Q: Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.
A: SF/F/H (speculative lit)
Q: What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?
A: I've been loving the work of a lot of local (Pittsburgh-based!) publications and presses recently: Air and Nothingness Press, Baubles from Bones. Outside of the 'burgh: Uncanny, Apex, and the Escape Artists podcasts are all great.
Q: If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?
A: There are too many established writers I like to list. One of my favorite things is discovering an author I've never read before.
Q: What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?
A: We publish an annual anthology with a unique theme every year. What sets this publication apart is that we have been publishing consistently for 22 years! We have a rotating Editor position that is taken over by a new person every couple of years.
Q: What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?
A: Two elements that lead to a quick rejection are not following the theme or not having a speculative element. Don't be afraid to go out on a limb with regard to stretching the theme, as it will likely help your chances. If we have 20 submissions that have similar ideas, we're only going to take the best one of those.
Q: Describe the ideal submission.
A: One that follows the guidelines, is on-theme, and shows me a story I never would have dreamed up myself.
Q: What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?
A: Not following the theme or guidelines. Read the guidelines!!!
Q: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?
A: The most compelling aspects of a cover letter are usually if the author has experience (professional or just life experience) that informs the story. If that's the case, please do include it.
Previous publishing credentials matter least. The story has to stand by itself.
Q: If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?
A: I read until I can tell that the piece won't work for me. Usually that's at least a few pages.
Q: How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?
A: We usually edit lightly. We don't accept pieces that would need such heavy editing that it would destory the soul of the piece.
Q: Do you nominate work you've published for any national or international awards?
A: Yes.