An Interview with Editor Paula Guran

Paula Guran is an accomplished editor of horror, science fiction and fantasy anthologies and novels and to celebrate the release of the latest anthology she’s worked on, The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror: Volume Two, we had the opportunity to sit down with Paula to discuss her career and her new anthology.
 
Nerds That Geek: You’re very connected in the horror and fantasy community. How did you get your start?
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Paula Guran: Back in the mid-nineties, no one had ever heard of such a thing as a e-newsletter. I started one for horror writers (and others) as part of an AOL writing workshop I had fallen into running. I was reviewing and interviewing folks as part of it. People were nice and one thing led to another. Although I doubt whether I am as well connected as I once was.
 
NTG: You edit science fiction, horror and fantasy collectively, but does one of the genres stand out for you as a favorite? If so – why?

Paula Guran: Not really. I was always a voracious reader and liked science fiction first. I also liked fantasy but wasn’t as aware of it. Horror wasn’t really marketed as such when I was growing up. I became better aware of speculative fiction more broadly in the eighties when I started reading Asimov’s and F&SF on a regular basis. Later on I became aware of a lot of modern horror I didn’t know existed. Now I probably like all three about equally.
 
NTG: Is there a unique story or genre that you haven’t tackled yet that you’d love to review or edit?

Paula Guran: There are still a couple of themes I’d like to do as anthologies. Overall, novel wise, I’s like to do more historical fiction.
 
NTG: What inspired the story choices in this year’s anthology?

Paula Guran: They are good stories. I also look for variety but basically it is just “good story”.
 
NTG: What are you most excited for readers to discover about the stories in this year’s collection?

Paula Guran: I always enjoy readers finding writers who are new to them—whether they are actually “new” writers or just new to the reader.
 
NTG: We noticed that the majority of this year’s collection were written by women! Was that an intentional decision, or simply in line with the stories selected for Volume 2?

Paula Guran: Just turned out that way. I don’t keep count as I choose stories.
 
NTG: You’ve moderated and served on a number of panels all over the country. Was there anything you had to sit out throughout Covid last year that you were particularly sad to miss?

Paula Guran: Yes and no. I haven’t been to a convention in five or six years. Initially that was just the result of several factors not the least of which was financial. I was always a regular at World Fantasy and often at Readercon. I also enjoyed Wiscon, IAFA, and SF worldcons. I’d still like to see friends in person and meet new people, but I don’t miss a great deal of the rest of it.
 
NTG: To follow-up our last question - anything on the books that you’re particularly looking forward to attending this year?

Paula Guran: Nope.
 
NTG: Anything else you’d like to share?

Paula Guran: My new series The Year’s Best Fantasy starts in mid-2022.

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Editor Paula Guran