AOIFE'S KISS
ISSN: 1558-9765
Wondrous Web Worlds Vol. 7
An anthology of Sam's Dot writers and poets
Leat Pinsin
By Tyree Campbell
You’re holding the 7th anniversary issue of Aoife’s Kiss. I suppose there are rules for designating an anniversary issue. Perhaps it’s the issue that begins the year; perhaps the issue completing it. This issue begins our seventh year, our first issue having been released on 10 June 2002. That’s twenty five issues—not bad for the small independent press.
When we first began Aoife’s Kiss, we did so knowing that the vast majority of writers are unlikely to become the next Charles Sheffield, Connie Willis, Robert Jordan, or Laurell K. Hamilton. Nevertheless, there are many good, readable stories, poems, and illustrations out there deserving of a venue of presentation—i.e., a magazine. We try to locate these, buy them, and present them to you, the reader, in the hope that you will enjoy what you read, that perhaps you will ponder the points in the stories and poems herein, and that you might even crack a smile here and there—that perhaps you will feel better, and feel yourself a better individual, for having read this magazine.
Most of the writers in our magazine are relatively new to the genres. Think of them as writers in search of a readership. Although they have not [as yet] won any awards for their writing, their voices ought to be heard. We hope you agree.
As regards those awards—some of our writers have been mentioned in connection with them. Several have received honorable mentions in The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror. Several have received recommendations for the Bram Stoker Award [for the best in dark fiction]. Others have been considered for Rhyslings, awarded annually to speculative poetry. We’ve had material on the nomination lists for Prometheus Awards and Shirley Jackson Awards. Why, even as we speak, Yours Truly is up this year for a James Tiptree Jr. Award, a Spectrum Award, and a Lambda Award [wish me luck]. A small independent press we might be, but we ain’t bad a-tall.
But we in the small indies have a problem. We’re not Doubleday. Hell, we aren’t even Singleday. We’re more like Quarterday, and that’s on our good days. This has nothing to do with the quality of the material we present—as I’ve indicated, we’re good. It has more to do with budget. If Simon & Schuster needs two million dollars for a new book promotion, they can take it out of petty cash. Our advertising and promotions budget depends largely on how many soda cans I find alongside the highway to turn in for deposit.
We do, however, have access to one of the most extensive advertising networks in the Solar System. We’re accessing it right now. We’re talking to YOU. Yes, I know that you know this, but now I’m asking you to act on that knowledge. You have friends and relatives, and they have friends and relatives, and so on. Talk us up. Tell others about us—about our magazines, our publications, our stories, poems, art. Almost everyone buys books—so encourage those around you to try ours. Publications make great gifts—and I suspect that most people give the gift of a book or magazine to someone at least once a year. Don’t forget all the materials we have for younger readers, for the next generation of dreamers. Everything is on our website. That’s www.samsdotpublishing.com .
Okay, off you go. Enjoy this issue. Tell others of us.
Tyree Campbell
Managing Editor
Aoife's Choice:
Fine Fudge and Chocolates
Made the Old-Fashioned Way...
The Amana Way
Check this out:
Shipped Worldwide
Credit Cards Accepted
Seedlings on the Solar Winds, and other stories
A new short story collection by J Alan Erwine
Nyx
A novel by Tyree Campbell
