PURPLEVERSE

Ok, off topic for this post.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!

What is with all the back stabbing, name calling, petty squabbles etc going on at the moment in the small press across the message boards?

This is my fifth attempt at this entry and I simply can’t express what I want to say properly.  The crux of it is as follows.  I’m pissed off with all the slagging off, negativity etc in small press market at the moment.



Ok, there are always going to be critics etc.  If people keep it constructive, people should listen.  If it’s taking a pop for the sake of it, people are going to get the arse and respond and so it grows.  How long before self destruct…? 

That depends on everyone playing the games.  Hell, if this market implodes, it’ll only be replaced with another so what is to be gained?

I’m not aiming this at anyone in particular, nor at any of our readers or contributors.  All I ask is for people to try and get on for the sake of the market. 



As a (hack) editor, it pisses me off having to keep tracks on who may be saying what, who is public enemy number one and wasting time following the antics and not spending time on editing.



My stance?



I’ve made peace with the fact I’ve already rocked boats before issue one is out due to my line up choice.  I stand by my choices, simple as that.  If they come back to haunt me, so be it.  I am capable of making my own decisions and doing what I want with my project. 
If issue one falls flat, there WILL still be a second issue and then a third, even if I have only one piece of work to put in it.  As long as someone wants to buy it, we will produce it.  It’s not my cash line so sink or swim, we’ll still be here.  We are NOT going away.


What’s the point of my rant?  I’ll reiterate, even if every other bugger wants to scrap and tear each other apart, I’ll still be doing what I do.  It might not set the world alight, but I’ll still be here offering anyone who wants a place to be published a chance.

I’m not defending ANYONE or attacking ANYONE with this, just chucking out a few feelings I currently have.  Sorry if this reads as a mess, I’m just struggling to put a rant into words.  Feel free to repost, dissect and comment if you so wish.



Vern.

Friends,

 As of Saturday 12th, I am on holiday for a week.  I will have my laptop with me and my destination apparently has “WiFi”, so I’ll try and keep tabs on emails etc.

I will be sorting author payments when I get back and finalising contracts etc.  Please bare with me, this balding man needs a break as well

Catch u soon.

Vern.

“THE WHOLE WORLD IS SHIT”.

Kerry Mann of Sittingbourne.  Nuff said.

The final nail in the Sinfully Twisted coffin was hammered in on Monday as the domain name finally expired.

I didn’t see the point in spending money on the renewal for it to sit static.  The renewal fee will go towards the Purpleverse fund and help towards running costs etc.

It’s sad to see the name finally die as it was a project I was proud of.  We had two good issues with some great content.  It can still be downloaded for free over at www.lulu.com/purpleverse  if you’d like a pdf copy.

All good things come to an end.

Vern.

It would appear that there is a little confusion surrounding the cover of Volume One and indeed what the Phobia concept is about.  Below is a small response to a blog elsewhere on the trusty ol’ net.

In response to “Cussedness”, other than the Purpleverse / Phobia team, no one has seen the cover of the first issue of Phobia.  It’s not complete and still in design.  What you have seen is merely an introductory image for the contributors of the first issue.

“Sicker than thou” is not in our agenda.  The Purpleverse project has evolved beyond shock horror and we are concentrating on dark fiction and not shock fiction.  Perhaps embracing a new publication would make a welcome change from the general instant dismissal most publications now seem to receive . 

If we mess up I will stand up, admit my faults and bail out of the market altogether.  I can say no fairer than that.  Phobia plans to compliment that market and certainly not damage it (further).  We have a decent budget and will continue to invest in the project as we progress.

Mr Dagstine’s interview will allow the reader to make their own judgements.  Every author has their critics, including Mr Dagstine.  Irrespective of opinions, we welcome Mr Dagstine and look forward to the response that his interview will create within the community.

News and updates will appear on our main site should you wish to view them.  Phobia is not a one off publication, it is a progressive project that will evolve with both its readers and writers.  Thanks for reading.

Kind regards,
Vern (Editor and Publisher).

It’s a great day as I am finally in a position to name drop a few of the contributors who will feature in issue one of Phobia. 

It gives me great pleasure to announce that long term friend of Purpleverse and author of “The curious accounts of the imaginary friend”; P.S Gifford will feature with a full sinister tale.  Paul has built a solid reputation for quality dark fiction and has risen through the ranks to release his first books.  Mr Gifford is a serious contender for the next big name in twisted fiction.

Small press and underground favourite Lawrence Dagstine steps up with several fictional epics and treats us to an insight into the mind of Dagstine with an all new, exclusive Phobia interview.

Chris Rawlins provides the cover art which follows in the Purpleverse tradition for quality covers and striking images.  We’ve worked with some great names in recent years such as Jason Beam, Grant Fuhst, D’wayne Murphy, Cameron Grey and Zach Pennington.  Chris is a welcome addition to our family of artists.  Watch for a sneak preview of the cover on the new website shortly.

It had to happen; I will be gracing the pages myself.  A strange departure from my usual twisted horror, I offer an absurd tale of vegetable invasion.  Take it for what it is, a rewrite of something ludicrous to lighten and confuse your mind state.

More authors will be announced over the coming week along with a few insights into the design on the publication.

Catch you soon.

Vern.

Dear Friends,

The first design for Phobia was completed several weeks ago.  I sat at looked at the design, the layout and decided I actually hated it and I scrapped it!  The whole purpose of rebranding “Purpleverse” was to improve on the original concept and set the standard for the coming years of the project.

This month I have invested in a second laptop (to compliment the existing one and the main design PC) and new design software.  I feel it a justified investment to help the project progress, it also shows that I am serious about the quality and standards we set.

I am in the final week (or so) or reading through submissions now and the authors who are to be accepted will be contacted shortly.

As I said at the start of Phobia, we must get things right and if it delays us a few months, so be it.  Please be assured, we are very much alive and we will have this beast ready as soon as possible!

Regards,

Vern.

Issue One submissions are now CLOSED.

My reading pile has grown taller than I would have liked and I have already short listed a small collection of my favourite reads.  I am hoping to advise the selected authors shortly.

We will obviously reopen for subs as soon as we can.

Thanks for all the quality work that we’ve been sent.

Vern.

The more I sit and think about things, the more I feel like calling the phobia project a day.  I’ve sat and read through many a forum of late and all I see in the small press is back stabbing, name calling and petty posts where people slag each other off.

I finally concluded that I will continue the project BUT it will be run to my rules, my way and to hell with anyone who has an issue with that.

I’ve taken on board some good advice of late and Phobia will be as professional as possible and it will attempt to house as much new fiction from unknown, well known people as possible.  Purpleverse was always about the little people, giving them a break.  I know that at this stage we are not going to take on the world, but I refuse to be drawn into explaining my visions and concepts.

News will break shortly along with some images of the progress.  Please keep that faith like I have.  It’s a long journey but it’ll be worth it.

Vern.

Yes, I am alive and actually working on the project.  Progress is being made here and lots of things are in the pipe line. 

For now, we’ve got a new look for the blog.  It feels a little more suitable than the blood red look we’ve had of late.

Don’t forget we have a myspace page at www.myspace.com/purpleverse - In all honesty this is where I usually update things first.

Vern.