SNM Horror Magazine
If You Build A Mausoleum...The Dead Will Come!
Welcome to the SNM Site Info and Awards Page
Preditors & Editors Nomination Polls for 2009
Thanks to you guys, SNM Horror Mag has finished #2 on the Preditor's Polls for Best Online Horror Magazine of 2009! We are proud to place second of 60 nominated magazines, even though we started out in 1st. Thank you for making it happen! We actually prefer silver to gold!
We were also nominated for Best Horror Anthology of the Year in 2009, even though the release was technically slated for 2010. We've climbed all the way from 22nd place to a respectable # 6! We also had 3 of 6 nominated authors finish in the top 15 best!
SNM Monthly News Bulletins
SNM Mag makes its harrowing debut in May 2008!
SNM introduces a new section called SNM Goth Girls, dedicated to a dark art of alternative models Aug 08.
SNM Mag presents debut anthology: Bonded By Blood available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble Oct 08
SNM Mag went live on blogtalk radio with Lesa Trapp, Nov 08.
SNM Mag rated #2 online horror magazine of 2008, Dec 2008.
New staff author interviewer, Kasandora Lilith in Feb 09.
SNM Mag exclusive interview with Director George A. Romero from our March to the Kingdom of the dead issue, March 2009.
SNM Mag breaks over 10,000 visits the site as of April 2009.
SNM Mag’s official one year anniversary in May of 2009!
James Cheetham, winner of SNM Author of the Year Award 08.
SNM July issue has record breaking month of 2,711 visits!
Bonus issue with 50% more content and 12 featured stories in our August 09 issue with exclusive new film director interview.
New SNM staff editor for our SNM Dark Poetry section hosted by Theresa Newbill, now live on its own link, October 2009.
SNM Mag recognized as the #1 online horror magazine of 2009 published by Stark Raven Press/Macabre Cadaver Nov 2009!
Bonded By Blood II will be pre-released in December of 2009. 20 stories selected. Only the top Stories of the Month are featured!
January 2010:
SNM Horror Mag nominated on Preditors & Editors for the best online horror magazine of 2009 along with a nomination for best horror anthology of 2009 with Bonded By Blood II: A Romance in Red. We also had 6 SNM nominated authors for best horror short story, of which 3 authors placed in the top 15.
Brett Graham, winner of SNM Author of the year award 2009.
New thrillogy novella collaborative with Brett Matthew Graham and Senior Editor Steven Marshall, coming soon in spring 2010!
February 2010:
SNM welcomes aboard new assistant editor and administrator, Suzie Bradshaw to team SNM for editing, admin and promotion
SNM has 30,000 unique website hits from visitors worldwide!
SNM Mag releases Bonded By Blood II out on Amazon Kindle.
SNM bids a fond farewell to Dark Poetry Editor Theresa Newbill and thanks her for everything. Kerry Morgan to replace her.
SNM Horror Mag Site and Publication Awards
Duotrope Digest has listed SNM Horror Mag among the top 25 most approachable and personable fiction sites. The listings of percentages are only those reported by some of the authors as our actual acceptance rate avg per story submitted is 1 in 8. *These are the sites with the highest percent acceptance rates:
Most approachable and personable markets. Author's feedback:
1. Weirdyear (96.67 %)
2. Static Movement (92.16 %)
3. MicroHorror (85.71 %)
4. Daily Flash: 365 Days of Flash Fiction (83.33 %)
5. Flashes In The Dark (81.97 %)
6. New Flesh, The (78.85 %)
7. 50 to 1 (78.57 %)
8. Flashshot (73.53 %)
9. Six Sentences (67.74 %)
10. Bewildering Stories (66.67 %)
11. Metazen (64.44 %)
12. House of Horror (63.16 %)
13. Thaumatrope (61.9 %)
14. PicFic (58.18 %)
15. Twisted Tongue TEMP CLOSED (55.56 %)
16. Shine Journal, The (53.66 %)
17. Legendary, The (50.82 %)
18. Fifty-Two Stitches TEMP CLOSED (48.72 %)
19. Everyday Weirdness (46.67 %)
20. SNM Horror Magazine (45.25 %)
21. Lorelei Signal, The (41.18 %)
22. Golden Visions Magazine (41.07 %)
23. Residential Aliens (37.5 %)
24. Northville Review, The TEMP CLOSED (34.38 %)
25. Emprise Review (33.33 %)
The Top 10 Free Online Horror Magazines of 2009
This just in: an article published by Stark Raven Press and Macabre Cadaver. SNM placed #1 independently.
