Gore Publishers

Does anyone know of any agents/publishers who will actually take works with a strong gore element? I know, it's a really tough sell, but that's why I'm asking people with a lot more experience than I have. I've looked around, but they're really hard to find. I've gone through so many databases that it hurts to look at them, but it never seems like enough.

I have one work of fantasy with a small side of horror and definite gory moments (main character is a predator), and another story that's full fantasy/horror (main character tortures people). The violence is a key part of their personalities and ties into the message and struggles of the story, so I'm very reluctant to take it out. It fits right into the continuity of the story and having it graphic feeds into the conflict of the characters. I already wrote both stories, too, so now I'm trying to dig up someone who might be willing to take them on. I've just exhausted all my resources. Anything helps. Thanks

Yes. But I know not all (and actually a fairly significant number don't, from my experience) publishers who like horror will also take something with straightforward gore elements. They seem to like more the horror that is primarily psychological/gothic/etc.

My biggest problem here is that I don't actually read horror (although I seem to write it pretty well). It's probably some sin with most writers, but I don't do very well going to bed if I don't know where everything is going, yada yada. I can't call any of the publishers to mind that I looked at who didn't accept gore because I don't add them to my list, but I think about a third of all publishers I've looked at who take dark fantasy and horror all made it very clear that they specifically don't want anything with straightforward gore, and nobody else seems particularly thrilled with it. Kinda like how a lot refuse erotica unless they're specifically tailored to it. The two seem to go hand in hand as far as publishers who won't take them goes.

Soapdish, thanks a lot for the suggestions. I'm not sure if I'd really say 'bizarro', but I'll very definitely look at them in the morning and search out the connections. I seem to have difficulty finding other writers who work with gore, but I have yet to start looking through this forum a bit more clearly.

And Jenn, just to clarify where I was a bit ambiguous, I'm not claiming the fantasy was horror because of the gore. It actually does have a number of psychological elements in it. I will definitely look at Wolfe, though.

I'm really just looking for more names to add to my list. I do have a number down already, but they all have a fair reason to reject me even without my casual relationship with anatomy (something about an unreasonable 200K word count), so I'm trying to find as many names as possible, through sources I haven't yet discovered. Thanks for the replies so far. I'm just a new, lost writer trying to find some more leads.

Wow. I hadn't had a chance until this morning to look up those suggestions you posted, Dondomat, but that is extremely helpful. I'd never heard of those, and the only databases I had ever found for publishers were Duotrope and Pred-ed. I will definitely put a lot more time into those and look for others.

Anyone know if Apex is going to be opening back up to submissions anytime soon? I'll definitely check out the book when I have some free time, but I don't want to get my hopes up too far if they're closed indefinitely. Thanks all, for the replies and suggestions. I'm still hanging around in the background and listening.