Wings EPress

[Ellzeena]

I was under contract with Wings EPress, an electronic and trade paperback publisher, with my novel, "Cover Story." Publication was scheduled for February 1, 2004. During the month of January, after enormous stress with cover art work (I had my own artist but still had to pay their artist a fee and suffer through insulting email from her because I didn't choose her work), I was sent the first PDF file for read-through and errata list. There were errors, some NOT found in my original manuscript, all of which I corrected under huge stress because of the time line (less than two weeks from publication.) I then received the "corrected" PDF file. Much to my shock, it contained MORE errors, few of which were in the first PDF file. I then read through the entire manuscript and corrected THOSE errors, again under great stress from the time factor. With less than one week before publication, I received the "final" PDF file. It was a horror! Words, sentences, entire PARAGRAPHS were either just NOT present or MOVED to other places in the ms. I corrected YET AGAIN, working all day and night.

At that point, I was frantic. I went to some search engines in an attempt fo "find" Wings EPress and found SOME links but most of them didn't work. They had MY BABY (er, book.) I sent the Editor In Chief an hysterical email, asking if my errata list had been incorporated in the final PDF pass. I received NO response. I went to my contract and found the telephone number for Wings Epress and called. It was HER HOME! She finally called me back (45 minutes later) and told me that my manuscript had been sent to GALLEYS for publication in two days WITHOUT the changes I had made in the last of the seemingly endless string of PDF files! I FREAKED OUT (understandably??) I withdrew my manuscript from publication that night on the telephone and in email and did receive a Reversion of Rights letter (thank GOD). I don't know WHAT to think about that organization but I do feel the need to warn other writers about them.

[James D. Macdonald]

A horror story about Wings Epress.

Wings is apparently still in business: http://www.wings-press.com/

Do your research; make your own decisions. You know your own situation best.

[James D. Macdonald]

It's usually a good idea to buy (in a bookstore) and read several books from any publisher you're considering, just to see what their standards are like.

[BJones]

Any info on this publisher would be helpful. I can't find much.

B

[JerseyGirl1962]

I don't have any specifics, but it seems to publish romance; I saw a number of RWA (Romance Writers of America) authors had their books with this press.

I wonder if someone who's more familiar with romance might have a better take on this than me. Or maybe you can put this in the romance (Get in the Genre) section of this site and see if anyone has better answers there.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Good luck.

~Nancy

[CaoPaux]

Here's their guidelines: http://www.wings-press.com/guideline.htm

[Toni1953]

Has anyone ever heard of them? Wings ePress, Inc. thier website is http://www.wings-press.com

[Cathy C]

I'm going to move this over to Backgrounds, Toni1953. You'll get better responses over there. You can also visit these links on that same board:


Wings ePress <old links snipped>

[Toni1953]

Has anyone had any experience, good or bad, with Wings e-press? I believe they also do books in POD. I checked the other threads but could not find too much. I asked this once before in January and got no response; maybe no one here has had any experience with them?

Once burned (byPA) twice shy. I do extensive research now before i sign anything with anyone.

[James D. Macdonald]

Have you ever read one of their books? Has anyone you know ever read one of their books?

Have you already exhausted all the other publishers whose books you have read?

[Toni1953]

Have you ever read one of their books? Has anyone you know ever read one of their books?

Have you already exhausted all the other publishers whose books you have read?


No, No, and No.

Therein lies my answer.

[judi indiana]

I've had two books pubbed with Wings ePress, one in 2005 and a second in July of 2006. As a new fiction writer, I found Wings very conscientious and committed to their authors. I am exceedingly grateful for the opportunity Wings gave me to get my books in print, both trade paperback and ebook format. I highly recommend them for first time authors who would love to see their books at libraries and for sale on Amazon. The drawbacks I found with wings are: 1) the owners are a bit slow in responding to author needs, 2) the lag time between contract and published book can be up to two years, 3) the distribution is limited since they don't sell through Ingrams or other book distributors and 4) you do need to be self-generating and committed to getting your books well edited. In other words, if you're a prima donna, don't sign a contract with Wings - if you're a walking 'this is bad' waiting to happen in life, don't apply. But then that probably is true of most things in life. It always works to listen for workability. Overall, I recommend them for new authors trying their wings (check out my books on amazon under Lynn Romaine) - judi indiana

[Roger J Carlson]

The drawbacks I found with wings are: 1) the ..., 2) ..., 3) the distribution is limited since they don't sell through Ingrams or other book distributors and 4) you do need to be self-generating and committed to getting your books well edited. In other words, if you're a prima donna, don't sign a contract with Wings - if you're a walking 'this is bad' waiting to happen in life, don't apply...Editing, marketing, and distributing are what publishers do. If this company doesn't do any of that, what makes it a publisher?