Just in time for Halloween...
We have gathered together the top 10 online magazines that publish horror, sci-fi, and dark fantasy stories that you can read for free. The only criteria is that the magazines have fiction that can be read free of charge and that it contains an element of speculative fiction. Although Weird Tales does charge a fee for their print issues, they do offer free fiction, so...they made the list. Each of these online magazines differs in their content and quality but they are arguably some of the best available on the web; they are all devoted to the genre and serious about what they do. This is the best list for 2009. So if you're looking for some good Halloween reading with no strings attached...click the links below.
1. SNM Horror Magazine
http://www.snmhorrormag.com
2. Weird Tales
http://www.weirdtales.net
3. Horrorbound Online Magazine
http://www.horrorbound.com/news.php
4. The Absent
http://absentwillowreview.com
5. Yellow Mama
http://blackpetalsks.tripod.com/yellowmama/index.html
6. The Three Lobed Burning Eye
http://www.owlsoup.com/3LBE/index.html
7. Aphelion
http://www.aphelion-webzine.com
8, Clarkesworld
http://clarkesworldmagazine.com
9. Flashes In The Dark
http://flashesinthedark.com
10. Alien Skin
http://www.alienskinmag.com/main.htm
*These sources referenced from Duotrope, Ralan and Preditors & Editors Directories. They are based on the e-zine’s published content, graphics, and navigation of site.
Published by Stark Raven Press LLC. Online Magazine ISSN 1942-8693
Top 10 Publishers by Associated Content for 2008
Best Online Horror Fiction Magazines of 2008
Just in Time for Halloween!
The onset of autumn stirs notions of changing leaves, back to school, and pumpkins. The cooler weather keeps more people indoors, and chilly nights offer opportunities for sitting around a campfire and telling ghost stories. Or if the warmth of the indoors is more your speed, and sitting at your computer with the lights off proves just as terrifying, check out these online horror magazines. All of them offer free fiction in the horror category, as well as other tasty nuggets you'll be chewing on well into the Halloween season.
1. HorrorBound Magazine, http://www.horrorbound.com/, not only offers horror fiction by authors such as Michael Panish and P.S. Gifford. Interviews, art, poetry and book reviews, all relating to the horror genre are published on the site which is updated on a regular basis. They also offer an extensive horror art section with some truly disturbing images.
2. SNM Horror Magazine, www.snmhorrormag.com, publishes eight new stories each month on the first day of every month. Their tagline is: "Welcome Home to the Mausoleum...where the Dead come to play!" Some of the authors include: Jeanna Tendean, James Cheetham, Ben Eads and Jason Keene. Their next issue is entitled: Halloween Screams. They also offer "Crystals Reviews," reviews and interviews by owner Crystal Adkins and an uncommon feature, SNM Goth Covergirls; a theme meant purely to express the art of Gothica with models within the pages of SNM as well as a special page for Goth poets and Goth artists as well as writer’s resources, games, videos and a reader’s guestbook. Top quality writing content.
3. Tales from the Moonlit Path, http://www.moonlit-path.com, publishes quarterly and is set to publish a Halloween issue, as it does annually. Moonlit Path offers stories in the horror genre but also speculative fiction as well (think Twilight Zone), as well as book and movie reviews. Dark poetry is overseen by editor and author Terrie Leigh Relf. Articles relating to the horror field are also published, as well as themes from issue to issue.
