Depths of the Ocean: More High Seas Cthulhu

It was my intention to post about product placement in television and fiction books - oh, and films, etc. But as other matters press upon me, I'll save that one for later in the week. Right now, I'd like to talk about stories set on the high seas.

For those who don't know, after my reading of a few million words for a previous anthology, I started to avoid sending open anthology calls around the Internet. In fact, some of my calls are still lurking in the pages of Writers Digest, which means I get submissions for books printed years ago.

To help slow the flow of submissions, I now make a cunning mention on my blog. Usually word gets around, but not quite as much as "major announcements."

And, as some people were not completely sure of what I was hinting at in the last three anthologies request, I'll be blunt this time. :) I'm looking for stories for a 2010 anthology.

What type of stories? They must be set on or darn close to the ocean or large body of water. The book is a sequel to High Seas Cthulhu.

Setting: Still an ocean or big body of water. Mostly modern, some historical is welcome.

Word Count: 5K (longer must be negotiated)

Payment: 5 cents/word first publication, 3 cents/word reprint.

Deadline: June 2010 - Although it could move up (never sure about these things)

Reference: If in doubt, read the existing book: High Seas Cthulhu. You might also consider visiting the link on my blog, where the authors of the last book wrote about how their stories came to be: High Seas Cthulhu: Below Decks

As for High Seas Cthulhu, it can be found in most books stores and online, ebay, game stores. Pretty much anywhere. I urge reviewing a copy to save yourself time by avoiding the repetition of tales from the first book.

How to submit? (Umm. I get plenty of email, and much of it is blocked by spam software. But let's try it this way. Submit to:

william@williamjoneswriter.com (Subject: High Seas 2 YOUR NAME).

The subject is very important because I'll use software to sort the submissions, and without High Seas 2, it'll likely get dumped into spam).

Suggestions:

• Deep Ones are easy to write about in this anthology, so only use them if you have a unique slant. Most everyone will submit Deep One tales and you want yours to stand out. Or better yet, avoid Deep One tales.

• Edgy is good. Please avoid this opening: "Dear reader, you might think me insane for what I'm about to put to paper..." (I've read that story. :> ) Put a modern spin on the story/creature/character, and make it yours.

• Dark is good. Mood, tone, and a feel of darkness works in this anthology, but know that many people will be going the same way, so play with the approach.

Lastly, Cthulhu: Nope, no Cthulhu unless requested. Next to Deep Ones, this big fellow is the most popular critter people write about for this type of anthology. We can only have so many Cthulhu awakens and destroys the world tales in the anthology. So to improve your chances, avoid using him. Or at least query me about it before you do.

Feel free to post questions here, as that way I can answer them and create a FAQ at the same time.

Stoker Preliminary Ballot

The Stoker Award preliminary ballot list has been announced (not the nominations), and in tribute to all of the authors and artists involved, both Horrors Beyond 2 and High Seas Cthulhu made the list of 10 titles.

For those unfamiliar with the process, you might wonder what does it mean to be on the preliminary ballot? It is something like being in the presidential primaries. At this moment, ballots are being mailed to Active members of the Horrors Writers Association. Members vote in each of the categories (HB2 and HSC are in the Superior Achievement in an Anthology category). Once the ballots are returned, the list of 10 titles will be culled to the final list -- those are the Stoker nominations. And from there it goes onto selecting a winner. Nonetheless, it is great to be in the race at all, and for both titles to be included.

Naturally, I invite any Active HWA members to contact me for review copies of either or both books. And of course, they are in the local bookstores for those simply interested in reading the books -- which I hope you do!

Conventions, World Fantasy, and a Contest

I recently attended ConClave32, where not only was I lucky enough to participate in panels, but also had the chance to meet up with a few fans of "high seas" fiction at the High Seas Cthulhu release party. And already, I'm venturing to the World Fantasy Convention. Like most conventions, this one promises to be four days of fun and fun. If you're in the area, drop by and visit. On Friday, at 12:00 noon, I'll be be the "City City C" room, on a panel dealing with Lovecraft and supernatural fiction:

Lovecraft and the Rejection of the Supernatural (City City C/ 12:00 pm)

(Attending): S.T. Joshi, William Jones, Tim Powers, Scott Connors (m), F. Paul Wilson

For fans of H.P. Lovecraft, who wrote a work titled, Supernatural Horror in Literature, this is certain to be an interesting panel. I'll do my best to post comments about the panel, and the entire convention. (If you've not read SHL by Lovecraft, S.T. Joshi has a wonderful annotated edition recently published).

For those who missed out on ConClave32, and the High Seas Cthulhu release party, I have a few of the book cover plates that were passed around as free gifts. So in way of a contest, post a sentence or two, or longer if you like, describing the scene on the cover of High Seas Cthulhu (by Steven Gilberts). And I'll randomly, with perhaps a little bias for clever ones, select "winners" and mail a copy of the cover plate.

So what is a cover plate? It is the cover of the book that has not been bound or trimmed. As most were given away at the High Seas Cthulhu release party, they are very limited now. And they make a great great collector's item.

The contest starts today, and will continue until November 8th, around the time I return for the World Fantasy Convention. And as Steven Gilberts will be at the convention as well, I'll see if I can get him to autograph it. Contributors to the book are also welcome to join in on the contest, as they didn't get these covers. Of course, the main goal is for everyone to write a "cover story," and have fun with it.

And for those who have not read the High Seas Cthulhu: Below Decks article, pay it a visit. Contributors are still updating it with comments.

