I purchased Realms of Fantasy with the intent of restoring it to its former glory.
In the past I have published two magazine that had larger circulations than Realms: KISS Magazine and the Whole Cat Journal. So I knew exactly what I was undertaking. I got the relevant numbers on Realms’ overall performance for the past 12 issues. Based on my experience with purchasing other defunct magazines such as Weird Tales, Fantastic Stories, Science Fiction Chronicle, and The Whole Cat Journal, I had every reason to believe that I could turn Realms around quickly and easily.
But that didn’t turn out to be the case.
I invested more than $50,000.00 of my own money into reviving this magazine. I tried every traditional method I could think of to increase the circulation, but nothing worked. I also spent a great deal of money trying nontraditional methods. I advertised online with Google and Facebook, neither of which came close to covering their costs. And we created DRM-free electronic versions of the magazine to see if that would help increase our circulation. Sadly, the DRM-free versions never sold more than twenty five copies per issue, and the Kindle editions sold fewer still.
As things stand, I would need to invest another large amount of money simply to continue publishing the magazine at its current level—an investment that I do not believe would have any chance of repaying itself. So, unfortunately, I have no choice but to close Realms of Fantasy and Dreams of Decadence. I have written more than $10,000.00 worth of checks to contributors of Realms in the last two weeks. Tir Na Nog Press, Inc., is still owed money by distributors and advertisers, and as that money trickles in we will pay the handful of contributors that are still owed money. We did all of the work on the December issue and had it ready for press in the hopes that things might turn around. We will be placing a PDF of that issue on our website for our subscribers to download at no charge. We may do the same with Dreams of Decadence. I will also try to find another magazine to assume the subscriptions so that the readers will get something for the unfulfilled portion of their subscriptions.
Ultimately, I believe Realms failed because of a terrible economic climate. When I purchased the magazine I did not believe that the worst economy since the Great Depression would actually get worse; that was a mistake.
Should there be any interest in purchasing the magazine I will gladly sell Realms to a responsible party for $1.00 and give them the finished files for the December issue.
I’d like to take a moment to thank Shawna McCarthy, Douglas Cohen and the rest of the staff for being so professional and easy to work with. I’m very proud of what we accomplished in the last eighteen months.
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Very sorry to hear it, especially because I only got to receive two issues of the magazine out of my subscription… What happens now?
It wounds me to see anyone fail after good effort… I am sorry this has come to pass and agree that the economy has hit us all hard. Both retailers and consumers deal with this reality daily. Do not, however, allow it to define your success or sense of accomplishment in gathering creative souls together in a strong effort to recover!! It is a stunning publication and it is NO fault of your own that we, as consumers, could not support you more.
I’m sorry to hear that the magazine is closing. If we sent a short story into the magazine with a self addressed stamped envelope will you be sending them back?
I’m sad to hear this, and I’m surprised that I didn’t know about the DRM-free electronic versions; I’ve been reading magazines through Fictionwise for several years (Asimov’s, Analog, F&SF, and now Interzone) and thought I knew of every e-magazine out there.
Sorry I didn’t know, because I’ve promoted the availability of various e-formats for quite a while now.
I’d even put up with PDF for it, though it’s a format I generally loathe for e-books. I like larger print, so I always order EPUB if I have a choice.
Just tried to order all the PDF versions, got a PayPal error message, but I will try again.
Well crap–I’m paid up through 2011. Keep the money. Use it for your next project, like maybe a revival of Fantastic, (hint, hint) only in a digest format without glossy paper. I’ve enjoyed the ride. Looking forward to your next project!
I’d love to purchase realms of fantasy for $1.00 with the intention of releasing it again! Either way I am terribly sorry to see it go I guess I thought it was doing rather well and had gotten much more face time as of late than ever before. The economic climate not withstanding I believe that you had taken the marketing of the book in the right direction.
I am so sorry. This makes me heartsick to see a good magazine go under.
So sorry, Warren, Shawna, Doug, and the rest of the Realms Fantasy.
Patrice Sarath
Sorry to hear that and I hope someone does step up to the plate and buy it from you.
Am I to assume that anyone currently waiting for an answer from a submission can now assume that thier piece is free to submit elsewhere?
I was just about to send off for my subscription! I just rediscovered this magazine! It is literally my favorite magazine! I’m devistated. I don’t know what I’m going to do.
Is there a way I can keep an eye on any new projects you’re doing?
Hi All,
If you have a manuscript at Realms of Fantasy, yes, please consider it released from consideration. We wish you the best of luck finding a home for it elsewhere.
