The following market report on the anthology, Zombie Jesus and Other True Stories, as well as the follow-up interview are courtesy of Market Scoops by D.L. Snell. The Market Anthology: Zombie Jesus and Other True Stories Editors: Lori Michelle, Max Booth III and Stan Swanson Pay Rate: $20 plus contributor’s copy Response Time: $20 plus contributor’s copy Reading Period: January 13th—May 31st Description (from the editor): Alternate history horror Complete Guidelines: Writer's Guidelines Note: Horror author D.L. Snell conducted the following interview to give writers a better idea of what the editors of this specific market are seeking; however, most editors are open to ideas outside of the preferences discussed here, as long as they fit the basic submission guidelines. The Scoop 1. What authors do you enjoy, and why does their writing captivate you? Stephen King, of course, holds a special place in our hearts. He has a great knack for diving into your average day man and bringing out the true horrors that hide beneath. No one better has been able to bring up a scenario and make the reader ask themselves what they would do if thrown into the same situation. In fact, we appreciate all this man has accomplished so much that we even made a sort of “SK Holiday” back in August on our blog wherein we reviewed some of his older work. We look to do it again next August as well. 2. What are your favorite genres? Which genres would you like to see incorporated into submissions to this market? Well, obviously our favorite genre is horror. But just because it’s horror, don’t think that we’re expecting a bunch of blood and guts. No, we are looking for stories that are truly horrifying—concepts that rock the very sense of reality itself. We want to be scared, not grossed out. As for this specific anthology, we don’t want stories that only take place in the past and have a horror element thrown in. We want tales more in vein of The Twilight Zone. We want the weird and the creative. We would like our writers to take a specific historical event, and ask themselves, what if something had gone differently? How would the future have changed? The biggest example being, of course, what if Hitler had won the war? What kind of world would we live in now? And, if you throw in some horror tropes such as zombies or cockatrices or what have you, why, that would be just fine. 3. What settings most intrigue you? Ordinary or exotic locales? Real or fantasy? Past, present, or future? For this anthology we are looking for real settings instead of full blown fantasy. Just because it’s an alternate history theme, that does not mean that the story has to take place in the past, either; it just means that something in the past went in a different path than what we know to be true; therefore, the future could be and probably is the most appropriate setting for our book. 4. Explain the type of pacing you enjoy, e.g. slow building to fast, fast throughout, etc. Either, really. Just that it is written well and truly horrifying. Both fast and slow have their advantages; with fast paced stories you are thrown into the story immediately, right there in the action — while a slow paced story, however, prides itself on building the tension. That’s the most important thing when it comes to slow paced stories, that it keeps with the tension. And if your story does begin slow, then it better have one hell of a climax if you want to stand out among the rest of the dozens of submissions we’ve already received. 5. What types of characters appeal to you the most? Any examples? It would be interesting to see others’ takes on famous historical figures — a few examples being maybe Teddy Roosevelt, Lee Harvey Oswald, Vlad the Impaler, etc. The possibilities are endless. But don’t think that we only want stories featuring famous historical figures; the events and their consequences are more important here, although that isn’t to say that your characters (whoever they are, real or fictional) shouldn’t be written well all the same. 6. Is there a specific tone you'd like to set in your publication? What kind of voices grab you and keep you enthralled? Any examples? An anthology shouldn’t stick to one specific tone but instead offer a variety of nightmares to appeal to all readers. 7. What is your policy for vulgarity, violence, and sexual content? Any taboos? Only when necessary. If it pertains to the plot, then by all means knock yourself out. But if you’re just trying to be edgy, then we’re the wrong publication for you. 8. What kind of themes are you seeking most in submissions to this market? In general, what themes interest you? One question: WHAT IF? What if Y had happened instead of X? What would the consequences be? 9. Overall, do you prefer downbeat or upbeat endings? Whatever seems appropriate for the rest of the story. If the rest of the story is dark and utterly hopeless, then we don’t want a copout upbeat ending. But there’s no reason to force a downer on us either. Each tale is different. 10. Any last advice for submitters to this market? Any critical do's or do not's? Do not send us stories that take place in the past and that’s it. Just because there’s the word “history” in the description does not mean you get to skip reading the rest of the guidelines. Please make sure you understand what we’re after before submitting. Also, good luck! This book is going to be awesome.

