Update

I didn't want to leave this page abandoned as long as it was, so I feel I should give my (3) followers an update on the magazine's status. 

As of now, the project is in a bit of a flux. Through research and conversation with a number of my peers, I feel my first model for the magazine is not entirely up to my eventual goals for the publication. Kaika Magazine will still come out, and will still focus on new, unpublished writers and illustrators of speculative fiction, but for the time being, the project will be put on a finite hiatus. I will keep checking in though, so feel free to message me regarding any thoughts, questions or comments about Kaika. 

Thanks everyone, 

-Nick Rucker

Issue 1: Horror. Rules and Guides

Our first contest is open to the public!!

If you think you have what it takes to write great fiction, we want to see what you've got!

Issue 1: Horror.

We will be accepting works that fall under the genre of Horror. Interpret that as you will. What we're really interested in is work that provokes emotions of fright, dread, and fear.

General Contest Rules

1. No entry fee required.

2. All submission must be original, unpublished works.

3. All submissions will be submitted electronically, to kaikazine@gmail.com

4. All submissions will be sent with an attached application, available for download here.

5. Deadline for Submissions: December 28th, 2011.

6. We hold the rights to distribute all works submitted to this email (kaikazine@gmail.com) under the name "Kaika Magazine," and under "Kaika Magazine" alone. Any and all further distribution of the content will require written consent from the creator.

7. Contest winners in all categories will receive a copy of the printed magazine, as well as a limited-edition gift. (It’s a mystery!)

Guidelines for Short Stories:

1. 10,000 word limit, formatted. 12 pt font, Times New Roman.

2. Documents submitted should be .rtf, .doc, or .docx

3. Applicants may submit one written work per issue.

Guidelines for Comics

           

1.     Any format: From 1-3 panel shorts, to multi-paged graphic novels

2.     Maximum length: 15 pages.

3.     Images should be at least 5” X 5’, 300 DPI, CMYK, in their final form

4.     Documents submitted should be .PDF, .TIFF, .JPG, or .PNG

Guidelines for Illustrations

1.  Images should be at least 5" X 5", 300 DPI, CMYK, in their final form

2. Documents submitted should be .PDF, .TIFF, .JPG, or .PNG

3. Applicants may submit up to 4 Illustrations-per-issue.

Guidelines for Artist's Multiples

1. Submissions for Artist Multiples will come in the form of either:

                  A) An image of the multiples 

               B) A description of the work to be done.

2. Multiples can take any form (2D or 3d), but must:

    A) Be part of a unique series of 5-10 objects. 

    B) Fit within a 5"X 5" X 4" space. 

3. Accepted multiples should be prepared to be sent by January 12th, 2012, for inclusion in the box. 

4. Applicants may submit one series of multiples per issue.

Kaika: Format

For those of you who are curious about how the magazine will be presented, I'd like to outline the formats in which we will be publishing Kaika Magazine. 

E-Publication

           Our primary medium. Thanks to E-Readers and the Web, we have access to an efficient and effective distribution system. With the ability to reach every corner of the World connected to the Internet, Kaika Magazine can be accessed by a global audience, and without printing and shipping costs, we will be able to bring this magazine to you for free. 

The Physical

            Our physical copies exist in limited-run productions. The physical "magazines" will be released as boxed issues, containing the following: 

1.     All of the short stories and full-length comics featured in the E-Publication, binded separately, with their own covers and illustrations.

2.     “Random” Artist Multiples, created in limited production. These will only be featured in the boxed issue

3.     Prints/Posters of the imagery used in the magazine. 3-4 randomly selected images from within the printed matter will be blown up, poster size, for our reader’s to enjoy.

The Web

           .PDF file, distributed via direct download and e-reader applications. Entire issue compiled into a single document. All comics sent as multiples printed in back, as well as images of the artist multiples. (Potentially displayed in a similar fashion to the novelty gift ads found in the traditional publications. Tiny little advertisements)

Kaika: Who We Are

Pulp. 

It all started with Frank A. Munsey, a native of Maine who moved to New York City, around the 1880's. Intent on making his wealth through publishing, Munsey managed to seize control of his publisher, after they went bankrupt, through a claim for his unpaid salary.

Many readers of the time could not afford the 25 Cent 'slicks,' which were the standard of the late 1800's. Instead, Munsey released his publications on cheap untrimmed pulp paper, bringing the cost down, usually to 10 Cents per issue. He released a number of publications such us Argosy Magazine, Munsey's Magazine, and All-Story Magazine, all of which came with Munsey's philosophy: "a magazine of the people and for the people, with pictures and art and good cheer and human interest throughout."

This philosophy met with great success, and set the gears in motion for later publications, such as Weird Tales, Amazing Stories, Dime Detective, and Marvel Tales.  

Characters like Tarzan, Buck Rogers, and Zorro can trace their roots back to these pages and even Writers like H.P. Lovecraft, Phillip K. Dick, and H.G. Wells, individuals whose fictions can still be remembered today, were first published in this medium. Fictions about unknown creatures, unexplored worlds and the science of tomorrow found their place in these pages, and have changed modern fiction ever since.

Kaika Magazine seeks to continue the tradition of a magazine for the people, by the people

What do I mean by that?

Our goal is to bring you the best-of-the-best in Speculative Fiction, written by you, the reader. We want your stories to be known and read by audiences across the world. 

And we want to do it for free.

Audience-Provided content will fill our pages, brought to you on a

Quarterly basis through E-Publication and the Internet. Thanks to these technologies, Kaika will be able to reach every corner of the world, shared between friends and communities.

Kaika Magazine will also be released as a Limited-Run Box Issues. (Read more about that here)

How can you get involved? 

Writers: Have a story written? Submit it. Have a story in mind? We'd love to publish it. You can find more details here regarding written work. 

Illustrators: What good would a magazine be without wonderful images adorning its pages? We want your work as well! 

Artist's Multiples: Physical works, 2D or 3D. Limited Prints, Pins, Sculptures, or whatever you can come up with! Learn more about Artist's Multiples here.