I am so sorry to hear RoF is closing. Like you, I had high hopes for a turnaround, and I was thrilled to see the magazine embrace different electronic platforms. But as Michelle White said, you shouldn’t measure your accomplishments by an economy over which you have no control. Best wishes to all–the writers and artists, the editorial staff, and to you. Good luck in your future projects, and thank you again for all your work at REALMS OF FANTASY.
As someone who just recently took out a subscription and has only received two issues to date, am I to assume those of us left hanging will not be compensated with even the option of back issues in recompense? Will you be writing to us subscribers?
I too am sorry to hear that Realms of Fantasy is closing yet again, but I really respect your decision to be make this public announcement. Unfortunately, far too many magazines just disappear into the night, leaving subscribers and writers in limbo.
I am sad to hear of ROF’s closing. But I am a legal secretary, and have seen a drastic decline in my field, so I’m not surprised that others are feeling the crunch. There was a time I used to purchase at least 6 mags per month, and over the past 3 years, nothing. In other words, the priorities of individuals has reached a critical change that’s beyond our control. Personally, and astrologically, I would not commit to any large investments, NOW, or over the next 23 years with Pluto in Capricorn. Good luck to all of us!!!!!!!!!!
I’m sorry to see both Realms of Fantasy and Dreams of Decadence cease publication. They were quality magazines that I enjoyed as a reader and hoped to one day publish in as a writer. Thank you to all the editorial & publication staff for their hard work. And the best of luck in your future endeavors.
This is such sad news. RoF was a terrific magazine. My sympathies and good wishes to Shawna and all the staff, and kudos to Warren for trying to turn it around.
I too am sad to hear of the magazine’s passing. I have been a subscriber for years. Although I haven’t read each issue as diligently as I might, I continued my subscription as my way of supporting an art form and a genre that is important to me. As new media technologies and forms of communication develop, I hope we do not loose sight of the story-crafters and artists who helped shape where we have been in hopes of getting us to the next stop.
Addressing the questions about unfulfilled subscriptions, I am currently working on something that would take care of that.
I am profoundly saddened by the news that Realms of Fantasy ceases publication. I was so heartened by the awards and accolades heaped upon the magazine. Would that the kudos could have translated into $$$.
Thank you for nearly 100 issues of fantastic writing and art. You will be missed.
ROF has been my favorite magazine for a long time. I’m so sorry to see it go.
I’m very sad to learn about the end of Realms.
Is there any thought that the magazine could continue as an online and/or ebook publication like Clarkesworld? Very sad to see it go completely.
Instead of being saddened by the magazine’s demise, I’m proud that I bought a subscription as soon as it was available. I’m proud of the quality and the quantity of fiction and nonfiction that I read in each issue. Most of all, Warren, I’m proud to call you a friend, and I’ll have your back for as long as you need it.
Speaking both as a writer and as a subscriber, this is sad news, but at the same time with the economy as it is, not too surprising.
I appreciate the thought to current subscribers. Just a suggestion, but you could offer current subscribers of RoF back issues of DoD if you have the stock already and visa versa. That way your costs would be lower, and your readers would still get something to read, so everyone gains something.
Anyway, I’m sorry to see Realms go and hope that it, like some of the earlier magazines, will find another chance in the future.
So sorry to hear about this. I did not know that any of your other magazines were still in print, Warren, including Dreams of Decadence.
I don’t like to read online, but am surprised that others did not support RoF online. I thought younger people were into that.
Anyway, I wish you the best, and all these magazines will be missed.
yrs,
Denise
I’m just heartbroken.
Sigh. I subscribed when I read about the appeal for new subscribers on Boing Boing over the summer. Well, at least I got one magazine out of it.
I’m crying! I recently found this wonderful magazine though I hate reading online, I have enjoyed this one.
It is so sad the way we have had our economy destroyed and lose our arts like this.
Thanks for trying Warren. Will the archives still be online?
Warm Wishes,
Alyne
I was going to take the plunge and submit something this week too. Alas!
The first issue of Realms of Fantasy (along with a year’s gift subscription) was given to me by a dear friend (and my co-writer). I loved the magazine and never let the subscription lapse (I have every issue stored away in protective plastic sleeves) and promoted the magazine to everyone I met. I sent in my short stories and always recieved fair treatment and valuable feedback. A far as I was concerned, ROF was the fantasy magazine of record – my dream was to be published in its pages. Thank you so much for all the years of entertaimnent and fun!
