Anthology Builder is a web-based outfit that lets you assemble your own custom anthology of short stories hosted at their site. There are a lot of Public Domain tales available, but what makes this site interesting and worth keeping an eye on is that they are also encouraging authors to contribute stories that have previously already been published; the
Author Guidelines are HERE. This seems like a handy way to re-print old works that might be buried in old 'zines or out-of-print collections or whatever. A lot of stuff gets published and then gets lost, sure it was in-print or posted or whatever, but once it leaves the desk of the editor it tends to either sink or swim and a lot of it sinks. Fast. This service is sort of like a second chance of sorts. At least it could be, if enough people consider it worthwhile or useful...and enough quality stories get re-printed through them.
We've contributed a few cover designs. The
Artist Guidelines are HERE. Submitting properly formatted artwork is a snap. It's non-exclusive, so it's also a potential venue for artists to re-print some of their art, if they want to try things out a bit. So far we've had two people use our
'Shambleau' cover on their anthologies...
Once Anthology Builder manages to get out from under the reprinting of Public Domain stuff and builds up a decent stockpile of material that got lost in the shuffle, got tapped in OP purgatory, or just plain fell through the cracks it will definitely become a lot more interesting and useful. We wish them luck.
