Phase One In Final Throes

I've made my decisions. The publisher has been notified. Emails are soon to be sent. This could be the end of phase one but I'm considering the end to be when we're down to only the selected ToC winners - and that's a little way off yet.

I have narrowed down 267 stories to 30. This will be further whittled down over the next few weeks (possibly 4 or 5 weeks) to the final ToC. This is liable to be around 5% of overall submissions or somewhere between 12-16 stories (plus or minus a couple - we have no definitive number in mind but it would cost the earth to publish an antho with over 150,000 words in it so we need to cut it down at least a bit).

To everyone who has made it this far - congratulations. To everyone who submitted but didn't make it this far, I'm sorry. I know I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again (many times), but I'm amazed at not only the response, but the quality of work I've had the privilege to read over the last couple of months.

Those 30 stories will soon be winging their way to my trusty foot soldiers to read and make decisions on so more than one set of eyes will have input on whether they stay or go. Final decision will stay with me, but I trust these people and their opinions so it will have a heavy bearing on the final outcome. So if you must send bribes, please send in triplicate - I'll need to spread around the good cheer ;c)

Good luck!