Note: calling writers, who expect a publisher to do its job, "prima donnas" is not likely to build any support here.

[Harris]

Wings also charges a set up fee. They cover e pub for free but if you want print you have to pay the set up fee. With their limited distribution, unless you want to set up little stands trying to sell your books, you won't make the fee back on your print books.

[DeadlyAccurate]

I am exceedingly grateful for the opportunity Wings gave me to get my books in print, both trade paperback and ebook format.

You know, I don't understand this mindset. When a publisher eventually buys publishing rights for my books, I will be excited. Heck, I'll be ecstatic. But grateful? That implies they're doing me some sort of favor. They're not. We will have made a mutually beneficial business relationship. They won't be doing it because they feel sorry for me or want me to be happy; they'll be doing it for one reason and one reason only: they think it will be a net gain to their company to sell my book.

[soloset]

Especially when it appears that anything this company does for you you could do through Lulu, faster, and make more money at it.

[AnneMarble]

Especially when it appears that anything this company does for you you could do through Lulu, faster, and make more money at it.
For what it's worth, the e-book editions of Wings EPress titles are available at Fictionwise (http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/WingsePressInceBooks.htm). I'm pretty sure this is something that you can't do with a Lulu title. I don't know what the sales are, and I'm pretty sure I've never bought any myself. However, titles from independent e-publishing companies like this sometimes perform well at Fictionwise, particularly in some of the e-book fiction niches (romance, erotic romance, etc.). (One reason for this might simply be that the books are generally available in "multiformat," and there are a lot of readers who don't want to be bothered with secure formats at all.)

Still, there are better known e-book publishers to try first! :D

[judi indiana]

Editing, marketing, and distributing are what publishers do. If this company doesn't do any of that, what makes it a publisher?

Note: calling writers, who expect a publisher to do its job, "prima donnas" is not likely to build any support here.

At this point, I see I am not furthering anything but bad feelings, so I am going to remove myself from the discussion and this list. Thanks for your comments and for those of you writing, good luck with that
and keep writing what you love -

Judi indiana - committed to a world where people cause their worlds, listen from their hearts and love their lives -

[AnneMarble]

At this point, I see I am not furthering anything but bad feelings, so I am going to remove myself from the discussion and this list.
OK, you're probably not going to see this :D and maybe I misread what you just wrote, but..

Do you mean you're leaving the entire site because you are upset at what was said about your publisher? If so, that's a damn shame. :( Have you even looked at the rest of the site? What about the Novel Writing board, particularly the Learn Writing with Uncle Jim (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6710) thread? What about the genre fiction boards, such as Romance Writing board, the Mystery/Suspense board, etc.?

Anyway, leaving the entire site over a calm discussion, or even just abandoning this discussion, is simply not a good idea. And I don't see any bad feelings here, unless you're feeling bad because people said something potentially negative about your publisher. (An important part of being a writer is the ability to read criticism without letting it tear you apart. The same applies to criticism of your publisher.) I just see people telling other writers to be very careful before picking a publisher. Since when has that been a bad thing?

Keep in mind that a publisher can be reputable but still a bad idea for writers who want a real career. If you read some of the threads about other publishers, you'll see other writers getting warned against other publishers because of problematic contracts, bad distribution, etc. No one is doing this because they want to be "mean." They're doing it to help. If they didn't want to help, they wouldn't be here.

Thanks for your comments and for those of you writing, good luck with that and keep writing what you love-
Uhm. This is a writing board, so most of us are writers. Or we are when we're not posting here. :D There are writers here who have been published by big name publishers, by major e-publishers, etc. There are some editors here, as well, and they're just as helpful. There are also unpublished writers who simply happen to know a lot about the ins and outs of publishing, and they should be listend to as well. We love 'em all. :)

[Silverlady0]

Unfortunately, my experience with them was bad. They misspelled my name at the top of each page and there were errors on the backcover. They treated me like dirt as an author. I am so glad I pulled my book and I'm now published elsewhere by a new publisher who treats me really well.