4. Down in the Cellar Mag, http://www.downinthecellar.com/index.php, features stories by Ken Goldman (a prolific author among the small presses and ezines), Eric S. Brown (prolific as well), and Malon Edwards. They offer up book reviews and reviews of movies such as The Strangers, The Ruins, and The Eye. Surely there is enough dark fiction here to be found to satisfy your Halloween needs.
5. Fear and Trembling, http://www.fearandtremblingmag.com, "Stories from the Shadowscape" is a site dedicated to Christian-friendly horror. It offers stories by folks such as G.W. Thomas, Mike Guentherman and Mike Turan. They offer interviews of horror authors and poets, as well as horror poetry. The ezine is updated twice a week which is surely often enough to satisfy even the most restless reader.
6. The Harrow, http://www.theharrow.com/, "Original Works of Fantasy and Horror" is a journal style ezine with fiction by Scott P. Baron, Lee Mather and Gary W. Dickey. Also features book reviews and their own line of anthologies (for traditional print readers!).
7. Hub Magazine, http://www.hub-mag.co.uk/, offers a plea to its readers for a donation for the writers, however it is free if you wish. Hub claims to be one of the fastest growing ezines in the world, and is delivered directly to your inbox on a weekly basis. Some of their published authors include Joe Hill, Paul Cornell and Christopher Golden. There are a ton of gems on this including some categories like commentary, competitions, editorials. They have a link for podcasts including "Pseudopod" a horror podcast. If you are unfamiliar with podcasts, they are basically like books on tape only for your computer. You must subscribe, of course, to be sent your weekly deliveries, but was made available to folks with PDA's and Mobi Pocket Readers.
8. Killer Works, http://www.killer-works.com/, offers some horror fiction, and a lot of interestingly bizarre horror articles. Spotlighted now is a mixed media artist named Julia Hepburn whose art is dark and mysterious. Killer Works runs a star with a bevy of horror
9. Chi-Zine, (Chiaroscuro Magazine,) http://www.chizine.com/ is a flashy, aesthetically pleasing ezine ready to fill your pillowcase with all sorts of Halloween goodies. Film reviews, book reviews, horror columns, editorials, interviews, a forum and fiction by Colleen Anderson, Richard Larson and Leslie Claire Walker to name just a few. They are the winner of the 2000 Bram Stoker Award and have their own line of horror publications, "ChiZine Publications." Halloween night would not be complete without a stop at this house.
10. Gothic.net, http://www.gothic.net/ has an overloaded index page but once you've found what you're looking for, you won't be disappointed. Exceptionally well-written poetry and fiction and its own boards populated by the Gothic community. If you're into goth, this is the place to be. This site used to be a require payment to read their fiction (which should give you an idea as to the level of quality they publish) but scrubbed that requirement (probably due to either the abundance of other quality horror fiction on other sites, and the success of google ads) and is now free for the viewing. You'll feel decidedly vamp when you visit this site, so prepare your costume early, and go scare a neighbor or two!
Here is a recap in order of placement based on written content, site navigation and graphics:
1. Horrorbound Magazine
2. SNM Horror Magazine
3. Tales From Moonlight Path
4. Down in the Cellar Magazine
5. Fear and Trembling Magazine
6. The
7. Hub Magazine
8. Killer Works Magazine
9. Chizine Magazine
10. Gothic.net Magazine
Duotrope Digest Interview with: SNM Horror Magazine
Steven Marshall - Senior Editor / Moderator
Q: Describe what you publish in 25 words or less.
A: Horror / Dark Fiction Themed Magazine 2,000-5,000 words.
Q. Who are your favorite fiction writers?A: Personally, I like Liquid Imagination, Pandora's Imagination, Demon Vampire Horror, Horrorbound Mag and Weird Tales as far as online magazines. I also visit the Dark Fiction Guild Forum to network. That's enough variety of places I visit monthly with the little spare I have when I'm not reviewing subs for SNM Horror Mag.