The following market report on the anthology, Unspeakable Horror 2, as well as the follow-up interview are courtesy of Market Scoops by D.L. Snell. The Market Anthology: Fungi Editors: Orrin Grey and Silvia Moreno-Garcia Pay Rate: 1¢ per word (CAD) Response Time: Varies Reading Period: Until February 15, 2012 Description (from the editor): Speculative fiction anthology with fungi as a central theme Complete Guidelines: Writer's Guidelines Note: Horror author D.L. Snell conducted the following interview to give writers a better idea of what the editors of this specific market are seeking; however, most editors are open to ideas outside of the preferences discussed here, as long as they fit the basic submission guidelines. The Scoop 1. What authors do you enjoy, and why does their writing captivate you? SMG: Oh, a whole lot of people. Nabokov, Tanith Lee. They have to have some flair. That certain style which pulls at you. OG: Man, as Silvia says above, lots of people. I'm personally a huge fan of Mike Mignola, who's known more for his art than his writing, though he's amazing at both. I'm a fan of a lot of the turn-of-the-century guys and the #Weird Tales authors like Lovecraft, Leiber, Hodgson, etc. And of course I'm a really big fan of M.R. James and E.F. Benson and a lot of other guys with two first initials and then a last name. 2. What are your favorite genres? Which genres would you like to see incorporated into submissions to this market? SMG: We are looking for all kinds of speculative fiction. Mushroom noir. Steamfungus. Whatever floats your mushroom. I'm actually very serious about mushroom noir. And there's stuff that should just write itself, like some #Alice in Wonderland variation because of the whole mushroom consumption in that. OG: Again, as Silvia says, there's no one genre we're looking for in Fungi, but I'm personally partial to weirder supernatural stories, something a little spooky, a little haunting. Hard sci-fi or high fantasy is going to be a harder sell for me than something that's got a little creep to it. 3. What settings most intrigue you? Ordinary or exotic locales? Real or fantasy? Past, present, or future? SMG: I wouldn't call it exotic, but I want to see stuff that's not set in the USA. The world is bigger than one country. If we don't get a story set in China with Chinese characters, that would be unforgivable, for example. The country has over 200 species of mushrooms and they have been used in traditional medicine for many, many years. OG: While I love a good story set in a decaying New England town (and we've gotten a few good ones already), I'd second the notion that we'd like to see stuff set all over the world. 4. Explain the type of pacing you enjoy, e.g. slow building to fast, fast throughout, etc. SMG: I'm for slow, but that doesn't mean you are allowed to bore me to tears. You've got to catch our attention somehow. It doesn't have to be with a fistfight, but give me something. OG: I love a good slow burn, though what works best varies from story to story. I think if you're going to go with a slow start, though, then something like atmosphere or tone is absolutely imperative right up front. 5. What types of characters appeal to you the most? Any examples? SMG: Ones who are not stupid? Seriously, I get to read many stories in which the protagonists seem to have been banged on the head with a big hammer. OG: I remember the old guidelines for Weird Tales used to ask for "protagonists who protag," and yeah, I'd like to see some of those. I prefer characters who're taking an active role and at least trying to do something, rather than passive victims succumbing to their fate. (Not that the active characters can't still fail, or be attempting something harmful, but I'd like them to be at least attempting something.) 6. Is there a specific tone you'd like to set in your publication? What kind of voices grab you and keep you enthralled? Any examples? SMG: I like weird stuff. Stuff that isn't afraid to play with form. OG: Again, I like stuff that's a little on the macabre or spooky side, so I'm going to gravitate toward that. 7. What is your policy for vulgarity, violence, and sexual content? Any taboos? SMG: Whatever works for the story. However, violence for the sake of violence is bo-ring. Also, this is not an erotica anthology. OG: I don't think I have anything to add to that. 8. What kind of themes are you seeking most in submissions to this market? In general, what themes interest you? SMG: Body horror. Stories without plots. Stories that are not third-person POV. Hero’s journey? Not my cup of tea. Stories with good science. With that said, I don't want it to be all people turning into mushrooms. How about mushroom as a tool for murder? You know, poison. A society interested in the cultivation of mushrooms. A mushroom deity. One of the largest organisms on earth is a fungi. Or, think of penicillin. OG: I'm a big believer in people turning into mushrooms, it's true, but we're going to get, and have already gotten, a lot of those stories. Also, we're getting a lot of stories with overt Lovecraft references. I'm not averse to a good Lovecraftian fungus story, but I definitely don't want this anthology to be all Lovecraft all the time. 9. Overall, do you prefer downbeat or upbeat endings? SMG: Whatever works for the story. OG: Ditto. 10. Any last advice for submitters to this market? Any critical do's or do not's? SMG: Please provide a cover letter with your most relevant credits. Do not summarize the story for me. OG: And please, please put the word count in your cover letter!

EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing has announced that they are accepting submissions for Professor Challenger Anthology. J.R. Campbell and Charles Prepolec are editing the anthology and submissions close May 31, 2012. What They're After A broad range of new and original stories built around Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Lost World character Professor George Edward Challenger. Stories derived from the aftermath of events in the Lost World are welcome however simply revisiting or rehashing the Lost World without good cause is not. Challenger is a man of science first and foremost, not an explorer. Mash-ups or crossovers with public domain literary characters are welcome. For inspiration think X-Files, Quartermass, DR. Who, cryptozoology, aliens among us, supernatural occurrences, science gone awry in a Dr. Moreau, Invisible Man, Dr Jekyll vein, nature run amuck, monsters large and small, world threatening cataclysm, Lovecraft mythos, think H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, E.R. Burroghs, John Wyndham, Nigel Kneale, alternate history, new lost places, steampunk, whatever - Be creative. Mine the potential for all it's worth! Push it out there, get weird, play, have fun! Submission Details

• The anthology is part invitation and part open submission. Priority will be given to invited authors but an invitation to submit is not a guarantee of acceptance. A minimum of two slots will be held for open submissions. Acceptance is based entirely on suitability of story and quality of writing.
• The maximum length for stories is 10,000 words, with shorter works preferred.
• Deadline: May 31, 2012 - midnight).
• Do not query before submitting.
• Email submissions to: Charles@bakerstreetdozen.com
• Emails MUST contain the word "submission" in the subject line, or they will be deleted automatically by the server. Please also include the story title in the subject line.
• Submissions MUST come in an attachment: Rich Text Format (.rtf) or Microsoft Word (.doc) are the only acceptable formats.
• Emails MUST contain a cover letter in the body of the email; for security reasons, email attachments with no cover letter will be deleted unread and unanswered.
• Cover letter: include your name, the title of your story, your full contact information (address, phone, email), and a brief bio. Do not describe or summarize the story.
• Reprints (stories having previously appeared in English in any format, print or electronic, including but not limited to any form of web publication) will NOT be considered.
• Submission format: no strange formatting, colour fonts, changing fonts, borders, backgrounds, etc. Leave italics in italics, NOT underlined. Put your full contact information on the first page (name, address, email address, phone). No headers, no footers, no page numbering. DO NOT leave a blank line between paragraphs. Indent paragraphs. ALWAYS put a # to indicate scene breaks (a blank line is NOT enough).
• ALWAYS include your full contact information (name/address/email/phone number) on the first page of the attached submission.
• This is a professional market paying up to 5 cents per word plus a single copy of the book. Full rate to 7,500 words, half rate for balance to 10,000 words.
• Rights: for original fiction, first World English publication, with a two-month exclusive from publication date; for all, non-exclusive anthology rights; all other rights remain with the author.
• Spelling: the editors will consider stories using British, Canadian and American spellings.
• Response time: initial responses (no / rewrite request / hold for further consideration) will be prompt, usually within fifteen days. Please query if you've not heard back within 30 days.
• We do not advise that you submit more than one story.
• Simultaneous submissions are not encouraged but are acceptable. Should you receive a "rewrite request" or "hold for further consideration" response, please indicate immediately whether your story is under consideration anywhere else.

