We've added a new selection to our merchandise: the Apex Alien Plush Toy. It's cute. It's our mascot.

Also, all back issues of Apex Digest are half-priced!

We bring it to the table this week.

"The Limb Knitter" by Steven Francis Murphy

Non-fiction by Lavie Tidhar, Adrienne Jones, and Jason Sizemore.

Justin brings his unicorn shirt back out of the closet.

And meet our Cool Person of the Month--Dot Porter!

All this stuff is free.
http://www.apexbookcompany.com/apex-online

This week's Apex Digest Online content features "American Dead" by Jay Lake.

Also we have articles by Adrienne Jones and Lavie Tidhar, and a short, but useful bit of writers' resources from the editor-in-chief.

www.apexbookcompany.com/apex-online

Poll #1247491 Apex Digest Online
This poll is closed.
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 26

Apex Digest Online

There's one thing I need to tell you about Deb Taber.

She is a fast talker. Not metaphorically, but literally. Words erupt from her mouth in grand geysers of hyperbole and genius. For a slow-talkin' country boy like me, it can be rather distressing.

Two years ago, I needed a part for a chainsaw my father had let me borrow. "Son," he said, "the cog has a broken 39MM connector wire. Get that replaced and it should work just like new." The pear trees in my backyard had gotten out of hand. I was afraid that they'd come to life and spear me and my family with their branches like something out of a scary Lovecraft story.

Unfortunately, none of the local stores had the part. The chainsaw was some off-brand that required parts ordered from a foreign country. I needed to attach the trees soon, so I thought I'd give Craig's List a try.

This was my first experience with Craig's List. Sure, over the years I'd heard the horror stories. But I was just askin gfor a small part for a chainsaw. What's the worst that could happen? I make a posting:

"Need part 39MM for broken chainsaw. Contact me at 859-xxx-xxxx. Signed, Jason Sizemore"

I submitted the post. The phone rang three seconds later. I check the caller ID and see it's somebody from Washington state.

"Hello?" I ask, after picking up the receiver.

"helloisthisjasonsizemore?"

"What?"

"helloisthisjasonsizemore?"

It took me a few seconds to parse the sentence. The lady on the other line spoke too fast!

"Um...yes, this is Jason Sizemore."

"isawyourcraigslistpostingihavethepartyouneed."

"Part 39MM?"

"ohyouneed39mm? ihave38mmbutgivemeasecondimsureihaveitaroundheresomewhere."

At this point, I'm not sure if I should hang up or thank the lady and tell her I don't need the part after all. Through the handset, I hear machinery scraping together, the type of sounds you might hear at a construction site.

"okayigotthepartgivemeyouraddressandiwillmailittoyou."

Over the years of being a publisher and crushing so many dreams with a simple "NO!", I'd grown leary of giving out my home address. I'd dealt with my share of nut cases, and well, this one on the phone didn't exactly give me the warm and fuzzies.

"You know what, I'm good."

"whatdoyoumeanyou'regoodshuttupbobbeforeihurtyou!"

"What? Who's 'Bob'? Who are YOU?"

"nobodydoyouneedthepartorwhat?"

"Uh..."

Then I heard a table saw come to life. Something odd was happening on the other end of the phone and I was starting to get frightened.

"No thanks."

"bobisweartogodiwillcutyourtestic..."

*click*

I hung up. The phone rang in three seconds. It kept ringing until I disconected it from the wall.

Hoping to forget it all, I go downstairs to my office and log into gmail. I'd made a call for editors to help with slush. One person had stood out head and shoulders above the rest. Some young lady who lived in Washington state who's most recent writing credit was a tool pr0n story published in an Australian ezine.

If I'd only known...

# # #

Two years later and I'm still alive. I fear power tools and am considering becoming an avowed Luddite. But Deb does fantastic work as an editor. Here's a few suggestions to writers who submit their work to Apex and hope that it passes Deb's mustard.

1) Unlike the rest of us, Deb isn't into visceral violence, sex, and gore. To that effect, she's been a great counterbalance.
2) Deb loves quiet, thoughtful creepiness. Thus her affection for me.
3) I keep Deb extremely busy working on copy edits, so she generally doesn't slush. She does help make executive decisions on the ultimate judgment of the better stories. She's quick to filter out stories with flat characterizations, overuse of passive voice, and overly happy endings.
4) Two things you better get right in your story when Deb Taber reads it: descriptions of power tools (obviously) and facts about horses. She's a horse expert.

I feel blessed by Deb's presence on the Apex team. She's become somebody I trust with Apex and with my friendship.

Here's hoping she's with us when we make our final global domination move!

(Unfortunately, pictures of Deb are a rare and valuable commodity. If you have any, I encourage you to post links to them in the comments of this blog post.)

Congratulations to Paul Bielaczyc! His artwork for Apex Digest issue 9 has received a Chesley Award nomination in the category of "Magazine."

Here's a link to all award nominees:
http://www.asfa-art.org/admin/ches.php?chesyear=2008

The latest "issue" of Apex Digest has been posted.

Two horror short stories--"Just an Old Man" by Maurice Broaddus and "House Cleaning" by Wrath James White.

