Son of a Pitch Publisher: Anaiah Press

We have a huge line up of publishers and editors who have jumped on board for Son of a Pitch, and today you get to meet Anaiah Press.

ABOUT ANAIAH:

Anaiah Press is a Christian digital-first publishing house dedicated to presenting quality faith-based fiction and nonfiction books to the public.

Statement of Faith: At Anaiah Press, we believe in the one living and true God. We believe in God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that God created all, upholds all and governs all. He hears and answers prayer; and all who come to Him through Jesus Christ are saved from sin and death. Our Christian beliefs are reflected in the way we conduct business and in our relationships with our employees and authors. All books published by Anaiah Press are faith-based. We strive to publish books that convey a Christian message, explicit or implied, through our various genres.

www.anaiahpress.com 

ABOUT KARA LEIGH MILLER:

Kara combines her knowledge and prior editing experience with a passion for the written word and a love of YA. She is a multi-genre published author, and an avid reader with eclectic tastes that range from the tame to the taboo. She loves to help her fellow authors recognize their dreams of publication and is very excited about working toward that goal with Anaiah Press.

KARA'S WISH LIST:

~ Contemporary YA, preferably with strong romantic elements. (Please remember to keep it clean!)

~ I would love to find a story set during summer bible camp or a family camping trip. 

~ YA / NA dystopian with an ultimate good vs. evil theme.

~ Adult romantic suspense centered around characters with unusual professions. 

~ Adult, YA or NA romance with thriller or mystery elements.

ABOUT LAURA MAISANO:

Laura is a language nerd, honestly an overall nerd, and loves to immerse herself in strange worlds through fiction. Her interests are geared toward YA/NA fantasy of all kinds and soft sci-fi.

Laura is looking for fantasy of any kind (urban, low, high, epic), sci-fi, or dystopia. Give her interesting settings, but more importantly, give her gripping characters and drama. Make her cry, laugh, and invest in well-rounded "real" people as they struggle through adversity, only to come out stronger on the other side. She'd love to see a strong sibling relationship and an emotional quest, or a clean dystopia where the heroes can keep their shirts on.

LAURA'S WISH LIST:

- A YA with a strong sibling relationship that pulls at the heartstrings, like Frozen or Fullmetal Alchemist.

- I'm still looking for that clean YA dystopia with inspirational themes or an undercurrent of Christian faith.

- I love geeky characters with heart.

- A sci-fi with Christian themes or an inspirational message. Can have dark moments, but come out stronger because of it.

Publisher Feature week: Meet Blaze Project Manager Kristen

1.       Tell us how you came to work with Blaze.

Krystal and I have been talking about opening a publishing company since 2012. For the longest time, it was just a pipe dream. However earlier this year, Krystal came and told me she was going to do it. She wanted to take things into her own hands, and I decided I would do everything I could to help.

2.       What does your job entail? 

My job is separated into two parts. First and foremost, I am in charge of Author Relations. One thing that we noticed in some other publishing houses is that sometimes you go over a week without hearing from someone after you have asked a question. We definitely did not want that for Blaze. So I act as the liaison from Blaze to the Authors, a personal contact they can reach out to. The second part is Project Management. I have worked extensively in project management for over ten years, and keeping a project on schedule is vital to the success of any business. I work with both the authors and the other blaze members to make sure our production schedule runs smoothly, and completes on time!

3.       What do you enjoy most about being project manager and author relations? 

My favorite part is working with the Authors, and seeing their book come to life. I get front row tickets to watching someone’s dream come true, and you really can’t beat that.

4.       What have your experiences been like working with the authors?

It has been great! I work with three fantastic authors, and we just signed on two wonderful women! I can’t say it won’t be hard at times, as any partnership always has its ups and downs, but I am glad to be doing what I am doing.

5.       What is the hardest part of your job?

Waiting. Waiting for submissions. Waiting for the Author to accept our offer. Waiting for the final cover art. Waiting to hold the published book in my hands. Patience was never one of my strengths, and this job is all about patience!