Publication date: TBA (trade paperback & ebook). Email submissions to: Charles@bakerstreetdozen.com

The following market report on the anthology, Unspeakable Horror 2, as well as the follow-up interview are courtesy of Market Scoops by D.L. Snell. The Market Anthology: Extreme Planets Editors: David Conyers, David Kernot and Jeff Harris Pay Rate: US 3¢/word plus three copies Response Time: Acceptances after closing date. Rejects during and after submission period. Reading Period: Until 30 June 2012 Description: A science fiction anthology of short stories set on or about alien worlds that push the limits of what we believe is possible in a planetary environment. To be published by Chaosium Inc. Complete Guidelines: Writer's Guidelines Note: Horror author D.L. Snell conducted the following interview to give writers a better idea of what the editors of this specific market are seeking; however, most editors are open to ideas outside of the preferences discussed here, as long as they fit the basic submission guidelines. The Scoop 1. What authors do you enjoy, and why does their writing captivate you? The science fiction authors that I have enjoyed whose ideas and style are relevant to the Extreme Planets anthology include Alastair Reynolds, Iain M. Banks, Greg Egan, Peter F. Hamilton, David Brin, Neal Asher, Ken Macleod, Charles Stross, Stephen Baxter, Robert Reed and Greg Bear. These authors can write tales with a pace, have good characters and most of all leave me with a sense of wonder. When I finish reading their works I feel like the universe is bigger and more wondrous than I had ever imagined, and that the scale of space is just huge. They also get the science and technology right, creating believable futures. 2. What are your favorite genres? Which genres would you like to see incorporated into submissions to this market? I like thrillers, stories with a sense of will or won’t the protagonist get through to the end of the story in one piece after facing numerous obstacles, dangers and antagonists out to stop them. I also like a sense of adventure. For example, in Extreme Planets, a story might involve a group of planetary explorers working together to determine the best way to alter a planet’s atmosphere to make it breathable for them. This might be an okay story on its own, but if there was a time frame to solve the problem because the only air recycler on their spaceship has failed, and that someone in the team is deliberately sabotaging their efforts, then this adds extra tension, pace and mystery that a story would otherwise lack. We’ve set story lengths up to 10,000 words so authors get the opportunity to play with and develop their ideas. 3. What settings most intrigue you? Ordinary or exotic locales? Real or fantasy? Past, present, or future? This is an anthology about planets that push the boundaries of what is possible in an alien environment, so my co-editors (David Kernot and Jeff Harris) are looking for stories set on or about these kinds of worlds, what it would be like for humans to observe, explore or live there (or fight wars or plunder its resources for that matter), and how the environment might affect any life that might have evolved there. So if this is an anthology about alien worlds, then we want far future science fiction stories involving spaceships (or equivalent) and the technology that goes with it, or the technology to observe these worlds from afar. Technology similarly needs to be sufficiently developed to create a believable future. We are also interested in stories about pantropy (re-engineering humans to survive in alien environments) and terraforming. We are not interested in steampunk or fantasy extreme worlds. 4. Explain the type of pacing you enjoy, e.g. slow building to fast, fast throughout, etc. I want to see action unfolding as the story is being told, not recounts of what has happened in the past, or detailed essays as to why the characters are where they are or how technology works. Details like that should come out in the narrative. Lastly, I want to see dialogue. Stories without any dialogue at all really don’t work for us. And stories have a pace, don’t get bogged down with too much description when it is not needed and don’t race through scenes that need a little more description to set the scene. 5. What types of characters appeal to you the most? Any examples? Science fiction is about problem solving, so I want characters that at least try to solve problems facing them. They may not succeed but I want to see them give it a go. Protagonists hold more appeal to readers when they are active, not passive. They don’t wait for things to happen, or for someone else to take the lead, they drive the action themselves. If a spaceship is going to crash into a black hole, then the main character in this particular story is the one working very hard to ensure this rather unpleasant end doesn’t come to be, even though she or he might be faced by a whole host of secondary events or characters, willingly or unwillingly, trying to see her or him fail. Also, I like characters that care about something, and stand up for what they believe in. I like characters that are also human, in that they have failings as much as they have positive traits. I like to see characters evolve, learn something about themselves and come out the other end of a story as a better person. 