Over the month of March, I will be featuring publishers who are taking pitches at the World Horror Convention 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The posts will focus on the kinds of things publishers accepting pitches will be looking for, advice, things to avoid, and other useful tidbits you should know before you pitch.

I’d like to thank Kim Richards for taking the time to participate in this feature.

Publisher: Damnation Books
Editor(s): Kim Richards
Genre(s) Accepted: Horror, Dark fantasy, Thrillers, Science fiction, Weird westerns and steampunk, Humour, Erotica (in dark settings), GBLT dark fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal/supernatural/occult
Submission Guidelines: Damnation Books Submissions
Facebook Page: Damnation Books
Twitter: @DamnationBooks

Damnation Books specializes in dark fiction under a variety of sub-genres (see above). Based in Santa Rosa, California, the press was founded by William Gilchrist and Kim Richards Gilchrist. According to their website, “Damnation Books looks to use available technologies to bring affordable dark fiction to everyone.”

New releases include Blood Forge by Kathryn Meyer Griffith, the anthology Corrupts Absolutely?, De Civitate Sanguino by Brian N. Young, by Jason Gehlert, and more. To check out their new releases, check out this link.

1) What’s the most important thing you’re look for from a writer during a pitch session?

I look for an interesting story that is completed and has been revised. I am also more interested in an author who plans to promote their book as much as possible. While we do some promotion on our end, it’s really a partnership style promotion/marketing that works best.

2) What should writers bring with them or prepare before they’re going to pitch? Do you prefer to see sample chapters (either electronic or physical) or do you prefer sample chapters plus a synopsis?

We like to see the first two chapters and the last chapter (per our website guidelines, which I highly recommend the author read). For WHC this year, I don’t mind taking full manuscripts or print outs with me—just be sure they’re disposable copies because I won’t return them. A synopsis is good and also a quick marketing plan. Be sure contact information is on the submission.

3) What do you wish more writers would know before they go into a pitch session with you?

Read our guidelines before coming to the session. Feel free to ask questions of me.

4) What are some of the most important points on your checklist that make you to want to see more of a manuscript during or after a pitch session?

I want to see manuscripts which are publication ready—meaning no first drafts, nothing unrevised or unfinished. I want the author to view their editor, cover artist, and our company as an ally and not an enemy. Most of all I want an interesting story with characters I would like to know (or love to hate). I’m always interested in knowing how an author would rate their story on a scale of 1-5 (five being highest) for both sex and violence.

5) We’ve all heard some major Dos and Don’ts from agents and editors on how to conduct oneself at a convention, and some of the more obvious ones include being respectful of the editor’s time, not cornering an editor in a bathroom, being sure to have both physical and electronic copies of the first few chapters of a manuscript, etc, but what are some of your specific suggested Dos and Don’ts or some of the pet peeves that you’d like writers to avoid when approaching you at a convention?

If we’ve met before, please don’t assume I remember your name. I mean no disrespect, but I am terrible at remembering names so don’t make me guess. That only gets embarrassing for both of us. Don’t be mousey. I’m just as nervous as you are and I’ve also been on your side of the pitch session table so I understand. We have that in common. Tell me all about your book just like you would to your best friend. Your enthusiasm will shine through and that is important. I want you to make me like it.

6) What are some of the new titles we can expect this year from your press?

We have so many great books. I love them all. Some of our best are works by Tim Marquitz, Ed Erdelac, Kathryn Meyer Griffith, Noel Hynd, Fiona Dodwell, Karina Fabian and Lincoln Crisler.

Releasing just before WHC (March 1, 2012)
Blood Forge: Revised Author’s Edition by Kathryn Meyer Griffith
Corrupts Absolutely? A Dark Metahuman Fiction Reader (Ed. Lincon Crisler)
Say Goodnight by Richard Burns
Under the Darkening by Michael DeMasi
The Haunting of Lovesong House by G.F. Frost
Eva — A Ghost Story by Mike Emmett
Relentless by Yolanda Sfetsos
Revelation: Creatures Rule the Night by Nathaniel Connors
The Banshee by Henry P. Gravelle
Devil Have Mercy: Hypocrite by Michael Horton
De Civitate Sanguino by Brian N. Young
The Ferrymen by Jason Gehlert

Releasing May 1, 2012
The Priest’s Hole by Ray Clark

Releasing June 1, 2012
Blood Moon by Holly McAuliffe-Hunt
Four in the Morning (Novella collection) by Lincoln Crisler, Ed Erdelac, Tim Marquitz, and Malon Edwards The Apocalypse of Peter by Nick Cato
Night and Chaos by Naomi Clark
Jawbone by Michael V. Gleich
Vengeful Pursuit by David E. Bullock
Tattooed by Wayne Mansfield
Weeyatches by Patrick MacAdoo
Binding Ties by Michele Acker
Cheap Meat by Ron Savage
Shudder by Harry F. Kane

Releasing July 1, 2012
Evil Stalks the Night (Author’s Revised Edition) by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Kim maintains a website for her own writing, as well as a blog. In addition, she has profiles on LiveJournal, MySpace, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, the Horror Writers’ Ning Network, the Romance Writers’ Ning Network, and the Dark Fiction Guild Ning.

Best of luck to all those planning to pitch to Damnation Books at the World Horror Convention! Stay tuned for more publisher and author profiles.