"I apologize in advance for this long post. But there's so much that I feel I need to say on this date that marks the one-year anniversary of our first release as a publisher of independent fiction. Only twelve short months ago, our first anthology of horror, DARK VISIONS: A COLLECTION OF MODERN HORROR - VOLUME ONE was published.
Since September 17, 2013, we've had the truly humbling experience of working with an incredible selection of honestly exceptional authors. And during that time, we've made an uncountable number of great friends along the way (and that means all of you here on Facebook and on Twitter and elsewhere).
Upon its release last September, DARK VISIONS ONE was embraced by horror lovers around the world, only to later be nominated for a Bram Stoker Award in the Horror Anthology category for 2013, an honestly STUNNING and VERY humbling recognition that will always hold a special place in our hearts. And, for that, we sincerely thank everyone who purchased the title and all those members of the Horror Writers Association who had a part in the nomination that we will NEVER forget.
To the readers of DARK VISIONS ONE, and all of our volumes released afterward, we extend our most sincerest of gratitude. It's due to your continued support that DARK VISIONS ONE (along with the rest of our catalog) remains, even on this date one year later, among the Top 100 Bestsellers on the Amazon Horror Anthology charts. That fact, alone, leaves me as an editor and publisher speechless. And, more importantly, honored.
There are so many people I would like to thank for their roles in this incredible year that marks the ever-expanding history for Grey Matter Press, our first year as an independent publisher of dark fiction. The list is truly endless. I thank you ALL for the support, encouragement and (oftentimes) patience that you've shown with our press.
I want to thank EVERYONE for your support, for embracing our authors, for buying their books, for submitting your exceptional work to us as a new publisher, for sharing your opinions about our titles with your reviews, for your general encouragement throughout (and also your valid criticisms at times) and, most of all, just for coming along on this wild and crazy ride that has been the first year of Grey Matter Press.
But, most of all, I would like to thank those extremely courageous authors who decided to take the plunge and jump into the dark and cold waters with a new press without any creds from the Windy City. You've all made a huge impact on each of us and are the reasons that our very first release will forever have a lasting impact on our lives.
The folks I'm talking about are those first daring authors who shared (almost two years ago) their work for that first volume that will forever mean so very much to us -- DARK VISIONS ONE. These brave souls include (first and foremost) Mr. David A. Riley, the incomparable Jonathan Maberry, the icon of horror Ray Garton, the new king of pain John F.D. Taff, the 'weird fiction' author Jay Caselberg, our fave expat Jonathan Balog, the jogging Canuck Sarah Johnson, the very insidious storyteller Sean Logan, the truly devious Brian Fatah Steele, the incredibly talented Jeff Hemenway, the conspiratorial Charles Muir, the potential psychotic Jason Ridler, and the honestly unnerving Milo James Fowler.
I also cannot end this post without thanking my co-editor, Sharon Lawson, who, without her staunch ability to deal with so many of my own personal and professional peccadilloes, this entire adventure could not have been possible. Sharon, I appreciate you more than you know and respect your talent more than I can properly state. I'm a far better man that you are in my life. And you will, forever, be my dear friend.
In closing, (yes this long babble is near its end...) I want to say thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart for helping make this first year of Grey Matter Press the realization of a dream that I've had for far too many years. It's because of YOU, the horror lovers and readers of the written word, that we will continue to embrace this insanity that is independent publishing with Grey Matter Press far into the future.
Sincerely,
Tony"
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