Twenty years is a long time. In the world of publishing, it might as well be a century. In small press publishing, it makes you a Methuselah.
On March 16th, 2005, the first issue of Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest was released. It featured cover art and design by Justin Stewart. Original fiction from the likes of Lavie Tidhar, Lawrence Schoen, Anna Parrish, Liam Rands, Doug Hewitt, and MM Buckner. The fiction, art, and cover design were pretty darn good. The interior layout (my work) was... Serviceable.
Considering how little I knew then about publishing, editing, and design, I'm amazed we were able to produce a half-decent first issue. Fortunately, I had the help of people who knew what they were doing. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to those folks and in particular to Gillian Ainsworth and Justin Stewart.
Gillian and Justin are the first of a long list of people who helped shape Apex Publications into the company it is today.
Here's some of the talented people who helped immensely in the early years: Stephanie Jacob, Maurice Broaddus, Geoffrey Girard, Maggie Slater, McKenzie Winberry-Johnston, Hannah Krieger, Jodi Lee, E.D. Trimm, and Deb Taber.
A lot of them have moved on and probably will never see this post. It kind of makes me sad that they'll never know the profound effect they had on my life. But they deserve the acknowledgement all the same.
To give you some perspective on how long ago we're talking, I was flipping through my copy of Apex Digest #7 and the interior cover ad was a full-page spot advertising the launch of Clarkesworld Magazine!
Through the middle years of the company, I turned the Apex Magazine leadership to up-and-comers like Catherynne M. Valente and Lynne M. Thomas while I focused on raising my kids and making money to support the press. In 2024, Lesley Conner took over the zine and has continued to make me look like a hiring genius.
These days, I owe a lot to Rebecca Treasure, Leah Ning, Ori Whipple, Darian Bianco, Marissa van Uden, Arie Kushner, and Greg Fazekas. And, yes, Justin Stewart and Maurice Broaddus, who are both still helping out all this time later!
When people ask me about the secret to small press longevity, the answer is one part stubbornness and three parts who joins you on the journey. I've been lucky to have so many great, talented people join the Apex staff over the years.
You know what? I can see another twenty years with the Apex alien head in our future should my lucky streak hold.
