Richard Wright

(I know, it’s been a while, I’ll try harder to update, etc…)

If you’ve been reading here for a while, you’ll remember that I have a story due out in the anthology The Blackest Death III, from Black Death Books. You might also recall that it’s been a hell of a long time since I announced that sale, and be wondering what happened to the actual book.

Alas, the book is no more. It is an ex-book. I heard from the publisher today that the book is no longer going ahead, and indeed, the previous Blackest Death volumes are going out of print. There are various reasons for this, including the fact that anthologies don’t sell as well as longer works, and economic times are too tight for them to invest in the level of publicity that could make a success of the book. Sad news, but given the current state of the publishing industry on all levels, not really a surprise.

A very few of you may actually have pre-ordered the book, when it was offered for pre-order sale by the publisher in 2007. Hopefully, you’ll have heard from them by now about a refund. If you haven’t, give them a couple of days to sort things out, and then drop them a line. They’ve assured me that all refunds will be promptly offered, and they’re a good bunch, so I’m confident this will be the case. Let me know if you find otherwise.

I know, so long without an update, and it’s bad news. Ah well.

Does anybody want to buy a story?

It’s a few days into the glittering, twinkly wonder of 2008 now, so time for a quick update on the short stories that will be coming to you in 2008. To date, there are four that I know of, although two of those needs must remain shrouded in secrecy for the time being, as the publishers themselves have yet to announce anything.

The Blackest Death III - Although it’s been an age in getting to publication, recent announcements on the Black Death books home page state that the book should finally see print around Spring of this year. I used to have a pre-ordering link to the book on this site before the redesign, but took it down because the book still has no hard release date. If you really want to, you can take advantage of the pre-order discount via the above link (15% and free shipping within the states). My contribution to the book is a tale called ‘The Biting Season’, set on a remote Scottish island, and featuring things that… well… bite.

Unnanounced Anthology – The publisher has yet to announce the line-up for this one, and the contracts have yet to be signed, so you’ll just have to take me on trust. The book will be a trade paperback from a new independent publisher, and is probably going to be available in the next few months (so you shouldn’t be waiting too long before I can tell you more). My contribution is a story called ‘Secrets (Never Told)’, and I’ll tell you more about it when the book is announced.

Unannounced Anthology II – While the contract has been signed and the cheque cashed, it’s not my place to blow the gaffe on this one. I’ve dropped hints about it already, and the whole project fills me with childish glee. All I’ll say at the moment is that my story in the book is called ‘Lonely’, and the book is being released in July this year. That’s it.

Dark Wisdom magazine – I’m assuming this issue of the (superb) US horror magazine will see print in 2008, as I have a story pencilled in for issue 14, and they’re on issue 11 at the moment. As well as being able to order a copy online, the magazine is also distributed in the US through Borders and B&N, so you will have no excuse for not grabbing the issue when it arrives. The story in question is called ‘Mopleoli’, and is going to make more demands on you than you’re used to…

All of which is not a bad way to be going into a New Year, and I hope to have added to the list by the time we stumble upon the next Christmas.

Anthology of original short stories, including The Biting Season by Richard Wright (Black Death Books, due late 2007).

Pre-Order from the following stores:

Black Death Books