Studies in Australian Weird Fiction (SiAWF) aims to deliver an academic forum where Australian authors from all eras are to be studied. Themes, topics, issues and single-focus essays will be accompanied by interviews, symposiums and notes of interest. Award winning author Robert Hood will have a column in each issue called "The Ossuary".

To be published three times a year, the journal studies the works of Australian authors – novel, short story and poetry – in the context of the "weird tale". As discussed in the landmark volume The Weird Tale (1990), critic S. T. Joshi states that the 'weird tale' exists as "the consequences of a world view… in accordance with [the authors'] philosophical predispositions… [and] their metaphysical, ethical, and aesthetic theories" and spotlights the genres of dark fantasy, supernatural horror, non-supernatural horror, and quasi-science fiction.

• Potential essayists should first provide a synopsis of their essay with the editors before writing the piece.
• All submissions should be sent via email to hraftstarATyahooDOTcom with the title STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN WEIRD FICTION. Copies to be submitted as Rich Text Format (RTF) files only and should be formatted in accordance to the style conventions of the Modern Language Association (MLA Style): http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/. We do not expect the formatting to be perfect, but do expect a good-faith effort.
• Please include both valid e-mail and postal addresses with your submission.
• All submissions will be acknowledged within 24 hours of being received.
• Unless negotiated otherwise, copyright is assigned to Studies in Australian Weird Fiction for a year. The author's moral rights will be preserved, permission will be granted should the author want to reprint the work elsewhere during this period of time, and Studies in Australian Weird Fiction will not in turn assign the copyright elsewhere without the consent of the author.
• Please note that the editors will directly contact authors to be interviewed and will call for critics to be involved in symposiums by way of the Southern Horror yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/southern_horror/).

Upon publication, all contributors receive a contributor's copy of the journal issue which their article appeared. The journal will seek to be indexed with AustLit and the Modern Language Association (MLA). Copies will be archived in the National Library of Australia.

Studies in Australian Weird Fiction is supported by the Australian Horror Writers Association and is funded personally by the editors.

The journal will appear three times a year and can be purchased directly from EQUILIBRIUM BOOKS or at select retailers (to be announced here soon). SiAWF costs $24.95 AUS per issue and is payable through Credit Card or PayPal. Australian Horror Writers Association members are eligible for a discount.

CONTENTS FOR STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN WEIRD FICTION #1

Essays --

• "Lionel Sparrow (1867–1936): An Unknown Australian Writer of Gothic Horror" by James Doig
• "The Weird Verse of Christopher Brennan" by Phillip A. Ellis
• "Wandering Child: The Fantasies of Vernon Knowles" by Mark Valentine
• "An Afternoon with Elizabeth Jolley, author of The Well" by Benjamin Szumskyj
• "Shadows & Sexuality: The Horror Stories of Stephen Dedman" by Benjamin Szumskyj
• "'Tim Winton's Take on the Weird: In the Winter Dark as Cross-Genre Fiction" by Phillip A. Ellis
• "A Bibliography of Australian Fantastic Literature to c.1960" by James Doig
• "Brett McBean: An Appreciation" by Tim Kroenert
• "Thrills and Excitement, Adventure and Action: Don Boyd, an Endless 'Myth-Cycle' Unto Himself" by Charles Lovecraft & Margaret Lovecraft

Interviews --

• "Pater Horrere Familas: An Interview with Lee Battersby"
• "The Terror From Australis: An Interview Leigh Blackmore"
• "The Weird Talesman: An Interview with Terry Dowling"
• "Harvesting Wild Grapes: An Interview with Phillip A. Ellis"
• "Home is Where the Horror Is: An Interview with Steve Gerlach"
• "Laughter From the Dark: An Interview with Richard Harland"
• "Horror From the Outback: An Interview with Rick Kennett"
• "Darkness Be My Scribe: An Interview with Marty Young"

Ongoing Columnist --

• "The Ossuary" by Robert Hood. First article entitled "Ghosts, Monsters and Chainsaws"

Symposiums --

• "Joan Lindsay's Picnic at Hanging Rock: A Fortieth Anniversary Retrospect" discussed by James Doig, Patrick Lee and Brett McKenzie
• "Crosses & Shadows: Australian Christians Discuss the Horror Genre" discussed by Nathan Hobby, Tim Kroenert, Amanda Robertson, Lyn Battersby and Benjamin Szumskyj