Raus! Untoten! – An update

Raus! Untoten! cover by Jeff Preston

Anyone who knows me and either a) actually listens to me b) reads my social media updates, will know that I’m currently editing a four volume series of anthologies called Raus! Untoten! 

The process itself has been a hugely enjoyable learning curve. I got to see things from an editor’s point of view. In fact, I got to see it from a couple of editor’s points of view. First I was the commissioning editor. I had to write the guidelines, craft them so that people understood as clearly as possible what I was looking for. Needless to say some either misunderstood or deliberately ignored them, but on the whole they followed them. I then decided which stories I would accept and which, unfortunately, I would not.

Next, I was a copy editor. I went through the stories and made comments, suggestions, tidied up typos etc.

Then I started to work with artist Jeff Preston. I had to provide a brief for the cover I wanted. Now, I had an idea in my head, but I had absolutely no artistic skills to even give him a proper idea. So, with the use of mime, photos, and a vague and rambling description, I set him to work.

And man, can this man work! He took my ideas, suggested a couple of his own, came back to me with drafts to see if he was on the right track and then produced the amazing piece of art you see to the left. How cool is this?

Over 60 people have contributed to making this series in some form of other. Some were unlucky enough to not be included in the books, but they still contributed – commenting, sharing, posting, congratulating those that were successful – others contributed by giving positive feedback and yet others contributed by making it into the books and producing covers. How very fucking cool is that?

Volume 1 will include myself, Graham McNeill, Scott M Baker, David Thomas Moore, P. N. Roberts and John Hobkinson. Some of these authors are well established, others are first-timers. All are just as excited about this as I am.

I’m off to have a well-earned whiskey and a manly weep of happiness.