I got my first royalty statement a year after publication. Until that point, I had no idea what I had sold. I published in 2014.
...you haven't gotten a royalty statement??? That's some BS right there! Totally understand why you're going the SP route!
FWIW, most trades aren't like that. I'm published w/ Penguin Random House, and while they're on a 6 month royalty period, they *also* have an author portal where I can see my weekly US sales (and monthly overall, because some numbers come to them differently), so I at least have a decent idea of how things are going.
My smaller pubs pay/report monthly.
It's absolutely shitty that you don't *know*. Your books been out a while, as I recall!
Recently diagnosed with a blood clot, following other stress-related health problems, McBride writes, "I am making changes which I believe will enable me to have a healthier work-life balance while also allowing me to continue to do what I love." The fast-growing publisher will pull back somewhat, and McBride writes, "I am reverting rights to 40-50 authors across all imprints from those published to some yet to be published. There are many reasons for doing so, but mostly, I believe these titles may be better served elsewhere. If you or your agent receives a reversion letter, details and questions will be addressed therein."
Well...that's sane, if it actually does happen. But it is another cautionary point about working with a single person or family small business...there's usually no plan of intervention or succession. And often no emergency capital.
Well...that's sane, if it actually does happen. But it is another cautionary point about working with a single person or family small business...there's usually no plan of intervention or succession. And often no emergency capital.
At the same time, the company "will continue to acquire new works and aggressively pursue subsidiary rights including book club, audio, foreign, and film and TV."
I’ve been wanting to come forth about my experience with Month9 for some time now, and in light of what’s currently going on with the company, I feel I have to speak up to warn other authors. I separated from Month9 over a year ago, and it was by my own choice. I requested my rights back for several reasons.
In the beginning, Georgia was extremely nice to me. She made a lot of promises, including that my book would be the feature title of the year. I’ve since come to learn she made this promise to many other authors as well, even one I shared a release day with. Apparently, it was a token promise made to secure a deal. I didn’t know that at the time though and I believed the things that were promised to me.
Things began going south rather quickly. I was asked to make some big picture changes on my manuscript, which I did even though I didn’t feel they were the best for the book. Then when the manuscript was edited, I discovered my editor was sent the original version of my book, not the one with the big picture changes. When I brought this to Georgia's attention, she decided not to have my editor read the updated version, (I can only assume because it would mean my editor would have to be paid for that additional edit) and instead sent the book on to copy edits. So really, only my copy editor worked on my book with me. There was no back and forth or multiple rounds of edits, which left me feeling like my book wasn’t important enough to merit the time.
There were also issues with my cover reveal and incorrect information in my book that I asked to be fixed four months prior to release. I was assured the issues were corrected before the book went to print, but when my author copies arrived, I immediately discovered the errors were still there. I cried. The moment when you hold your book for the first time is supposed to be filled with joy. Instead, I was embarrassed to have the book out in the world this way.
I was also never paid the advance that was promised in my contract. And when my agent questioned Georgia about it, we were given the runaround. After asking her to follow the contract, we were called names by Georgia. I had to beg for my rights back. It was an extremely emotional time for me and I’ve never experienced more unprofessional communication as I did during emails with Georgia. When my rights reversion was finally granted (after citing several instances of breach of contract), it arrived with multiple typos, including the misspelling of names and book titles.
I still haven’t been paid, and my book released years ago. Since going through this, I’ve had other M9 authors approach me with eerily similar stories. It breaks my heart to see so many authors treated poorly and not being paid for their work. And that is why I’m coming forth now. (Please note that when asked about my experience with this company, I have always been honest. I never tried to hide it, but I never went public with it either.) I don’t want to see anyone else have to endure what I and so many others have had to. My agency as a whole will no longer submit to Month9 or any of its imprints since I’m not the only one of their authors to experience this treatment from Month9. I think that right there speaks volumes.
Many authors were made to feel they were the only ones having problems and everybody else was happy.
I know people are saying not all publishers are like this, but this experience has ruined trade publishing for me. I won't trust anyone again after this.
Trust, but verify.
Okay, for newer writers how do you do this? My friend who went with them had an agent who thought them worth shopping to a couple years back. I checked here and on Writer Beware and saw nothing to indicate they were problematic. I did a basic internet search to make sure there wasn't anything out there that looked ugly. What else could I or she have done two years ago?
andiwrites--and anyone else this affects--remember that you can ask the board's moderator to post your words as a quote without attributing it to you. I don't know if they're able and willing, but they would certainly consider it. Over at the erotica board, I've done this many times for people who were afraid to ask very specific questions about sexual practices. If what you have a mod post on your behalf does not lead a reader directly to you, it lets you speak truth without fear of retaliation from a publisher.
Maryn, just throwing that out there