It's out guys!!!!
http://www.surrealgrotesque.com/
Yes, we have an official website.
It will link you to issuu where the actual mag is to read it, all you have to do is sign in with your facebook id with one click and you are in. It will give you a warning that this is for adults, blah blah blah.
Eventually we will host the entire mag through our site but for now we are going through issuu. It takes two seconds to sign up and read it.
Ka-boom!
Is Issuu going to ask me to lick things that might taste inappropriate?
Yes.
I liked you up on Solarcide and FB. Man, the issue looks superb. That's my bedtime reading sorted then.
Fantastic. Alien, you're amazing.
The finished product is amazing, Danny, I've linked it on all my various social networking sites. Brava!
Thank you everyone! My goal is to get 500 likes by the end of the month!
I really would like more submissions from you guys. I am getting a shitload of art subs but surprisingly few writing ones. Future themed issues are serial killers, sex & death, mutations & mutilations. Things we can all relate to.
I am also not opposed to subtle stories like maybe a serial killer who likes kittens and has a family. He just happens to kill prostitutes for fun.
Hmmm. Dang. Not a lot of writing, huh?
That first issue is sweet. So what is the best way to read it? Just zoom in?
I know I am an idiot for asking, but, well, I am an idiot.
You should be able to click on the actual mag and it will go full screen so you can use the arrows to flip through it like a reg mag. There is also a pdf download option on issuu
Hey Danny, I think I'll have something else for you soon. Remember the snippet I posted a while back that was from a 'mothers day story'?
Well I was stuck on that one and never finished it. But I have a new idea, think I might have finally cracked it. When War and bizarro workshop are through I will finish that up. Maybe sooner depending on how much writing time I get.
I think it could a good one. Right up your street. Will be a fit for either Sex & Death, or Mutations and Mutilations. Probably more likely for the latter.
Oh, your finished draft for the issue 2 story is ready man. I'll send it you over tomorrow when i'm not posting from my phone.
I've got everything in submissions right now, but I'm working on one for the serial killer and M&M issues.
Officially have 345 views on Issuu and 102 likes on Facebook. That's not bad for the first week! Tell your friends, spread the word so we can expand our readership. I have made a lot of sacrifices for this project, buying the webspace and the program Adobe Indesign to layout the mag. Total price tag so far: 500 dollars.
You didn't shell out for the newest version, did you? You can torrent that shit, I did and got InDesign and Photoshop both for free. I love the way InDesign magazines look. They're a thousand times more professional and well-done than ones made in other programs. Yours looks fantastic.
Danny:
I will deliver this time. I will have something for issue four. Promise. Now whether you like it or not, that I can't say.
Thanks Courtney. I tried to torrent it but I kept getting ones with viruses. I just bought it with my student discount. Sighs, doing the honest thing sucks and is expensive.
@Ryan--I'm sure I will, considering the subject matter, how other people will react is up to them. At least your not writing a story about how 9/11 was a lie or the holocaust was made up. Then I'm sure I'd get death threats.
You are doing great work Danny. For such a short time, you should be pleased with the response you are getting. Getting the ball rolling can be tough, trust me. You are doing just fine so far.
Danny are you on duotrope yet? I'm sure you'll start getting a ton of subs. You should go to all the other horror zine websites and introduce yourself on the comments page so other readers/writers will see it. You'll probably start getting so many subs you won't be able to keep up.
My pants are wet.
I think having a website that isn't a wordpress or blog-type will increase your submissions 10-fold. Also, using submishmash and duotrope will do it.
After people see that first issue, they'll know you ain't fuckin' around. That's some professional shit.
@ryan, HEY! I missed you, ryan, where the hell've you been?
Yes, I am on duotrope and I have been posting on other writerly websites now. Thanks guys! I have laid out 50 pages of issue 2 so far. I am very pleased with the results.
Just so you know for Issue 3, I am looking for a male serial killer model. If you know anyone let me know.
