Seems like the world of ebook publishing is at it again. Another publisher appears to be on shaky ground. I really like this publisher, so the news that there is trouble bums me out. It seems to me that most of these problems with ebook publishers stems from their leap into paperback publishing. I used to LOVE writing for epubs. It was a nice steady part-time income (a lot of people made it a full-time income due to their productivity). There was a lot of freedom in the storytelling that’s hard to get anywhere else. I could write whatever popped into my scary mind. *g* Unfortunately, things within contracts made it impossible for me to continue. So as much as I’d love to write for them, I don’t see how I can. But that’s neither here nor there. Life goes on.
I do hope the latest scare ends up stabilizing before more authors get hurt. Things like this rarely end well.
March 13th, 2008
Jordan, I’m sure the Waldenbooks/Borders consolidation with all the heavy returns that led to hit small presses very hard, so yes, the move to print publishing has to be a factor for many of the epubs that have since closed up. But there are also a number that I think opened up based on the idea that anybody could make money at it (hahaha) and quickly learned otherwise.
by Charli March 13th, 2008 at 6:07 pmI don’t believe that has anything to do with it in this case as far as I know. From what I understand there has been problems at this particular publisher, in house, for some time. Yes, it’s too bad especially with a company that has been around for so long. I feel bad for the authors involved. That’s who will get shafted up the butt when this all falls, if it does.
by Vivi Anna March 13th, 2008 at 8:10 pmI’m obviously getting behind - I don’t know about this news. I take a couple of days off checking out blogs and look what happens. Which company is it? I’m afraid to hear the answer.
by Suzanne Perazzini March 13th, 2008 at 10:16 pmAs Vivi said, I understand this has been going on for quite some time, and it seems to be not only a matter of contracts, but of attitudes toward the authors. Maybe corrections can be made. They’ve been around for some time, it’d be a shame to see it fail.
by raine March 13th, 2008 at 11:06 pmCharli, I agree that the Walden closings and the downsizing really smacked small press pubs into the wall. Some recovered. Many didn’t. I also agree that there is a mentality that anyone can make money opening a small press pub. They can’t. Unfortunately, a lot of authors are paying for the mistake because of their desire to publish.
by Jordan March 14th, 2008 at 9:26 amVivi, I really like this publisher. Have bought many of their books. I’m sorry to hear that the problems run deeper than the Walden/Borders thing.
by Jordan March 14th, 2008 at 9:28 amSuzanne, You can read all about the controversy here: http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/03/12/new-concepts-publishing-under-heat-by-authors
by Jordan March 14th, 2008 at 9:30 amRaine, I hope they manage to pull it together. I really do.
by Jordan March 14th, 2008 at 9:34 am