Oof, the conversations regarding Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI algorithms infiltrating, encroaching upon, and flat-out stealing creators’ original work have been especially contentious this week.
Seems some parties in the publishing community are A-OK with straw-manning the argument, dismissing and cozying up to their own downfall, which…you go girl, I guess? Hail our new A.I. overlords.
Anyway, the fur was flying a little this week; so before we continue, I want all the fleshy beings in the room to breathe deep, cleanse their palates with some good ol’ human-created occult wizardry, and send up a little prayer of death (to the machines) and fire:
Ahh. That is so much better. Let’s begin.
Our first magazine to benefit creators’ rights against the encroachment of Artificial Intelligence theft—THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE ALGORITHM—is coming closer to fruition, and today we can reveal the cover art, crafted by the human hands of the amazing Becca Snow:
Preorder information for THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE ALGORITHM is coming soon.
Emmett Nahil’s FROM THE BELLY brings whaling Horror to 10p next summer, buries the Moby Dick comparisons in Davy Jones’ Locker
Super excited to announce this one, y’all:
About FROM THE BELLY:
The whaling vessel Merciful has just made its strangest catch yet: a massive whale containing a still-living man secreted within its stomach lining. Sailor Isaiah Chase is tasked with keeping the enigmatic man alive.
As their relationship grows, a series of accidents, injuries and deaths quickly befall the ship and its crew. Isaiah is plagued by strangely prophetic dreams, even as the crew continues their endless quest for whale oil under the command of an increasingly unhinged captain.
As events spiral further out of control, the mysterious man confesses what Isaiah has begun to suspect: the crew of The Merciful has fallen into a cycle of punishment for their greed and destruction. Isaiah must confront the sea's vengeance made flesh, and choose between this new, strange love and the fate of the ship itself.
If you think we’re too classy to bombard you with aquatic puns, then you clearly don’t remember when we were releasing Tim McGregor’s LURE last year. FROM THE BELLY will be making a big splash around these parts next summer; get ready to hear a wh(a)le lot more about it.
THE BLACK LORD arrives September 12th; preorder now
“A deeply moving, horrifying fairy tale, woven from grief, sorrow, and monsters. Full of characters you will relate to—even when you wish you didn't—The Black Lord will leave you broken.”
Jessica Leonard, author of Conjuring the Witch
“The Black Lord brings to mind a low-lit tavern; you there with your drink, overhearing the hushed talk from a nearby table. Start this book at dusk, within view of a tree line. Feel something stare back. This is my first Hinckley, but it won’t be my last.”
Scott J. Moses, author of Our Own Unique Affliction
“Shirley Jackson’s haunted claustrophobia, Stephen King’s nail-biting plots, and the cosmic otherworldly horror of Stranger Things. Spend a few hours in [Hinckley’s] mind, and I guarantee you’ll be drawing the curtains tight for weeks.”
GennaRose Nethercott, author of Thistlefoot
We’ve got some of the limited edition preorder packages still available, as well as book+eBook preorders if that’s all you’re after. Get on both of those options here.
About THE BLACK LORD:
Eddie’s parents may be arguing about the disappearance of his infant brother Danny, but Eddie’s facing a terror all of his own. There’s a strange figure outside that claims it has Danny safe and sound—all Eddie needs to do to get his brother back is open that window.
Eddie’s father is filled with guilt over his relationship with his own lost brother. His mother has been abandoned to navigate her grief and terror alone. And his grandmother carries a disturbing, all-too-relevant truth about their shared family history.
As minutes tick by and hope for Danny grows ever smaller, the very fabric of their world disintegrates, welcoming eldritch terrors of unspeakable provenance to their doorstep. The family is losing a decades- long struggle against an entity that is not of this world, and its hunger threatens to swallow them whole.
The always brilliant Echo Echo is back handling interior illustrations for this one, too. Here’s an exclusive peek:
Friends of 10p: DEATH IN THE MOUTH is funding NOW on Kickstarter!
Sloane Leong is a fellow Pacific Northwesterner; one of our favorite indie comics creators on the planet; and a kickass editor and writer to boot. If you aren’t familiar with her comics work, perhaps her appearance in our BRAVE NEW WEIRD anthology earlier this year rings a bell?
Regardless, after a false start getting the project going on a newer crowdfunding platform, Sloane has course-corrected on the fly, and the current, second volume of her phenomenal DEATH IN THE MOUTH anthology series, featuring Horror fiction from BIPOC writers & artists from around the world, is live on Kickstarter now!
DEATH IN THE MOUTH vol. 2 launched yesterday and has an ambitious funding goal. If it’s anything like the first volume, this will be one of the absolute best collections of Horror you’ll find. And Sloane wants to give you a little taste of what to expect. Says Sloane:
"We wanted to share one of the stories and illustrations from Death in the Mouth Volume 1 so you can get a sense of Volume 2's unique creepy vibe!
This story is entitled Paradise and was also featured in Tenebrous Press' BRAVE NEW WEIRD, Volume One! The art for this story was drawn by Solomon Enos, a Native Hawaiian artist, illustrator, sculptor, muralist, game designer, eternal possiblest, and community leader in Honolulu.
The Tenebrous Discord Pitch Sessions resume this Sunday!
We’ve mentioned these a few times in the past—and a goodly number of you are already regular attendees—but in case this is the first you’re hearing about it, here’s the skinny:
Every other Sundayat 10amPST/1pmEST, Tenebrous Press conducts Pitch Critique Sessions in their Discord for Speculative Fiction writers of every stripe, hosted by Editor-in-Chief Alex Woodroe and Publisher Matt Blairstone (joined occasionally by guest editors). These are casual—often boisterously so!—interactive, and open to all.
The next session is Sunday, August 20th; typically we go ninety minutes to two hours max; whenever we start to run out of gas:)
These sessions generally alternate between two formats:
1.) traditional verbal/written pitches where we offer constructive support to make your pitch as impactful as possible for future opportunities with editors and publishers.
2.) submitting the first 500 words of your WIP, so we can help you maximize the impact of your opening page; particularly as it relates to genre reveals, tropes and grabbing attention out of the gates.
You are welcome to submit anonymously and have your piece read by Matt or Alex, or you can present your own work; whatever your comfort level. It is a very safe, constructive environment.
Writers of every level of experience are welcome. These sessions—and our Discord board in general—are a wonderful opportunity to engage with creators from all speculative genres, working at every level of the industry.
You don’t have to submit to take part, either! We’ve got lots of folks who just drop by to watch Alex and I needle each other and hang out. It’s a pretty chill affair.
This has actually been a tricksy newsletter to put together; we’ve got a couple of things right on the cusp of being announced that we can’t quite touch on yet. Next week should bring a touch more clarity to those matters.
