ellen_datlow: (Default)
ellen_datlow ([personal profile] ellen_datlow) wrote2009-01-12 06:49 pm
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Status of YBFH #22 IMPORTANT

Further to Gavin and Kelly's post about Bad news about YBFH --yes the YBFH is no more but I'm delighted to announce that I've just been offered a two book deal with Night Shade to edit a Best of the Year in Horror anthology (not titled yet)--for this year and next...

The deal is not set in stone but there's no reason to believe it's not a "go."

So thank you Terri, Kelly, Gavin, and of course Jim Frenkel and Tom Canty for the many enjoyable years I've worked with you all on this massive project.

And here's a virtual toast to my new endeavor.

addition: I wrote the above off the cuff yesterday because I felt pressure to get something out but I'd like to add this.

Without Jim Frenkel, the series would haven't existed at all. It was his brainchild from the very first volume, to gather fantasy and horror short fiction in one place. He asked me and Terri Windling to co-edit such a book, she handling fantasy, me horror. We agreed and that's how it all began --Jim was the packager for all twenty-one years of the existence of the anthology.

added January 14:
Terri sums it all up most graciously and eloquently on her blog

[identity profile] j-cheney.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
Good luck with it! I hope they continue it past 2 years...

[identity profile] adsistla.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
Congrats and good luck!

[identity profile] livia-llewellyn.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
Congrats and also, to be quite honestly selfish, HOORAY!

[identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks! You're the first to respond :-) --if it does well enough, I presume they will. Our contract with St Martin's was only one year at a time so at least now I know I'm doing it this year and next. (or last year and this, depending on your pov!)

[identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
thanks adsistla and Livia --happy to make you happy but now I've got a hell of a lot of work to finish for this year's. aighhh.

[identity profile] johnjosephadams.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
Is it going to be a YBFH-sized book, but full of horror? Or will it be half YFBH, just the horror half you were already assembling?

[identity profile] jonathanstrahan.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
Wonderful news!!! I was sorry to hear about YBFH, but this is terrific! Welcome to the Night Shade clan :)

[identity profile] jtglover.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
Congratulations and good luck! The first YBFH I read (1 or 3) opened my eyes to whole new worlds of fantasy and horror. I look forward to seeing what comes next!

[identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
It's be 125,000 words of fiction so about 300 pages total. (the same as my half now--although if I cut some intro I may be able to squeeze in more fiction, which I'd like very much.

[identity profile] stephenbacon.co.uk (from livejournal.com) 2009-01-13 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
Glad to hear there's some hope on the horizon, Ellen. I guess the sales will have to pursuade NS to continue the series. I hope everyone embraces the books by buying them and helping to continue their future.

[identity profile] charlesatan.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
Yay to Datlow and Night Shade!

Will miss YBFH.

[identity profile] j-cheney.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:27 am (UTC)(link)
Ah, the joy of limited-but-still-there job security!

[identity profile] steve-vernon.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
Man, sad news, but I'm glad to hear you landed on your feet.

[identity profile] time-shark.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
Awesome, Ellen! Congratulations!

I'm glad to see you keep on keepin' on. :-D

[identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you Jonathan. To be fair, you know my cat reprint antho is with Night Shade, too :-)

[identity profile] ecmyers.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
Ai. Sorry to hear this is official. Twenty years is a pretty good run though :) Guess it's okay that I've been slacking on my reading?

[identity profile] ecmyers.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yes, and congratulations on the new project! Takes some of the edge off the bad news, I'm sure.

[identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you, JT. I hope to continue to open your eyes with the horror I pick.

[identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
Well, freelance anthology editing doesn't really provide any security whatsoever :-)

[identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you Charles, Steve, and Mike.

[identity profile] tithenai.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
I'm deeply sad to see YBFH go, but I'm glad to hear about this. Congratulations!

[identity profile] ellen-datlow.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks Eugene! See? Your work is still not done :-) You thought you'd get away, no?

(Anonymous) 2009-01-13 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
This marks the end of an era. I'll certainly miss those hefty treasure boxes. 21 volumes is quite an achievement, Ellen, and I'm relieved that the tradition will continue under Night Shade. I hope you'll be able to continue under the banner "The Year's Best Horror." (It's what I've always called the series for short, and I don't think it's taken.)
Best,
Tom English

[identity profile] lizziebelle.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
Aww, I've so enjoyed YBFH over the years. I'm glad you got a new gig, though! I look forward to reading it. Any news on a similar Fantasy anthology?

[identity profile] ecmyers.livejournal.com 2009-01-13 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah... I'm going to start catching up on this backlog :)

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