I would never pay a publisher a set up fee again.

Not all authors there are displeased. There appear to be two different camps: those who are satisfied and treated like kings and queens and the rest of us mere mortals who can't even get replies to our e-mails.

We need to value ourselves as authors and put up with second best.

[MMcC]

Vanity Press.

Recently an e-publisher who had made my life a living hell over reviews, then later over lies told, hit their first year anniversary. I'd been quiet all year after the initial throw-down. When it happened about 12 of their writers were emailing me privately in hysterics, but also begging me "not to say anything."

One year later I'm still getting mail, and ALMOST EVERY ONE includes a complaint that writers who expect actual professionalism are immediately called prima donnas. One wackjob editor, dozens of hurt writers, one common term.

I have great hopes for e-publishing, but this is why I won't live to see them realized.

[Jersey Chick]

I've had two books pubbed by them. My first one was ok - it's gotten some very good reviews and I've had quite a few fan emails asking about writing a follow up. There were a few mistakes, but I was new to the biz at the time and didn't think enough to notice the editing was more a case of "this should be a comma, not a semi-colon," instead of real editing.

My second one was a disaster. I tried to pull it, but it was too late. When I got my galleys, all of the punctuation disappeared. (How does punctuation just disappear???)When I questioned it, I was told that it must have happened at my end (blatantly false. My file of the manuscript wasn't missing every period and comma). I went through it line by line, trying to put everything back, only to find that when the book was released, they were still missing.

Fast forward to getting my copies - after three pages, I threw the book down in disgust over the errors that had been introduced into the book - more missing punctuation, dialogue tags at both ends of sentences (ex. he growled," XYZ," he growled) that wasn't there in my version. My emails went unanswered, etc. I'm so embarrassed by that book - though it did get good reviews as well.

I've got a new publisher now - another epub, but I haven't heard or read anything negative about them. My editor is actually editing - a far cry from what I'd gotten over there. In the meantime, I'll be asking for my rights back on the first one in the near future and the second one when it expires. I can't wait to have them back - the first is getting a complete overhaul and the second will be buried in a desk drawer.

I realize they are actually a subsidy publisher - there is no charge for ebooks, so they aren't a vanity - but I've learned enough to know I should've steered clear in the first place. Anyone asks, I tell them to keep looking. I wish I had.

[Silverlady0]

I got a similar problem to you with the galley, Jersey Chick. I noticed they had misspelled my name and was worried about it as it appears on the top of every page. I had also noticed they misspelled my name at their website. Six times I informed my editor of this. I was sent the amended galley and was happy with that.

Thirty books arrived for a charity book signing. I allowed my son to open them and thought he was joking when he said: "Mam, they've spelled your name wrong!" When I saw the error, I burst into tears. Not only that, I found errors on the back cover too.

They must have used the wrong galley.

I wrote to Wings. I was mad because it was the charity's money and it was too late to change the big book launch planned with the local press and mayor at a castle.

Not once was myself or the charity offered any compensation. Not even a couple of complimentary books for THEIR MISTAKE.

The person who calls herself the author liasion person never once replied to any of my e-mails.

The next batch of books had been amended but arrived too late for another book signing. They were supposed to come in one week but took six weeks. I don't know if that was their fault or not.

What a difference with my new publisher. All my e-mails get answered promptly and if I need anything resolved it gets acted on.

The best part? With my new publisher I haven't had to part with a single penny to get published!

[magicpae]

[quote=Ellzeena;13942]I was under contract with Wings EPress, an electronic and trade paperback publisher, with my novel, "Cover Story."

I was reading this old quote and I must say that I'm very disappointed and surprised at this author's narrow-minded view of Wings. I've been with Wings since it opened it doors in September 2001 and I have NEVER encountered the problems this author says she did and frankly I don't know of any author who has to this extent. This would be very, very rare.

Let me introduce myself. I am Pat Evans, art director for Wings since December 2007. I am also an author, Jamey Evans, and I've just had my 8th book published with Wings.

