ANTIOCH’s HISTORY

In 1985, Antioch was founded by Jeremiah Balfour, as a small-press publisher. Unlike Tal Productions and other small-press publishers, that stress content, they forgot the concept of visual impact. A good book cover can quite literally "make or break" a novel. Too many excellent authors were passe before they began. All because of a uninspiring, dull jacket presentation. In today’s visual world, readers are most intrigued by a high tech, splashy, eye-catching cover. Most publishers are not prepared to invest in this costly endeavor, especially with first-time authors.

From the onset, Jeremiah Balfour understood marketing techniques that would set his books apart from the rest. Mr. Balfour did a bit of research into what made other publishers successful. Just because his company was small, didn’t mean that he would have limited ideals. His idea of "team effort" became his primary mission. He expected all his workers and authors to adhere to his schedules and plans. However, as a small press, Mr. Balfour was also sensitive to the needs of both new and seasoned writing talent.

Despite the seemingly impossible task of giving new talent a chance to prove their marketability, without angering talent already established, Antioch has managed to stay friendly and attentive to all its writers. Antioch remains an independent publisher and strives to avoid the problems often associated with "conglomerate" publishing houses, like Viacom’s ownership of Simon and Schuster, who has merged so many times it has lost sight of the needs of the authors and their own individuality. Too many submissions, from new authors, are put on slush piles and ultimately rejected, without one person even turning a page of their manuscript. Many publishers have followed Hollywood movie producers by making huge advances of millions of dollars to celebrity authors, who may or may not have a best seller. This high cash flow, to the author, escalates the cost of the novel and doesn’t allow money to be spent on the publishing costs. These practices make mediocre writers into gods, while many a true artist can be left in the lurch. Just like Hollywood, they go with the established clientele.

We will not advance any one author huge sums of money for a potential blockbuster that will flop and leave us sacrificing other writer’s budgets to re-coup our loss. Our books, blockbuster or not, will be well promoted, but not superfluously. Our philosophy is to make our successes of benefit to both author and our publishing firm. Our novels will sell because they are excellent, well-written pieces.

All that we ask of our writers, is that they continue to produce quality work and remain consistent in this. We will not give the money and remain before a novel is sold, but rather after it has proven itself. We do our best and expect authors to do their’s. New and established writers are judged by the same expectations of quality and style. This principle allows us to market first-time writers.

After an author is accepted, he or she will be given a small stipend for the length of the novel, as the market suggests. We then put our money into making the novel marketable. We do not mismanage funds. We treat authors fairly, so that they have the best shot at success. A novel will fail or succeed on its own merit.

Antioch’s book’s new imprint, Stargazers, will be looking for the usual with a contemporary style and appeal. One thing you can be sure of is that someone will read your novel. It won’t sit here collecting dust. In fact, often a whole team of proofreaders will explore a storyline before it is approved or rejected. Once an author is signed on, we will do all we can to see the novel gets a chance at success. Once we believe in an author, we will stand behind them. We will arrange book signings, promotional fliers, etc.

ANTIOCH IS READY TO TALK WITH ITS AUTHORS AND LISTEN TO THEIR CONCERNS

The other problem was that Antioch’s books had little designation to separate one genre from another. This led to many specialty genres, such as sci-fi, horror, and fantasy in the appropriate section, at their local bookstore. Customers want easy access to that genre. By making a new line, we can direct submissions and sell books properly, eliminating two problems at once. Our new status will allow us to compete with other small publishing houses, like TOR, while giving the large conglomerates, like Viacom’s Simon and Schuster, a run for their money, as well as small presses like Tal Productions.

also will attend all the conferences necessary to make sure whomever is handling our books is properly prepped. We submit our books for listings in the trade publications such as Books in Print and Publishers Trade List Annual.

Stargazers will shoot for notoriety among writer’s association as well. Examples of these markets are: the Horror Writer’s Association and The Association of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Writers. This will be executed via our "writer friendly" attitude and fairness to all writers. We will generate interest by advertising in magazines for writers in the field, via interviews and advertising. "Pulphouse," "The Report," and "Horror" magazines are representative of the kind of news magazines we target.

In conclusion, Stargazers is only a beginning. We intend to evolve with our reading public and our writer’s demands. Stargazers understands the concept of fulfilling the public’s needs, in turn this helps our business, both internally and externally.

With that in mind, I am happy to introduce Stargazers to you. My duties as Public Relations Advisor is to steer Antioch into the 21st century and make Stargazers a first in a series of new book imprints that will allow Antioch to grow with the times and become an asset, rather than a detriment to our principles.

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Betancourt, John Gregory, "What’s Wrong With Small Press

Publishers?" Horror, Issue #5, published by the Wildside

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published by the Wildside Press, 1994.

Rosenman, John B., "1993: The Year in Horror Censoship," Horror,

Issue#1, published by the Wildside Press, 1993.

Vantage Press, "To the Author in Search of a Publisher," New York:

Vantage Press Book Publishers.

Weinburg, Robert, "Selling Books," Horror, Issue #2, published by the

Wildside Press, 1994.