I wouldn't mind doing it. I know photographers and I have great ideas. Only thing, I have the body of a 7 year old girl. :/
That sounds like a great prop for a serial killer photo shoot. Where do you keep it? In the freezer?
Oops, I mean my..
Yes.
He-He™
Preface: I'm not stalking you.
On Twitter you linked to your Facebook stating that you need male and female models -- do you still need female or just male? (My boyfriend's a photography major looking for a new project and I was going to mention it to him)
@ typewriter: hey duder. I still exist. Still write too. Just don't spend much time in the workshop anymore. Seems like few do actually, and so likewise I'm just treading the writing and rewriting waters alone, save a couple individuals who've been proofing my work.
I hope all is well, man.
Have I ever mentioned that my brain doesn't work right? If you saw this post before I edited it, then you know that my brain doesn't work right.
But I love the layout of the magazine, maybe some clearer sub-pages would be helpful on the website though, Like tabs or something, instead of one long page.
Click-able table of contents.
@courtney, male and female. I just want more black and white stuff, serial killery. Is your boyfriend hot? Maybe shirtless and bloody photos haha
@nick, I agree. Peter just kind of threw that together hours before the launch so its actually pretty amazing he did that in like a few hours. I know nothing of html code.
@ everyone--I am going to run about ten flash fiction pieces in the serial killer issue, 500 words or less, extreme stream of consciousness stuff. Take me into the mind of a serial killer for 5 min. Would love for you all to submit.
Damn thats one nice magazine. Kudos to you alien.
Thanks :)
I'm in awe of the illustrations. You've snagged up some talent to pair your vision with, Danny. You've really done some great work in a short span of time.
Thanks, Becky. You should submit your zombie story for the sex and death issue.
Well, I'm not sure he'd be up for modeling. He doesn't really do self-portraits. I could easily find some hot bitches to do the photo shoot, though. I'll talk to him tonight and see what he's got on the schedule, I'm pretty sure he could have a couple shots in by the end of next week if that isn't too late.
No, that's cool. The serial killer issue actually isn't until July 1st.
Danny, I never got the theme thing, let me know and I'll see what I can write (depending on the theme you're planning)
Wow, this was very impressive. The last series of letters blew my mind. That would be an..em..interesting approach.
When do you need submissions for the serial killers issue? That would be a fun one to tackle.
Re-read a few bits of issue one today. Some really good stuff.
Can't wait to see issue two. You guys seen the advert in the first issue? Carlton Mellick III, Nik Korpon, D. Harlan Wilson, & Gregory Black!
And some mook called Martin too.
Looking forward to it.
Jeremy is my new best friend. I'm glad you liked my story. That was my real blood on the suicide note. I used my diabetic poker. I literally bled for art.
Issue two is pretty full.
We have a cool model who did her own psychotic version of Alice in Wonderland based on the American Mcgee game.
The only thing stopping my boyfriend from submitting photos for the serial killer issue is that he wants me to model for them. I'm not sure that would work very well.
I have a piece I'm considering submitting for the fourth issue, but it's still not finished.
That's cool, Courtney. It's fine, I have a shitload of art subs anyway, I need more writing subs.
Give us some specifics of what you want, Alien.
Oh, you know what I want, Howie and you delivered.
serial killers is obvious.
For the sex and death issue, I want stories that combine the two is a disgusting erotic, violent bizarre parasitic way. Stories that give you herpes just by reading them.
Then with the mutations and mutilations stories, I want people who are deformed in some way. Either psychologically or physically.
Nicely done, Alien! Not sure if my style of writing would mix in with the horror show crowd, but I may give a stab to the mutation / deformities piece. I've had an idea brewing for awhile that may fit in with that theme. I used to write a ton of horror but looking back, I wasn't especially good at it. My stuff may be a bit too tame for your site, but I'll give it go!
Honestly the key is not grossout but psychologically compelling characters.
And horse dicks. Don't forget horse dicks.
