Heather’s Ramblings

I’m sure this has been whispered about online for weeks now, though a thorough internet check didn’t turn up much. Perhaps all the whispering was done in IM and email. I announced to my yahoo group a few weeks back that I have severed ties with one of my publishers (and it wasn’t Ellora’s Cave that I pulled from {very happy at EC, I am}).

It is now official. After the second episode of a website gone down in less than a month, Nov.3, 2007 Twilight Fantasies Publication management sent out an email to select authors (I didn’t get one, personally) that they are closing their doors–for good. This comes only six months after they first opened their electronic doors (May 2007 for those wondering). I can’t honestly say that this surprises me since I’ve suspected this was coming for the last month now. What does this mean for the authors involved? I have no idea. It’s too new to really know what’s going on. Communication with the publisher has been severely lacking for a few months now. The reason stated for the closing? “Personal and health reasons.” My personal opinion on that? Hogwash!

No matter how bad one feels, when in the position of running a business, keeping the lines of communication open between you and your employees, or in this case authors, is key. You cannot abandon those who trusted you enough to invest in your company, and that’s what an author does when she/he signs a contract with a publisher–invests in that company with her/his time and work. This is yet another in a long line of epublisher closings. Will more fall? I can hope not, but I imagine that yes, there will be more.

Epublishing, contrary to popular belief, is NOT the quick and easy road to lots of money. It takes time, dedication, and lots of hard work to make a publishing house, ebook or print, successful. This isn’t a hobby. It’s not a part time gig that you can play with on the side whenever you feel like messing with it. It’s a full time job and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Nor is opening a publishing house a way to break your own writing into the publishing game. Sadly, I think that’s how many view it and thus that is why so many fail.

Insufficient knowledge of the game, lack of dedication to the project, and poor planning. But what do I know? I’m just an author who has enough sense to know that I am not equipped to take on such a project. I’m not ashamed to admit that I lack the knowledge to run a publishing company. Would I like to own one? Sure, but I’m not going to because it’s beyond my abilities.

Did I make a mistake in signing with this company? Yes. Did I make a mistake in signing on with Trisk? Oh yeah. But we live and we learn. It’s a mistake that I will not be making again. Lesson learned. Did I get out with my rights intact? It’s too early to say, though I did get out. I severed ties with them several weeks back, but sadly, that will not save me from the fall out of bankruptcy should things go that way. Thankfully, I have another wonderful publisher and the books tied up with this company are only two shorts. I have plenty of other things to write on and keep myself busy while I wait for the dust to settle.

What about those with only one book that happens to be tied up in this? I hate that brand new authors are getting caught in the middle of these publisher closing scandals. It sours them on epublishing as a whole and that’s not fair to them or the rest of us that make a living in the epublishing world. To those newbies out there caught in this or other similar circumstances, don’t let this cloud your opinion on epublishing. There are plenty of wonderful epublishers out there that are actively seeking submissions.

How do you know a good pub from a bad pub? Research. Look them up online, find every bit of information on them that you can. Talk to authors with that company, and not just one or two, several. The more opinions you get, the more information you have to base your own decision on. What if they are brand new? Then proceed with caution and at your own risk. Though in truth, signing on with any publisher is a risk. Not all editors and authors are good matches. What is golden to one can be totally crappy to another. But that’s just how life goes.

What did I get out of this? I made some truly incredible friends. Is the closing of yet another publisher a pain in the ass? Most certainly, but I’m not going to let it drag me down. I have new friends to converse with, more books to write, and the Hunters project to keep me busy. Life shall go on and so shall I. I wish everyone luck, no matter if you’re tied up with Trisk, Twilight, or any of the other pubs that have closed this year. Take care and try not to let it get you down. Keep your chin up and your fingers to the keyboard. Here’s to many, many great new books from the lot of you.

Heather