This interview is provided for archival purposes. The listing is not currently active.
Q: Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.
A: Novel excerpts only
Q: What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?
A: Publications: The Chestnut Review, Arboreal, Electric Literature, Granta, Words Without Borders, Zyzzyva, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, London Mystery Magazine, Crazyhorse, Asimov's Science Fiction, Suspense Magazine, Horror Stories, Ploughshares, Reed Magazine, Bellingham Review, Agni, A Public Space.
Publishers: The Dalkey Archive, Greywolf Press, Akashic, Riverhead, Catapult, Picador, New American Library.
Q: If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?
A: As a team, we have many favorite writers: Victor LaValle, Bethany Ball, Eric Darton, Banana Yoshimoto, Walter Mosely, Jeanne Mackin, Hanif Kureishi, Elif Shafak, Hakan Günday, Sema Kaygusuz, Jane Hamilton, Sorayya Khan, Anita Desai, Kurt Vonnegut, Ralph Ellison, Octavia Butler, Yasunari Kawabata, Aleksandar Hemon, Edwidge Danticat, Eleanor Henderson, and many others.
Q: What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?
A: We are looking for previously unpublished novel excerpts that feel like they have been taken right out of a novel -- in other words, they haven't been forced to read like a short story and they aren't publicity for books about to be released. Instead, Novel Slices promotes exciting new writing for serious novel readers who want a taste of what's to come, and we also actively market our publication to literary agents and small publishers.
Q: What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?
A: We are looking for all genres and styles, and, while we enjoy a surprising plot twist, we focus more on voice, language, and character. Every contest has a different novelist who is the judge, so we recommend reading their work -- they aren't going to pick people who write in exactly the same way, but this will give a good idea of the voice, language, and character styles they may prefer.
Q: Describe the ideal submission.
A: One of the winning excerpts from the first contest, "Travelogue of the Wasteland" by Eric Roe, describes a cult who have all come to a forest, convinced they are going to be raptured -- while they are praying and becoming more and more anxious as the rapture doesn't come, one of the children goes missing. The writer, Eric Roe, has perfectly captured various cult members' personalities along with their mounting panic both about not being raptured and the missing girl. There are moments of humor, real humanity, and intense emotions, all of which propel the reader to want to read the rest of the book.
Q: What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?
A: Some submitters are over-focused on hot topics or too many plot twists and turns. We also want to reassure genre writers (spec fiction, horror, mystery, historical novels, courtroom dramas, etc.) that we truly are committed to a variety of genres and styles.
Q: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?
A: Submissions are blind, so the judge does not see submitters' cover letters or bios; however, we do enjoy them and even require a bio. We are dedicated to supporting writers long-term and in as many ways as we can, and cover letters and bios help to create a sense of community.
Q: If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?
A: Every submission gets two complete reads by different members of our reading team in order to ensure a full and proper review. All it takes for an excerpt to be promoted to a third reading is for either reader to choose it. In the first contest, all pieces that reached the third reading were contest finalists. Last but not least, as we have 5 winners for each contest, the odds of winning our contest are approximately five times higher than any contest with only one winner.
Q: What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?
A: Again, a piece gets two full readings, then if either reader or both promote it, it goes to the judge. Approximately 20 pieces are finalists, of which the judge chooses 5 winners. All winners are equal and receive publication, a $150 honorarium, and prime literary agent and publisher exposure.
Q: What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?
A: A day in the life of Stephanie Johnson, our Associate Editor for instance, would include her reading no more than 2 pieces. She then sleeps on them and gives each a grade the following day. Once she finishes reading all of our contest entries, she reviews all of the grades and discusses them with the other readers and me.
Q: How important do you feel it is for publishers to embrace modern technologies?
A: Using appropriate technologies is incredibly important, and that is why we publish both print and digital versions of each issue, interact on social networking sites (mostly Twitter and Instagram), and utilize various different software/cloud-based platforms.
Q: How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?
A: We try not to edit at all, aside from typos, and grammar only when it impedes understanding and/or the voice of the piece. All writers get final approval -- we send a pdf proof so writers can see content as well as the format.
Q: Do you nominate work you've published for any national or international awards?
A: Yes, we nominate pieces for the Pushcart Prizes and send pieces out to various other award possibilities. We also speak with published writers about any literary agents and publishers they would like us to send a copy of the issue.