all the editors, hundreds of pitches are looked at.

[Jeff]

Brandon - Right now, Eraserhead and all the imprints are closed (I believe). Both Lazy Fascist and Deadite were open for most of the year but are currently closed due to a huge response.

The New Bizarro Author Series (aka the NBAS) is open to submissions for most of every year. That just closed as the 2014 NBAS are about to be announced.

The main line, Eraserhead, is currently close due to some editors shuffling around and having a full schedule.

All the lines open up for submissions and pitches as slots open in the publishing schedule. Keep an eye on the websites for when that happens (no real way to predict).

[Jeff]

Brandon - and yes we do extreme horror. That's my imprint - Deadite Press (www.deaditepress.com). Through that I have released almost 80 books from the likes of Edward Lee, Brian Keene, Wrath James White, Shane McKenzie, Dave Brockie (aka Oderus Urungus of GWAR - RIP), and many others.

I'm the horror guy at Eraserhead.

[Jeff]

M.P. - whoops, I misread "quantity" instead of "quality." That's also a tough question.

Quality is very subjective and I don't really think I can compare the quality of what we accept to what we reject. There were some books that weren't right for Eraserhead Press that found homes at other publishers. Our prevailing mindset is "is this the type of book we want to read" and "is this the type of book we want as a part of the Eraserhead catalog."

[Bradley]

Brandon: I'm a New Bizarro Author Series editor. Submissions are still open, but it's too late to get published this year. The books are published every year around November.

[Patrick]

Hello Jeff, I've seen your name on various Bizarro sites. I started reading Bizarro in May of this year. It's the best genre out there. Only one problem - it seems like the main site, bizarrocentral.com, and it's various offshoot sites, like Eraserhead Press's site, have quit being kept up to date, and book listings seem to cease after early 2013. Announcements on a continuous front page that is now taking lightyears to load, like on the Eraserhead Press site, display for recent books, but as time goes by, books out there get lost in the shuffle. So it's easy to find what's been published up until early 2013, and what's been published in the last month or so, but is there any site out there that keeps up with the time in between (which this gap is growing.

Just started a book by Deadite Press - Santa Claus Conquers the Homophobes. Only fear I have is that most reviews I see deem it worse than the one I just finished, Santa Steps Out.