I am putting together an anthology of short stories in "fantasy noir". I have already started asking for submissions, but I would like to be able to print it in as professional a way as possible. Because the writers I have asked deserve that. 

This involves paying them for their stories, getting a proper cover designed for the book, and making sure it is printed professionally. The last is relatively easy these days, but giving my writers their dues for their work is really important to me. 

As a result, I brought out a book, and was included in the Idol anthology. I also ended up winning an award for my short story "Icarus".

Well, that's just it, isn't it? How many fantasy noir stories have you read? It's a strange combination, but one which I really think works remarkably well. The cynical grittiness of noir mixed with a fantasy element strikes me as a recipe for brilliance. And it's not something you see a lot of. I'd like to challenge writers to pull off something special and unusual. And I'd like to give readers something completely different to savour. 

 

Part of this journey has involved getting to know a whole bunch of truly talented individuals, which means my pool for garnering stories is wider than the average. Doing it this way means that I can publish a bunch of little known and very talented authors, which is good for them, because they get a sale, and exposure, and good for the world, because it introduces more fantastic writers.