The following market report on the anthology, Fear of The Dark, as well as the follow-up interview are courtesy of Market Scoops by D.L. Snell.
The Market
Publisher: HorrorBound
Editors: Maria Grazia Cavicchioli and Jason Rolfe
Pay Rate: 1¢/word (CAN)
Response Time: Confirmation of receipt will be sent within 24 hours
Deadline: June 30, 2010
Description (from the editor): The point of the stories should be to investigate the human fear of the unknown, the dark, and the common themes found in nightmares.
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?
A variety of authors captivate me. I’m the editor of the online publication horrorbound.com. You’ll see a listing of various authors that I’ve interviewed and featured and I would say they have all captivated me in one way or another.
2. What are your favorite genres? Which of these genres would you like to see incorporated into submissions to this market?
My favorite genre is speculative fiction with a horror-based focus.
3. What settings most intrigue you? Ordinary or exotic locales? Real or fantasy? Past, present, or future?
They all have a time and place in speculative fiction.
4. Explain the type of pacing you enjoy, e.g. slow building to fast, fast throughout, etc.
I prefer slow building to fast.
5. What types of characters appeal to you the most? Any examples?
Complex characters tend to interest me. Character development also interests me greatly.
6. What is your policy for vulgarity, violence, and sexual content?
If they are central to the theme we do allow it.
7. In general, do you prefer downbeat or upbeat endings?
Once again, it depends on what is central to the theme. Both are important.
8. What are the top three things submitters to this market should avoid?
We will not accept poorly written stories or stories that do not fit our theme.
9. What trait are you seeking most in submissions to this market?
Well written, and applicable to our theme. The point of the stories should be to investigate the human fear of the unknown, the dark, and the common themes found in nightmares.
