About
When the nightmare becomes real, when the thing in the woods awakes, when the swamp gets its first monster, when the airlock opens to the dead floating in space, there is MALAISE.
MALAISE, a horror anthology, is proudly presented by Jessamine Press. The book’s focus takes root in tales of horror, discomfort, and unease, all told through the lenses of marginalized writers. The horror genre has often had similar stories told again and again from the same point of view. To help subvert the tropes and offer new perspectives, MALAISE features stories written by voices often unheard in the publishing world.
This campaign goal will help fund and print MALAISE, an anthology of short stories all written by POC, disabled, and LGBTQ+ writers. Within the book’s pages you’ll find nine 7,000 to 10,000 word tales, all within the horror genre, but differing in subgenre.
In the creation of the anthology, we looked to encourage our writers to create short stories that were free of the discriminatory, harmful portrayals and stereotypes that often run rampant within horror, as well as avoid an over-reliance on gore. Our writers instead focused on cultivating stories pulling from true terror rather than relying on shock value and violence.
We believe that expanding upon unique point of views only helps to fuel new, original content. Ultimately, MALAISE focuses on stories for, by, and about underrepresented voices.
In early October 2017 we began our search for writers that wished to tell a new kind of scary story. By the time our search came to a close at the end of October, we had found nine writers with compelling, terrifying ideas that they’d then begun to shape into short stories. We are proud to publish these individuals who have helped bring MALAISE to life.
Our contributors for MALAISE are:
- Aimee Lim
- Femi Sobowale
- Han F.
- Isabel Johnnie Wallace
- Jamie Wong
- Lin Darrow
- Noelle Anderson
- Tabitha Grow
- Ziggy Schutz
Initial funding for MALAISE will cover the writer payments, editor payments, printing and shipping costs of the anthology. This will cover a 250 paperback book run with a high quality, professional print through Bookbaby. You can see a breakdown of our costs below:
We hope to reward our supporters as much as we can. As the project gains any additional funding, the extras offered to donors will be expanded upon. Not only will the book increase in features, but the number of printed extras and incentives will be enhanced. Ultimately, we wish to thank everyone and anyone who would help this project become a reality!
Our first tier is a simple supportive tip jar of sorts that will also list your name featured in the Thank You section in the back of the book.
Our second tier offers the full, beautiful .pdf version of the book, compatible with phones and eReaders. Your name will also be listed in the Thank You section of the book.
Our third tier offers an emailed .pdf version of the book, as well as the printed extras by Caroline Dougherty shipped right to you! Your name will also be listed in the Thank You section of the book.
If you’d prefer a physical version of MALAISE, our fourth tier offers the printed book, as well as the .pdf version for eReaders. Your name will also be listed in the Thank You section of the book.
For a little bit extra, supporters of the fifth tier will receive the physical book, a .pdf version, and the printed extra set by Caroline Dougherty, including a bookmark. Your name will also be listed in the Thank You section of the book.
For the completed collection, supporters of the sixth tier will receive the physical book, a .pdf version, the printed extra set by Caroline Dougherty, including a bookmark, and a custom bookplate designed by Shannon Kao. Your name will also be listed in the Thank You section of the book. This is a limited tier.
If you’re looking for the ultimate Malaise experience, for the seventh tier you will receive the physical book, a .pdf version, the printed extra set by Caroline Dougherty, including a bookmark, the custom bookplate by Shannon Kao, and a digital commission of your choice with limited background from Shazleen Khan. Your name will also be listed in the Thank You section of the book. This is a limited tier.
*Please note that once the campaign ends, you'll be able to add-on more or duplicate extras to your pledge, such as ordering additional bookmarks or prints no matter your reward level.
Our main focus for this anthology is to support and pay our contributors as much as we can. Each new goal we reach will bump payment for our writers, with bonuses to our editors and artists added in. In addition to that, we hope to increase the quality of the book we print as we reach higher goals. Ultimately, we wish to produce the best product possible for our supporters.
- Increased payment for writers (additional $50).
- Increased payment for our editors (additional $25).
- Gold foil added to the print set by Caroline Dougherty.
- Book upgraded to a hardcover edition.
- An added set of prints to those receiving printed extras by Shannon Kao for Tier III: Imperial Moth + Tier V: Atlas Moth and up.
- Increased payment for writers (additional $50).
- 50 extra books printed.
- Dust-jacket added to hardcover editions.
- Spot illustrations added above each story title by Shazleen Khan.
- Increased payment for writers (additional $50).
- An added set of prints to those receiving printed extras by Shazleen Khan for Tier III: Imperial Moth + Tier V: Atlas Moth and up.
- Increased payment for writers (additional $50).
- Increased payment for artists.
- 50 extra books printed.
- Custom black and white illustrations for each story by Naomi Franquiz.
- Increased payment for writers (additional $50).
- A custom enamel pin for Tier V: Atlas Moth and up supporters.
Many people helped make this project a reality, and we at Jessamine Press would like to take a moment to thank them for everything they’ve done for us and the project itself.
Editors
We'd like to extend our thanks to our editors for their hard work and steadfast dedication to making this anthology the best it can be. After our initial run-through of each contributor's story, these four editors worked on an individual basis with each contributor for the better part of a month. We want to thank them for their tireless support.
Artists
- Caroline Dougherty: We'd like to extend our thanks to Caroline. As our lead designer on MALAISE, Caroline was responsible for all of our branding, the cover design for the book, and the lovely Kickstarter images as well as providing invaluable consulting services.
- Naomi Franquiz: We'd like to extend our thanks to Naomi Franquiz, who will be providing custom black and white illustrations for each story, if and when we reach our Xestia stretch goal.
- Shannon Kao: We'd like to extend our thanks to Shannon Kao, who provided the bookplate design for MALAISE, and will be creating a custom print set for this anthology if and when we reach our Attacus stretch goal.
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Shazleen Khan: We'd like to extend our thanks to Shazleen Khan, who is not only providing 5 custom commission tiers for 5 of our backers, but will also be creating a custom print set for this anthology if and when we reach our Acherontia stretch goal.
- Melissa Hyer: We'd liked to extend our thanks to Melissa, the original designer of the Jessamine Press logos.
Risks and challenges
We have done our best to ensure that this project goes smoothly and everyone involved is treated and paid fairly. The stories are all completed and the book is ready for print but we need your support to make this anthology a reality.
This is the first anthology for our new press, but we've had the support of many lovely, talented, and far more experienced people than us to bring this anthology to completion.
We have an initial printing goal of 250 books, at minimum, but will adjust and print higher than that as demand requires.
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