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Lately I’ve been working on the press release for A Dirge for the Temporal. Press releases are a pain in the neck to write. Thank god Darren is coming to Horrorfind otherwise I would have absolutely nothing to put in the release since you’re only supposed to put ‘news’ not flowery descriptions of the book….

We ordered our tickets for the HWA convention and the Bram Stoker award banquet yesterday. I’ve never been before so it should be a lot of fun. I wish we were able to go for the whole weekend but we just don’t have the funds for that. I’ve finally worked up a banner for RDSP…

Today I’ve been working on a little icon to use between breaks inEverybody Scream!. The book is set at the Punktown Fair so at first I wanted to do a roller coaster. But that didn’t work out so it looks like it will be a Ferris Wheel. I know I’m spending too much time on…

Forgot to mention that I rearranged the RDSP site over the weekend. It doesn’t look too different but now that we’ve got more than a couple titles out I wanted to showcase the books more. In the good news category: 100 Jolts got onto the Shocklines bestseller list this week and it looks like Feoamante.com…

Yesterday we participated in a really cool event as part of the Bethesda Literary Festival. It was a poetry reading put on by the Lit Kicks literary community at the Gallery Neptune in downtown Bethesda, MD. The theme of the show at the gallery was Curious George and the icons of our youth. I thought…

The chat last night went *really* well. A lot of people came by although we did hear from some people whose computers couldn’t handle the Java program so they couldn’t get in. I didn’t get to participate but I did read over John’s shoulder and it seemed like everyone was having a good time. It…

It’s pretty cool that three of the contributors from SICK are on the final ballot for the Stoker this year. Of course it would be even more cool to publish a book that was nominated for the Stoker but we’ll take whatever we can get! We bought an ad in the program to congratulate Michael…

Things really seem to be taking off for the press. We’ve been working non-stop since WHC trying to take advantage of all the opportunities coming our way. All the basic details have been hammered out for a project with an award-winning editor though it will be awhile before we get a contract inked so I…

OK, are you tired of hearing about cons yet? Well this wasn’t really a con but a book signing we went to on Saturday in Northern Virginia arranged by Matt Warner. We got there late but it looked like a very successful event including authors Brian Keene, F. Paul Wilson, Douglas Winter, L. Marie Wood,…

The main purpose for attending a con is to meet people and we sure met a lot of them. Between the two of us John and I covered a lot of ground. Some people John had met at last year’s conference, most were new to me. I can’t possibly write about them all but I…

posted by rdsp After participating in seven conferences/conventions in less than two years we have perfected our technique. Using the following methodical approach will maximize your exposure, profitability, and overall effectiveness at “cons.” – If you are a writer, editor, or other industry professional, the con is a business trip. That said, it only works…

There is no doubt in my mind that the best part of the con was being next to Dave Barnett from Necro Publications and Jeremy Lassen fromNightshade Books in the dealers room. Plus Matt Schwartz fromShocklines often stopped by. Not only are these guys extremely nice and helpful but they really know what they’re doing…

One of the best things that came out of WHC was that 4 bookstores were interested in stocking our books. John spoke with Borderlands Books in San Francisco and gave them a copy of 100 Jolts. They said they would contact us once they got back so we hope to hear from them soon. Del…

Well I was going to write more about WHC but I’ve been so busy with follow-up for the con that I can’t keep track of my own nose. I’ve posted a con report and pictures here. But my favorite is this one which is also on the front page: And before you ask, yes I…

Got back from WHC pretty late last night. What in the world made me think I could show up to work bright and early Monday morning? The con was fabulous and exhausting. We still have to total up everything and I know there won’t be a profit due to the cost of the trip but…

Just got word that Mike Arnzen will be reading at WHC on Thursday afternoon so that’s a blessing. The curse of it is that the copies we ordered for 100 Jolts won’t arrive until Friday! Luckily Mike has agreed to bring some copies with him and we’re going to jam a few more books in…

We finally heard back from the programming guy for WHC and John WILL be doing a reading Saturday 10:00-10:30 am. I think he plans on doing a bit out of the new Psych Noir chapbook along with some dark poetry. He’ll also be representing RDSP on the Small Press Nuts and Bolts panel Friday afternoon…

Well, we’ve received some good news. Final nominees for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Horror are posted. You can check out the details by going to http://www.horror.org/stokerballots.htm Several RDSP authors have been shortlisted for this award, including: + Monstrocity by Jeffrey Thomas (Prime Books) for First Novel + Gorelets: Unpleasant Poems by…

Although the printer really put us through a grinder over Bare Bone #5the final product is quite magnificent. The cover is beautiful to behold and all the extra work Donihe did on the layout really paid off in improved readability for the interior. The planning for WHC continues but it’s been very frustrating dealing with…

A Dirge for the Temporal is on the Shocklines advance orders bestseller list this week! Plans are being made for WHC. The 100 Jolts debut will be Saturday afternoon and RDSP will be hosting a party in the hospitality suite on Saturday evening. Arnzen sent another great review for 100 Jolts. I never get tired…

Seems like everything is odds and ends these days. I’ve been putting on the final touches for the April issue of The Dream People. Arnzen even sent some new flash to be included which is cool because I figured we’d just have to link to some samples from 100 Jolts. Had a few short conversations…

Finally they say the proof has gone out for Bare Bone #5. My fingers are crossed that Kevin won’t find anything wrong with it and we’ll be able to put in an order for the books soon. John will be attending the Associated Writing Programs conference this week in Chicago. He’ll be showing the RDSP…

posted by rdsp I invested the better part of a week on the Associated Writing Programs annual conference, held this year in Chicago. How did it go? Let’s say Chi-Town was good to the Raw Dog. I met many other publishers, editors, and authors, plus a slew of the professors and graduate students who embody…

I just found out that my article on Gypsy magic is going to published in Dark Realms issue #14. It’s been a bit of a wait but I’m really psyched that it’s going to see print after all. Also we’ll have plenty of Dark Realms magazines with us to sell at WHC and a cool…

posted by rdsp Now that you are armed with a handy-dandy press release, it’s time to put it to use. Your promo package will include the following: —press release —product, often with a sticker reading PROMOTIONAL COPY and including publisher info and release date —something extra that stands out, such as bookmarks or a catalog…