Notes from the desk of the editor are offered in the interests of personal posterity and transparency for writers and other potential editors who wish to learn from my experience.
the editor
The Kickstarter is over, and editing for Dread Mondays is ramping up (I’ve gotten feedback on 7 stories back to authors so far), and I’m getting deeper into marketing for our September and October releases (marketing began last summer, 15 months prior to launch). This is a quick report on each of these items:
First: Kickstarter. As you know, the Kickstarter Campaign was successful (it’s still open for late pledges!) and secured about $1600 in funding to recoup some of the book’s losses (tallied in that campaign). I am thrilled at that assistance, and I’m awaiting survey responses from backers to ensure I have all the necessary info to get rewards out to those folks asap (looking at early summer and should beat the promised delivery dates, but we’ll see).
Next: Editing. I use google docs whenever authors are comfortable with that choice, and I enter an average of about 200 comments per story in about two hours of focused editing work on my first pass. That means approx. 70 hours for the first pass on stories in each of these two collections.
It’s important I get this editing pass done sooner rather than later because I want to ensure authors all get back to me with approvals and questions before May, so my target for finishing is mid-April. They’re contractually obligated to respond inside ten days or so, but I’m not a maniac. Sometimes stuff takes a bit longer, so I want at least a two-week opportunity for responses. Plus I figure we’ll need multiple passes on some of these stories.
I also need to sort out the final page count to be able to work with JD&D, from whom I’ve purchased a design package for our upcoming cover for Dread Mondays (they’ve got our CoL featured on their site since it’s such beautiful work). I’ll reveal that cover as soon as it’s finished. (Find updates on that HERE.)
A final thought here and some transparency on the process that I hope will help someone: Some authors don’t have a lot of experience working with editors, and I’m doing all I can to smooth the way for these folks. Here’s the email I send out to everyone receiving feedback from me re: a short story. Laying out the process I use very clearly is helpful for establishing shared expectations, and shared expectations are at the foundation of all successful relationships (feel free to use that in your personal life).
Finally, for now: Marketing. A few major moves here.
First in the marketing category, we’re moving up the launch for Dread Mondays from 10/31/25 to account for a Utah Book Festival event on October 25th 2025 where we’ll make our book available and launch with as big an audience as I’m likely to see that month. I’ll be able to say more about this soon, but it’s kind of a big deal.
Second in marketing: I’ve emailed a dozen horror-themed (reviews, discussion, not stories) podcasts offering to guest on their show in hopes of getting to sit down with hosts (and their audiences) to talk horror, craft, and Whisper House Press releases. Here are my tracking notes about this. I’d love to get referrals and your recommendations if I’m missing someone I shouldn’t miss!
Third: I’ve been in touch with multiple other publishers in the area and have contacted the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association about their 2025 October event at which we might join forces to host a table or two. (This event is lined up to be the first act of the not-yet-formed Independent Horror Publishing Consortium I mentioned last time.) I’d love to get a chance to hang with my buddies, sell and talk books, and try to get into some bookstores in the Denver area for multi-publisher promo events at a time that lines up so nicely with our two book launches.
Fourth: I’ve gotten together my list of small bookstores I think I can get to for promotional events as well. I’ll be reaching out to them in the next few weeks to set up September and October events. Planning out when exactly we aim to do these events will be tricky, especially given my level of business in October with at least six events happening throughout the month. Here are my notes about that developing plan. (Nothing is confirmed, and no secrets belonging to other people are herein revealed. I just want anyone who wants to learn from my process to have full access to my thinking.)
Until next time,
Steve
Whisper House Press 
Leave a comment