1 February 2006

Reading period re-open

Submissions welcome—please read the guidelines carefully.

27 September 2005

Reading period closing soon

Due to an influx of submissions, Shadowed Realms will be closed to all unsolicited submissions from 1 October 2005. The reading period will re-open as scheduled on 1 February 2006.

25 August 2005

Combining Communities
Message Board Officially Launched!

Finally! Another dream realised - a forum for the voice of our loyal readers. Thanks to the hard work and efforts of my ever reliable webmaster, Shane Jiraiya Cummings.

For readers and writers alike, the message board (see link in navigation cell) has been established to provide a place for lovers of dark fiction to hang out; discuss the Shadowed Realms stories and vote for them; chat to the editor, webmaster and authors; and discuss other publications and stories. While you're there, check out The Basement, a meeting place for the community at large. Shoot the breeze, fill the spittoon, set a challenge ... say or do what you wish - just play nicely.

Head on over, make yourself comfortable, and let your opinions flow. Tell us what you do and don't like about the stories in each issue. This is not our magazine, it's your magazine, it belongs to you, the reader - take this opportunity to tell us what you'd like to see more (or less) of.

22 August 2005

Submissions update

Due to a tremendous volume of submissions, our response times are considerably slower than normal.

Our apologies to all authors awaiting a response, unfortunately we are unable to give our usual detailed rejections during this backlog, but hope to return to our usual tradition once submissions are back on track.

Please be patient while we process these submissions, and keep checking back as this progress report will be continually updated. We're currently responding to those stories received in April and May.

1 August 2005

8  for  8

As of Issue 8, published in November, Shadowed Realms will increase our pay rate for writers to 8 cents/word.

The new pay rate will see Shadowed Realms recognised as a professional market by the SFWA and the Horror Writers Association.

Special Edition  -  Issue 9

Dedicated to Australia's own blackwidows—our ladies of dark fiction—this themed issue, affectionately dubbed the Redback Issue, will feature original femme fatale stories from the finest female writers in Australia. The impressive line up includes:

Recent Clarion South graduates—Susan Wardle and Deborah McDonnell.

Winner of a Tin Duck award, former editor of Andromeda Spaceways, and currently editing Ticonderoga Online—Lyn Battersby.

Acclaimed horror specialist—Kyla Ward.

Continuum3 chair and mistress of horror—Kirstyn McDermott.

Multiple-award winner for her artwork, editing, and writing, and editor of the Agog anthologies—Cat Sparks.

Ditmar and Aurealis award winner—Deborah Biancotti.

Multiple Aurealis award winner and author of The Grinding House—Kaaron Warren.

Author of the acclaimed novel, The Etched City, and winner of numerous awards—K J Bishop.

12 July 2005

Issue 6  -  Special Edition

Shaping up to be one helluva issue—along with the 3 AHWA Flash Fiction Competition Winners, we're thrilled to announce additional stories by prominent horror writers lending support to Richard Harland's 'crusade'. To be unveiled at Continuum3 this weekend! Online Tuesday 19 July.

Apologies to anyone inadvertently missed on personalised guest list, open invitation can be viewed here.

1 July 2005

Shadow Box e-anthology

Submissions are now open for the Shadow Box e-anthology. Full details are available here.

The debacle of Son of the Black Crusade

11 July 2005

For The Record

Far be it for me to cast aspersions against an author of Richard Harland's apparent reputation. However, I feel compelled to publicly respond to the excerpt from his email recently posted by my supporting editor Shane Jiraiya Cummings.

While I am appreciative of Mr Harland providing a new story to be published in our special 'AHWA competition' Issue 6 (can we really be sure he wrote it?), I do not appreciate his suggestion that my recent 'holiday' was shabby!

During my 'time away' my lodgings were sparse but comfortable. I was sat in front of a spotlight—for warmth. The windows were barred and the doors remained locked—for my own protection. These wonderful people think of everything! My hosts were nothing but courteous and attentive. Many a long night was spent engaged in meaningful conversation with people who are clear of vision and pure of heart.

My thoughts have been cleansed—I have been shown the error of my ways. It is so so clearly obvious that the illustrious Martin Smythe is the true author of The Black Crusade. Please I urge you all, obtain a copy of The Black Crusade, discover the truth for yourself! Join me in the light and denounce the false author ... Richard Harland!

Angela Challis, Editor.

