Editor Interview: Post Mortem Press

quality dark fiction

I really admire the folks at Apex and Raw Dog Screaming. Jason (Apex) and Jennifer & John (RDS) have raised the bar for small press. I am proud that we are beginning to mentioned along with these two fine presses as the best of the best.

We are more driven by what NOT to emulate.
As an author-centric small press we do our best to ensure talented authors outside the mainstream get the exposure they deserve.
We also want to be sure authors are treated with respect. It is not an easy "game" we play and transparency is key.

Stephen King
Clive Barker
Joe Hill
Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Maberry
Elmore Leonard
Jim Thompson
Chuck Palahniuk
Nick Hornby
Kurt Vonnegut
John Connolly

We make sure authors are recognized for their talents.
As mentioned earlier - we work hard to ensure authors get the exposure they deserve and are properly compensated for their work.
We don't make authors pay for copies of their own work - nor do we sell their work without paying them for each sale.
We travel extensively, bring our books to the audience at large. From small street fairs to giant horror conventions, with international shows and writer's events in-between.

Keep it original and do your best to follow our very simple submission guidelines.

Well crafted original hook within first few hundred words.
In MSWord following guidelines.

Sending us things we clearly state we don't want: zombies, werewolves, and vampires.
Using space or tab for paragraph indents.
Sending whole story as text of email.
COMIC SANS appears sometimes - really?

Cover letters are not necessary. For me it's about getting to the point.
With a short story I don't want a summary, just send me the story.
For novel length submissions I like a short summary - like what the author envisions seeing on the back of their book someday.
Legal name and address are paramount. You'd be surprised people that don't include this.
A brief bio is best. I am not as impressed with dozens of publication credits as I am with a clever bio. But leave the comedy to the comedians.
However, legitimate awards and membership in recognized writers group (HWA, ITW, etc.) get my attention.

Any submission less that 3000 words I read to the end.
If I read that far (10 pages or so) and it does nothing for me, I stop and make rejection notes.

Great stories with poor grammar or spelling get sent back. If there's time I ask for a resubmit.
Otherwise, it's a simple "sorry poor mechanics" rejection.
A writer with a giant "for the love" publication list may be passed over as well.

This is my profession.
My day consists of finding unique marketing angles for our books, prepping for book fairs & genre shows (comic & horror cons), reviewing shorts, reading submitted novels, prepping publication materials (covers, interiors, editors notes, etc.) and the general day-to-day operations of a small business.