The Future of Delirium & Shane Ryan Staley, Author
My passion has always been in horror. I’ve been well-known in this genre for pioneering the success of Delirium Books and helping to serve a niche focused on bringing up the next generation of horror authors, some of which have already become successful in the mass markets, others that you’ll be hearing about getting signed shortly, and yet others who deserve to be there but have been (to my astonishment) overlooked, like Greg F. Gifune, Brian Knight and many other Delirium authors.
But there’s certainly some of you out there that didn’t know I was an author BEFORE I became a publisher. In fact, I grew up writing and getting published alongside peers such as Brian Keene, Michael Laimo, Charlee Jacob, Jeffrey Thomas and Greg F. Gifune. But in the late ’90s, I made the change to publishing because I felt that’s what the genre needed most out of me. I have no regrets about this decision, as Delirium Books has helped shape the genre. And it has provided me with a full time career which I enjoy each day.
In fact, I love my job at Delirium.
But the one sacrifice I’ve had to deal with all these years is my writing. I was unable to write due to the huge demands of running a small press. I’d gladly sacrifice writing and take the same path I chose in publishing again. If I was able to.
But it turns out that at the core of my being, I’m a writer. Have always been so. To sacrifice writing for an author is almost like sacrificing consuming food or breathing. A writer has to write. This drive is instilled in us to create and if this desire is forced into submission, then, for some, madness could very well fill that void.
I’ve not gone mad just yet (though others might argue that point), but in the past year I’ve been feeling an overwhelming need to write. My head has been swimming with stillborn characters and plots lost in time. My mind races throughout the day (and sometimes all night) with ideas and stories. And the next day arrives with 12+ hours of work to do at Delirium. And what little story ideas and notes I transfer to the page become lost in the shuffle of contracts and invoices and other author’s manuscripts.
My muse is screaming at me to wake up.
I’ve spent the last week talking to my wife about this, and have mentioned this to Delirium’s Associate Editor, Greg F. Gifune. And I’ve received other feedback as well.
I’ve decided to begin writing again on a regular basis.
While this statement will no doubt please fans of my writing, fans of Delirium might have concerns about the future of the press.
Fear not.
It’ll be business as usual at Delirium. Although I have already planned (even before deciding to return to writing) to cut back on the number of limited edition titles published by Delirium beginning in 2008. This temporary decision was due mainly to current market trends.
The growth of Delirium will not be impacted by my decision to begin writing again. In fact, in late 2006, Delirium acquired the talents of two brilliant editors, Greg F. Gifune (my Associate Editor) and David Marty (my Assistant Editor) and both have been doing an amazing job. The fruits of their labor will be seen steadily beginning this summer and fall.
Customer service, which I have prided myself in, will continue to be handled by me and will not be effected by this decision either
For those of you who would like to support my writing endeavors, you can find more information about my writing at: www.shaneryanstaley.com. This site has just been re-launched last week with new fiction and web design. Stop by and leave a comment after a post or a note on the brand new guestbook there. Like with fans of Delirium, I love hearing from readers of my work as well, and will always take the time to respond and interact.
I appreciate those of you who have supported and continue to support Delirium Books and my writing.
Comment by Mike Myers on 20 April 2007:
Good for you Shane. Good luck and keep up the great work on both fronts.
Comment by diego on 20 April 2007:
Good luck Shane. I can see the future, and it is going to be outstanding.
If you need to establish a branch office for Delirium near Jacksonville, Fl, I am here waiting in Saint Mary’s, GA.
Comment by SLIM on 20 April 2007:
More power to you Shane. I’ve really enjoyed what you’ve been doing the past week or so. let it flow!!!!
Comment by kresby on 20 April 2007:
get down Shane. I look forward to reading you and DB forever. So glad you can balance both careers.
Comment by eubankscs on 20 April 2007:
Always glad to hear you’re going to do more writing! As always, I look forward to everything that’s to come!
Scott
Comment by griglak on 20 April 2007:
You do what you must Shane.
I’ll be here to reap the benefits.
Comment by jt on 20 April 2007:
sounds like a double bonus for us readers. good luck in all your endeavors and thanks for all your hard work.
