Editor Interview: Zombie Nation Publishing Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.Regional Zombie FictionAaron Alper, Editor-in-Chief on 08 June 2010What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?Bloodydisgusting.com, Rue Morgue, HorrorHound, Permuted Press, Fangoria, Ampersand Books, and Zahir.Aaron Alper, Editor-in-Chief on 08 June 2010If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?Richard Matheson, Jonathan Mayberry, S.G. Browne, Max Brooks, Ira Levin, Mark Danielewski, Christopher Moore, Tom Robbins, and Margaret Atwood.Aaron Alper, Editor-in-Chief on 08 June 2010What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?Our anthologies are centered in a single metropolitan area, so the stories are set where the writers work and live. Zombie Nation: St. Pete will consider anything that takes place in St. Petersburg, FL. We feel that this specialization generates more interest among the readers. Who hasn't fantasized about zombies crashing the window of their local Starbucks and taking over their hometown?Aaron Alper, Editor-in-Chief on 08 June 2010What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?First: authors should include zombies. Second: It should happen somewhere in St. Petersburg. The rest is up to you.Aaron Alper, Editor-in-Chief on 08 June 2010Describe the ideal submission.1. Zombies2. St. Petersburg3. Attention to craft.4. Gore will always get our attention.5. The ideal submission will stay true to the zombie genre while incorporating elements that haven't been used before, or taking the subject from a different angle. Surprise us!Aaron Alper, Editor-in-Chief on 08 June 2010What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?1. No zombies.2. Unclear location.3. Taking the action out of St. Pete.4. No zombies.Aaron Alper, Editor-in-Chief on 08 June 2010How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?No. We are open to all comers and embrace the opportunity to publish first-time authors. Long, detailed cover letters will often hurt you more than help.Aaron Alper, Editor-in-Chief on 08 June 2010If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?We read until the end. Horror stories, a lot of the time, depend upon a twist or a surprise on the last page.Aaron Alper, Editor-in-Chief on 08 June 2010What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?Whether or not it's already been done before, if it's similar to another story, if there are some things that we would like to see changed that can take a good story and make it great.Aaron Alper, Editor-in-Chief on 08 June 2010What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?We prefer to read submissions in group meeting sessions. We print out the stories so they can be traded and discussed over coffee.Aaron Alper, Editor-in-Chief on 08 June 2010 Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only