6.       And what is the best part?

That’s a tough one. A part of me believes it is working with three fabulous women who truly want to make a difference in the industry. They want to help Authors publish their books. They want to help readers connect with high quality and meaningful stories. Another part of me would say it is helping authors achieve their dream of publication. It is magical to see how excited they are when we offer the acceptance, and with how much excitement they tackle their tasks. Its inspiring. However, if I were being honest with myself, I would have to be selfish and say that the best part is getting to read all the submissions and books. Maybe it will save me some money on my Amazon bill!

7.       Last question; If you could bring any book/movie/TV show to life, what would it be and why?

Harry Potter. Definitely Harry Potter. Why? Because I want to ride a magic broom, and jinx my nosey next door neighbor.

Dark Quest Editor: Meriah Crawford

Meriah Crawford is a writer, an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, and a private investigator. She has also been a horseback riding instructor, library page, programmer, prepress tech, graphic designer, technical editor, software tester, systems analyst, program manager, and has even been paid to put M&Ms into little baggies for bingo.

Meriah’s published writing includes short stories, a variety of non-fiction work, and a poem about semi-colons. A few of her most recent publications include a story about a promise kept; a story about an artist, set in 17^th century Germany; and the real explanation for the Virginia Earthquake. For more information, visit www.mlcrawford.com.

1.      Tell us how you came to work with Dark Quest.

I’m not employed by DQ. My co-editor Day al Mohamed and I developed an anthology: Trust and Treachery: Tales of Power and Intrigue. Once the book was complete, we pitched it to DQ and they bought it. This process was great for us for a number of reasons. It was our first anthology project, so getting a publisher in advance wasn’t a practical option. And we’d met the publisher Neal Levin and several others from DQ at conventions, so we knew them and liked them, and we knew we could work together.

2.      What does your job entail? 

Day and I came up with a concept, found cover art by a fantastic Turkish artist, and I designed the cover. We put together a website and sent out a call for stories. And from there, it was “simply” a matter of reading 440+ stories and selecting the very best. Once we had our stories and signed contracts, I went through a detailed editing process with each author. Once that was done, we spoke with Neal and then sent him our manuscript. He made us an offer very quickly, and we had a deal. Day also wrote a foreword for the book, and I wrote an afterword, in the form of a comic. And of course, we’ve both been involved in the promotion process.

3.      What do you enjoy most about being an editor? 

I’m a slow editor, but I think I’m great at it. Helping the authors to refine their stories and make them better--usually in small ways, but sometimes in large ways--is quite gratifying. Often, it’s the details that really make a story great. Not every anthology editor does much editing, but I have a ton of experience at editing and working with people on their writing, and it’s a process I’m quite comfortable with. This approach also allowed us to accept some stories that had real issues, but that we knew would be fantastic with a bit of work.

4.      What have your experiences been like working with the authors?

Nearly all of them were so fantastic. They’ve been enthusiastic about the project, appreciative of our efforts, and quick to respond. Not all of them, of course—but what we ended up with is a book I’m enormously proud of!

5.      What is the hardest part of being an editor?

The editing. J Sometimes, authors are reluctant to change something that doesn’t make sense or just doesn’t work. I understand that, because I’ve been that person myself—though I usually don’t argue with editors. As a writer as well as an editor, I know how important it is to maintain a positive working relationship with the editor, and to take a step back from the story and really think about what’s being proposed in the way of changes. Editors aren’t always right, of course, but if you’re going to argue, it has to happen in a very calm, diplomatic way, with a carefully-thought-out and non-defensive explanation.

6.      And what is the best part?

The end result. In this case, we have a book I’m extremely proud of. It looks beautiful, and the stories inside are outstanding. And we’ve had enough positive reviews and recognition of the quality of the work that I know we built something really special.

7.      Last question; If you could bring any book/movie/TV show to life, what would it be and why?

I am such a big Star Trek fan—I would really love to have a new series on television. And none of that prequel or new timeline nonsense. They ought to base something on Starfleet Command and Starfleet Academy. I have a whole plan in mind—all they have to do is call me. My ideas are so brilliant, I can essentially guarantee its success. In the meantime, I’m pretty excited about Star Trek Axanar, which I backed on Kickstarter and follow on Facebook. Very cool project!

