Update on Shadow People and Cursed Objects Anthology

Just wanted to post a quick update about the Shadow People and Cursed Objects anthology that we’re still accepting submissions for.

Submissions

Wow! The response to the call for submissions has far exceeded my expectations. I was hoping for as many as 10, but figured I’d be lucky to just get a few.

Well, after posting on a couple of large Facebook writer groups, I was delighted to receive 13 submissions in the first week!

However, they haven’t stopped coming in.

Duotrope

The last two days has seen a definite spike in submissions. I believe because somehow the antho made Duotrope’s radar and they added our listing to their site of their own volition. I didn’t even have to ask!

Talk about being blown away to get their email letting me know. I’m glad they sent it though. It explains where this new rush of submissions has come from.

Now we’re up to 25!

Which is both wonderful and awful. I haven’t read them all yet, but I’ve quickly glanced at all of them. There are some really good ones. It’s going to make my job harder, not easier.

(Why I thought more submissions was a good thing, I don’t know. I didn’t stop to think it could also be a curse. And not just for obvious reasons like reading them all, but what if I fall in love with them all? Not a good thing for someone who’s naturally indecisive!)

Excitement

The other thing I’ve been pleasantly surprised about it is how excited everyone’s been about the anthology. I’ve had the idea for Shadow People and Cursed Objects on my mind for a long, long time now, but…

Well, there are always buts, aren’t there?

• It’s a crazy idea.
• What if people don’t get it?
• What if people think it’s dumb?

I’m glad I stopped worrying about all of that and just put it out there.

This idea of making an interactive experience for the readers is something the writers have really embraced. They see the same fun/novelty/possibilities in it that I did when I first got the idea. Their enthusiasm is fueling my excitement.

The Cover

Although, I also can’t take away from the cover.

The “face” of a book is so important. I think the Shadow People and Cursed Objects cover has also helped get the writers excited too. It certainly has gotten a lot of compliments.

(Which just tickles me pink. I did not create it, but I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. I knew it was The One. It really is perfect and I couldn’t be more happy that others like it too.)

Encouragement

If you have anything you’re wanting to do but are battling your inner naysaying voices too, put on ear muffs. Ignore them. Pour gas on them and set them on fire. They need to be destroyed because even if they’re right, so what? Even if it doesn’t turn out like you might have expected, you’re going to learn something.

Failure isn’t permanent. Pick yourself up, brush yourself up, and try again. Just maybe not the exact same way you tried before. If you learn anything in life, learn that. (Boy, do I wish I’d learned that lesson and take it to heart sooner!)

However, good things also happen when you just go for “it” –whatever your “it” may be.

Like I’ve found with this anthology. I’m tickled pink people are hopping on board and wanting to be a part of it.

So put yourself out there. A “no” from someone else won’t kill you, but stifling your own self? Ugh. Don’t do it! Spread those wings and fly!

Or at least try.

Something to keep in mind: Birds have to learn to how to fly, too. They fall and stumble a lot before feeling the freedom of the wind in their feathers.