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Post by dem bones on Jan 9, 2008 18:31:09 GMT
Noctem Aeternus is a FREE quarterly PDF magazine where the reader will find science fiction, fantasy, western, or even mystery stories…but all tales will have an element of horror.The first issue of the Noctem Aeternus - featuring an interview with and short story from Ramsey Campbell - is now available. Aside from RC, there's original fiction from Cherie Priest, Charles Coleman Finlay, Tim Waggoner and Michael Laimo, further interviews with Rod Zombie and featured artist Kuang Hong, and contributions from editor Michael Knost, Paula Guran and Jude-Marie Green. The only snag is, you'll need a Yahoo account to download it. If you have one already, hit the following link and join the group. To download the PDF - and you'll need a yahoo account - click (or copy and paste) the following link: groups.yahoo.com/group/NoctemAeternusMagazine/files/Once you've joined, go to FILES The file name is NoctemAeternus.PDF
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Post by Calenture on Jan 9, 2008 20:33:10 GMT
The first issue of the Noctem Aeternus... The only snag is, you'll need a Yahoo account to download it. If you have one already, hit the following link and join the group. I've just lost count of the number of verification pages I had to get through to reach this group. It's been so long since this was first advertised, that the email address I used to register has been deleted. And finally the verification pages for another address seem to have swallowed each other. I'll try again tomorrow, there's no reaching the group tonight!
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Post by Calenture on Jan 9, 2008 20:53:03 GMT
OK OK, I tried again and finally got through, and it looks very impressive. Might as well pretty this thread up with the cover nicked from the old place. Help keep the magazine FREE...sign up today! Sign up
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Post by carolinec on Jan 15, 2008 21:09:53 GMT
Phew, I think they're going to have to make it easier for people to access this if they want readers! I've been trying to get access for the last 30 mins, finally managed to do so, thought I'd saved it to disc, and when I tried to open it up again it's in a totally unreadable format! Now I'm going to have to try to access it again. Argh!!!
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Post by sean on Jan 16, 2008 8:40:34 GMT
No problem downloading it here.
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Post by carolinec on Jan 16, 2008 12:20:23 GMT
No problem downloading it here. I think my technophobia might have something to do with it too! I managed to get hold of it again now, but don't have time to read it after all that messing about. Argh!!!
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Post by Calenture on Jan 16, 2008 12:55:46 GMT
I once failed to download a paid-for PDF magazine. It required 3 hours to download with the dial-up that I had then, but the ISP server broke the connection every 2 hours. Result: an unreadable PDF file. I did mention this problem facing dial-up users at the Noctem Aeternus group, but the policy is apparently to use the group as a one-way message board, and my message didn't appear. I seem to remember that the Noctem Aeternus PDF was about 90 pages(?) Anyway, I can't remember where I put it now - and considering how much there is to read already just on this forum, I'm probably not going to get to it! Sorry, but I dislike PDF zines. They depress me because I see a wealth of hard work and talent just going to waste. PDF's are intended for printing. If the magazine doesn't get printed - and I know it takes time and I certainly owe people printed magazines and disks and other stuff - but if it doesn't get printed, then in my opinion it's a job half-done.
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Post by carolinec on Jan 16, 2008 14:15:51 GMT
Sorry, but I dislike PDF zines. They depress me because I see a wealth of hard work and talent just going to waste. PDF's are intended for printing. If the magazine doesn't get printed - and I know it takes time and I certainly owe people printed magazines and disks and other stuff - but if it doesn't get printed, then in my opinion it's a job half-done. I must admit, I feel the same about online reading material. I have to print it out, or I don't read it - I just can't read long tomes on screen. I tend, therefore, to just copy, paste and print out the bits I really want to read there and then, and then the rest gets forgotten about as I tend not to go back to it later. Mind you, with a book of short stories or a printed magazine I read it in the same manner - picking bits out here and there and then leaving it. But at least if it's in printed form on my shelves there is a good chance I will pick it up again at some point. I definitely prefer printed material to on-screen material, there's no doubt about that.
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Post by dem bones on Mar 9, 2008 8:26:25 GMT
Sad news from Michael Knost. I'm sure you will wish to join me in thanking Micheal for all the hard work he put into Noctem Aeternus and wish he and his wife the very best with their future projects - not least, the impending arrival of the little Knost!
To the Darkly Faithful,
I have always considered Noctem Aeternus Magazine as a vehicle to expand the horror genre, and to add a good paying market for its writers.
My idea was to create a quality PDF delivered quarterly. The plan was to make the subscription free so we could build a huge circulation, where we could use those numbers in a national sells effort. The goal was to have 30,000 subscribers before the first issue hit mailboxes . . . unfortunately we only reached 6,000 subscribers.
I paid over $2,000 out of my own pocket to pay the writers for the first issue because we did not have sufficient advertising. The money is not the issue . . . however, the fact that I misjudged the number of folks signing up for a free product is.
My life is changing, and I simply cannot continue with the business model I set out with. As many of you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child in August. We have been married for 15 years and this something that has already changed everything. We are also in the process of purchasing a bigger house so when the little one grows into the bigger one, we'll have the room and I won't have to give up my den or office.
So, with all that said, I am announcing that Noctem Aeternus is no more. The first issue was its last, unfortunately.
I want to thank each of you for subscribing and supporting. I have heard from hundreds of you about how much you enjoyed the first issue, the stories, the authors.
I also want to thank the authors who became a part of the ride. I had the pleasure of working with some of the best in the business. You are all fantastic.
I want to especially thank Jude-Marie Greene, Rob Darnell, Brian J. Hatcher, Paula Guran, and Ada McMurray for all the hard work and excellent views. I can never say enough about these folks.
All pending submissions are released back to respective authors. I hope you all sell them for more money than you could have made with us.
I am not going away in the genre; I am just letting the magazine go. I will continue to write, edit anthologies, and hopefully write some more . . .
I will keep this email list going so I can send emails occasionally about upcoming projects and so forth. You are invited to stay, but you can opt-out at any time.
Thanks again, Michael Knost
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Post by sean on Mar 9, 2008 10:00:48 GMT
I was just about to post that!
I think 30,000 subscribers was a ludicrously high target to set for a PDF magazine. The fact that he managed 6000 is pretty amazing.
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Post by troo on Mar 9, 2008 10:04:10 GMT
Arse!
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Post by carolinec on Mar 9, 2008 11:36:07 GMT
Yes, I was just about to post that too! I agree, Sean, I think he badly misjudged potential readership and how long it would take to build it up. I also think that the comments we made earlier - about the difficulty in accessing it via Yahoo groups - was a big put-off for potential readers too. It certainly put me off anyway, I'm afraid. But it's sad to see an attempt to create a new zine fail.
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Post by Calenture on Mar 9, 2008 12:56:25 GMT
But it's sad to see an attempt to create a new zine fail. Definitely agree with that. I wouldn't know what number of subscribers would have been reasonable, but I think it might have helped if there had been real communication between the magazine and the people it was intended to reach. I don't think it's enough to just get email addresses and hope people are going to read your stuff. It has to be two-way communication.
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sevren
New Face In Hell
Posts: 1
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Post by sevren on Mar 10, 2008 19:59:02 GMT
Sadly I don't think I ever got around to finishing the download, and now the yahoo group no longer exists. Does anyone know whether or not its possible to still get access to the magazine?
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Post by carolinec on Mar 10, 2008 21:03:20 GMT
That's a good question, Sevren. I didn't download it either as it was so large and I didn't bother at the time. Perhaps emailing Michael Knost might be the best way to find out? Not sure ...
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