The Eat the Rich Kickstarter campaign is in trouble.
There are only eight days left to make up the remainder of our goal, roughly $2,600, if we want to see this anthology actually get made. It’s not a lot, compared to other similar campaigns, but It’s nonetheless proving to be a taller order than I would have anticipated.
We’re not entirely screwed yet, not technically, but here’s the thing: every time I think we are that screwed, we end up having a good day, and every time I have hope that this might all work out, we stagnate. Now, there’s a solid chance that’s all wonky brain chemistry putting its own spin on the situation, but, just in case I do have this one, very obnoxious superpower: the Eat the Rich campaign is unbelievably screwed right now.
I jest, but, also, we really do need your help. We’re a small press, and a new press, barely a year into our existence. We’ve put out three well-received books, a story from which — “Baby,” by Samantha Chung, in Greater Than His Nature — was shortlisted for Tenebrous Press’s Brave New Weird Award. That’s pretty good for a publisher right out of the gate!
And this year we’ve got even more amazing writers lined up and a slew of amazing readers helping out behind the scenes, representing all manner of styles and bringing all manner of viewpoints to the book, keeping the stories varied while making sure the quality never dips. Making sure every aspect of Eat the Rich is as sharp and sardonic and sick and sexy as it can be.
But the thing is, we can’t do that, we can’t do more, can’t make a name for ourselves if we’re not given a chance. Such is, of course, the life of any small, independent press. We live and die by word of mouth, by book sales and pre-orders, by reviews, by crowdfunding for the opportunity to give you something great. By putting out the right book at the right time and getting extremely lucky. Honestly, based on pre-launch vibes, I thought Eat the Rich was that book. I still think it could be.
Of course, if it was possible for a publisher to survive on vibes alone — well, that would be the sign of a functioning democracy that actually valued creativity and the arts, and therefore has no relevance in this reality. But, if it was possible, I’d have the time to wait this whole endeavor out, I’d have the means to keep putting out books without the whole begging for money and attention part. But it’s not and I don’t and here we are.
Back the Eat the Rich campaign today. Please.
The future of Atomic Carnival Books may just depend on it.
Eirik Gumeny
Editor, Atomic Carnival Books
Before I go, I also wanted to give a shout-out to our friends at Howl Society Press and the Kickstarter for their upcoming Howls from the Scene of the Crime. We’re doing a little cross-promotion and I do hope you’ll check them out if you can. They’ve got some amazing authors, and if you’re into crime horror, this seems like it might be down your deep, dark alley.
Howls from the Scene of the Crime: An Anthology of Crime Horror is crowdfunding through March 28! This fully illustrated anthology from Howl Society Press features 22 new short stories of transgressions and lawlessness laced in blood, secrets, and occult compulsions. It’s edited by Jessica Peter and Timaeus Bloom and features such authors as Christopher Buehlman, Gwendolyn Kiste, and Donyae Coles, as well as a foreword by Bram Stoker Award® winning crime horror author, Cynthia Pelayo.