Industry Interviews: Severed Press

I am here today with Severed Press, a publisher of horror novels and anthologies. Tell us a little about your company.

SP: We are an independent publisher of survival horror based in Melbourne Australia, founded in 2008

JR: How many titles have you published?

LP: At this time we have 30 titles in print and more on the way.

JR: What inspired you to publish primarily horror novels? Why not publish other genres of fiction?

LP: For me it wasn’t a conscious decision, it was just natural that I would publish horror. The thing that inspired me most was a book I really enjoyed called Something Fishy by Derek Hanson, a collection of fish/fishing related stories. I looked for similar books and couldn’t understand why there were no fish horror books about. Thus Severed Press and the Dead Bait series was born.

JR: What is your ultimate goal for Severed Press? How do you plan to get there?

LP: That when a new author wants to publish his horror book, Severed Press is one of the first places they think of. I feel that if we keep doing what we are doing and grow at the rate we are growing, we will get somewhere close.

JR: Who are some of your favorite new horror authors?

LP: To be honest, since I started Severed Press I have hardly read a book. All my reading time is taken up with submissions. This is one of the downsides of running a press for me. Of course all the authors at severed Press are my favorites.

JR: The horror genre has changed since the 90’s. There is no horror section in the major retailers anymore. How do you feel the horror genre has changed? Where does it go from here?

LP: I think the only way is up for horror. For too long the major retailers have shied away from selling horror, but now people are buying their books online and the major bookstores are closing down. Horror writers not called King will find it easier than ever to find their audience.

JR: I am personally not a fan of gore without reason, but have found this to be more common in books and movies. How do you feel about gore? Do you believe it is overused?

LP: I think gore is fine in its place. I don’t have a hard and fast rule about it, but if I have a book that has a lot of gore/violence like The Devil Next Door I make it very clear in the description.

JR: What do you look for when considering a submission? What will immediately warrant rejection in a submission?

LP: I look for something that will sell. It either needs to be original and interesting or from a known author. If it’s neither of these then it needs to be about zombies or the apocalypse.

Racism and sexual abuse is big rejection for us.

JR: What are the most common mistakes you see from authors trying to submit a book for consideration?

LP: I am quite easy going and forgiving on submissions. I see a lot of other publisher’s names on submissions but that doesn’t really bother me. The one thing that rattles me a little is when I don’t get a synopsis; it doesn’t need to be chapter by chapter but at least let me know what your book is about.

JR: What advice do you give new authors that you sign, those who have no idea how the industry works?

LP: That the hard work has only just begun. Promoting and selling a book is tough in a congested market.

JR: What are your opinions about self-publishing? How has it changed the industry?

LP: I think it is fantastic. Never before have so many books been available that would never have seen the light of day. The main drawback I see for authors is that their work can drown in the mass of self published work. I get a lot of submissions where the work is already available on Kindle and is just not selling.

JR: How has the publishing industry changed over the past five years? Where does it go from here?

LP: Print on demand and digital have changed the industry for good. Short term I see the death of the mass market paperback and major high street book retailer. Long term it is hard to see beyond digital and limited edition paper books. I also see Amazon cornering the market with Kindle and it will be interesting to see if/how they abuse this power.

JR: I always allow my guests to ask me one question at the end of the interview. Ask me any question you would like.

LP: How did you come across Severed Press?

JR: I read a book called The Gathering Dead by Stephen Knight which was recommended by one of my authors. I loved it and did an interview with him, which led me to your press.

Short Answer

The horror genre is…the best

Authors drive me crazy when they…refuse to listen to reason.

The hardest part of being a publisher is…rejecting peoples work.

One thing I love about books is…reading them

Stephen King is…very successful