Short Stories

Why is it so difficult to publish short story anthologies. Writers have been publishing short stories for centuries, yet I'm finding publishers reluctant to publish anthologies because they claim people don't read them. Of course it's always an eye to the bottom line, especially in this economy.

Why short stories? I always loved the stories of O'Henry because the endings were so surprising. The most famous sci fi authors wrote short stories that were intriguing and left the reader wondering. Many people find it hard to stay focused or find the time to read an entire novel, so they rely on short stories for their reading pleasure.

Perhaps there is someone out there who has some insight into publishing a short story anthology? Entitled Danse Macabre, it is a collection of stories in the paranormal genre including vampires, ghosts, and mystery. Of course, I can always expand each story into a novel and have more than a lifetime of writing. However, I do like them as they are...succinct and to the point without the filler of a novel.