We had the good fortune of connecting with D. Alexander Ward and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi D. Alexander, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Having been involved in the inception, creation, editing, and publishing of several well-regarded anthologies for other publishers, I wanted to try my own hand at it where I could sort of steer the ship and have more creative control of the books. The indie publishing market, much like the big publishing houses, focuses a lot on traditional formats like novels or even collections by well-known authors. I wanted to take Bleeding Edge Books in a different direction and focus on formats that are often overlooked, deemed not profitable, or not given the proper attention when it comes to production quality. So, for me, that means novellas and anthologies. I want to continue to share the work of established authors but also utilize that grounding influence to explore the new voices and stories out there—to give some light and oxygen to authors whose work is really excellent and deserves attention.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As an author myself, I am well-suited to do something fun and different in indie publishing with Bleeding Edge Books. The journey to this point has not always been easy or enjoyable but it has certainly been enlightening and rewarding, so I want to be able to use these experiences that I continue to have to give voice to great storytellers, whether they are best-sellers with a passion project the big houses won’t touch or a brand new author on the scene who is struggling to get a foothold in the industry. That’s what I want people to find at Bleeding Edge Books; compelling and entertaining stories you may not expect to find anywhere else told by both established and new voices in fiction, all of them unique.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Richmond, Virginia is a very interesting place. The dichotomy of traditionalism existing alongside (and at times in opposition to) progressivism provides for a really surprising stew of creativity. It’s a great food town, so we’d have to hit the restaurants and bars. I’m not too snooty when it comes to that stuff, so McCormick’s Irish Pub and Rosie Connolly’s and Bingo Beer Company for drinks and music. ZZQ Barbecue or Mama J’s for some grub. Fun and games at the Circuit or maybe River City Roll. Maybe just cruise around town and check out all the murals, sculpture art, and street art. A brief swing through Belle Isle and Canal Walk with a stop at Fountain Books, Chop Suey Books, and Wax Moon for some vinyl. We’d go across the street and drink a bottle of mead from Black Heath Meadery and, then… of course… we’d break into Hollywood Cemetery after dark, eventually get chased out by security, and finish the night at the Galaxy Diner.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people have helped out and lifted me up along my writing and publishing journey, and will continue to do so, no doubt, as I don’t think the journey ever really ends and there is always something new to learn. Some of the folks who have helped me along the way include my notoriously badass editing partner, author, and publisher Doug Murano, writer and editor John F.D. Taff, author and publisher Richard Thomas, my steadfast author friends Robert Ford and Kevin Lucia and Josh Malerman, every professional artist and editor I work with through Bleeding Edge including but not limited to Todd Kiesling, Greg Chapman, Lynne Hansen, Francois Vaillancourt, Gina Scapellato, and Suzi Madron. The RVA City Writers group who put on a mean Noir at the Bar (and need to again soon), and all my fellow authors in the Virginia Chapter of the Horror Writers Association. I mean, the list goes on, but those are the folks that are top of mind.

Website: www.bleedingedgepub.com

Instagram: @bleedingedgepub

Twitter: @bleedingedgepub

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bleedingedgepub

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bleedingedgebooks

Image Credits
Francois Vaillancourt, Lynne Hansen, Greg Chapman, Don Noble, Todd Kiesling

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.