6. Is there a specific tone you'd like to set in your publication? What kind of voices grab you and keep you enthralled? Any examples? I said earlier I like the thriller style, where there is a sense of action and danger. I like stories where I am compelled to turn the next page because I want to know what happens next. I want to be surprised by twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. I’m a huge fan of Alastair Reynolds - now he knows how to write a story with pace and energy that grabs my attention. If submitters can write a story as good as his, then they will be in for sure. 7. What is your policy for vulgarity, violence, and sexual content? Any taboos? Violence towards children and minors will be extremely hard to sell. Vulgarity, violence or sexual content just for the sake of shock value isn’t appropriate. I don’t care if your story has words like ‘fuck’ in it, or there are sex scenes or bloody demises of characters, but we’re not after gory horror tales either. There is one main rule to follow: make vulgarity, violence and sexual content appropriate to the story. If in doubt, less is definitely preferable to more. Implication is better than graphic description. 8. What kind of themes are you seeking most in submissions to this market? In general, what themes interest you? Simply, we want stories about the most bizarre but plausible (in a science fiction setting) world that can be imagined. Then we want to see what life is like on these worlds and how humans would survive there, or stories about observing or discovering these worlds. There are so many speculative worlds out there, both in science and science fiction literature. We want stories about super-sized ocean worlds with sea hundreds of kilometers thick and deeper layers of hot ice, carbon worlds with diamond mountains and petrochemical seas, iron worlds with extreme magnetic fields and alien life forms that have evolved with iron in their biochemical makeup, and planets with super gravities and atmospheres so thick it is like walking in liquid. But we’re also keen to see artificial worlds along the same vein as Larry Niven’s Ringworld, the lattice structure in Alastair Reynold’s Pushing Ice, artificial Jupiter sized spaceships like Robert Reed’s Marrow, Shellworlds like in Iain M. Bank’s Matter, Alderson Disks like in Charles Stross’ “Missile Gap,” and anything else anyone out there has the imagination to conjure up. 9. Overall, do you prefer downbeat or upbeat endings? Don’t care, so long as I’m dragged into the story because I’m enjoying it and I want to see how it ends. Protagonists should fight the good fight. Sometimes they win and sometimes they lose. The main criterion is that they fight for what they believe in. 10. Any last advice for submitters to this market? Any critical do's or do not's? Be a fan and avid reader of science fiction, otherwise you are unlikely to understand the nuances that make the genre what it is, and what we are looking for. Also, read current works out there, because science fiction changes a lot, even in a decade. Some good examples of recommended reading are Asimov’s Interzone and Analog magazines, and anthologies such as The New Space Opera by Gardner Dozois and Jonathan Strahan, and Mindblowing SF by Mike Ashley, but there are plenty of other examples out there, such as the works by authors I recommended earlier. Also, science magazines like Cosmos, New Scientists and Scientific America also have lots of great articles to kick-start the imagination. A critical point: if your only understanding of science fiction comes from watching science fiction movies and television series, then you are doing yourself a huge disservice, because the ideas in the visual media pale in comparison to the ideas in the literature and are about 50 years behind in their concepts. If this is your only influence, your stories will look amateurish in comparison to those who read in the genre. Critical do not’s, that’s easy. Ensure that your story does not include any of the following: vampires, elves, fairies, werewolves, unicorns, magic, religious stories where god is a real person, Lovecraftian monsters, medieval settings, immortal godlike humans calling themselves ‘Thor’ or equivalent, superhero stories and stories set in universes with a similar set-up to Star Wars, Star Trek, etc. No horror unless it is a science fiction story with horrific elements, and no fantasy. Very few science fiction anthologies appear in the open submission market, so we ask authors to make their work count. We want good science fiction stories about worlds that push the limit of what we think is possible. One last note, we will consider reprints from professional authors, but they are going to be really hard to sell if we get really good original tales to compare them against. Query if you think you have a reprint story for us, we won’t discount them. Query if you have any idea that you think might interest us.

Ellen Datlow has put out a call for submissions for the next The Best Horror of the Year anthology. Here's what she had to say: "I edit the anthology series The Best Horror of the Year (Night Shade Books) and am currently reading for the fifth volume, which will include all material published in 2012. "I am looking for stories from all branches of horror: 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 2012. Submission deadline for stories is December 1st 2012. 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 is a summation of 'the year in horror' in the front of the volume. This includes novels, nonfiction, art books, and 'odds and ends' - material that doesn't fit elsewhere but that I feel might interest the horror reader. But I must be aware of this material in order to mention it. The deadline for receipt of material for this section is December 15th, 2012." Ellen Datlow Best Horror of the Year Volume Five PMB 391 511 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10011-8436 Datlow goes on to note: "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, 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. 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. I will also accept printouts of stories produced and first “published” in 2012 as podcasts. "Please do not send a SASE. If I choose a story you will be informed. If you want to confirm that I‘ve received something, enclose a self-addressed-stamped postcard and I will let you know the date it arrived. For stories that appear on the web, please send me (or have the publisher send me) print-outs of your story. Thanks." Ellen Datlow, Editor