A: Edgar Allen Poe, Lovecraft, Frederick Neitcsche, Salmon Rushdie, Clive Barker, Thomas Ligoitti, (for wordsmith visionaries.) For storytelling writers: Dean Koontz, David Morrell, John Saul, Stephen King. For newcomers in horror and dark fiction, I'd have to say, James Cheetham, Brett Matthew Graham, Elizadeth Hetherington, Teri A. Jacobs, Laura Bickle, Jeanne Tendean, Wendy Brewer, Jason Keene, Laurie Doyle, Joel Peterson, Travis James and John Arthur Miller.
A: We are a monthly publication of the most unique and diverse horror and dark fiction of newcomers. Our stories are selected by all the editors choices, not just mine just because I own the mag. It's based on the merits of the writing and how closely they follow the monthly themes we have in advance for the year. The stories are selected by the editors after I remove the names so there are no favorites. The editors don't know if the author is new or previously published by SNM, male or female, established or a newbie. We also host a dark poetry section and Goth Girls section dedicated to the art of dark alternative models. These and our writer's resources, and quality of the fiction we publish is what I believe is what earned us 2nd place of 100 fiction magazine publishers of all genres for 2009 on the Preditors & Editors award polls by readers. We also host paying contests for authors and publish royalty paying, paperback print anthologies. And we never charge fees of any kind to authors and provide customized quality feedback on each story even if we pass on it. We work very closely with our authors on editing & workshopping accepted stories.
A: First, do not send generic submissions, see our theme calendar and submit for the month that your story fits or better write a custom piece for the said theme. We want fresh, original stories with unique angles, not the recycled rejects or older outdated material. By writing fresh, it forces the author out of their comfort zone and allows them to channel their energy into new material and allows new creativity to flow through their thoughts. We have seen all of the vampire, werewolf, zombie and serial killer stories. Create your own new monsters! We are redefining the very face of horror with integrity and blend both storytelling and wordsmith visionary stories onto a platform that is making SNM Mag the modern day version of Poesque / Lovecraftian writing sanctuary for today's horror / dark fiction generation. We only accept stories between 2,000-5000 words, (50-300 for Dark Poetry) and your story must have the month you are submitting for in the subject of the email. No incomplete stories, excerpts from novels, fan fiction, and do not send us stories containing animal abuse! Make sure at least one person has proofread your work before submitting to us for both grammar and punctuation as well as contextual plot elements and proper formatting. Please read the guidelines fully.
A: We look for proper grammar and text, spelling and punctuation for starters. Content wise we truly want something that will darken one's daydreams and yet illuminate their nightmares; horror so suggestive one is grateful it's kept offstage. Remember, Horror is whatever doesn't go away when you close your eyes, so create a unique setting and drive the plot but also have a surprise twist ending people don't see coming. We want stories people will remember long after they go to bed and turn out the lights that combine true elements of horror that lament the soul, not just gore and violence for the sake of splattering. Give it a voice and life of its own where the story writes itself and possesses the author as its willing, but unknowing catalyst channeling their energy by unseen forces, whether natural or supernatural. Big names authors are already established, we want the new blood that will shape the future of horror and we best base that on the merits of good storytelling and writting alone.
Q: What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?
Q: How much do you want to know about the author submitting to you?A: The monthly theme and the formatting. We only accept stories in a Word Doc or Rich Text File, not in the body of an email EXCEPT for our dark poetry which only accepts in the body of an email. We ask for all of our submissions to be single spaced with one space after the period. Make sure the subject has the month you are submitting for in the subject of the email. No bios are necessary until we decide that we are publishing it. Do not send us submissions that are not intended for one of our monthly themes. You may submit at any point of the year for our upcoming themes in advance but we only review 40 days ahead.
Q: How much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?A: If they want to sell us on the idea of the story and why they think its a good fit for SNM Mag, fine. Publishing history and backgrounds are irrelevant at this stage since the editors never know the author who is submitting. We rank all the stories collectively based on the merits of the writing, how closely they follow the monthly theme and also how unique and original the story is; the way a true publication that seeks only the best should be, without playing the favorites game on bigger authors. Strictly on writing.