Note: Anyone can post, simply select "Other" and enter a name. Check back to see if you win, at which point I'll ask for your a mailing address (which can be emailed to me).

High Seas Cthulhu Release Party

Join a number of the authors and ESP at the High Seas Cthulhu Release party!

The event is Saturday October 13 at the ConClave 32 Science Fiction convention in Romulus, Michigan, which is held October 12-14.

There will be a drawing for free copies High Seas Cthulhu, bookmarks, collector covers of High Seas Cthulhu, discussions, music, food, freebies and more!

The release party starts at 3:30, Saturday, October 13th, in the Upper Atrium.

I'll also be attending the Workshops and several panels.

Here’s the official link to ConClave’s website: www.conclavesf.org

High Seas Cthulhu: Below Decks

After the announcement of High Seas Cthulhu, I’ve been asked a few times how the book came about. Early on I posted an article detailing the inspiration (Surprise Anthology), so I’ll not cover that here. Instead, feel free to follow the link back to the topic. I’ll skip ahead to the framework of the anthology. (Click on the image or here to follow a link to Amazon.com).

Initially, the premise was based upon a number of tales submitted to Dark Wisdom magazine, and to various anthologies I had edited in the past. When the book started, the underlying premise was to gather stores set between the 1500s and 1850s. At first it looked like easy sailing, but as I gathered more tales, it appeared that the anthology might become overburdened with historical works – in some cases, only loosely connected to Lovecraft and his Mythos. So a change of direction was needed. I invited a few writers, expecting most not to be interested. After all, “high seas” Lovecraftian tales do require specific historical knowledge – it is a mixture of two sub-genres. I anticipated few positive responses.

To my surprise, every writer I contacted seemed interested in the project. There were a few who simply didn’t have the time, so maybe we’ll catch them the next time around. I was delighted to learn that I wasn’t the only one with the unusual interest in the particular angle of Lovecraftian tales. Also, some authors contacted me after word of the project was out, adding to the final list.

The basic requirements, originally, were to write a story that takes place on water with Lovecraftian elements. Fearing the anthology would be overrun with tales of prowling Deep Ones, I asked some authors to avoid the topic. Later, hoping to change the pacing of the book, I tried another tack. I asked some authors for contemporary tales – and some found their way to me. Doing this created variety within the anthology, shifting across times and places.

Of course, the cover artist, Steven Gilberts did much to bring the flavor of the anthology to life, producing the cover long before the body of work was completed (and perhaps inspiring some of the tales in the process).

The final order of tales was a challenge. After much debate, I attempted to assemble the tales by thematic connection and juxtaposition, sometimes using one work to foreshadow another work. Although the references in some tales to similar occurrences in other tales was unplanned, it was very convenient when ordering the stories. And with any luck, a few authors will show up to elaborate on how they developed their ideas. Questions are welcome as well.

High Seas Cthulhu

High Seas Cthulhu is preparing to raise anchor! Yeah, the line is campy, but what else could I use?

First, let me announce a contest at www.shoggoth.net. Go there and maybe win a free copy early. Follow this link.

For those who are not familiar with the anthology, here is a quick bit of text:

High Seas Cthulhu

Hoist the anchor and set sail for the High Seas!

Discover a time when tall ships ranged the oceans and creatures lurked in the dark depths. Journey across the world from the reign of pirates to the Age of Napoleon, to the present. Learn what fears dwell in sailors' hearts. All hands on deck, ready the cannon, and prepare to engage terrors unknown!

Swashbuckling adventure meets the Mythos in this exciting original anthology of Lovecraftian tales.

Authors include Alan Dean Foster, John Shirley, Darrell Schweitzer, William Meikle, Tim Curran, Gerard Houarner, John Shire, and many, many others.

Editor: William Jones
Cover: Steven Gilberts

Wired Blog: Table of Malcontents

High Seas Cthulhu Washes Up on Wired Blog

On May 31st, it seems the monster in the bottle reached John Brownlee, editor of Table of Malcontents. Here is a snapshot of the post:

Of all the Pirates vs. X permutations that have caught the fancy of the Internet, perhaps the showdown that makes the most sense is Pirates Vs. Cthulhu. Logistically, ninjas are not likely to take to the high sea, where as pirates patrol and plunder the very waves under which R'lyeh rots and Great Cthulhu lays dreaming.

It is an excellent idea for a book, and the Elder Signs Press is now making it a reality with High Seas Cthulhu...

Herbert West at sea -- maybe ship's surgeon? The fun Dr West would have.

Surprise Anthology

A while back when I started doing some art direction with Colin Foran for Tim Curran’s novel Dead Sea, I came up with the idea of High Seas Cthulhu. Tim’s brilliant novel opens in the past, but shifts to the present. A wonderful SF/Horror/Thriller work. That set me to thinking about a Lovecraftian/Howard style anthology of fiction set in the Age of Sail. Working with Colin underscored this idea when he sent me a lovely 3-masted frigate “locked in chains” (as the expression goes).

While sharing my time on a few other projects, I brooded over the concept, and finally had a direction — even though the writers might disagree.

I’m lucky to have access to talented writers and artists for these wild ideas. After speaking with Steven Gilberts, he quickly put together a masterful cover that captures the spirit of the anthology. Thanks to a clever cover designer, the near-final work has a touch of a Patrick O’Brien look about it (the film Master and Commander was based on his writings).
Of course, the anthology is slated for a next year release, so I’ll not mention too much about it.