ChiZine Publications

SJAB · Jul 4, 2015

Ok, I have done a search and found very little.

No thread for them.

P&E just have them up as a publisher.

I know of some of their authors, (award winners among them) so I don't really have many concerns.

I just want to ask here if anyone has any first hand information.

Just doing the belt and braces thing for my own peace of mind.

waylander · Jul 4, 2015

Was introduced to them at WFC in Brighton 2013 by one of their authors. They liked the sound of my contemporary fantasy novel and asked that I send it. I sent it in Nov 2013. Nudged a couple of times, got an acknowledgement once promising an answer inside 4 weeks. Never heard back. Have now sold that novel to someone else, so I don't care.

SJAB · Jul 4, 2015

Thanks Waylander.

Scythe-Of-Winter · Jul 4, 2015

For what it's worth, they've published anthologies by very, VERY high-end editors like Ellen Datlow, and the anthology included the likes of Neil Gaiman and Garth Nix. I know Ellen and I've never heard a word of complaint about it from her.
I don't know about the novels, though.

aleighrose · Jul 4, 2015

Their covers are beautiful, but their site could use better formatting. Also their Amazon sales are really low.

Their website: http://chizinepub.com/

SJAB · Jul 5, 2015

Scythe-Of-Winter said:
For what it's worth, they've published anthologies by very, VERY high-end editors like Ellen Datlow, and the anthology included the likes of Neil Gaiman and Garth Nix. I know Ellen and I've never heard a word of complaint about it from her.
I don't know about the novels, though.

Thank you for the information.

SJAB · Jul 5, 2015

aleighrose said:
Their covers are beautiful, but their site could use better formatting. Also their Amazon sales are really low.

Their website: http://chizinepub.com/

Yes, but I noticed they are not limited to Amazon and sell through Apple, Kobo, Nook, epub and mobi. A lot of folk won't buy through Amazon, even ebooks.

aleighrose · Jul 5, 2015

SJAB said:
A lot of folk won't buy through Amazon, even ebooks.

Really? Is there a boycott going on?

Thedrellum · Jul 6, 2015

I prefer to go non-Amazon if possible. I'm not part of an organized boycott, but I prefer supporting smaller sellers.

SJAB · Jul 7, 2015

aleighrose said:
Really? Is there a boycott going on?

No, just a lot of people prefer to support small bookshops and use other formats. Amazon is a not the only player in the market so when judging sales you should look at everything.

TamMac · Sep 5, 2015

This is a bit late but I've got a story in their Imaginarium 3 anthology. I'm still waiting to be paid, and for my contributor's copy. I might just be unlucky, or they might be going through a rough patch, but I'm past the point where I expect to get paid. I personally can't see myself working with them again.

Filigree · Sep 5, 2015

Good to know. The pub itself is rather prestigious in the SFF world, so I can see 'taking a chance' just for the street cred. Still, they need to be more organized if this is happening a lot.

TamMac · Mar 21, 2016

Just popping in to let folks know that as of this weekend my payment for Imaginarium 3, and my contributor's copy, came in the mail. Samantha Beiko is the one who stepped in to help me out with that, and very grateful I am too.

Feriku · Nov 6, 2019

It looks like there are a lot of allegations against ChiZine being posted on social media now, from them not paying their writers to them defending racist comments and all sorts of things.

CaoPaux · Nov 7, 2019

An overview of the complaints: http://file770.com/authors-break-silence-with-complaints-about-chizine-publications/

ETA: more: http://file770.com/writers-and-staffers-share-more-bad-experiences-with-chizine-publications/

MaryLennox · Nov 7, 2019

Here is another link: https://www.highfeverbooks.com/revi...eYsp8rc9uHrScmQ-CLAb-ydv9VWmGtSzzIhaMNd0t_e7k

I have an author friend who had an unpleasant experience with them. I guess he wasn't the only one.

PeteMC · Nov 12, 2019

The founders have bailed: https://chizinepub.com/blog/statement-from-chizine-publications/

I'd be surprised if the company still exists in six months.

lizmonster · Nov 12, 2019

It's sad, but I'm puzzled by the people defending them, especially the ones suggesting writers should understand they're taking a risk when they sub to a small publisher.

If you're going to pay me in exposure, say that up front. Don't tell me I'm subbing for money and then stiff me. That's not an understandable foible of a struggling mom-and-pop shop; that's bad business, full stop.

Introversion · Nov 12, 2019

lizmonster said:
If you're going to pay me in exposure, say that up front. Don't tell me I'm subbing for money and then stiff me. That's not an understandable foible of a struggling mom-and-pop shop; that's bad business, full stop.

If not outright fraud?

BenPanced · Nov 12, 2019

CaoPaux said:
An overview of the complaints: http://file770.com/authors-break-silence-with-complaints-about-chizine-publications/

ETA: more: http://file770.com/writers-and-staffers-share-more-bad-experiences-with-chizine-publications/

Even still more.

Polenth · Nov 16, 2019

It looks like the anthology I was in (The Humanity of Monsters) is gone now. The publisher page is down as well as the Amazon pages (other than secondhand copies). So that's my last connection to ChiZine gone.

I did get paid both times, once in the magazine and once for the anthology, but it was clear there were some behind-the-scenes issues with the anthology. Payments were delayed and I don't know if contributor's copies ever went out.

BenPanced · Nov 16, 2019

Victoria Strauss has updated Writer Beware for mention and analysis of ChiZine.

SFWA's president has issued a statement, requesting members contact their grievance committee if necessary.

ChiZine Publications

SJAB

Being edited for submission

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

SJAB

Being edited for submission

Scythe-Of-Winter

aleighrose

SJAB

Being edited for submission

SJAB

Being edited for submission

aleighrose

Thedrellum

Grr. Argh.

SJAB

Being edited for submission

TamMac

Potato-eater.

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

TamMac

Potato-eater.

Feriku

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless

MaryLennox

PeteMC

@PeteMC666

lizmonster

Possibly A Mermaid Queen

Introversion

Pie aren't squared, pie are round!

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

Polenth

Mushroom

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)