Agree with Melissa and Paul. I actually picked up the latest issue at my local newsstand today – an Alan Smale story. Warren, I would love to talk about what if anything BS can do (a subscription fulfillment choice, etc.) if it’s helpful. Though I hope another white knight comes along to keep RoF going.
>Should there be any interest in purchasing the magazine I will gladly sell Realms to a responsible party
Warren, how do I contact you privately?
Very sorry to hear the news, not least of all as someone else who subscribed when the cry went out this summer. RoF will be missed.
Dear Warren
Thanks for all you tried to do, but never say die. Time can’t remain lousy forever. See you around the SF world
Best
Ed
I’m interested in purchasing Realms of Fantasy for more than $1.00 because I believe in the continuing art of publishing fiction. Please email me at the address linked and hopefully, we’ll be able to come up with a solution that works for everyone.
Sorry to hear of your situation! Can you email details of what would be inherited if the company is purchased?
Sorry to hear of your situation! Can you email details of what would be inherited if the company is purchased? Could a larger grassroots marketing campaign help rescue things?
Anyone who is interested in contacting me can e-mail me at warrenlapineatyahoodotcom. Currently I’ve gotten about five offers for Realms or for the subscriptions. Two from publishers and the rest from writers. It’s my intent to get the subscribers something for their money and it looks as though that should happen.
Sorry to hear of your situation! Can you email details of what would be inherited if the company is purchased? Could a larger grassroots marketing campaign help rescue things? Many beginning writers need pubications like this to have a chance at getting their start…
I see others have responded similary, but I am interested as well. If you’d be willing to discuss, please contact me directly at Nate@121ideas.com
Via the website and our Facebook presence we did reach out to the community, over and over again, seeking subscribers. The short genre fiction community isn’t that large; we got the word out.
The reality is that with the competition from free web-content, and free fiction on-line subsidized by speculators and passionate amateurs, there probably is no way for a publication like ROF to exist at an economy of scale to stay in business.
Skeleton staffs of committed genre people making very modest contractor-based salaries, with no offices or benefits, desktop publishing, streamlined digital pre-press, and a low cost Word-press Thesis based web content management system designed and produced and maintained for 250 dollars a month, the numbers still didn’t ad up.
Web traffic via Facebook and the site itself were roughly comparable; several on-line value calculators based on our traffic valued the site at between five and ten dollars per month via traditional affiliate marketing (google adwords, etc). Our own test ads for Fantastic Books, Warren’s former SF imprint, showed little to no clickthroughs, and Warren isn’t someone who is interested in selling snake oil.
Penetration of our first free digital issue didn’t match our paper distribution, and advertisers weren’t interested in that model either.
Look, we tried everything. Over and over again. Except for going non-profit, which we felt would have just delayed the inevitable by an issue or two and created a lot of headaches, as well as incurred substantial greater debt for the publisher via the transition.
I’m speaking as a close observer and my information isn’t perfect, Warren may correct me.
For those who have recently subscribed, all I can say is we honestly expected more of you, enough to keep things going. It didn’t happen. We appreciate your support.
In my opinion, short genre fiction, short fiction in general, will continue it’s transition into a fine art / academic form largely divorced from the market economy. Various types of subsidy arrangements (what those that some in publishing have a hard time not calling vanity presses) will continue to supply more than enough fiction to keep us all with plenty to read.
For academics, it’s publish or perish; this includes English departments. Writers by nature are people who can’t stop writing; there’s no been no real reason to write short fiction for over a decade. It is easier to sell novel length work in many cases. But still, we’ll write these stories, and share them somehow. The 250 dollars is nice, but really, it’s the audience, the faces around the campfire, the story telling urge, that creates short fiction.
It is a shame to hear about ROF going under again. I really enjoyed it, although I hadn’t received all of my issues even from its past incarnation despite Mr Lapine’s kind intervention with the subscriptions department.
I am so sad to hear about this. ROF was truly a wonderful magazine. Thank you Warren Lapine for trying to save ROF. -Crystal
I can’t believe it!! Seriously?!? I signed up for the subscription a few months ago and got one copy. I haven’t even paid the bill yet because I didn’t get it yet. Where is a good looking geek like gonna do for mental excitement? Oh well, good luck in your life RoF….and come back to us in the near future…PLEASE!!!
Will there ever be any official communication to subscribers?
This is sad news; I’ve enjoyed this publication a lot. It was beautiful — count it as a success, stupid economics notwithstanding. Good luck in future endeavors!