2023 is almost here! New years always come with a sense of possibility and we've got lots to deliver. Issue 135, reopening to your lovely submissions, the flash contest continues, a new Kickstarter project, and more!
Issue 135
Issue 135 releases January 3rd. We have original fiction from Isabel J. Kim, Mari Ness, Lindz McLeod, K.S. Walker, Akis Linardos, and Jordan Kurella. We've got classic fiction from V.G. Harrison and LP Kindred. There are essays by Eugen Bacon, author of the forthcoming "Danged Black Thing" from Apex Book Company, and Monica Valentinelli. And finally, for the first time, we've got flash fiction: Sagan Yee and Michelle Denham round out our ToC. This incredible cover art is by Asya Yordanova.
Happy Hour with Jason and Lesley
On Tuesday, January 10th, at 8pm Eastern, join Jason and Lesley and special guest Lindz McLeod on our YouTube channel for a live streamed conversation about writing, editing, reading, and more.
Lindz McLeod is a queer, working-class, Scottish writer and editor who dabbles in the surreal. Her prose has been published byCatapult,Flash Fiction Online,Pseudopod,The Razor, and many more. Her novelette LOVE, HAPPINESS, AND ALL THE THINGS YOU MAY NOT BE DESTINED FOR was featured in the second issue of Assemble Artifacts. Her work includes the short story collection Turducken (Bear Creek Press, 2022) and her debut novel Beast (Brigids Gate Press, 2023).
She is a full member of the SFWA, a Rogue Mentor to six talented mentees, and is represented by Laura Zats at Headwater Literary Management. In 2023 Lindz will begin a PhD in Creative Writing with Manchester Metropolitan University. She can be found on twitter @lindzmcleod or her websitewww.lindzmcleod.co.uk
Robotic Ambitions
Check out our new anthology Kickstarter project coming this February: Robotic Ambitions edited by Jason Sizemore and Lesley Conner. Whether striving to protect the family they’ve chosen, searching for meaning amid the chaos of the world, or questioning what it is that makes one alive, robotic ambition can mean many different things. From robots and AI to sentient mechanical devices, this anthology will explore what it means to be sentient and mechanical. Join Jason Sizemore and Lesley Conner as they peel back the metal and find out what lies at the center of Robotic Ambitions.
Writing Workshops with Jason Sizemore
One of the most challenging aspects of writing genre short fiction is landing your opening scene. Join our Editor in Chief Jason Sizemore for a workshop focusing on that opening. The workshop will be a mix of lectures, writing exercises, and professional feedback. With only a few seats left, sign up as soon as possible! This workshop will be January 17, 2023 at 2:00 PM Eastern.
Knowing how to end your story is a valuable skill for any writer. What does a reader (or editor) look for in the conclusion of a story? What are some strategies for determining how to wrap up your tale? This workshop presents the various elements and plot points you need to consider. This workshop will be held January 19, 2023 at 2:00 PM Eastern. Seats are almost filled.
Check out our other classes while you're there!
Apex Flash Fiction
The January Flash Fiction Contest—themed inked—window will close on December 31. The February Contest will open on January 7th for flash fiction submissions. Themes are chosen by Patrons at the end of the month and announced to Patrons on the 1st of each month. Submissions will be open to the public on the 7th of each month. Submissions close on the last day of the month at midnight (US Central Time).
The winner will be announced no later than the 15th of the following month and will be paid $0.08/word or $10, whichever is more. The winning story will appear on our Patreon as an exclusive and will be included in the forthcoming issue of Apex Magazine.
Podcast Episode 97
Our January Podcast will be "The Big Glass Box and the Boys Inside," by Isabel J. Kim, narrator TBA.
Check out Episode 96, “Observations of a Small Object in Decaying Orbit” by Margaret Dunlap and narrated by Paxton Clifford.
Patreon Exclusives
Also on our Patreon, we have an exciting lineup of exclusives for our Patrons from the Authors of Issue 135. We'll have interviews, photo tours, and story insights. Jordan Kurella will be the Happy Hour guest in February. Keep an eye on our Patreon!
Not a Patron? Join us for as little as $3/month to get access to these exclusives and the magazine in your inbox!
Discord Happenings
As always, we have fun and community on our Discord: our monthly game 'night' with Codenames AKA Weird Brain Yoga, critique swaps, live co-writing sessions, and general community support for writers. (Rejectomancy, anyone?)
To add the Apex Events Calendar to your google calendar, follow this link: https://tinyurl.com/4c74rext
