Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Launch Day for All Hallows' Evil

There is a listing of authors and story titles on the Mystery and Horror blog today but launch day is about the end of a long process of construction, revision, and reworking the parts to create the whole. In the beginning, a book is an organic project. An idea becomes a cover which becomes the inspiration that spreads through creative minds. On launch day that idea becomes a concrete item, but through the process of spreading the idea changes.

The first change takes place when I give the cover to Sarah and she sends out a call for submissions. It isn't mine anymore. As editor, she has to make the tough decisions about what stories are included and which she turns down. I don't see the contents of the book again until it is time to do the layout.

In the meantime the writers who answer the call and create the stories do their part in shaping the book. Imagination multiplied is a wonderful process to experience. Great stories come from all over the world and only a select few make it into the final product.

All Hallows' Evil sits in front of me, a giant glop of mismatched text by writers who think they have followed the guidelines, but probably have not. I get to discover how they added hidden codes, tabbed instead of using the indent feature of word, emailed themselves the text and worked on a different computer. All those lovely hidden crimes come out when I FORMAT. The final task is to turn that glop into a book that the reader won't throw across the room.

Finally, the book is off to the printer and we can throw a launch party. Today I will be celebrating the completion of the book. So stop by our Facebook page, have a slice of virtual cake, click the "like" button and say hello. Go to Amazon and order a copy. Most of all, send a nice thought to a poor unloved publisher who gets no credit for her mind numbing work.

Thursday, September 05, 2013

New Contest on Facebook

 I have started a new contest on Facebook. The prize is getting to dedicate  Mystery and Horror, LLC's anthology Undead of Winter to the person of your choice. Horror fans, family members who would get a kick out of seeing their name in print, your best friend from high school, the choice is yours. All you have to do is like the Mystery and Horror, LLC Facebook Page and leave a comment telling us why you want the dedication.

If you are all ready one of the people who likes our publishing company that's great. We would never exclude our friends. You can still leave a comment and be entered for the prize. But to win you have to like the page and ask to be entered in the drawing. The contest runs through the month of September.

On October first I will put all the entries into one of my many hats and draw out one winner. That person will get to decide who the book is dedicated to. It can be serious, funny, or a slap in the face to someone you wish were dead...the only limit is a dedication that would get me sued.