RWA Website

Josie, that list doesn't exist anymore. One of the things that happened at this National conference was the elimination of the "Recognized Publisher" program. It never really was an "approved" list--it just dealt with publisher requirements in several different programs that RWA sponsors, like the RITA awards, entry to the Published Author Network (PAN) and attendance at conferences.

So, the floor is pretty much open to any publisher out there. However, there are some new standards dealing with vanity and subsidy publishers that are being hotly contested. As it stands, some of the well-known romance/erotica epublishers and small presses might be deemed to be "vanity publishers" without amendment. We're hoping for amendment.

Obviously, use common sense and read up on any publisher you select. You already know how to search over in the Bewares & Backgrounds room, I'm sure, and Writer Beware has their list of 20 "thumbs down" publishers to avoid.

Does that help any?

Josie said:

Hi:

Can anyone please tell me where the list of approved publishers is located on the RWA website?

Thank you

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There are no longer "RWA Recognized" publishers. They have done away with that designation. They do not want writers thinking that everything will be perfect "if only" they can sell to an RWA Recognized Publisher.

There will "RWA Eligible" Publishers -- those will be publishers who meet certain criteria, who will be allowed to take appointments at RWA National conferences.

From the RWA Hot Sheet: "By substituting the word Eligible for Recognized, and limiting the scope of the term Eligible Publisher so that it deals solely with RWA's allocation of its programs and resources, primarily at out National Conference, the term and concept of "Recognized Publisher" no longer factors into PAN and PRO eligibility, the RITA and Golden HEart Contests, RWR content, and many other sections of our Policies and Porceedures Manual.

"Commencing with RWA's 2008 National Conference, for official publisher participation, a romance publisher must verify to RWA that it (1) is not a Subsidy Publisher OR a Vanity Publisher; (2) had been releasing romance novels via national distribution for no fewer than 3 years, with no fewer than two full-length romance novels or novel-length romance anthologies published in each of three consecutive years; (3) provides per book advances of at least $1,000 for all books; and (4) pays all authors participating in an anthology an advance of at least $500."

Again, please note that the ONLY thing this "Eligibilty" now impacts is a publisher's ability to "officially" participate at RWA National conference.

I do not know if there is a "List" of who these Eligible Publishers are, or will be.

Susan G.

If you want to know who they *were* see here: http://www.erecsite.com/2007/07/attempting-list-of-dropped-publishers.html

Josie said:

Really I'm more of a mystery paranormal women's fiction writer.

Cheers, Josie

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Is there still a group called Sisters in Crime? I think they are for mystery writers and I don't believe they are an RWA chapter.

Josie said:

But paranormal does have a strong hold on me.

As a matter of face there are on line chapters of RWA I prefer which I've joined. But I had to join RWA to join them. Such is life.

Cheers, Judi

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I can relate. I used to belong to the FF&P (paranormal) chapter when I was an RWA member (and before I started writing inspirationals).