Dark Quest Editor: Jennifer Brozek

BIO:

Jennifer Brozek is a Hugo Award-nominated editor and an award-winning author.

Winner of the Australian Shadows Award for best edited publication, Jennifer has edited fourteen anthologies with more on the way, including Chicks Dig Gaming and Shattered Shields. Author of Apocalypse Girl Dreaming, Industry Talk, In a Gilded Light, and the Karen Wilson Chronicles, she has more than sixty published short stories, and is the Creative Director of Apocalypse Ink Productions.

Jennifer also is a freelance author for numerous RPG companies. Winner of both the Origins and the ENnie awards, her contributions to RPG sourcebooks include Dragonlance, Colonial Gothic, Shadowrun, Serenity, Savage Worlds, and White Wolf SAS. Jennifer is the author of the YA  Battletech novel, The Nellus Academy Incident. She has also written for the AAA MMO Aion and the award winning videogame, Shadowrun Returns.

When she is not writing her heart out, she is gallivanting around the Pacific Northwest in its wonderfully mercurial weather. Jennifer is an active member of SFWA, HWA, and IAMTW. Read more about her at www.jenniferbrozek.com or follow her on Twitter at @JenniferBrozek.

1.      Tell us how you came to work with Dark Quest.

Originally, Dark Quest Books published my fiction collection, IN A GILDED LIGHT. It was such a good experience that Neal and I talked about me doing anthologies for the company. I agreed. Thus, Beauty Has Her Way and Human Tales was born.

2.      What does your job entail? 

As an editor, my job is to: Make sure the story fits the theme. The stories fit with each other. That each story is the best it can be. And that the anthology as a whole is cohesive, entertaining, and technically correct.

3.      What do you enjoy most about being an editor? 

I love finding the exact right story for the project I’m working on and helping make it that much more awesome. I think my favorite part is when that story is acknowledged by my contemporaries.

4.      What have your experiences been like working with the authors?

I love my authors, but they are human. I have good experiences and bad ones. Fortunately, more good experiences. The more professional the author, the more they understand the change requests and understand the editor-author relationship is a dialogue.

5.      What is the hardest part of being an editor?

Rejections are the hardest. Especially when you want to take a story but you don’t have the word count and/or the budget for it.

6.      And what is the best part?

After finding the right story, I love sending out the acceptance letter. It’s that moment of pure joy before both the editor and author need to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Acceptance letters are fun.

7.      Last question; If you could bring any book/movie/TV show to life, what would it be and why?

I would love to see Seanan McGuire’s October Daye series come to life and to be able to experience it. Her world of a hidden fae and changeling society in the modern day fascinates me. To have it all be real with be a treat.

Anaiah Press Editor: Sean Connell

Bio: I started writing in elementary school, won my first writing prize in middle school, and sold my first piece in college. I took up editing because I enjoy it, and between the writing and the editing I’ve worked on a number of different projects, though none for AP. I also teach writing at a local university.

1.       Tell us how you came to work with Anaiah Press. I knew Eden Plantz through an online writer’s group, and she let me know there was an opportunity.

2.       What does your job entail?  Mostly content edits. It’s my job to look for plot holes, continuity issues, and smaller things like consistent characterization. I also fact check, when need be. Or at least ask the author to.

3.       What do you enjoy most about being an acquisitions editor?  I like working with new authors, helping them get the most out of their manuscript, and helping them become better writers in the process.

4.       What have your experiences been like working with the authors? So far, it’s been great, but so far I’ve only worked with one.

5.       What is the hardest part of being an editor? Reading the same work multiple times. It’s necessary, but it breeds a certain familiarity with the story.

6.       And what is the best part? Reading the same work multiple times, and watching the author make it better each time.

7.       What kind of manuscripts do you enjoy and are looking for, and how can an author submit to you? I’ve been hired to help get the spec fic section going, so anything that falls under those guidelines. I like to read a lot of things, in all genres, so mostly it comes down to telling a good story.