A: The first and last page is stage 1 to see if it will fit our hosted theme, (as well as the word count.) Then stage 2 looks for proper grammar and punctuation and paragraphing. Finally, Stage 3 if they made it that far gets read from the beginning to end. We have a criteria that it has to have a dark sense of fictional escapism -- that it doesn't read too autobiographical and depressing for personal agony's sake. That it is not just self-indulgent and done for the author's ego. that it has some universal message that both readers and writers can relate to. That it leaves a haunting residue in the reader's mind and makes them think and challenge how they view things. That it has a flow and continuity and comes full circle. Open ended and suggestive is good as long as the story resolves all its dilemmas and doesn't have a Chekov's Gun where certain elements are introduced for shock value then never mentioned again at the end. Show us don't tell
Q: What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go though before it is accepted?
A: Does it have a mental foreplay and stand out in the reader's mind and lament the soul? Is it horror or Dark Fiction? Does it need editing and/or rewrites?
Q: What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?
A: We average about 60 submissions per month and have a full editorial team to read and review subs, so my job is sifting through the slush pile before getting to the appropriate desk and determine if it is, well, inappropriate in our case that other venues would dare not publish it. I try to maintain a good balance of reviewing and editing subs, then we workshop stories contextually with the author if it's needed, then, as moderator I have to upload the top 8 of 60 stories we select with graphics and the correct formatting. I also have to maintain the guestbook, deal with promotion and publicity, reply to all subs and inquiries as well as track sales for our annual print anthologies, whilst preparing the next one which features only the top 2 stories of the month. Then I find time to do my own writing or collaborating with another author on either a novel or short story. I have personally reviewed and edited over 2,000 author subs and have 15 years of a dedicated, tireless addiction to perfection. Then when time allows, I visit the other aforementioned e-zines.
Q: How important do you feel it is for publishers to embrace modern technologies?
A: Only as long as we have a planet that will sustain said technology. I'm sure that people would find a way to scribe and create with stone and chisel should a nuclear devastation interrupt the convenience of manmade technology, and books require only to still remain intact to be read. It's nice to have new modern day conveniences to offer a variety of preference like ebooks and Ipads and such, and also the submission process as well, as online submissions is much easier than snail mail, the old fashioned way to submit. So the modern day conveniences have almost become mandatory standards to time constrictions. There is still something to be said about the feel and smell of a paperback copy in hand & reading the old-fashioned way. So, only as we have a sustainable planet with enough oil and electricity to support said technology do we have the choice of the luxury of technology. That's my story...and I'm sticking to it.
—Steven Nicholas Marshall (SNM), Senior Editor/ Content Moderator, conducted on July 13th, 2010
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Featured Author Roster of SNM Horror Magazine
May June July
Jeanna Tendean* Teri Jacobs Jason Keene* Jade Eckert Jason Keene Mari Mitchell Anthony Bernstein Ben Eads Jessica Penot Daniel Bachleda Wayne Summer Ken Kupstis Alistair Canlin Laura Bickle* Jeanna Tendean Joshua Thays Jon Bautz Alan Draven Jimmy Gillentine Shawn Oetzel Stephen Patrick Steven Marshall Norman Rubin James Cheetham
August September October