10 July 2005 - Update

News we've been waiting to hear!

The e-waves have scorched with correspondence flying to and fro, and the outcome is red hot. Richard Harland contacted Shadowed Realms late last night:

"... concerned my unsolicited 'association' with my detractors contributed to Angela's abduction ... unfortunately all beyond my control ... I am aware of Vilewatch's insidious methods ... I am certain Angela's treatment would have been shabby to say the least ... I can now clearly see you're on my side and not in league with those despicable Vilewatchers ... I accept your apologies and your explanations, and agree to provide you with a new story for your next issue ..."

9 July 2005 - Update

Success! Vile undercovers uncovered!

At last, we've received a breakthrough on HOW they did it, as related to Richard Harland in an email earlier today:

"... evidence of remote access to our server, and from what the Federal Police have told us, those beady-eyed 'Vee that sees' symbols were found stuck on an unconscious technician at the Perth 'Internet backbone' facility. These Vilewatchers-turned-Vilebusters seem to have fractured the 'backbone' to infiltrate our server. I'm sure there's some 'virtual nerve damage' as well ..."

As a consequence of this information, our chances of securing an equally fine story from Richard Harland are good, we further explained:

"... a conspiracy beyond our wildest imaginings, clearly the vandalism of our site and your work was beyond even the strictest of security ... given the circumstances and our apologies, would you consent to offering a new unpublished story to appear in Issue 6 as we've asked? Think of our readers! ..."

More Soon!

7 July 2005 - Update

Vile Watchers relinquish!    Angela finally released!

For reasons known only to the Vilebusters, they have decided (perhaps due to our bureaucratic inundation) to release Angela, forfeiting the ransom in the bargain! The only condition of her release was my signed promise as interim Shadowed Realms editor to never attempt to publish writings by Martin Smythe under any other name. We're happy to comply—as far as Shadowed Realms is concerned, we'll have nothing to do with Martin Smythe ever again—what a tragic loss!

Angela appears unharmed but strangely euphoric. It must be some vile(watch) drug! Her condition leads us to speculate this may have something to do with her release ... or else she was just too dark and depraved for even Vilewatch to contain.

On to matters of equal importance ...

We've been corresponding with Mr. Harland hoping to negotiate an agreement he feels trustworthy. The excerpts below are taken from our email to Mr. Harland to demonstrate to our readers we are committed to bouncing back from the fallout of Vilewatch's extreme actions.

"... offer our sincerest apologies for the defacement and permanent loss of 'Son of the Black Crusade'... we'd be honoured if you would contribute another, less Vilewatch-antagonistic, story for our next issue—a special issue celebrating Shadowed Realms' first anniversary and the Australian Horror Writers Association flash fiction competition, to be launched at the Continuum3 convention in Melbourne on July 17 ..."

Mr. Harland has expressed concerns to us, which we're well on our way to improving. For our readers, here are some of his expressed sentiments:

"... this matter has deeply hurt and disappointed me ... was there nothing you could do to shield your computers against these Vilebusters?"

On the topic of providing us with a suitable original story for our special anniversary/AHWA issue, Richard stated:

"... I'll consider granting your request but only after you can assure me there are no Vilewatch agents secretly in your employ. This whole farce could have been an inside job you know!..."

6 July 2005 - Update

Horror writers Vilebusters!

Horror writers are uniting in a show of support for Shadowed Realms during our time of unjust persecution, and as a demonstration of their trust in Richard Harland and his right to legally claim The Black Crusade as his own work. Plagiarism simply won't be tolerated.

Following are excerpts from an email recently received from another of Australia's finest and most respected authors.

"... you have my sympathies for the abduction of your editor and the defacement of your magazine ... if Richard contributes a story, then you have my word as a representative of the [reference deleted to protect the author's identity from Vilewatch agents] you'll get one from me too..."

5 July 2005 - Update

Vilewatchers are NOT to be trusted at any cost!

In negotiating Angela's release, they have attempted to bamboozle us with red herrings, techno-babble, and accusations of "vileness" - whatever that means. In response, we've stated:

"... discolouration? What the hell IS a vilogrob anyway? I don't think we're on the same page here. We demand Angela's release..."

They in turn have chimed in about the ransom and an alleged statement from Angela:

"... have some of Harland's 'frightening sums of money' and more besides ... Vileness does not wait for government grants ... Ms Challis expresses anti-vileness ..."