Not all Small Presses suck!

Status
Not open for further replies.

JustinThorne

www.justinthorne.com
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 8, 2006
Messages
198
Reaction score
22
Location
In the shadows
Website
www.myspace.com
Things are getting very exciting!

My publisher sent out ARCs a few weeks ago and the first review has appeared over at SFFWORLD.

I've had amazing support from Waterstones and the official launch is on May 26th. They've given me their first floor, provided canapes and wine and given me a whole window display, poster and hanging-banner sites in-store; and are doing a promotion for my limited edition, signed and numbered version of the book and THEY take the hit on margin!

I'm with a small press but they do offset print-runs (2000 initial), they get the book listed in every bookstore in the UK and the US, they are prepared to provide the discounts the Waterstones and Amazons expect and they will accept returns.

When I met with the store manager, he sat straight down at his computer and logged-on to Waterstones database and there I was!

Happy days.

At the moment, I am very happy to be signed to a small, enthusiastic publisher who wants the book to do well and are prepared to invest in its success.
 

aadams73

A Work in Progress
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
9,901
Reaction score
6,428
Location
Oregon
Congratulations, that's really fab! :)
 

gem1122

We can pickle that
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 17, 2007
Messages
279
Reaction score
24
Location
US
Congrats -- nice review!

I've read similar things about small presses; if you get with a good one, they can be very 'hands-on' and supportive in ways that larger publishers are not. Thanks for the insight.
 

Claudia Gray

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 20, 2007
Messages
2,918
Reaction score
604
Sounds like you've hooked up with the right people. Good luck and congrats!
 

Penguin Queen

Break the rules.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
766
Reaction score
116
Location
Cardiff. Berlin. Mars. (One day.) Buenos Aires, so
Website
www.herrad.net
I'm with a small press and so far theyve been nothing but great. They only publish 6 fiction titles a year (also non-fiction and poetry), so every book and author really count for them, & they have to make every book count. And so far, they do.

Incidentally, I also lauch on 26th May :) -- and they got me a slot at the Hay on Wye festival for the launch! :hooray:
 

spacejock2

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 5, 2005
Messages
500
Reaction score
107
Location
W Australia
Website
www.spacejock.com.au
If you get with the right small press it can be a great experience. You don't feel like an insignificant cog in a massive machine, for a start, and I regularly email the owner and the MD of my publisher.

Distribution is the thing though, and if they've got that sorted you're in clover.
 

JustinThorne

www.justinthorne.com
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 8, 2006
Messages
198
Reaction score
22
Location
In the shadows
Website
www.myspace.com
Thanks all!

The launch is shaping-up pretty well!

Tickets-795769.jpg
 

JustinThorne

www.justinthorne.com
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 8, 2006
Messages
198
Reaction score
22
Location
In the shadows
Website
www.myspace.com
Wow, thanks Chris, praise indeed!

Congrats on Word Wars, that ain't a bad cover either! God-forbid the government ever ban the written word.

A small press with marketing ability is gold dust - I have a TV Interview tomorrow afternoon with BBC Spotlight to talk about the book and the impending launch - nervous!
 
Last edited:

Dollywagon

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
1,028
Reaction score
141
Congratulations, Justin.

Lovely front cover and intriguing title!

I must admit that I subbed to a small press for the first time last week. Got a lovely response back (not a 'not for us,') and a time scale as to when they would get back to me after further consideration.

I must admit, I was impressed ...
 

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 3, 2006
Messages
2,309
Reaction score
128
Location
Netherlands
Website
www.peccarymagazine.5u.com
Of course not all small presses suck. I'd even go as far as saying very few of them suck. After all, being small means they can't afford large losses the way big publishers can. They have their own money invested.
 

scottVee

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
391
Reaction score
44
Location
San Diego area
Website
scott.virtes.com
Nice cover, and that's a hefty display at the bookstore. Most stores only show 5 or 10 copies of any book.

I doubt anyone will say that all small presses suck. The ones that make no effort do, and those fly-by-night online "businesses" that are battling to sign up as many books as they can without selling any copies. Companies that have energy and a plan are good. Ones that just wanna do what everyone else is doing ("cash in on the craze") drive me nuts.

Good luck with your book.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.