Hellnotes recently had the opportunity to chat with author, editor and all-around busy guy, Richard Thomas, about Gamut Magazine, his current foray into the world of digital publishing.

Hellnotes: Can you tell us what Gamut Magazine is all about and why should we subscribe?

Richard Thomas: Sure. It will be an online magazine that focuses on neo-noir, speculative fiction with a literary bent. We are looking for smart, exciting stories that straddle the fence between genre and lit.

HN: There are currently some pretty heavy hitters in the digital dark fiction world – what will set your magazine apart from them?

RT: Well, we’re publishing fiction that isn’t “classic” in any sense of the word. So whether it’s crime, fantasy, SF, or horror it has to be new—in format, voice, setting, character or plot. Also, we’re paying ten cents a word—double the current professional rate.

HN: Why go to the Kickstarter route to get Gamut funded? And why is now the best time to get it off the ground?

RT: It’s the only way I could get the $52,000 I need. But more importantly, I want to build a community, this way people are literally invested in this. They can help to shape it, too. With a few places going under and others closing the door to unsolicited submissions, it seemed like the right time. Plus everything I’ve done these last eight years has brought me to this point—three novels, three collections, 100 stories in print, Editor-in-Chief at Dark House Press, and editing four anthologies—The New Black, Exigencies, Burnt Tongues (Bram Stoker Award finalist) and The Lineup: 20 Provocative Women Writers.

HN: You’re offering some pretty impressive rewards through your Kickstarter, such as signed anthologies, manuscript editing and critiquing, and half-price subscriptions – and the backers seem to love it! Will you be adding on new incentives (or re-stocking ones that are currently sold out) as the campaign progresses? And some of your rewards that offer signed anthologies only ships within the US – any chance for international folks to get a piece of the action?

RT: Yes, for sure. We added new rewards today, expanded others, bundled things up and I’m working on some cool stuff with our artists. People keep asking me for things, and I’m happy to set it up, add it, tweak it, to make everyone happy. And I’ll say that I’m willing to ship anything outside the USA, I’d just have to up the postage. I looked up 5 lbs to Canada and UK and it was like $60. So, if you’re willing to pay, I’m happy to ship. So far, so good—$11,000 raised, but we have a long way to go to hit $52,000.

HN: You’ve got some big names backing up this venture, like Chuck Palahniuk and Irvine Welsh. Any plans to include them in upcoming issues of Gamut?

RT: Thanks, yeah, I’d love to. I just got to hang with Chuck and Irvine this summer, such wonderful people, great guys. They’re both so busy, they couldn’t commit to anything, but if I can pry a story away (new or reprint) I will for sure.

HN: It looks like fiction will be the main focus in Gamut, but you’ve also mentioned the inclusion of artwork, poetry, non-fiction and columns. How important is it to you that these mediums get their share of the spotlight?

Richard Thomas

RT: Very important. I want there to be a wide range (a gamut!) of writing and art. My friend Heather Foster is overseeing the poetry, as that’s not my forte. The Saturday Night Special stretch goal is for Stripped: A Memoir by Jacklyn Dre Marceau. Both Heather and Jackee were in my MFA program and were some of the best writers there.

HN: Keeping Gamut as an online publication, how will you distribute content? Do you plan on releasing one issue per month and updating online content regularly?

RT: We won’t release “issues” but instead will have new fiction, columns, reprints and poetry every week. Ideally we’ll have new content every day. Our last goal (a very lofty one) is to put a Best of Gamut out, an anthology each year in print and ebook. We’re also looking into apps, monthly downloads, or piecemeal content. It’ll really all depend on how much we raise.

HN: When all is said and done, what do you hope to achieve with Gamut?

RT: I want to be part of the landscape, but also carve out my own niche. I want authors to think of us first when they write a new story. I want to be their “white whale.” And I want to publish the kind of fiction that moves you, makes you feel something, and is immersive, leaving you spent.

HN: You’ve edited anthologies, written several novels and short stories, and occasionally teach a class or two over at LitReactor (among other things) – with Gamut being this huge undertaking, will you have any time to work on your own writings? And do you currently have anything else that you’re working on (like eating or sleeping)?

RT: Ha, thanks. I could definitely use more sleep. This week has been INTENSE. I for sure will keep writing, that’s very important to me. To make a living as an author you usually have to supplement your income. Academia doesn’t seem to want me right now, even though I’m teaching at the University of Iowa again this summer. So, Gamut, Dark House, LItReactor—it’s all cobbled together.

As for what’s next? 2015 was a big year, 2016 maybe even crazier. My third novel, Breaker (Random House Alibi) just came out—got a starred review in Library Journal today. My third collection, Tribulations (Crystal Lake) will be out in March. I have a novel-in-novellas, The Soul Standard (Dzanc Books) with Nik Korpon, Axel Taiari and Caleb Ross out in July. And I have two short stories in some excellent anthologies—“The Offering on the Hill” in Chiral Mad 3 (Written Backwards) alongside Stephen King and Jack Ketchum, and “Repent” in Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories (Crystal Lake) alongside Neil Gaiman and Clive Barker.

So what’s next? It’s really up to the readers and writers out there. If they want Gamut to happen, they’ll make it happen. I can’t do it alone; I definitely need your help.

To support Gamut magazine, head on over to the Kickstarter campaign page.