On the Dark Worlds blog, GW Thomas mentioned that Flashing Swords magazine has ceased publication.

Both Janrae Frank’s blog and the Wikipedia page on Flashing Swords (which was probably edited by one of the authors, since an e-mail from Mrs. Frank is up there) have additional information:

Because we lost our financing because of the current economic downturn, we are taking our books to lulu until I can meet Fictionwise’s minimum requirements.

Hopefully we will be able to do this before the end of next year. We have eight books coming out in the spring, including one by award winning author, Lyn McConchie.

I have indefinitely suspended Flashing Swords magazine, although we will be bringing out a line of fantasy novels under that imprint.

Fictionwise is where the money is for the small press. More and more people who enjoy reading voraciously are turning to ebooks because of the lower cost of them. I will keep you all supplied with information concerning this.

According to an e-mail sent out to authors in November of 2009, Flashing Swords is no longer publishing additional work:

Because of a downturn in the economy and several disasters, I am indefinitely suspending publication of Flashing Swords and returning all rights to your stories. We, at Daverana Enterprises, will be continuing to do novels and collections for the time being. I am doing this with a great deal of regret because all of you are excellent authors. I wish you every success with your writing.

– Janrae Frank

Named after Lin Carter’s five book-run of Sword-and-Sorcery anthologies, the magazine was managed by Howard Andrew Jones from 2004 to 2006, Daniel Blackston in 2006-2007, Crystalwizard in 2007-2008 and from 2008 to present by Janrae Frank. It published short Sword-and-Sorcery yarns, art, articles and interviews. Both known and novice authors contributed, with brand new texts or reprints. It lasted twelve issues.

Mr. Thomas’ advice sounds good to me: ” Read these issues before they disappear.”

Issues one to nine can still be found here.

Dear readers, keep in mind something indisputable and demonstrated again by the sad demise ofFlashing Swords magazine: if we want Sword-and-Sorcery fiction to stay in print, we should support the few publications still promoting it, like BlackGate.