Whisper House Press

Team.

As I’ve been talking about on the development blog and in prior emails, I want to do everything I know how to do to give this anthology the best chances of success it can have. I’ve heard it said that “anthologies don’t sell,” and I am going in with eyes open about that received wisdom—but we’re going to challenge its veracity as much as we’re able. I also want to define what success might look like, and I’m curious what you think about this question. Please let me know!

For me, and shooting for pie-in-the-sky type stuff—because you can’t win if you don’t play—success is winning a Stoker Award for the fiction anthology category (huzzah for Jordan Peele’s collection, which I ordered this week) and to put out a book that horror authors and readers feel they need to get their hands on. Further, I want to use our collection to help build a brand in horror that authors yearn to be a part of and readers want to keep tabs on, and I want future releases to drive the sales of this anthology.

With the philosophical stuff out of the way…

The first thing I want to get going in terms of marketing is interviews with contributing authors posted to the new Whisper House Press YouTube channel. It has one or two followers now, but we’ll see what happens as we put out more content. I’d like to record as many as possible, edit them in August, and start putting one out every few weeks beginning a year from publication (September) on a regular schedule. There is of course no contractual obligation for anyone to participate in this, but I think it would be our best look if we could get everyone involved. Please let me know if you have thoughts or wonders.

Here’s what I’m thinking an interview looks like: 20 to 30 minutes tops of me asking you questions like, “What got you into writing?” and “What attracted you to this anthology?” and maybe a silly one that I ask everyone. And maybe a not-so-silly standard, like, “What’s your favorite horror movie?” and/or “Can you define ‘horror’ for our audience?” (which is sure to generate some interesting responses, I bet). I’ll write a basic script for the interviews, will send it out in advance, and I’ll hit similar questions for everyone.

If you don’t want to appear on camera (which I totally get), we can turn it into an audio-only interview, and I’ll post the WHP logo along with our voices. (I do think that unless it’s about anxiety you should strongly consider appearing on camera, since your being-a-person is part of your brand as an author… unless you are Chuck Tingle, in which case you can where whatever TF you want to wear and it’ll be absolutely awesome.) Any thoughts about this proposed process?

Here’s the link to the sign-up for a google meet interview. Please respond as soon as conveniently possible. I leave the country in July and hope to get most done before then!

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and please—please tell me if you see me making what you see as a mistake anywhere in this process. I am all ears, and I value your experience and perspective.

Thanks!

Steve

P.S. Editing has begun with the author the top of the alphabet.

P.P.S. I’ll release the full list of authors and drafted bios to you contributors soon.

P.P.P.S. Feel free to discuss that you’re a part of this anthology. You can direct folks to the behind the scenes page for updates, if you like, or to the youtube channel, or anywhere else.