Editor Interview: parABnormal Magazine

Paranormal fiction

Publishers: Pro Se Press, Dark Oak Media, Seventh Star Press, Arkham House Publishing, Dingbat Publishing, Hit World Press
Publications: Shelter of Daylight, The Fifth Di..., Martian Wave

Favorite writers are Robert A Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, A E Van Vogt, Jack Vance, H P Lovecraft, Robert E Howard, Edmund Hamilton, Clifford Simak, among others

parAbnormal Magazine showcases the paranormal differently than others, in that it discounts aliens as science fiction or fact and creatures like vampires, zombies, and ghouls as supernatural not paranormal. It deals more with the interaction between the paranormal and the human mind, the human psyche at odds with the unknown.

The best thing to do is read the guidelines. Reading a previous issue of the magazine can help, but the guidelines are pretty specific about what we want.

The ideal submission would meet the requirements of the guidelines while conveying the spirit of the magazine. It would give the reader an insight into how a person deals with the paranormal and the effects it might have on them.

Most often, not meeting guideline requirements or submitting outside the reading periods. We get a lot of submissions and it takes some time to go through them, so we have to be strict about the hiatus periods. Another mistake often made is to submit material that is straight horror or fantasy. This kind of submission is rejected nearly 100% of the time.

Cover letters are fine as long as they aren't too long. Previous publication credits matter little. We are interested in the quality of the work itself, not in the previous accomplishments of the writer/artist.

Usually, the first page of the manuscript tells the tale. We can get a good idea of the writer's style and the gist of the story within the first 500 words or so. The opening can make or break a story.

I usually spend anywhere from four to five hours a day reading submissions for the next few issues. I then draft and send contracts to those accepted, followed by time to send payments to those who respond. As a writer myself with deadlines, I then turn to my own work.

I try to keep a light hand on the work after acceptance. Previous to acceptance and contract, I may suggest certain edits and rewrites to make the work more acceptable to our publication needs. However, once the contract is made, editing is a collaborative effort between the author/artist and myself. Any editing I provide, as per the contract, is at the expense of the publisher, not the author/artist.

I do not personally nominate work as a general rule. The publisher may.