(no subject)

[desayunoencama]

The part I hate most about anthologies is filling out, printing, collating, addressing, and sending off all the contracts. Invariably, one or more authors haven't provided their address, or they've moved, or whatever. And even if I have all the details, it's just a lot of persnickety busy work. It's needs to get done, but I don't enjoy it. The worst was a pseudonymous poetry anthology I put together with over 60 contributors (gah!).

Now that everything's been added or cut from the final ms., I've just sent off the contracts for THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF NEW GAY EROTICA, forthcoming in May. A mere 32 contributors, although I didn't need to send myself a contract for my own piece.

At least the copyeditor said the manuscript was a joy to work on, it was so clean. (She especially liked the scottynola story: "It made me cry my eyes out.")

The ToC is long, so I'm putting it behind an LJ-cut, but for anyone who's interested, here's the line-up:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Shaun Levin
"A History of Noah, or How I Met My Boyfriend"

Michael Lassell
"Privacy, Please!"

Andy Quan
"The Best Sex Between Them"

Lawrence Schimel
"Independence"

Greg Herren
"Unsent"

Daniel M. Jaffe
"Bless the Blue Angel"

Tom Mendicino
"Eighty Bucks Plus Tip"

Paul Russell
"Daniel is Leaving Tonight on a Plane"

Robin Metcalfe
"Tying the Knot"

Trebor Healey
"Alaska"

Rick R. Reed
"The Dream People"

Alexander Chee
"13 Crimes Against Love, or, the Crow's Confession"

Jameson Currier
"Someone Like You"

Don Shewey
"Daddy Lover God"

Kirk Read
"Little Stevie"

David May
"Two Hearts"

D. Travers Scott
"Aegis"

Darieck Scott
"A Ho's Heiroglyphic"

Marshall Moore
"Certain Shades of Blue Look Green, Depending on the Light"

Edward M. Cohen
"Theme and Variations"

William J. Mann
"Divide & Conquer"

Andrew Holleran
"The Bureaucrat"

Chaz Brenchley
"Blood Heat"

G. Winston James
"Path"

Bob Angell
"Code Voyeur"

Gregory L. Norris
"All the World's A Game Show"

Barry Lowe
"Gut Reaction"

Jim McDonough
"The Other Half of Me"

Harry Thomas
"Dear Drew Peters"

Matthew Rettenmund
"Pleasingly"

Timothy J. Lambert
"The Last Time"

Steven Saylor writing as Aaron Travis
"Eden"

Comments

[mroctober.livejournal.com]

A lot of great names.

I noticed you have a story in the book. I've always resisted the urge to include my own fiction in a work I edit because I have felt like I would be cheating or such. I seem to recall Poppy Z. Brite claimed that many feel it's wrong. Obviously, you do not and I'm curious as to your thoughts on the matter.

[rosefox]

You said this before I could, and probably better than I would have.

[desayunoencama.livejournal.com]

See below.

[desayunoencama.livejournal.com]

A lot depends on the project, but lately my publishers have complained whenever I haven't included work of my own in the anthologies I edit.

I guess in part it depends on whether or not the anthologist is also known as a writer.

In terms of the piece in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF NEW GAY EROTICA, it was previously published elsewhere, so it already passed editorial muster, as it were, and proven itself.

Which doesn't mean I haven't included original work in other anthologies.

Nor am I the only anthologist to do so. Like I said, it all depends on the project.

Take an editor like Terri Windling, who generally doesn't contribute to her anthologies she co-edits with Ellen Datlow, but did (with a poem, a story, and an intro and an afterward) in her anthology THE ARMLESS MAIDEN.

In a book with multiple editors, it's a little easier, since one can edit one another.

But even still, with projects like SWITCH HITTERS or PoMoSEXUALS, it wasn't ever an option for Carol and I not to contribute, since the books evolved from our writing.

For someone like Jane Yolen or Bruce Coville, this is also often the case: the anthologies exist only if she's willing to also contribute a story.

But, every situation--and anthology--is unique.

[beauty-seeker.livejournal.com]

i'm very much looking forward to getting a copy of this. can't wait.

[desayunoencama.livejournal.com]

I hope you like it!
:-)

[jefffunk.livejournal.com]

What a fantastic ToC. I'm definitely going to buy a copy.

[desayunoencama.livejournal.com]

Thanks, and hope you enjoy.