As art director, I just can not imagine the level of uncooperation that is described in this post. Even before I came on as art director in 2007, I never heard any other author, (And Wings has nearly 300 authors and 600 titles now) have this problem of absolute miscommunication. If this author came to me, wanting their own artist, as some have done, then by all means, that is permitted. If the artist for hire by the author provides all the parts of the cover, FRONT, BACK and SPINE, then the in-house artists don't need to do anything and the royalty goes to the author. If the in-house artist has to do 'finishing touches' and adjust the cover to Wings specifications, then the in-house artists gets the contract. This information is relayed to the author. A guideline called an artist specifications is sent to the author and the author's artist and must be followed to be pubished at Wings. It's up to the author to provide all parts of the cover, if the contract goes to the author, instead of the in-house artist. If the author wants to provide just the front cover and say she/he has done what is needed, then they haven't.

As for the author side, my alter-ego, Jamey Evans, has to go through the same intense procedure that any of our 300 authors has gone through. The progress of a manuscript is thus...

A manuscript is received.
A manuscript is read by two to three readers to see if it is an agreeable work.
A mansucript is contracted with 2 highly favorable references from the readers. With the contract, the author has the option to go ebook only or have a POD.
A manuscript is sent to the Senior Editor of that department.
A manuscript is edited in coordination and communication with the author.
A manuscript is copy-edited.
A manscuript is then made into a galley by the Executive Editor.
A manuscript is then corrected by the author who is supposed to look over that galley and report problems.

If the author goes POD, then a one-time set up fee is sent to the printer. The web admin will then post the manuscript for purchase on the web. Any POD purchases are printed through a separate company.

My point in this lengthy post is this. Wings has been around for eight years, long past many of the publishing companies that started at the same time. We have had a few disgruntled authors, and I won't deny that, but I'm sure NY publishers have to. Mistakes are made and hopefully corrected much better than this one disgruntled author posted. To take one author's view of the company as solid gold would be totally wrong. For every disgruntled author, we have at least a hundred who are not.

Anyone who goes with an ebook/POD publisher must realize. We ARE NOT a New York company. You can not expect to get the same results from us that is expected from NY. We do not mass produce our books and each one is purchased one at at time. We are listed on Amazon, Fictionwise, and you can walk into a national book chain and order one of our books by the ISBN number.

Another thing. We are NOT a vanity press. The only fee that is required is if the author decides to go POD and that fee is for the printer of the book and not for Wings. We do not charge for any stage of the publication of the book if you go with just ebooks. If you opt on your contract to go with print, then you pay the printer a set-up fee. That's all. One time. No more expense out of pocket.

I hope that I answered many of the questions and concerns that have been posted on this forum.

[linders]

I've been with Wings for three years. They've published four books and have contracted a fifth. I've had a very positive experience with Wings during this time.

Not to say someone couldn't have had a negative experience at some point. Things can happen. But Wings is a reputable publisher, not a vanity press. Manuscripts are subject to great scrutiny before being accepted, and thorough editing prior to publication.

Wings has a growing stable of talented and satisfied authors, and they are now opening a new imprint for erotica. It's a growing company.

Linda

[brainstorm77]

You charge the author a fee to have their books in print?

[brainstorm77]

I've had two books pubbed by them. My first one was ok - it's gotten some very good reviews and I've had quite a few fan emails asking about writing a follow up. There were a few mistakes, but I was new to the biz at the time and didn't think enough to notice the editing was more a case of "this should be a comma, not a semi-colon," instead of real editing.

My second one was a disaster. I tried to pull it, but it was too late. When I got my galleys, all of the punctuation disappeared. (How does punctuation just disappear???)When I questioned it, I was told that it must have happened at my end (blatantly false. My file of the manuscript wasn't missing every period and comma). I went through it line by line, trying to put everything back, only to find that when the book was released, they were still missing.

Fast forward to getting my copies - after three pages, I threw the book down in disgust over the errors that had been introduced into the book - more missing punctuation, dialogue tags at both ends of sentences (ex. he growled," XYZ," he growled) that wasn't there in my version. My emails went unanswered, etc. I'm so embarrassed by that book - though it did get good reviews as well.

I've got a new publisher now - another epub, but I haven't heard or read anything negative about them. My editor is actually editing - a far cry from what I'd gotten over there. In the meantime, I'll be asking for my rights back on the first one in the near future and the second one when it expires. I can't wait to have them back - the first is getting a complete overhaul and the second will be buried in a desk drawer.

I realize they are actually a subsidy publisher - there is no charge for ebooks, so they aren't a vanity - but I've learned enough to know I should've steered clear in the first place. Anyone asks, I tell them to keep looking. I wish I had.

