Q: Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.
A: Character driven erotica
Q: What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?
A: The Best Women's Erotica Anthology Series (ed. by Rachel Kramer Brussel), Aurore, Literotica, Rattle, The Sun, The New Yorker, One Story
Q: If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?
A: Sierra Simone, Tessa Bailey, Katee Robert, Lillian Lark, Leigh Bardugo, George Saunders, Ann Patchet, Elizabeth Gilbert
Q: What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?
A: The exceptional quality of the writing (including the characterization, stakes and eroticism), the attention to detail in editing (at all stages of the process) and the personal communication and feedback we give all our authors.
Q: What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?
A: Think about your character's Third Rail! What is the core belief they have about themselves that determines their choices and which they need to transform in order to get what they want? All Bothered Stories need strong external and internal character goals, motivations and conflicts. The best stories are those in which the sex is woven in, but not the sole conflict.
Q: Describe the ideal submission.
A: The ideal submission is a story with a unique and exciting premise, a hook that draws me in, palpable tension between the characters, evocative and sensory language, and leaves me feeling good in my body (even if the ending isn't happy). Moreover:
1. The main character has strong external and internal conflicts. There are high stakes for why the character needs to overcome both conflicts.
2. The external conflict threatens the completion of the MC's internal character arc (i.e. threatens their ability to resolve their internal conflict).
3. External GMC and internal GMC are not both about sex. The best stories are those in which the sex is woven in, but not the sole source of conflict.
And don't forget to line edit carefully!
Q: What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?
A: The quality of the writing we are looking for: we want exceptionally well crafted stories, with high tension and complex characters, and which have been carefully reviewed by the author (and their friends!).
Q: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?
A: I love reading why you write and a little bit about your background. I don't care if you've been published before, but I do care that your work shows thoughtful story craft and attention to detail.
Q: If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?
A: I can generally tell within the first few pages, but I like to give stories the benefit of the doubt and the courtesy of reading all the way through.
Q: How important do you feel it is for publishers to embrace modern technologies?
A: I still love holding paper books and journals in my hands, but I know accessibility matters most. Plus, google docs is by far the easiest way for me to share revisions with authors.
Q: How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?
A: We provide substantive editing including at least one round each of developmental, line and copy edits.