Charlotte Gledson* Jeanna Tendean Alison Pearce Jade Eckert E. Hetherington Allison Rogers Tamara Wilhite Wendy Brewer Tonia Brown Norman Rubin Ron Ebner L.B. Goddard James Cheetham James Cheetham* Dianna Street* Jim Kelley Jason Lavertue E. Hetherington Jim Daly Mary Ann Loesch Barbara Bates Wendy Brewer Sheldon Higdon Joel Peterson
November December January
Doug McIntire Jen Conley* Allison Rogers* Michelle Howarth Ollie Haney Jade Eckert Joel Peterson Sigrid MacDonald Ken Kupstis Rachel Zellers Myrrym Davies Ron Ebner Travis James* E. Hetherington Pavelle Wesser Laura Bickle Sean O'Connor Barbara Bates Justin Holley Gavin Wainwright Doug McIntire John Grover Brian Johnpeer Jessica Penot
February March April
A.J. Brown Johnny Dorsey J.C. Lira* Damian Newton Garry Charles John Leonard Stacy Bolli Eric Brown Ryan Dailey Sherry Decker Joseph Mulak Dave Rex E. Hetherington* Kelli Meyer* A.J. Brown Dianna Street Tyler Hardin E. Hetherington Johnny Dorsey Killian Lang Suzie Bradshaw Ted McAuley Lisa Clausen Alison Pearce
May June July
Joel Peterson Catherine Graham Liza Sanzalone Hayley Bernard Matthew Lowes Kerry Morgan Pavelle Wesser Derek Hayes Stacy Bolli Leo Rogers Phillip Roberts Brian Johnpeer Jack Burton* A.R. Braun* Brett Graham* Jade Eckert John Grover Daniel Fabiani Marquis Dufek Carole Gill Stephen Roberts Steven Marshall G.A. Buchholz Shells Walter
August September October
A.R. Braun Theresa Newbill A.J. Brown Jason Brock Daniel Fabiani Lisa Strong Sara Tribble Brett Graham Hayley Bernard Ken Goldman E. Hetherington Jack Burton Brian Johnpeer* Nate Burleigh Kay Jakabs Suzie Bradshaw Jim Daly A.R. Braun Kevin Mackey Robert Nicholas Nate Burleigh Josh Ludeker Adrian Ludens* Stacy Bolli*
November December January
Brett Graham Stephen Roberts James Cheetham Paula Ray Bruce Memblatt Travis James Richard Marsden Anthony Castro A.J. Brown Nathaniel Johnson G. Allen Wilbanks Jen Conley Liz Strange* Brian Johnpeer* E. Hetherington Daniel Fabiani Lisa Strong Nate Burleigh Danny Rider Eric Grawe Allison Rogers Robert Nicholas Ray Prew Suzie Bradshaw*
February March April
Sierra Brown Adrian Ludens Ryan Sayles Paula Ray John Barnes E. Hetherington Daniel Fabiani Curt Jeffreys P.S. Gifford Kerry Morgan Travis Gates Effie Collins Leo Rogers Carole Gill* John Barnes* A.J. Brown John Arthur Miller Trevor Donaldson Joel Peterson Paul Mannering Diane Dooley Trevor Donaldson* Norman Rubin Richard Weir
May June July
Alex Rios Andrew Black Tamara Wilhite Indy McDaniel Quentin Rood Jade Eckert Trevor Donaldson Amanda Larson Draven Ames Neil Colquhoun Indy McDaniel Lauie Doyle Paul Johnson* John Arthur Miller* Indy McDaniel William Chalupiak Laurie Doyle Cynthia Witherspoon J.B. Christopher Thomas Scopel Trevor Donaldson Steven Marshall Richard Weir Kevin McClintock*
*More author names will be added to the roster in September. Keep checking i monthly on this page for more news bulletins.
2009 SNM Horror Author of the Year Award
Presented to:
Brett Matthew Graham
For Outstanding Literary Achievement
3 Time Top Placer In SNM Horror Magazine
*New Breakthrough Author of the Year!
2008 SNM Horror Author of the Year Award
Presented to:
James Cheetham
For Outstanding Literary Achievement
*As chosen by our 2008 SNM Reader's Votes
Meet the 2008 SNM Horror Author of the Year. This writer truly personifies the darkness of the human heart. Some may classify his work as dark fiction over horror, but this is just a recently categorized classification of the new generation. When it comes to multilayered twists that unravel like a tapestry of terror, Cheetham captures raw human emotion with some good in-depth character development. James has enough universal appeal to be a top bestseller in the horror & DF genre. Concisely written and totally absorbing the reader into turning the next page, he has had not one but two SNM Stories of the Month with "Bumper Shine" and "The Wilting May Flowers." James also appears in both the SNM Anthologies. He is the co-creator of the Dark Fiction Guild, a newer horror forum for writers and editors to share stories, opinions and ideas. He hails from
www.myspace.com/jamescheetham
James Cheetham
