Two writers decided to stop waiting for permission and built their own press. LCW Allingham and River Eno of Speculation Publications talk about running a women-owned indie press, the difference between writing for yourself and editing for others, finding the soul of a story, and why getting feedback from the right people changes everything.
We get into the origins of Speculation Publications, how LCW and River choose themes and select stories, and what separates horror from dark fantasy. They share what it looks like to use art as a political response, how writing workshops can shape you as an author, and the moment you know an editor is trying to write their story instead of yours. This one goes deep into craft, community, and what it means to protect the voice at the heart of your work.
Chapters
- 00:00 Intro
- 01:06 Meet LC & River / About Speculation Publications
- 02:08 Their Books & What They Publish
- 04:12 How Stories Are Chosen & The Magic of Collaboration
- 04:55 River’s Introduction
- 08:57 How They Pick Book Themes & Calls for Submissions
- 14:33 Origins: From Workshop Group to Small Press
- 19:58 Defining Horror vs. Dark Fantasy
- 20:39 Themes LC Explores in Horror
- 26:25 Incubate: A Political Horror Anthology
- 29:46 Art as Political Response
- 44:08 Finding Your Writing Community & Workshops
- 47:37 When Editors Try to Rewrite Your Story
- 57:46 The Soul of a Story & Finding Your Voice
- 1:14:41 Knowing When to Let Your Darlings Go
- 1:22:47 Where to Find Speculation Publications
- 1:24:38 Kickstarter & New Novella Series
About LCW & River
LCW Allingham
River EnoLCW Allingham, a Philadelphia-based author, artist, musician, and editor, co-founded Speculation Publications in 2022. With a background in journalism from Temple University and a lifelong passion for storytelling, LC oversees projects like the Collection of Utter Speculation series.
River Eno, Managing Copyeditor, brings over 25 years of writing and editing experience. Author of the Anastasia Evolution Series, River specializes in speculative fiction and urban fantasy, lending her expertise to help fine-tune the vision of indie authors.
Show notes
- Jordan’s flash fiction “The Hunting of Tulikettu” appears in Evergreen: Tales of Winter Shadows
- Speculation Publications
- Speculation’s open submissions
- LCW Allingham on Instagram, @lcw.allingham
- River Eno on Instagram, @rivertheauthor
- Speculation Publications on Instagram, @specpub
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