Whisper House Press

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

Two quick behind-the-scenes updates today re: YEAR ONE anthology and StokerCon in Pittsburgh come June 2026.

First, I’ve gotten an initial, emailed “yes” from all 12 authors who we’ve published on our website in the first year of monthly featured stories to go ahead with plans for an anthology gathering all their stories in one printed place. I’ve also paid the talented Ruth Anna Evans for a premade book cover.

Next is to write a contract to finalize the arrangements for reprints, pay everyone another $10 for their trouble (their initial 200- to 1000-word stories garnered $10 payments), and get to work on the interior design of the book. Once I have it all laid out, I’ll get the spine width, back cover text, and will finalize the front cover with Ruth. Then it’ll be ready to add to our catalogue. Probable, reasonable publication date: December 2025. That’ll put it in range for the 2025 Bram Stoker Awards and set up a pattern for future “Year X” anthologies. It also makes me feel impressive, since it’ll be the third book we’ll release in four months, and I can swear to the high quality of each.

Speaking of the Bram Stoker Awards…

StokerCon 2026 takes place June 4-7, 2026. I bought my ticket the night it was announced in June of 2025 and told my mom and dad to put my visit on their calendar. I’m definitely going to be there, come hell or high water. It’s the first StokerCon at which something I’m creating (see: Costs of Living and Dread Mondays, at least) is eligible to win, and I want to be there to see everyone else get their awards.

The convention itself (where the Stoker Awards are announced and distributed) is a big deal for me as a writer and publisher. I’m an affiliate member of the organization and have been for several years, and this group of folks is the main reason I’ve had the gumption to spearhead a publishing house. But besides the event in question, I’m going to try planning a few sales & signing events for independent bookstores in the Pittsburgh area. And why the hell not? Maybe a big box store or two.

I’ve sent a few notes out to Pittsburgh area bookshops: Penguin Books in Sewickely, White Whale on Liberty Avenue, City of Asylum in the North Side, and Posman Books in the Strip District. City Books is the last one I’ll contact. Arlan Hess, its proprietor, remains a good friend, and we’ll see if she’s interested in hosting us for any kind of event in the North Side while I’m in town.

I’m excited to see if these shops are interested!

This weekend is the Southern Utah Book Festival in Cedar City, Utah, and I should be signing books at the Bookdom Apothecary (a new shop!) on Friday afternoon and Main Street Books (if they take me up on my offer, which I believe they will) on Saturday afternoon. I’m doing two panels on Saturday at the festival, and I’ll be selling books out-of-doors between my two panels. Lots of info available here.

Til next time…

– steve