Comment by Scott Berke on 20 April 2007:
You go girl! I mean…….well….you know what I mean. I for one have been and will continue to be a fan of you as an Author as well as Publisher. I am sure your decision is the right one. Look forward to reading your new fiction.
Comment by Greg F. Gifune on 20 April 2007:
Great news, man. Delirium’s going to be stronger than ever in the coming months & years, and having you back writing on a more regular basis just makes it all the better.
Greg
Comment by Chris Hansen on 20 April 2007:
Although it is great news to hear you’ll be writing more, I can’t help feeling a bit fearful. What do you mean by “cut back”? I’m sure we all hope for your success in both fields, but I assume we are also all curious how many titles Delirium is looking at for 2008…then again, maybe I’m just paranoid.
Comment by PG on 20 April 2007:
As a consumer, I would love 4 hardcover chaps, 4 Dark Essentials, and 10 new novels a year. And that is cutting back from Shane’s current 24-30 books a year.
I am also anxious to read a Shane Staley epic novel.
PG
Comment by Brian on 20 April 2007:
Shane, I wish you all the success in the world - no one deserves it more. And I hope that DB continues to go from strength-to-strength, coz NOBODY DOES IT BETTER!
Brian
Comment by gremar814 on 20 April 2007:
You’re right, Shane. A writer has to write! Take care of the muse and give us more great stories like THE CLEANSING. Regardless, you’re still the hardest-working man in book publishing.
Comment by rolandtower19 on 20 April 2007:
Congrats Shane. Good to see that you have a passion that you feel so strongly about. I look forward to reading your future works, and I’m glad you will still be involve with DB.
Comment by John Everson on 20 April 2007:
That’s great news, Shane - we all want more Staley Stories!!!
Comment by Chris Hansen on 20 April 2007:
PG — Always the voice of reason. Good points!
Comment by Shane Staley on 20 April 2007:
Thanks to everyone for the nice comments. Much appreciated!
As for concerns, we’re not talking about a big drop in Delirium titles. This year, we’re looking at approx. 26, next year more like 16-18.
Comment by kresby on 20 April 2007:
I count 29 books published in 2005, 29 in 2006, and 11 so far in 2007. That’s counting each edition of each book as well as the imprints each as one book.
Comment by Wrogdog on 20 April 2007:
Shane it is great that you have decided to renew your writing as well as continue to run Delirium. I for one am excited to see more and more fiction from you as an author as well as from Delirium.
Comment by crimsongremlin on 20 April 2007:
Go for it Shane! You have done much in the genre already and Delirium Books is much appreciated! I am sure you will be as successful in writing as well. I know you have my support.
Comment by Tod Clark on 21 April 2007:
Glad to hear you will be doing more writing again, Shane. This is fantastic news! I will be reading everything you put out for the public eye.
Comment by sdkdmd on 21 April 2007:
you did scare me for a second there. But you gotta do what you gotta do and i wish you all the luck.
Looking forward to more writing by Mr. Shane Ryan Staley
Comment by Dale L. Murphy on 21 April 2007:
Great news Shane and good luck. I can’t wait to see what the next couple of years will bring for not only you but for your Delirium supporters.
Comment by BlueZombie on 22 April 2007:
kEEP it up Shane…../
Comment by dezm on 22 April 2007:
Cool mate. Sounds alright. Looking forward to a novel by Shame Stanley. And I agree Gifune and Knight need to hit the ‘big time’.
Comment by Jack Staynes on 22 April 2007:
Good luck Shane, I’ll get whatever comes out that you’ve done. Your a good dude, and you’ve got alot of talent, best let it flow or you might explode.
Comment by Tree705 on 22 April 2007:
I fully understand the need to do something creative. I went through the same thing a while back. Good luck and I look forward to more fiction. I’d like to see a novel too.
Comment by pegleg on 24 April 2007:
Looking forward to more of your great writings, and perhaps some novels.
Pegleg
Comment by gman20 on 27 April 2007:
Good luck always stay true to yourself. Looking forward to you work.