Just heard from Andy Cox that my story, The Salted Bones, is going to be in issue 82/83 of Black Static. I’m especially pleased about this because Andy has been kind enough to publish my stories since issue 2 of The Third Alternative (the precursor to Black Static), and this final issue marks his publishing swansong. So to be published this last time feels like a something of a homecoming.
The issue is already up for pre-order and I’m delighted to see a few more of those old TTA-days authors in there too (Tim Lees, Steve Rasnic Tem, Andrew Hook, Simon Avery), as well as some of my current favourite horror names (Aliya Whiteley and Ray Cluley**) and, as ever, the newer voices Andy has always sought to champion. And the art from Richard Wagner, Vincent Sammy, Joachim Leutke, Warwick Fraser-Coombe and Dave Senecal promises to deliver the trademark visual chills that made this wonderful magazine (and also TTA and Andy’s long tenure in charge of Interzone) so iconic.
Andy Cox was one of the first editors to show faith in my weird not-quite-this, not-quite-that stories and gave me the confidence to carry on with writing. It’s no exaggeration to say, I would likely not be writing now it wasn’t for him. I’m incredibly grateful for that and, though I’m sad to see him leaving Genre Town, I could not be happier to be helping him push the boat out.
**I was fortunate enough to hear Ray read Cabin Fever, from this issue, at Chillercon earlier in the year and it is JAW DROPPINGLY good!
ayeahmur 