HOw could they screw it up so badly and let it pass?

[Roger J Carlson]

Nothing about this press for nearly two years, then two supporting it in one day. What are the odds?

[brainstorm77]

Nothing in this thread for nearly two years, then two supporting it in one day. What are the odds?

I thought that was kinda odd when I went back and looked at the date.

[Jersey Chick]

HOw could they screw it up so badly and let it pass?

Got me. All I know is that I have both books back now and I try not to think about it whenever someone asks if they can get a copy of the second one. It was such a disaster that, just recently I received a fan letter from someone who wanted to know if a copy of it was still available because it was one they didn't have. I've got four copies on my shelf and my answer was no - because I don't want anyone else to see it. Ever.

I also had a heck of a time getting the POD company to remove my books from their storefront after the rights were returned. It took me two months of emails before the books were taken down. ETA - Wait - it took me four months to get that taken care of. The rights came back to me on Christmas Eve, and my last email to them was in April. And if I recall, it took me quite a while to get the books removed from Wings website as well - and I wasn't happy about it.

I'm much happier with my current publishers - :D

[ChristineR]

Do they charge authors a fee for cover art? That's what I was getting out of Mr./Ms. Evans' post.

[brainstorm77]

Got me. All I know is that I have both books back now and I try not to think about it whenever someone asks if they can get a copy of the second one. It was such a disaster that, just recently I received a fan letter from someone who wanted to know if a copy of it was still available because it was one they didn't have. I've got four copies on my shelf and my answer was no - because I don't want anyone else to see it. Ever.

I also had a heck of a time getting the POD company to remove my books from their storefront after the rights were returned. It took me two months of emails before the books were taken down. ETA - Wait - it took me four months to get that taken care of. The rights came back to me on Christmas Eve, and my last email to them was in April. And if I recall, it took me quite a while to get the books removed from Wings website as well - and I wasn't happy about it.

I'm much happier with my current publishers - :D

Good :)

[James D. Macdonald]

Nothing about this press for nearly two years, then two supporting it in one day. What are the odds?

The way I see it, linders showed up last night to ask about an agent. Nothing odd about that -- people do it all the time.

While she was here, she looked up the thread on her publisher, a publisher she's been with for several years and several books, read what was posted, said "Yikes!" (or words to that effect), and e-mailed her editor over at Wings ePress.

The editor said, "Holy Guacamole!" (or words to that effect). That's how we came to get a couple of posts today.

I don't see anything sinister, or questionable. We're getting another viewpoint, is all.

We'll see how things develop after this.

[Jersey Chick]

I was never charged - I can't speak for anyone else, though.

I wish I'd found AW before - that's really all I have to say. :)

[linders]

The way I see it, linders showed up last night to ask about an agent. Nothing odd about that -- people do it all the time.

While she was here, she looked up the thread on her publisher, a publisher she's been with for several years and several books, read what was posted, said "Yikes!" (or words to that effect), and e-mailed her editor over at Wings ePress.

The editor said, "Holy Guacamole!" (or words to that effect). That's how we came to get a couple of posts today.

I don't see anything sinister, or questionable. We're getting another viewpoint, is all.

We'll see how things develop after this.


Mostly true. I signed up here to inquire about a particular agent. I saw Ms. Evans reply to this thread. I'm a Wings author who is satisfied, so I offered my opinion based upon my experience. Didn't go running to the publisher, shouting, "Oh, my God--do something." I don't have to defend Wings. Anyway, I'm satisfied with Wings. Yes, authors pay a set-up fee if they choose to have their books published in trade paperback. Wings is primarily a publisher of e-books. If an author pursues only e-published formats, there is no fee. Some small electronic presses charge a set-up fee, and some don't. An author can choose. I'd prefer not to pay the set-up fee, but I like working with Wings and I like the product I they produce. It's a matter of preference, I guess.

No big conspiracy here
Linda

[ChrryBlssmGrrl]

Hi all,

Just wondering whether anyone had any recent experience with Wings? After querying my paranormal romance, All Mine, widely earlier this year I got some pretty positive feedback from a number of agents but the main criticism was that although they liked the characters, plot and style there was something very niche about the whole project that made it difficult to market to a mainstream publisher.