8.       Last question; If you were suddenly struck by lightning/bitten by something/exposed to toxic waste, and ended up with super powers, what would it be and why? Teleportation. Would cut down on the commute. 

Anaiah Press Acquisitions Editor: Eden Plantz

Bio: 

Eden found her love for Christian fiction as a child by raiding her family's well-stocked bookshelves. She has devoted her education and career to learning the ins and outs of writing, publishing, and marketing. She has almost a decade of marketing management and consulting experience, combined with experience as a fiction editor -- including publishing management experience. She's thrilled to use her knowledge and abilities to the greater success of Anaiah Press authors.

Follow Eden on Twitter: @edenplantz

1.      Tell us how you came to work with Anaiah Press.

I’ve actually been w/Anaiah Press since the beginning. Noreen Walker and I partnered to make Anaiah Press happen.

2.      What does your job entail? 

What doesn’t it entail! J I do a little bit (or in some cases a lot) in every department of Anaiah. I’m sort of a Jill of all trades. In editorial, my responsibilities include acquisitions: offering and executing contracts, maintaining my own (short) list of authors, release/deadline planning and scheduling, Assigning projects through the various departments, etc. Outside of the editorial department I act as publicist/ marketing assistant to Marketing Director Melinda Dozier; I manage our art department and sometimes handle design work (covers and trailers). On the executive/managerial side, I handle sales tracking and royalty/ payment reports. The list goes on. I tend to be a busy woman!

3.      What do you enjoy most about being an editor? 

I think my favorite part of being an editor is the authors. I love getting to know them and getting to know their work. It’s exciting being part of their publishing journey and being able to experience their excitement and enthusiasm.

4.      What have your experiences been like working with the authors?

Oh, I guess I kind of jumped the gun and answered this a question early, huh? Our authors are great. We have a really supportive, enthusiastic group.

5.      What is the hardest part of being an editor?

Probably the fact that it’s so hard to stop working. There’s always something to be done, and it’s so easy to take the work “home” with me at the end of the day. I’ve been known to answer emails in the middle of the night because I woke up to get a drink or something and saw my email notification flashing on my phone. I have to make a conscious effort to stop working and go to bed at night. Otherwise, I would never sleep.

6.      And what is the best part?

Well, I’ve always been an avid reader, so I’m going to have to say the best part is all the stories. I get to bury my nose in good books and it’s considered work.

7.      Last question; If you could bring any book/movie/TV show to life, what would it be and why?

Honestly, the book I’d choose would be a recent Anaiah Press YA release title Grit of Berth and Stone by Lisa Dunn. It is pretty much exactly what I envisioned for Anaiah’s YA imprint when the company was still a series of ideas pinned to our drawing board. The main character, Grit, is sort of a reluctant heroine and the way Lisa showed the stakes and developed her characters kept me hooked more than any book since I read The Chronicles of Narnia when I was seven. 

Anaiah Press Senior Editor: Giovanni Valentino

 Giovanni Francesco Valentino has struggled at the art of writing for four decades against many demons like self-doubt, chronic depression, OCD and severe dyslexia. He has written a few memoir pieces about his life struggles going undiagnosed for more the half his life. He hopes one day to be a famous published science fiction and fantasy author. He is glad to report that at this point in his life, he is happy. All of the credit for that goes to his wonderful wife, Carol Ann, who is the perfect spouse a full 82% of the time.

He is an editor for the Anaiah Press Presence Line. Presence features Adult genre fiction, with a focus on speculative fiction: thriller/ suspense, science fiction, supernatural, dystopian, etc.

He also produces a upcoming humorous anthology series, Alternate Hilarities.

1.      Tell us how you came to work with Anaiah Press.

I just showed up at the office one day with my own nameplate and took a desk. I find that if you act like you belong there, sometimes people just believe you. J

Also, I know Kara Leigh Miller. We have been friends and critiquing partners for years. We’ve worked on editing projects together before like the Alternate Hilarities and Romanic Ruckus Anthologies for Strange Musings Press. So when there was an opening in the Presence line at Anaiah, Kara thought of me.

