Ellen Datlow, editor of the anthology series Best Horror of the Year (Night Shade Books), is currently reading for the fourth volume, which will include all material published in 2011.
“I am looking for stories from all branches of horror,” says, Datlow. “From the traditional-supernatural to the borderline, including high-tech sf horror, supernatural stories, psychological horror, dark thrillers, or anything else that might qualify. If in doubt, send it. This is a reprint anthology so I am only reading material published in or about to be published in 2011. Submission deadline for stories is November 30th 2011. Anything sent after this deadline will reach me too late. If a magazine, anthology, or collection you’re in or you publish is coming out in December, you can send me galleys or manuscripts so that I can judge the stories in time. No email submissions. I strongly suggest that authors check with their publishers that they are sending review copies to me as I don’t have time or energy to nag publishers to get me material. I request it once (maybe twice) and that’s it.”
There will be a summation of “the year in horror” in the front of the volume. This will include novels, nonfiction, art books, and “odds and ends” – material that doesn’t fit elsewhere but that Datlow feels might interest the horror reader. The deadline for receipt of material for this section is December 15th, 2011.
“I do not want to receive manuscripts from authors of stories from venues that it’s likely I already receive (like Interzone, Black Static, Crimewave, Cemetery Dance, Realms of Fantasy, Postscripts, Weird Tales, F&SF and the other digests, etc) or from anthologies and collections, unless I don’t have or can’t get that anthology or collection,” says Datlow. “Please contact your publisher and ask him/her to send me the magazine or book. For online publications, I prefer print submissions, so if your publisher doesn’t send them out please do so yourself.”
Do not send a SASE. If Datlow chooses a story you will be informed. If you want to confirm that she’s received something, enclose a self-addressed-stamped postcard and she will let you know the date it arrived. For stories that appear on the web, please send Datlow (or have the publisher send me) print-outs of your story.
Ellen Datlow
Editor, Best Horror of the Year Volume Four
PMB 391
511 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10011-8436
