100 sites for fiction writers: #27 - Apex Publications

This is an ongoing series looking at websites that can be of help to fiction writers with their craft and career.

Apex Publications

What exactly is Apex Publications? It is a small press publisher of speculative literature, meaning science fiction, horror and fantasy. Apex offers books in these genres, but online and often in print there has been an Apex Magazine, once called Apex Digest.

Big deal. So what? Why should a fiction writer care about this one little publisher?

Because this one little publisher has published the likes of Brian Keene, Ben Bova, Poppy Z Brite and Cherie Priest. If you are not familiar with those names, surely you have heard of Neil Gaiman?


For another thing, this little publisher isn't so little any more. Recently Publisher Jason Sizemore announced Apex Publications' books and magazines will be distributed in the U.S. and U.K. through Diamond Book Distributors. That's a pretty big deal. Not only does that show expansion, it also takes this company into a much wider market.

All of that's nice, but still, why should a fiction writer want to visit the site?

Well, obviously you could submit stories and novels to Apex Publications once you have read the Guidelines, but potentially more importantly you need to check out the site's Blog.

Yes, another blog. I can read your mind. Why in the world would you want to read yet another blog about writing? Truth be told, the Apex Publications blog isn't necessarily specifically for writing. The blog holds news about new editions of the magazine and books to be published through the company. But by reading the blog on a regular basis, you can also become a little more familiar with what the publisher and editors are looking for, which could potentially help your sales with the company.

And then, yes, there is plenty of information at the Apex Publications blog about writing. Guest posts are quite common, with regulars appearing every few days. Many of these blog posters are writers themselves, and some of them are editors or related to the publishing business in some other manner. Here you will find plenty of interviews with authors, as well as some news about the publishing industry and a good number of tips and ideas about writing.

Oh, and don't forget to read some of the great free fiction at the site. If you're a fan of the speculative, you are sure to find something there to like.