2.      What does your job entail? 

I mostly make coffee and stop the photocopy machine from attacking people. You should see it. It’s huge. J

And I read the submissions from new authors for the Presence line or any other line if it has a speculative element to it. If I like them, I make a case for why I think Anaiah should take them and I send them up the line to Kara or other managing editors to review. If I don’t, I send out rejections directly to the authors.

I also do content editing with authors we have taken on. Content edits are where the editor goes through your novel and finds all the potholes in the road. This issue range from large things, like pacing or character building, to smaller ones, like keeping track of details like how many front that buildings has or which event happened first.

3.      What do you enjoy most about being an acquisitions editor? 

The power it gives me over other people. Mwahahaha. J

Moreover, I like working with authors. As an author myself, I know what we have to go through to get published. I try to send a little feedback even if I’m rejecting the piece. Sometimes, your story isn’t a good fit for the publisher but you could still fix a few things. I’m happy to make a few notes and even recommend a better place to submit.

4.      What have your experiences been like working with the authors?

I think the honest answer to that would get me in trouble. J

No really, I have had many good experiences with my authors. Most of them are smart, open-minded people who understand the value of the feedback an editor can give. My favorite type of author is not the ones that just do everything I tell them do but ones that can convince me, in a professional way mind you, of how their way works.  The editing process is very give and take and it works well as long as there is respect on both sides.

5.      What is the hardest part of being an acquisitions editor?

All that reading. I don’t know about you but I prefer TV. J

Also, I hate getting submissions that obviously do not fit. We are a Christian press. You’re story doesn’t have to talk about God on every page, we pride ourselves on considering any type of faith based work. Still, The Devil can’t be your lead character or the church your main villain.

6.      And what is the best part?

Free donuts at the office and fighting the photocopy machine from time to time. J

My true joy is finding that perfect story and helping a fellow writer become a published author.

7.      What kind of manuscripts do you enjoy and are looking for, and how can an author submit to you?

I’d love for authors to submit bestselling novels that require no editing at all. J

In general, I’m looking for adult genre fiction, with a focus on speculative fiction: thriller/ suspense, science fiction, supernatural, dystopian, fantasy. Unlike other Anaiah lines, Presence is light on romance, and heavy on the spiritual/ emotional warfare.

Specifically, I'm not looking for non-human leads. 

I'd prefer the heroes not use magic heavily, think The Chronicles of Narnia over Lord of the Rings. 

If your fantasy world has multiple gods in it, your story needs to be about your hero bringing the one true God to help them and it needs to be apparent very quickly.

If you have something like this, send a query letter, synopsis and the first three chapters to Giovanni.valentino@anaiahpress.com.

Please paste this into the body of the email as we do not take submissions as attachments.

If I get another virus on my work computer, they might fire me. J

8.      Last question; If you were suddenly struck by lightning/bitten by something/exposed to toxic waste, and ended up with super powers, what would it be and why?

Can I have all of them? Like all at once? J

If I’m stuck with just one, I would like the power to force people to be nice to each other. Flying would be great but I’d rather get everyone to calm the heck down and get along.

Anaiah Press Acquisitions Editor: Mollie Turbeville

BIO:

Mollie Turbeville is a freelance book editor and managing editor at Anaiah Press. She is a blogger, coffee drinker, cat wrangler, and compulsive book buyer. When she’s not reading or tweeting, she’s usually wandering around the city, eating sushi, or at the dog park with her husband and lazy hound dog. There’s nothing she loves more than a compelling story; although, a good potluck meal with friends is a close second.

1.      Tell us how you came to work with Anaiah Press.

Believe it or not, I found out about the opening at Anaiah Press through Twitter. Never underestimate the power of the hashtag (#editingjobs)! I learned about the Christian publishing house online and really loved the idea of aligning my passions for faith and publishing. I was welcomed to the team as a senior editor and am now a managing editor.

