Like many publications, the Willows Magazine is struggling. From Ben’s blog Literacity:
Well, it’s 2009, and things haven’t gotten much easier at the offices of The Willows. While Jade did finish up the issue, it was several weeks late…and that isn’t the only problem.
For those of you who don’t know, I pay for 90% of The Willows out of my own pocket; always have. Some advertisers sweeten the deal now and then, and my supply costs are (somewhat) covered by subscribers, but by and large, I buy stories and new features as I can afford them, and feel they’re justified. And I’ve always been rewarded by your loyal readership; I have no complaints on that score.
But this year opens on a rather underfunded Willows, which means we’re going to have to print and ship as we are able to afford it. Some of you have already received your December issues, and let me go on record as saying I feel humiliated that the rest of you have not, when it is almost February. I can only express my profoundest frustration. (You can read more here)
To top it off, some subscribers are kinda being jerky about the whole situation. What folks often don’t realize is that many of these publications are labors of love, with very small staffs, who often work thankless hours in editing and production!
Aside from being personally invested (my short story “Dr. Adderson’s Lens” will be in a future publication) the Willows is a rare gem of a publication that really represents Victorian/gothic/steampunk aesthetic and literature. If kids are willing to shell out $100 bucks for a pair of goggles or a corset, I hardly think it’s a stretch to think a subscription/donation/advertisement to be that difficult.
If advertising your wares is your thing, consider that they’re offering 50% off all advertising as well! That’s a pretty impressive deal, considering their rates are a steal to begin with!
UPDATE: So, yeah. The Willows is no more. So, there we go. Read the comments below for an idea of what’s gone on. Sorry to those who have bought subscriptions/ad space, and have not been contacted. I’m not affiliated with the Willows; I only had a story accepted there, and it never was published. I apologize that I can’t be of any more help.
The Aldersgate Cycle 
March 31, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I think the Willows is no more. The online store is shut down even.
I’m not happy about this because for as popular as steampunk is, there are few steampunk magazines. This one had promise.
March 31, 2009 at 7:17 pm
@j g I hope it’s just an anomaly. I hadn’t heard anything definitive. Hopefully it’s just a glitch.
April 16, 2009 at 7:34 am
Just passing through, but, from what I’ve heard, the Willows managing editor, Benjamin Thomas passed away recently. Some of the older, more Lovecraft-themed issues, featuring Sarah Monette, Lawrence Dagstine, G.D. Falksen, and Orrin Gray are fetching as much as 75 bucks a pop! If you just happen to own an issue, hold on to it, they’re becoming a rarity.
April 16, 2009 at 11:32 am
@David Well, that is indeed quite sad… I’m rather shocked by the news.
April 16, 2009 at 10:55 pm
@David This appears to be a rumor, thankfully, after a day of rooting around trying to find the root of the issue. Just FYI…
April 17, 2009 at 3:27 am
As of today, April 16, 2009, The Willows is a dead market with no chance of resurrection. Thank you, all of you, who understood that Ben and I and the others who worked with us labored because we love the ‘weird tale’ genre.
By the way, Ben is alive and well. I just spoke with him at length on the phone.
Skadi meic Beorh
April 17, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I don’t like that Ben Thomas feigned death to get out of paying writers and creditors. That’s completely wrong. And then he took thewillowsmagazine.com site down yesterday when people began to comment on its blog about all of the questionable and shady things that were going on.
The right thing to do would be to make a public apology and come clean about what happened. Otherwise, this is going to live with Ben Thomas to the end.
April 17, 2009 at 3:20 pm
@ted Well, from the perspective of a writer that was supposed to be in the next issue and then somehow got sucked into the whole deal yes: it is a quite curious. As to the “death” issue, wherever it came from, I have no idea. Either way, I’m left extremely disappointed at the outcome and only wish that someone had informed me earlier. Waking up to a fake death comment on my blog is not a nice way to start a day. I had hoped for a head’s up at the magazine was going away, as a courtesy.
I guess that means I’m shopping my story around again, but that’s not a big deal. The advertisers, the subscribers, and the artists also involved have lost even more. I’m just hoping we see some kind of resolve in the next few days. I agree, a public announcement/apology/recognition would be great.