Coming soon from Chaosium, edited by Brian M. Sammons and Glynn Owen Barrass, it's Steampunk Cthulhu! The age of steam meets the age of Cthulhu, in a past where technology unbound warps Victorian Britain and the world at large into a dark Steampunk reality. In Steampunk Cthulhu (yes that’s only a working title) they are looking for stories set in a world where futuristic visions of technology, advanced machines undreamt of in the Victorian era, are powered by steam, or sometimes the inscrutable minds of dark, god-like beings. Undreamt of yes, and maybe a nightmare here, think of what would happen if HG Wells had sent his Time Machine to a past when the Elder Things ruled the globe, or Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo was an evil acolyte of Cthulhu? Of course they don’t want you to limit yourselves to fictional characters of the genre, but you can use these historical personages and your own protagonists and cultists of Cthulhu. Space travel, journeys to the center of the earth and 20,000 leagues under R’lyeh, they want to see Victorian globetrotting adventurers and wild technologies in the Wild West. Think zeppelins crossed with tomes of forbidden knowledge, steam powered automatons battling indescribable beasts from beyond time and space, fanciful high-tech gadgets and blood drenched arcane artifacts, the wonders of tomorrow meeting the horror of inescapable doom, and if you can put your own unique spin on both the steampunk setting and the Cthulhu Mythos, so much the better. Authors should be well versed in both the stempunk setting and Lovecraftian horror as a good blending of both is what they’re after. If you’re looking for info on steampunk, check the Wiki for a brief overview and a small selection of authors and books to get you started. If you need to bone up on your Cthulhu Mythos you can read all of H.P. Lovecraft’s stories online for free here: H.P. Lovecraft, or just look around your local bookstore – if you’re still luckily enough to have a local bookstore – as the Cthulhu Mythos has never been hotter. This book will be published by Chaosium. Authors will receive .03 a word and 3 complementary contributor copies, with the option to purchase more at a 50% discount. The deadline for submissions is July 31. Please send submissions as .rtf files to both editors below. If you have any questions, feel free to ask:

• Brian M. Sammons
• Glynn Owen Barrass

The following market report on the anthology, Dark Faith 2, as well as the follow-up interview are courtesy of Market Scoops by D.L. Snell. The Market Anthology: Dark Faith 2 Editors: Maurice Broaddus and Jerry Gordon Pay Rate: 5 cents/word Response Time: 90 days after deadline Reading Period: January 1st – January 31st Description: Everyone believes in something and we want you to put those beliefs to the test. We’re looking for the story only you could write, something deeply personal and at the same time universal. We’re looking for smart, literate stories that don’t proselytize or stereotype. Stories that make you think, that comment on the human condition and the social order. Stories that are rich in their use of language. Complete Guidelines: Writer's Guidelines Note: Horror author D.L. Snell conducted the following interview to give writers a better idea of what the editors of this specific market are seeking; however, most editors are open to ideas outside of the preferences discussed here, as long as they fit the basic submission guidelines. The Scoop 1. What authors do you enjoy, and why does their writing captivate you? Gary Braunbeck, Cat Valente, Toni Morrison, George Pelecanos, Octavia Butler, Nick Mamatas, Amy Hempel, Ray Bradbury, Michael Chabon, Tom Piccirilli. What they have in common is the poetry of their language use, their deft characterizations, their distinct voice, and the originality of their ideas. 2. What are your favorite genres? Which genres would you like to see incorporated into submissions to this market? Maurice is a crime fiction junkie. Jerry leans more toward literary science fiction, fantasy, and horror. For the sake of this market, genre with a dark and speculative/fantastic edge is what we’re looking for. 3. What settings most intrigue you? Ordinary or exotic locales? Real or fantasy? Past, present, or future? Interesting ones. 4. Explain the type of pacing you enjoy, e.g. slow building to fast, fast throughout, etc. We want pacing that’s true to the story you’re telling. That said, the story should grab us early and let us know, as readers and editors, that we’re in good hands. 5. What types of characters appeal to you the most? Any examples? Fully developed characters with a distinct voice. 6. Is there a specific tone you'd like to set in your publication? What kind of voices grab you and keep you enthralled? Any examples? This is not an easy thing to describe because while the overall tone of stories is dark, that doesn’t rule out a humorous or uplifting tale. One of the best ways to get a feel for the type of stories we like is to pick up a copy of the first Dark Faith. 7. What is your policy for vulgarity, violence, and sexual content? Any taboos? As long as it is germane to the story, we’re good with it. Gratuitous anything is bad. 8. What kind of themes are you seeking most in submissions to this market? In general, what themes interest you?Personal explorations of faith particularly interest us because they feel more genuine. 9. Overall, do you prefer downbeat or upbeat endings? We prefer good endings. 10. Any last advice for submitters to this market? Any critical do's or do not's? Don’t annoy us. Do buy us drinks at conventions. While Maurice loves talking animal stories, Jerry is quick to veto them. DO READ THE GUIDELINES.