2.      What does your job entail?

As a managing editor, I’m responsible for overseeing daily operations of the Adventures, Home School, and Inspirations imprints. I acquire and sort through submissions from authors and literary agents. I perform developmental and content edits for contracted authors, and I maintain positive relationships with each author to ensure a beautiful, clean manuscript. I typically provide multiple passes of content edits and serve as the point of contact throughout the editorial process: touching base on cover art forms, author guides, projected release dates, corresponding deadlines, etc. Most of the magic of publishing a wonderful book is in the details and the ongoing conversations about how to engage and build readership, how to really bring out a character’s voice, or how to expand the tension and improve pacing. Honestly, my job is all about conveying these important details to the author—posing questions for them to ponder as they revise. They are the courageous ones who do the really hard work!

3.      What do you enjoy most about being an acquisitions editor? 

I love those queries that hook me right away, and I love falling in love with a premise. I always say editor-author relationships are a little like dating, and when you find that right match and you’re able to communicate and collaborate, it’s like magic. More importantly, it’s immensely satisfying to see a better product emerge through all of the hard work. I love to see authors come alive and really embrace the challenge of revising. When authors submit their manuscripts to publishers, there’s so much vulnerability—after all, the manuscript is their baby! I never forget that. It takes guts to hand over your creative projects, but it takes real courage and love to keep at it after the third or fourth round of edits and revisions. That’s what I really enjoy most: the privilege of having front row seats to an author celebrating his or her hard work and sharing it with the reading community.

4.      What have your experiences been like working with the authors?

Wonderful! Truly, the biggest perk for me is helping an author’s publishing dreams come true. I’ve found that the majority of authors are eager, enthusiastic, and extremely receptive to edits and suggestions. There’s always a bit of tension when discerning what needs to change and what is simply a stylistic preference, but I’ve found that most authors are grateful for the feedback and genuinely want to make their books the best they can be. I love going back and forth with an author on a layer of character development just beneath the surface or a piece of the plot that is still in transition. Seeing that lightbulb go off for the author—and playing a small role in that process—is thrilling. Of course, I would expect a harsher reality for most author-editor relationships. I may be biased, but Anaiah authors are especially lovely to work with. J

5.      What is the hardest part of being an acquisitions editor?

Learning to improve and edit a manuscript while preserving the author’s voice and unique style. As a meticulous editor, I abide by house styles and style guides. I take consistency very seriously. It’s important to know when stylistic preferences are stifling the creative process, and how diverse readers in different genres will react to those preferences. Of course, I also dread sending out rejections. Authors often think editors wait eagerly to send a rejection letter, cackling at their computer screens with their red pens and snarky comments. Not true! Often, I will enjoy a query and see the potential in a manuscript, but ultimately know it won’t be the best fit for the publisher and vice versa.

6.      And what is the best part?

Again, the best part by far is watching that transformation and seeing a better manuscript shine. Once the language is tighter, the character development is deeper, or the plot is richer, it’s like reading a completely different story. Recognizing the potential in a manuscript and seeing all of your suggestions come to fruition is the most amazing feeling.

7.      What kind of manuscripts do you enjoy and are looking for, and how can an author submit to you?

I love character-driven, coming-of-age stories rich with complex emotions and redemptive storylines. At present, we are also accepting completed manuscripts for the Adventures Home School line. We’d love to see faith-based early readers, phonics readers, workbooks, and grade-level appropriate supplemental reading books that can be integrated into regular homeschool and classroom curriculum. To submit to the Adventures Home School line, send a query letter and the first ten pages to adventureshomeschool[at]anaiahpress[dot]com. Please allow six to eight weeks for a response.

8.      Last question; If you were suddenly struck by lightning/bitten by something/exposed to toxic waste, and ended up with super powers, what would it be and why?

Oh, my. This one’s tough. I’d have to say either the ability to freeze and manipulate time—so I could slow moments down to enjoy them or get more work done during the week—or teleportation. Let’s be real; who wouldn’t want to lounge on a remote beach in Thailand for the afternoon and make it home by dinner? 

Gianna the Great

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