Sword's Edge: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you and where did you come from? Where are you going?

Eric S. Brown of Night Shopping: I am a 27 year old writer in NC who in the last year has had 85 tales accepted by places like Eternal Night, Story House, Bloodlust UK, Wicked Hollow, Dark Angel Rising, Burning Sky, Black Petals, Sinisteria, Black Satellite, Horror Find, and of course here at Sword's Edge to name a few.  Plus I have sold over a dozen non-fic articles.  I also used to work for The Smoky Mountain News, The Swamp, and Alternate Realities but was forced to leave those to have time to run my own magazine.  However, I still am a member of the HWA and write bi-monthly book reviews for the Haunted.  I have been a sci-fi/horror fan my whole life and writing is my dream.  As to where I am going, only God knows.  

SE: Running an e-zine is a lot of work, but it's basically free. Starting up a print magazine is even more work and there is a monetary cost as well. Given this, why have you decided to start up a new print magazine?

Eric S. Brown: I felt it was something I had to try my hand at.  If it does well, great.  If not, oh well, at least I will have to tried give something back to the small press that has been so kind to me.  

SE: How did you assemble your editorial staff? What history do you have with them?

Eric S. Brown: Gail Davis, my site designer and assistant editor, is a good friend that I have written and placed 6 collabs with.  She is talented woman and I could think of no one else to ask that would be give the magazine as much as she does.  Jason Brannon is also board, we were (are) working on a collection together plus I work for him at The Haunted, and have been pubished beside him at Alternate Realities and Black Petals, so he was also a logical person to ask.  I am just glad he said, "yes".  He has a new novel coming out soon and he's a great guy to work with.  

SE: How often will the magazine be published?

Eric S. Brown: As of now, I am looking at it being a quaterly publication, but if the present response in pre-orders keeps up and issue one does well, I may go bi-monthly.  

SE: In what areas will it be distributed?

Eric S. Brown: It will be sold via our website, www.geocities.com/nightshopping, and through Project Pulp plus some local bookstores.  In the future, it may also be availble at Shocklines.com but I don't know when.  

SE: How many pages per issue are you planning and how many stories, articles, reviews, etc. are you planning per issue?

Eric S. Brown: I am planning about 40 pages an issue with 4 to 6 stories and art from one or two artists.  My guidelines are posted on Ralan.  The first issue will contain a tale for Stoker winning author Brian Keene, as well as works from Greg Gifune, Mark Mclaughlin, Kenny Crist, Christina Sng, and myself with cover art by Gail Davis.  The first issue is at the printer's now as of August 9th and should be fully on sale by early Sept.  I thought I should mention this as we first said our release date would be Oct. but have decided to publish a bit early.  

SE: Other than this interview, how are you getting the word out?

Eric S. Brown: Well, I also have an ad in the August issue of Expressions, an ad in the Sept. issue of the EDGE, have up another interview at www.the-swamp.net in their Sept issue, and am getting ready to do an interview for a large local newspaper.  Plus you can find more than a few links to our site on the web in e-zines that have published my work.  

SE: Is there an audience out there for this type of magazine?

Eric S. Brown: I certainly bloody well hope so.  I know Wicked Hollow is doing well and I hope that people out there still like to read dark and terrifying fiction by the likes of Brian Keene.  

SE: You mention horror, 'Sci-Fi, Zombie, or "end of the world" tales' all in your submissions guidelines. Give us some idea what your dream story would be.

Eric S. Brown: My dream story would be like a Dawn of the Dead part two.  I love end of the world stuff that deals with plagues or life after a nuclear war.  

SE: In the area of fiction, who are your favourite authors?

Eric S. Brown: I love Robert Jordan and am excited to hear book ten of the Wheel of Time is on its way out.  Mat is my fav. fantasy character of all time.  The gambler, trickster, and general that he is.  I also love David Drake, Timothy Zahn, and H P Lovecraft.  They are why I started writing in the first place.  Greg Gifune and Brian Keene are also great.  I like their work and owe them a lot for my own career.   

SE: Who are your favourite movie-makers?

Eric S. Brown: Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, and George Romero.  Dawn of the Dead is my all time favorite film, but I also love stuff like Mad Max, Cemetary Man, Ghostbusters, Lord of the Rings, etc.  If you haven't watched any of Argento's stuff, you should.  

Sword's Edge would like to thank Mr. Brown for giving so freely of his time. His chapbook, Bad Mojo is coming out April 2003 from Undaunted Press. We wish Mr. Brown and Night Shopping the greatest success.