In Mint Condition: 2014

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

Is there poetry in this one? Whats the breakdown? Stories vs. Poems.

[George at C-Springs]

Congrats Browning/Jean!

Glad to be involved in this book. By my count, there are 4 of the previous authors in the second book? Is that correct? I did not expect to be accepted this time. Thank you.

I count six ... Hannah, David, Krystle, Jean, Jeremy, and Thomas. Just curious, as I don't know everyone's real name vs avatar name; how many of the 2014 authors are members of TDT? And who are they, so we can say congratulations!

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

I am Jeremy Gooch.

[Jean]

[Meagan J]

Congrats everyone! and Happy New Year!

[divemaster]

I'm David Swearingen, and thrilled to be a part of the second installation of In Mint Condition. I've only written two stories in my life and, well, I've surprised myself by both of them making the cut.

[Shannon]

There are six returning authors from the first edition. I can't mention who is or isn't a member of the website, as it's up to them to reveal themselves.

The breakdown is 0 poems and 18 short stories. The poems this year just didn't wow any of us, unfortunately. But maybe it's for the best. We'll see.

We received quite a lot of short stories and poems (not included in the 133 final submission count) that were already published online or in print, so that might be a reason for the nonexistent poem count as well.

And one more note, this should go without saying, but Hannah (our lovely assistant editor) wasn't allowed to vote on Aaron Max Jensen's or her own story due to conflict of interest, only Amber and I were, so ... there's that.

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

Well Tabula Rasa was in my top two for the last book, so I am sure Hannah's is superb.

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

Are you going to try to do one piece of art per story again?

[George at C-Springs]

Are you going to try to do one piece of art per story again?

Hope so, the art really added to the stories and made the book pop!

The breakdown is 0 poems and 18 short stories. The poems this year just didn't wow any of us, unfortunately. But maybe it's for the best. We'll see.

You know, I've never been a fan of poems at all, so even though I submitted a quasi-poem (my rejected one) I can't say I'm disappointed that it will only be short stories. Love short stories!

There are six returning authors from the first edition. I can't mention who is or isn't a member of the website, as it's up to them to reveal themselves.

Hope they do! I'm G. Howell White, "Slice" is mine.

[Hannah]

Congrats to everyone! I had such a wonderful time reading all of the submissions. I feel lucky that I got to be a part of the process.

[biomieg]

Congrats everyone! I bailed out of submitting stories and artwork for both 2013 and 2014 but I'm definitely going to do something for the 2015 edition! Even if I'm not a native English speaker (and writer!)... Jean did it, so....

[Shannon]

Well if Jean can do it ...

Yes, each story will be illustrated.

[biomieg]

And Ari of course!!!

[Br!an]

Congratulations everyone.

I better get to writing if I want to be included next year!

[fernandito]

Congratulations to everyone, truly. Even though I wasn't a part of this one I brag to everyone I know that you guys were able to come together and pull this off. Can't wait to get my copy and experience the epicness for myself.

[Shannon]

And now two things will be happening at once:

1) On the short story side: The editors and I will be working with the authors on proofreading and polishing their short stories.

and

2) On the artwork side: The artist search continues until we have eighteen total (twenty if two of our artists can't pull double duty with the covers), and we will be matching up stories with artists and they will start working their magic.

**********

I guess it is time to start revealing the wonderful artists that have so graciously accepted to be a part of In Mint Condition: 2014. I have already revealed one, so here is a better look:

Artist Number One: Peter Deligdisch
Website

[George at C-Springs]

Very cool, I like that style of ink art ... I'm sure it's got a name, I don't know what it is, but I'd guess middle eastern pattern influences.

Hey Shannon, here's a question for you; do you plan on branching out to another form of publication such as a magazine (monthly, quarterly, whatever) where the artists and authors will be paid, or is the immediate plan to keep doing what you're doing with the annual anthologies?

If anthologies, any plan for a larger 'mainstream' distribution, such as Amazon (where putting it up as an e-book would not be a bad idea at all), Barnes & Noble, etc? Let's face it, every one of us aspiring writers want our stories to reach as many people as possible so that we get more interest, more readers, and eventually 'the call'. We want to go international, baby! (that should be done in a Dick Vitale voice, by the way)

[Shannon]

I love the detailed style of it. VERY interested to see what he will do with an actual subject matter. Excited.

I'm not at liberty to go into our plans too soon, but let's just say that a magazine is out of the question for the moment. Too many moving parts going all the time for just one guy. One day, I'd love to, Just not today. 2014 will be a year full of surprises from Ambannon Books.

All of our books will be available on amazon.com. IMC2013 will be there soon. IMC2013 has "gone international" and IMC2014 will as well.

George, my goal is to reach as many people as possible as well. It's a slow process.

What "call" are you looking for exactly?

[George at C-Springs]

I'm not at liberty to go into our plans too soon, but let's just say that a magazine is out of the question for the moment. Too many moving parts going all the time for just one guy. One day, I'd love to, Just not today. 2014 will be a year full of surprises from Ambannon Books.

All of our books will be available on amazon.com. IMC2013 will be there soon. IMC2013 has "gone international" and IMC2014 will as well.

Very cool! We like surprises too.

What "call" are you looking for exactly?

"Dear Mr/Ms (insert your name here),

We greatly enjoyed reading your story (insert your story title here) recently published in IMC 20XX, and would be interested in reading more of your original work with a goal of inclusion in our publication (insert your favorite one here)."

Yeah, I know it doesn't really work like that, but that's the dream!

[Shannon]

Your dream is to be included in another publication? I think I'm a little confused here, lol.

[George at C-Springs]

Your dream is to be included in another publication? I think I'm a little confused here, lol.

Well, after making Ambannon Books a household name and getting on as an assistant editor, of course ... that goes without saying! Can't get to publishing that magazine without a bigger staff!

[Shannon]

OK, how about this:

Dear Mr. White,

We greatly enjoyed reading your story ("Slice"), recently sent to us by ... you, and would be interested in reading more of your original work for publication in later anthologies ... and we will be publishing "Slice" in In Mint Condition: 2014.

Sincerely,
Shannon John
Ambannon Books, publisher
In Mint Condition: 2014, editor

Better? lol

[George at C-Springs]

OK, how about this:

Dear Mr. White,

We greatly enjoyed reading your story ("Slice"), recently sent to us by ... you, and would be interested in reading more of your original work for publication in later anthologies ... and we will be publishing "Slice" in In Mint Condition: 2014.

Sincerely,
Shannon John
Ambannon Books, publisher
In Mint Condition: 2014, editor

Better? lol

[Shannon]

Artist Number Two: Erik Wilson
Website