Jodi Lee interviews Maurice and Wrath.

Adrienne Jones shares her goofiest, geekiest loves.

Lavie Tidhar shares a book collecting adventure.

And finally, I go off on "revenge fantasy" submissions.

Entertaining stuff, I promise you.
http://www.apexbookcompany.com/apex-online

The latest Apex Digest Online has been posted. Week 3, it is.

The headliner is the new story "In the Seams" by Andrew C. Porter. There are also columns from the exciting trio of Lavie Tidhar, Adrienne Jones, and Jason B. Sizemore. Justin Stewart provides the funnies.

Go here to enjoy.

This one is stacked.

We have a story from Nick Mamatas titled "Summon, Bind, Banish." Alethea Kontis contributes the latest in her popular Beauty & Dynamite essay series. Lavie Tidhar continues his pursuit of the Titanic Omar. Adrienne Jones describes why she fears puppets. There's a great interview with F. Paul Wilson. Justin Stewart provides more comic funnies. Jason Sizemore interviews Magda Apanowicz (star of Kyle XY, Caprica, and more).

Apex Digest Online.

Apex Digest Online #1

I can't believe I haven't already posted this...but our first "issue" went up last Sunday. It features a fantastic new story by Katherine Sparrow called "These Days." It is literally one of my favorite stories I've ever published.

There are other goodies as well. Adrienne Jones has a piece about the role Satan plays in modern horror. Lavie Tidhar writes the first in a series of articles about his book collecting experiences. We interview Permuted Press author D.L. Snell. There's also a funny one panel comic, and a brief editorial from me about our switchover to digital.

This coming Sunday we have a story from Nick Mamatas.
Expect to see new content every Sunday night. The easiest way to keep up with us is via our RSS feed.

Apex Digest Online #1

By now you're all familiar with the Global Domination plan. You know it's about more than coffee mugs and shot glasses and the occasional recruitment of minions to the cause.

It's about stories. Dark science fiction. That's why we're here.

You all know Phase 1: Create a quality science fiction magazine that attracts talented authors and seeps into the public through major retail stores.

You're aware of Phase 2: Develop a book line that almost immediately gathers a Bram Stoker Award nomination and continues to attract and promote talented, award-winning authors with unique voices.

Now it's time to unveil Phase 3. Buckle up, kiddies, we've gone pro.

Deena Warner, our talented not-so-secret weapon, has been busily renovating Apex Online. This is where Apex Digest lives now. In print, we've managed to grow steadily...but very slowly...into semi-pro rates. I've done a lot of looking around, a lot of thinking, and a lot of talking to people who know some stuff. Pro rates matter. Easy to access content matters. It's all about the stories. That's why we're here, and why "here" is now online.

I know I spoke of this move before from an emotional standpoint. I received some support from the people on this blog, and I appreciate that. Frankly, I didn't want to let go of the print version. But I've moved from going with my gut to going with sound business practice, and that lead directly to Phase 3. What is the Internet for, if not free fiction? Free science fiction.

This step means more money for authors, more time for some of the staff, and the magazine is free to the readers. Yes, it also means less money for the USPS, and I'm happy about that, too. We'll still bring you quality stories. Our selection and editing process is the same. Our guidelines have been updated to reflect new pay rates and word count. A letter will be sent out to our subscribers shortly so they know what their options are. We will still be bringing you books in print on a regular basis; our next set of releases comes out this fall, beginning with Michael Burstein's I Remember the Future. Phase 3 is still just the beginning of Apex Global Domination.

I want to thank you all for joining us for the first two phases. Welcome to Phase 3. Your world is in our hands.

Publisher,

Jason B. Sizemore

To help bridge the wait until the redesign of Apex Digest Online, we have posted in its entirity is Michael West’s story “To Know How to See.” This story appeared in issue 12 of Apex SF&H Digest.

So head over to Apex Digest Online and read Michael’s excellent story.

We no longer have copies available. You can still get them from:

Horror-Mall

Lisa's Lair (Canada)

And at least for the next few weeks you can still get them in brick & mortar stores.   

Every year since the beginning of time (March 16th, 2005, release date of Apex Digest #1), we have taken off the months of June and December and closed to submissions.

We love tradition around here, so we're giving the hard-working Apex editors a break this summer. Apex Digest will be closed to all submissions from June 1st-June 30th. We will re-open July 1st. Any submissions sent during the break will be deleted and unread.

We're open for the next 22 days, so get those manuscripts to us!

Michele Lee will buy one random new subscriber a hardcover copy of Jennifer Pelland's new collection Unwelcome Bodies.

Sara Harvey is offering a free copy of her book A Year and a Day for everyone who buys a lifetime subscription. Anyone buying a one-year subscription can get the book half-priced.

Big, scary Matt Wallace has offered up a weird assortment of things...from playing an online game of Scrabble against him, to offering to give away any DVD in his large collection of movies. Erhm...the best one is that you can win to have him write up the most filthy, hate-filled spiel ever composed at one person of your choice. Best go look here for details: http://matt-wallace.livejournal.com/108627.html.

Steven Savile has offered to tuckerize five people into his next Stargate SG-1 novel who subscribe.

