Interview: Steve Dillon, Editor Of Anthology INFECTED
The new horror anthology Infected: Tales to Read at Home is a charity project from publisher Things in the Well, the publications arm of Oz Horror Con. The book is a collection of short stories about infections, viruses, and plagues. Contributors include Lisa Morton, Kevin J. Anderson, Lee Murray, Tabatha Wood, Ben Monroe, Peter Naughton, Dawn de Braal, Carolyn Geduld, Steve Carr, Ingrid Taylor, Stephen Herczeg, Mark Cassell, Darren Todd, Kurt Newton, Jenean McBrearty, Cory Swanson, Paul Moore, and Eugene Johnson.
A collection of terrifying tales set in the very near future… or perhaps it’s already here? It’s an infected apocalypse and we’re all (alone) in it together! ALL proceeds go to the Save the Children Coronavirus Response.
Steve Dillon, founder of Things In The Well, is the editor of Infected. In this exclusive interview, Steve talks to Monster Complex about the book.
01 Tell us about the new collection INFECTED: TALES TO READ AT HOME. Is there a theme or what are the highlights of the book?
The theme is short, memorable stories connected with infection, disease, viruses, etc. In some stories the association is more subtle than the overtly Coronavirus inspired stories or the ubiquitous zombie apocalypse tales, although these so have their places. :)
02 How did you determine what or who would be in the book this time?
I issued a call-out on social media as I usually do and the response was so great that I received enough submissions for a second volume, which will follow hot on the heels of the first... As to who should be included, it really was based on the quality of the stories themselves, and getting the right mix. Having two books actually helped with that. I did reject a few stories I actually enjoyed but which didn’t quite fit the theme.
03 This anthology is collecting money for the Save the Children Coronavirus Response. How did that arrangement come about? How will the money be used?
I wanted to help with the current crisis, of course. And especially to leverage an established charity like Save the Children, who best know how to use the money. All the money received will be donated to their Coronavirus Response fund. All writers kindly donated their stories for the cause, and as editor I also receive nothing and I won’t be deducting anything from the monies received through Amazon, etc. In fact, I’m expecting my employers to fund-match the monies I donate as part of their employee “Giving program.”
04 Things in the Well has published numerous anthologies–how do you determine a theme or what goes in a new volume?
In this case, the theme was clearly inspired by the Coronavirus pandemic. In the past, themes have been suggested by others, such as our forthcoming Black Dogs, Black Tales anthology for Mental Health New Zealand, which Tabatha Wood suggested and also edited. And Louise Zedda-Sampson came up with the idea for Burning Love, Bleeding Hearts, which she co-edited, and which raised $2,000 for the Red Cross for victims of the Australian Bushfires. So, in short, need sometimes drives the theme. And sometimes, I just pick a theme that I fancy, like the dark erotic anthology Guilty Pleasures and Other Dark Delights. :)
05 What are the best ways for folks to purchase their copy or to support INFECTED: TALES TO READ AT HOME?
Amazon is best: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086MZBVP6 —and watch out for book two as well!
Infected: Tales to Read At Home
Various
Things In The Well