I mulled this over, contemplated making some of the revisions suggested and then, pregnant and trying to finish my PhD thesis (stress!!) I decided to submit to a few e-pubs as well and see what came of it. Wings requested my full a few months ago, which I duly sent and then completely forgot about. Yesterday I got an email offering me a contract and suggesting this September to publish All Mine.

I'm cautiously pleased - Wings seem niche enough (I first found out about them in a newspaper article about the new trend for Catholic inspirational fiction and Wings was mentioned as one of the emerging genre's key publishers lol) which is a good thing for me, since they don't seem to require me to make huge changes to the slightly melancholic ending and the central love triangle to make All Mine more marketable. But, at the same time, they are a small publisher, perhaps not so widely known, and I'd love to know if anyone else has published with them recently, what their experience has been, what their royalty cheques have been like (!!!), cover art, editorial process, all of that kind of thing...

Any and all feedback very gratefully appreciated!!

[brainstorm77]

Reading back through this thread is still enough to make me run.

[Momento Mori]

ChrryBlssmGrrl:
Yesterday I got an email offering me a contract and suggesting this September to publish All Mine.

What rights are they taking under the contract - print publishing rights (if so, in which territories) and/or e-publishing rights? What are the royalty rates - are they calculated on net or cover price? What are the termination rights?

What are they going to do to market the book? I've taken a quick look through the website (which seems amateurish to me, and it's a little strange that their About Us page (http://www.wings-press.com/) describes them as "new" when they've clearly been around for a couple of years now) and there's no real information. I ask because if they're proposing to have the book out in September then that is nowhere near enough time to try and build up word of mouth pre-release (including getting review copies out there).

There doesn't seem to be anything about what distribution they have in place for print books Booksellers Page (http://www.wings-press.com/) doesn't seem to have particularly attractive terms that would make a bookseller buy in bulk.

Considering that you read an article describing them as "one of the emerging genre's key publishers" for Catholic inspirational fiction, their submissions guidelines are pretty coy on the subject of religion (and certainly don't advertise themselves as such).

I tend to be leery of newspaper articles about publishing companies. In general journalists don't seem to actually do their research on the company beyond interviewing a publisher's CEO and repeating what's in their press releases.

Have you see Wings books advertised or talked about in communities you frequent or seen them on your local bookstores, because if not, then I don't see what you'd get by signing with them.

Also, IMHO their covers are awful. None of the ones on their homepage would make me open the book. They mostly seem to me to be mash ups of clip art and seem v. amateurish.

MM

[Jersey Chick]

You won't find Wings books in bookstores unless someone special orders it. And even then, I can't say with 100% certainty stores can or will order them.

They don't send out review copies. You (the author) take care of that.

If you choose for a print option (POD), you will have to pay a set up fee. I don't know what it is now, but it was $90.

I don't know if the editing has changed from when they had my books. If not, don't look for anything more than "there should be a comma here," kind of editing. Very little in the way of tightening the plot, or logic/continuity errors. It was basic proofreading at best. I might have said this in an earlier post, but my 2nd (and last book) actually had screwups inserted. Most (if not all) of the punctuation was missing (and I had my galleys that showed correct punctuation, so I can prove it wasn't at my end.)

As for royalties - I laugh over that. I don't know if I was the exception or the rule, but mine were laughable. Though, to be honest, I was so embarrassed by the second book that I did nothing to promote it. And since they did little to no promotion, it wasn't at all difficult to not sell.

There are so many other epubs out there, if that's the direction you wish to go in. Check out all your options before signing anything.

[MeriBeth]

My first novel, Just Friends With Benefits, was published with Wings ePress, Inc. earlier this month and I am thrilled with the experience. They've been around for nine years and while I am not accusing any of the dissatisfied authors of years past of lying, I can say that things have significantly improved since then, at least based on my personal experience. My editor was extremely thorough and helped me tighten the plot and up the tension. I had brought my manuscript to an outside editor a few weeks prior to receiving my contract from Wings and both editors shared many of the same comments.

Although the book will not, as indicated above, be available in brick and mortar stores, the ebook is the wave of the future and I chose to ride it. Additionally, the book is available in paperbook (and Kindle) on Amazon. I've already sold many paperback copies and not only to my friends and family. Do I think they'd have a better reputation on these boards if they waived the POD fee, yes, but based on my calculations, I made the money back in the first month and really don't care. Had I chose not to go with paperback, it wouldn't have cost me a dime and $90 is really a spit in the bucket for a dream come true and an opportunity to get my name out there.