Again, thanks to everyone for chipping in...these prizes are insane!

As usual during our subscription drives, we are knocked off our feet by the swell of support for Apex. Thanks to all for your support.

Others have joined the "Incentive to Subscribe" party. Apex editor Jodi Lee has offered to dye "chunks" of her hair alien green if we get 20 lifetime subscribers.

Rinda Elliot has offered three prizes from her Writer's Snark store to three people who subscribe (lifetime not required). All you have to do is leave a comment to her post about the drive.

David Montoya of Magus Press, the madman of horror, has offered the following to two random lifetime subscribers: signed limited edition hardcovers of Leftovers by Steve Vernon and a lettered edition of Winter Frights (signed by all contributors).

Fellow bloggers, feel free to pass this along.

Okay, I'm going to come right out and say it. The magazine needs more subscribers. Probably doesn't come as any shock, as this happens every year.

So we're going to do an old-fashioned subscription drive.

The reality of the situation is that we need 150 new subscribers (or roughly $3000), or we're looking at a hiatus until I have enough disposable income to push out another issue. I use the term "hiatus" because there won't be any mercy killings going on around here. I love the damn magazine too much to let it go (or possibly too stubborn), but the hiatus could be an extended one.

--How can you help?
--By taking out a subscription! Or buying magazines from our store!

Subscriptions are a measly $20 for 4 issues in the US. $24 for Canada/Mexico. $34 for the rest of the world.

We've re-initiated the APEX FOR LIFE subscription option that gives you Apex until you die. This goes for $100.

If you're interested in the magazine, but want to check it out before taking out a subscription, then take a look through our ample back catalog.

Or, heck, if you're wanting to show your support but not necessarily want a subscription, check out our ample back catalog.

Every person taking out APEX FOR LIFE subscriptions will be entered to win the following prizes:
1) ARC copy of Broken on the Wheel of Sex by Jack Ketchum (Overlook Connection)
2) Signed limited copy of Orpheus and the Pearl by Kim Paffenroth (Magus Press)
3) Signed copy of Homebody by Orson Scott Card
4) Limited signed copy of When Dark Descends by Charles L. Grand & Thomas F. Monteleone (Borderlands Press)
5) Hardcover copies of Gratia Placenti and Aegri Somnia edited by Gill Ainsworth and Jason Sizemore

Furthermore, every person taking out a lifetime subscription will receive a TPB copy of either Unwelcome Bodies or The Next Fix.

Here's a link to our store:
http://www.apexbookcompany.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=2

Buy something, then help us get the word out!

Here's what we got:
Front Interior inside cover (b&w) - $90
Back Interior inside cover (b&w) - $90
3 Interior full page ads - $75
Half page ads - $40

The issue is slated for this summer...probably late July.

We also would like some subscribers! We've reopened our "Apex For Life" subscription option.
http://www.apexbookcompany.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=16

Over at the new Apex forums, Geoffrey Girard (author of the CAIN XP11 serialization) sums up Apex Digest better than I've ever been able to in four years.

"...I actually think issue 11 is VERY APEX and has plenty of horror. Hell, my tale ALONE had: genetic monsters, dissected girls, systematic child abuse, fetus tossing, teenage spree killing, two brutal stabbings, adult nightmares, famous serial killers, ghosts, evil scientists, an abduction, and a haunted mine. Ok, so I couldn’t figure out how to fit a vampire in. ; ) In short, none of the tales in APEX would work if you took out the sci-fi or horror. They can’t stand alone in the one genre. “Uncanny” is a truly dark and disturbing short tale, but only it works with the science. “Ray Gun” and “Moldy Dead” start with a sci-fi premise but get “Bradbury-October Country” dark in a real hurry. They’re brutal tales of spiraling murder, made possible only with the sci-fi. “Spinnetje” could be any Leisure Book possession tale, but it’s a demon of science… In the beginning, APEX rejected two or three stories of mine for being lovely but “not APEX enough.” So, I kept reading what APEX was doing and tried again. I thought one was perfect, and they said NO. I thought one was borderline, and it’ll appear next issue (after being bought 18 months ago)! The Cain series was pitched on the spot to Jason based on an idea I’d had on the way down to an APEX event. I literally started from the idea of: “What would be the coolest, most interesting blend of science and horror for APEX magazine?” with no other market or goal in mind. It was a worthwhile exercise."

Thank you, Mr. Girard.

FWIW, we bought the story right before he pitched CAIN to me, and decided to run CAIN before the story since Steve Savile's TEMPLE series had just completed. Thus the 18 month lead time.

A hearty thank you to the folks who jumped at the 4-issue Cain offer. :)

Tonight's deal is available to the first two individuals to email me at jason@apexdigest.com...

Buy the HC of Unwelcome Bodies by Jennifer Pelland, get a free copy of Apex Digest issue 8 that contains Jen's story "Blood Baby" and a paperback copy of Aegri Somnia that contains one of my favorite Pelland stories, the unheralded "YY."

Neither "Blood Baby" nor "YY" are in Unwelcome Bodies...so this is a great chance for those of you who suffer from Pellanditis to get fix.