April 17, 2009 at 3:19 pm
By the way, even though Ben took down the Willows site yesterday, the blog hasn’t been erased yet. Go to myliteracity.blogspot.com and read the comments in the first post….
So instead of helping The Willows magazine, I guess it’s time to try and help the burned authors and subscribers. And find a good magazine that will publish stuff like this and do it the right way.
April 17, 2009 at 3:24 pm
@ted Yeah, I really honestly tried. Now I feel bad for the people I convinced to get issues, etc., who are now plain out of that money. It’s a really odd situation.
As for other publications, there’s always Weird Tales–however, they’re closed to submissions right now. I should update a post here, but I honestly don’t want to be involved any more; I certainly didn’t anticipate on being part of a death-hunt yesterday, and it’s all kind of worn me out!
April 17, 2009 at 3:35 pm
No one has feigned death. That is truly a narrow-minded and ridiculous assumption. It was a rumor, and likely an elaborate joke, that got out of control because of petty-minded people like you. Who started it? Who knows?
Have you ever held down a day job? Ben has a full-time job and was doing the magazine as a labor of love. It got out of hand financially. He is in major debt. He still plans to get every issue out to those who have paid, and to pay any author who has contracted for payment, and to write every accepted author with the news of the magazine’s demise.
What more can be said to you people? You, Ted. What’s your problem? And you, Natania, buckling under a few angry voices. You are all really sad. Don’t you have anything better to do? I assume you are writers. So use your talent to better the world, not destroy it.
From my end anyway, this will be the last you hear of The Willows. So spit your venom far and wide, if you will. You hurt no one but yourselves.
April 17, 2009 at 3:40 pm
@skadi I’m sorry if you think I’m buckling, but I’m clearly not. All I said is that I’m moving on, and feel bad for the people who were looking for issues/ad space and have been left in limbo. There’s been no indication from anyone–other than you at this moment–that the issues will be going out. I was brought into this, that’s all.
I understand absolutely how hard it is, it has simply not been handled well. Maybe rumors of death were ridiculous, but how the heck am I supposed to know that? I mean no venom, and no disrespect. Mostly I’m disappointed and confused, as are the majority of people brought into this. That’s all.
April 17, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I’m sorry to hear that. I had a couple of close friends who had a literary magazine for awhile — it’s a tremendous amount of work, terribly expensive, and usually a thankless task. I admire the people who make a go at it.
April 17, 2009 at 3:49 pm
@Liam I admire the people who do it, as well. Absolutely. I know how hard it is–but it also had to be addressed openly. I do hope, as Skadi has said, that Ben will tie up the loose ends. That’s all I’m askin’!
April 17, 2009 at 3:46 pm
This is also to say: that there has been this much discussion means the magazine meant a great deal to a lot of people. And that’s something. Unfortunately, that won’t bring it back…
April 17, 2009 at 3:49 pm
@skadi – I’ll assume you meant those first few harsh sentences to be directed at Ted. Since Natania never stated that she believed anyone had faked their death I am sure you couldn’t possibly have meant to direct that at her. As to the idea that she has “buckled” I find that rather silly. Natania simply stated – diplomatically – and with great calm – what she DID know. That’s all. Unfortunately the few facts that are known have done little to promote any sense of professionalism. I was a paid advertiser & contributing illustrator for one issue. I also held a subscription. I am dismayed that The Willows chose to shut down. But more dismayed at how it was handled – sort of a sweep and burn approach – that leaves no room for resurrection or a revamped business model. It’s a shame.
April 17, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Don’t listen to Skadi’s comments about “spit and venom,” since Skadi is responsible for the two most affronting emails I have ever received, not to mention, the tone of the above post is less than cordial. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. I am not surprised that The Willows has folded, I predicted this based upon on my interaction with Skadi, and thought that any ship with this rude character as part of the crew would inevitably sink. Sad to lose a wonderful magazine, run by a less than honorable crew.
April 19, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Ben from The Willows has posted a complete announcement at thewillowsmagazine.com.
April 20, 2009 at 5:46 pm
@S.H. Segal Thanks so much for the update; truly appreciated.