KLAW Anthology in the Works!

From Mark Miller:
​In a previous meeting, I mentioned the possibility of a KLAW-sponsored and published Short Story Anthology. I have already made the initial arrangements. Now I want a gauge of interest by KLAW participants in such an endeavor. Below are the standards and agreements for this endeavor. I entered into an arrangement with the marketer and editor. I incurred the initial expense of creating the anthology in paperback form—the costs of obtaining copies by participants are listed below. I will be the Point of Contact for this project.
As noted, the marketer/editor will do an INITIAL edit of all the selected short stories. I will be responsible for selecting the tales and obtaining final CONTENT editing for the anthology. As it was my idea, I have chosen the following theme for the short stories;
"The stories, poems, pieces of art, and tales of life in the future Kitsap County will be as imagined by the author." The future can be one year from the present or a hundred years; it can be positive or negative.
This anthology will be Adult in nature. However, I would prefer literary works of a not-too-shocking nature. Three-page graphic sex or torture scenes are not what I am looking to publish under the KLAW banner.
Stories need to be at least 1,000 words in length and a maximum of 10,000 words. The planned size of the anthology is around 80,000 words. We can reduce the word count to five hundred words minimum for those who want to include poetry. However, please remember Homer’s Illiad was long. Also, for creatives wishing to have artwork, remember it needs to be black and white drawings due to printing restrictions.
At the latest, I plan on having the due submission date of February 28, 2023. The anthology will be finished earlier if all the stories are completed earlier.
I have paid for the initial 6X9 Paperback Edition. The Hardback Edition requires additional funds. As noted by the marketer/editor, his turnaround is about thirty days once all product is completed. I paid the cost for the book to be set up on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Ingram. Review the Marketers/Editor’s conditions below.
“6x9 Paperback Editions (high gloss or matte, full-color cover):
100 to 300 pages (up to 80,000 words total). Blue pencil editing only (just grammar and spelling). Original cover (not stock image). Interior and cover laid out and proofed to one group member. Changes requested are made by me. After publication, anyone in the anthology could order copies at 50% off the retail price plus $0.80 cents shipping per book. These wholesale orders can be shipped directly to anyone included in the anthology. Orders are placed using an automated form online so a credit card, debit card or PayPal account must be used to order books, no checks are accepted. Sales of the book made through Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Ingram are paid out monthly via PayPal to a single email address for the group to divide up as they see fit. The group makes the full amount of these sales; I do not keep any of these funds. The base price for this is $100. Getting the book setup at Amazon is an additional $25. Getting the book setup at Barnes & Noble is an additional $25. And getting the book setup with Ingram is $50. So if the group wanted everything explained here, the total cost would be $200. If the group does more books with me within two years, I charge only $150, giving the group a 25% discount as a repeat customer.”
“6x9 Hardback Editions (hard case high gloss, full-color cover, no dust jacket):
Everything the same as above except the shipping is $0.90 per book because they are heavier. Also, the base cost is $200 though the distributor fees are the same. So for everything, the cost would be $300. If the group does additional hardbacks with me within two years, I charge only $225, giving the group a 25% discount as a repeat customer.
My turnaround is thirty days from receipt of all the stories. I won’t work on books unless the work is original; I won’t publish excerpts as this sets off Ingram’s plagiarism algorithm and is too much of a hassle to deal with. I do not send comps as this is a print service, not a publishing house. KLAW will be listed as the publisher. The steps I suggest groups take are:
1. Pick a theme.
2. Have members sign up.
3. Set a deadline and a word count for the stories.
4. Authors send their stories to a single group member who acts as my contact and sends all the stories to me when they’re all in. Stories must be in DOC, DOCX, or ODT format.
5. I send the proof to the group contact.
6. The group contact sends the proof to everyone or just proofs the book himself. You have seven days to review the proof and make a list of changes.
7. Changes are sent to me.
8. I do the changes and set the book up with the chosen distributors.
9. When the book is ready, I email the group contact. ”
Please review what I have communicated and let me know if you are interested. People outside KLAW will be considered once I obtain the level of interest from KLAW.
Remember, a KLAW anthology will help communicate that we are a serious creative group. And this should be FUN!