I admit trying unsuccessfully to get my book published with a big NY publisher but my genre, chick-lit, is considered dead among the editors and I got very few requests to even read the first three chapters. There is a huge pool of chick-lit readers out there and I am very happy I discovered Wings ePress, that they were open to my genre, accepted my manuscript (and yes, they reject PLENTY), helped tighten it up, made me a beautiful book cover and made my novel available for purchase on numerous websites. Many of the authors who publish with them are also published traditionally and many more are award winners.

I appreciate that most of the marketing and promotion will be up to me but if you think even NY publishers are doing significant amounts of marketing among their authors, you are wrong. Aside from the big names, most authors (traditional, e-pub or self-publishing) are basically on their own.

Meredith Schorr
Just Friends With Benefits, Wings ePress
www.meredithschorr.com (http://www.meredithschorr.com)

[DreamWeaver]

if you think even NY publishers are doing significant amounts of marketing among their authors, you are wrong.Hi, MeriBeth.

I'm glad you're happy and your sales have made back any money you invested--that's great. But I have to take issue with this quote.

The most significant marketing any publisher can do for any book right now, is to get it into a bookstore. The effect of bookstore placement, with no other marketing or promotion whatsoever, dwarfs any individual efforts. While I love ebooks, if you check the big sellers you will see they're either ebook versions of printed bestsellers available in bookstores, or they're being given away as loss leaders.

I'm not clairvoyant--things may change in the future. I think they will change in the future. But right now, bookstore placement is 95% of marketing, if not 99%. And the NY publishers are very good at it.

[veinglory]

I believe the fees relating to this press are for POD.

[M.R.J. Le Blanc]

Even though the fee is optional, it's still icky. Makes it seem like actually doing print versions of their ebooks is such a task that they won't do it unless an author reinburses them for it. If they don't want to do print books, don't offer the option. If they do want to do print books, then they should cover the costs themselves.

[Jersey Chick]

Exactly. Yog's Law and all.

[Penhead]

I had a heartbreaking experience with this publisher, strictly and solely because of their copy editor. Everyone else was great, and I came THAT close.

I submitted the manuscript, was accepted, and my assigned editor asked for very minor edits. I paid my fees, and my artist created a beautiful cover.

Then I got my galleys back.

I started reading, and somebody had inserted the words HAD and THAT into just about every sentence. I did a quick count, and found over 200 HADs in the first three chapters. In one place, sentences were switched around, and some paragraphs rewritten.

Part of my day job is editing curriculum guides for the state education agency in my state. I am an editor myself, not an illiterate idiot. The word "had" is often unnecessary. I hate the "voice" it gives a work.

I sent a quick email to my editor, who said she knew nothing about it. I sent an email to the head of Wings ePress, and she said perhaps the copy editor was responsible.

Copy editor had done it, and they refused to let me alter what she had done, including the rewrites (one of which caused what I know for a fact to be historically inaccurate, because I'm also a reenactor).

I ended up withdrawing the book, and had to pay to get out of the contract. It's been two years, and I am crying as I write this.

That close, and I had really wanted to write for this publisher, too. I have friends with them. Perhaps I should have just let it go....although I wouldn't have been happy with the book personally, at least I'd be pubbed.

[BarbaraSheridan]

Perhaps I should have just let it go....although I wouldn't have been happy with the book personally, at least I'd be pubbed.

That is not a line of thinking you want to take with you for future books.

No author should have to "pay fees" for any part of having their books published. That's the publisher's job & why they get the bigger cut of the royalties.

Changing your words and not letting you see the changes is not part of the deal. Withdrawing it was the best option. Have you tried to place it elsewhere with a more professionally run company?

[Katrina S. Forest]

Ditto this. Anyone can get published. You can go on Lulu or any other number of do-it-yourself publishing sites and get published.

The tricky part lies in getting someone to pay you for your work. If that's your goal, don't settle for less.

[michael_b]

I had a heartbreaking experience with this publisher, strictly and solely because of their copy editor. Everyone else was great, and I came THAT close.

If one press accepted the story, likely another will gladly take it and not charge you any fees. Have you tried any of the other epublishers like Loose Id, Samhain, Liquid Silver or some of the newer pubs that are looking good like Musa?

Don't give up. If I'd quit after one bad experience--or five--I'd have never gotten anywhere.