Unsurpringsly, Nocturnus Aeternus has closed its door after only one issue. All I can say is that this is the kind of stuff that gives the small press a bad name. I have so much snark in me about this story, but I'll put a lid on it and just share with you this email that Michael Knost sent to his subscribers:

To the Darkly Faithful,

I have always considered Noctem Aeternus Magazine as a vehicle to expand the horror genre, and to add a good paying market for its writers.

My idea was to create a quality PDF delivered quarterly. The plan was to make the subscription free so we could build a huge circulation, where we could use those numbers in a national sells effort. The goal was to have 30,000 subscribers before the first issue hit mailboxes . . . unfortunately we only reached 6,000 subscribers.

I paid over $2,000 out of my own pocket to pay the writers for the first issue because we did not have sufficient advertising. The money is not the issue . . . however, the fact that I misjudged the number of folks signing up for a free product is.

My life is changing, and I simply cannot continue with the business model I set out with.

As many of you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child in August. We have been married for 15 years and this something that has already changed everything. We are also in the process of purchasing a bigger house so when the little one grows into the bigger one, we'll have the room and I won't have to give up my den or office.

So, with all that said, I am announcing that Noctem Aeternus is no more. The first issue was its last, unfortunately.

I want to thank each of you for subscribing and supporting. I have heard from hundreds of you about how much you enjoyed the first issue, the stories, the authors.

I also want to thank the authors who became a part of the ride. I had the pleasure of working with some of the best in the business. You are all fantastic.

I want to especially thank Jude-Marie Greene, Rob Darnell, Brian J. Hatcher, Paula Guran, and Ada McMurray for all the hard work and excellent views. I can never say enough about these folks.

All pending submissions are released back to respective authors. I hope you all sell them for more money than you could have made with us.

I am not going away in the genre; I am just letting the magazine go. I will continue to write, edit anthologies, and hopefully write some more . . .

I will keep this email list going so I can send emails occasionally about upcoming projects and so forth. You are invited to stay, but you can opt-out at any time.

Thanks again,
Michael Knost