by Paula Gail Benson
I first saw a listing for Dragon Soul Press on the Short Mystery Fiction Society’s list serv. Because I thought the name was intriguing, I decided to investigate.
To some extent, Dragon Soul Press is a mystery. The editor credited for many of its anthologies is J.E. Feldman, whose Amazon author page has this bio:
“When not penning the next novel, J.E. Feldman focuses on mentoring authors and raising money for charity. The literature world is merely one facet of her life. Feldman haunts car shows, anime conventions, medieval fairs, and whatever else catches her attention. She enjoys road trips ripe with history, crocheting blankets for the homeless, and can be found reading in cramped bookstores.”
The Press’ website and Facebook page proclaim it a “traditional publisher” and list books and authors whose work the Press has released, although currently the Press is closed to novel submissions.
Duotrope.com contains the following description about Dragon Soul Press:
“Here, we strive to publish writers of all experience levels. Have you been given the run-around by almost every publisher? Are you a New York Times best-seller? All are welcome here. The ultimate question you may be asking is why choose us? The answer is simple. We have your best interests at heart. Dragon Soul Press is the publisher to either begin your career or to further the one you currently have. With a full team dedicated to your work, you are provided the resources you don’t have when self-publishing.”
On its home page, Dragon Soul Press provides this additional information:
“We work with both authors who have agents and those who represent themselves.
“As a traditional publisher, the author does not pay for
publication costs.
“Please feel free to explore the site for more information.
If you have any questions, please use the Contact
form.”
Under the link for Anthology Calls, Dragon Soul Press lists three categories: Short Stories, Poetry, and Drabble. Short Stories features monthly opportunities to be included in an anthology for tales of 3,000 to 15,000 or 20,000 words, each with a different broad theme such as vampires, horror, witches, Christmas, dragons, romance, and time travel. An anthology is published about three months after its submissions deadline. The Poetry call is for a volume with an April 30, 2024, deadline and June 2024 publication date. For Drabble, there are three calls with deadlines and publication dates over the next three years.
What
I found to be incredibly helpful was a link to Short Story Submission Guidelines, which basically
provides step-by-step instructions for writing the query email and preparing
the manuscript. The information is detailed and specific: the author bio must
be in third person and no more than 150 words; and the story must be formatted
in Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, single-spaced, with one inch margins and three
hash marks to indicate scene breaks. Authors have to list their website and
social media contacts in the query. Also included in the Guidelines is payment
information, rights reserved by the publisher, and the promise that: “All
authors will receive either acceptance or rejection within seven (7) days of
the anthology’s deadline.” The Grinder confirms that Dragon Soul Press
has 100% record of response to authors with acceptances (62.50%) and rejections
(37.50%) being received in an average of nine days.
Payment
is not high. In the first year after the publication date, authors share 30% of
the royalties. After the first year, 30% of all proceeds goes to a charity
selected by the publisher. Books are available through the Dragon Soul Press
website (including pre-orders) or Amazon.
Now,
finally, I must admit my personal experience. I submitted a story that has been
accepted for an upcoming anthology. I found responses to questions as well as
notification of the acceptance to be timely, prompt, and polite. I’m excited to
have found this publisher. The monthly story calls have produced a large
catalogue of books as well as offering themes to start inspiration flowing.
What small publishing houses have you found to be beneficial to writers?
Congratulations on having your short story accepted, Paula. When is the publication date?
ReplyDeleteInteresting! Congratulations on your story publication.
ReplyDeleteI placed a story with the diner noir anthology from Outcast Press.
The small presses offer opportunities to writers, especially those who don't have an agent.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, sometimes they are operated by overly ambitious people who don't have a firm grip on what it takes to succeed in this highly competitive field.
My first published was MUSA, which overextended itself and had to fold. Fortunately, it was run by people with professional standards and the rights were returned to all the authors with no problems (can be a major hassle if the publisher just stops communicating, which has been known to happen.)
My novel series is currently with Wildside, which works very well with authors. Unfortunately, such presses do not (cannot) have the reach major ones do.
Thanks for a new idea for a potential publisher. I love to write short stories, and am always looking for a "home" for them.
Congratulations on your story publication. Please share the pub date when you know it.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear more about your story publication, Paula. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the congratulations on the story acceptance! Many thanks also for recommendations about Outcast Press and Wildside.
ReplyDeleteMy story, currently titled "Crossfire in the Crosshairs," is to be included in Dragon Soul Press' anthology A Death in the Night. It's takes place during the pandemic and is about a single mother who cares for her pre-school daughter while working as an assassin.
Sorry, that should have been "It takes place during the pandemic . . ." The anthology is scheduled to be published in August 2023.
ReplyDelete