I am appalled of how I have been demonized on this website.
Is it policy to attack members of this forum? Not only have I been a member of this forum for since 2012, but as president, and past president of a writers group, I have directed many authors to this website. That practice ends now.
As a legitimate business owner, I do not have to defend myself on this website, but I feel as though I would be doing myself a disservice to let these unfounded charges against me stand unanswered.
The publishing world is changing. Small press attempting to compete with the big five publishing monsters must find a niches just to stay relevant. They also have to find ways to compete financially. More and more, small publishing houses are requiring submissions to be edited. Of course, the publisher will do additional editing to adhere to house standards. I did not start this, nor am I the only one. If you survey small publishing houses, you will find it is a growing trend that I think will one day become a standard.
I do not charge editing fees. Nor do I charge reading or publishing fees.
My authors do not pay me one red cent. I also try to pay my authors above what the average small press pays. So how I became the subject the witch-hunt taking place on this website is beyond me.
One of the posters commented that I wanted to know the marketing plan of my authors. As an author, if you do not have a marketing plan and market your own work, you will not become a successful as an author. If you rely on your publisher to do the marketing for you, you will not become a successful author. Even if one of the big publishing houses signs you, unless your name is Stephen King or Jodi Picoult, you must do the majority of your own marketing. As a small press, I have to be selective on how many authors that I sign. Of course, I do everything I can to market a book, but an author that is willing to help market his own work is more attractive to me than someone who has no plans on marketing at all. It’s a partnership. I expect my partners to help me help them become successful.
Another poster stated that we say on our website that I will have three books out before the end of the year. That is incorrect. Our website states it is our goal to publish two to three titles per year. We launched in June of this year. In the five months that we have been in business, we will be releasing a 17-author anthology that will be published early next year. We also have open calls for a mystery and horror novels. June of 2017 will be a year for us. We hope to reach our goal of two to three books by that time.
Another criticism here is that we are just starting out. Yes we are. We have a new business. Every business has to be new at some point. Even this website was new at some point. Yes, we are new and we hope to be helping writers realize their dreams for a long time now.
Another poster nailed me for misspelling Llorona. Yep, you busted me. I made a mistake. I’m not perfect 100% of the time. Are you? Maybe the difference is I would rather risk my money and time to put myself out there to help authors than to criticize someone for trying to do the same.
I have enjoyed this forum in the past but I will no longer come here, nor will I ever suggest this site again.
Ron Hervey
Proud Editor-in-Chief
Copper Pen Press, LLC
https://copperpenpress.com/
Don't forget our horror imprint at
https://lalloronaroad.com/ok