Helloooo!!

Last week saw the launch of the Out of the Darkness Kickstarter from Unsung stories. A new anthology that will also support mental health charity with it’s proceeds. The initial target was smashed and now the stretch targets are underway you can find out more here

Dan Coxon from Unsung kindly agreed to answer a few questions on the project

When did you get the idea for this anthology?

I think some people will assume that it came about during lockdown, as a result of the mental stress we’ve all been placed under during the last twelve months – but actually it was under way before that. I first started working on it late in 2019, but the idea itself came earlier than that, possibly late 2018, after This Dreaming Isle came out. I wanted to do another anthology, but at the same time I didn’t want to just do one for the sake of it. It had to mean something – and this in this case, the mental health theme of Out of the Darkness is very personal. I’m also thrilled that we’ve been able to make it a charity anthology, raising money for a good cause – the fact that we’ll be doing something worthwhile beyond just putting another book out into the world has spurred me on through the tough times!

What led to the choice of fear as the theme?

It’s not fear itself, more mental health, and the wide variety of things that can mean for different people. In some of the stories, it manifests as anxiety – so yes, fear is in the foreground. But mental health issues like depression can be about much more than that. They encompass self-doubt, poor self-image, lack of coping mechanisms… the list goes on and on. I wanted the writers involved to be able to explore whichever facet of mental health was most important to them, so we’ve ended up with a wide variety of stories.

What role do you have as editor in this kind of anthology?

In the first instance, I had to come up with the theme, the title, the concept. Then I have to gather together the line-up of writers (more difficult than you might imagine!) Set deadlines, collect and collate the stories, decide the running order, edit them for errors and consistency, promote the book, write the introduction… I’ve left some jobs out, but you get the idea. Given that I’m publisher on this book with Unsung Stories, too, I’ve been living and breathing it for the past year.

What scares you?

I’m terrible with other people’s illness. The idea of my loved ones getting sick – seriously sick – fills me with dread. Last weekend our three-month-old kitten was poorly and had to visit the vet, and I was a mess. If you want to get all analytical about it, I was hospitalised – and almost died – with peritonitis when I was five, so I think it’s probably a fear that’s deeply rooted in my psyche. It’s that combination of potentially losing someone you love, but also being helpless to do anything about it. As you can imagine, the last year has been a challenge.

What is your favourite short story that scares you?

My mind always goes blank whenever people ask me for favourites, so I apologise for dodging the issue. I tend to enjoy discovering new writers and new stories all the time, rather than revisiting old ones. I love Robert Aickman’s unsettling stories though – ‘The Hospice’ is a classic, and deserves to be taught in schools. Did it scare me? Probably not, but it did unsettle me. I like fiction that pulls the ground out from beneath you, which he does so well.

Where can we find out more details?

Out of the Darkness is crowdfunding now on Kickstarter. We’ve already met our original target, but we’re hoping to hit some new targets and add a couple of new authors to the book – so it’s not over yet. We still have some great rewards on offer too, including strictly limited hardbacks and manuscript critiques. You can find it here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/unsungstories/out-of-the-darkness-an-anthology-of-horror-and-dark-fantasy

A little later this week some authors in the anthology will talk about their role too!