I would find it really helpful if this could be put into context. Do you mean she knew she could offer better than PublishAmerica and iUniverse? Or better than Samhain, Entangled, and Musa? Or better than Luna, Baen, and Serpent's Tail?
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Xchyler Publishing / Hamilton Springs Press
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I wonder if perhaps Mary is thinking of Xavier University?
(Which, btw, is pronounced "Zavier" or sometimes "Eks-avier"--I've heard both. Not "Skavier." Which shows again that our questions regarding the correct pronunciation of "Xchyler" aren't us being snotty or rude, it's us understanding the sound made by the letter X and being confused as to what that means for the pronunciation of your company's name.
To quote Herman Wouk in MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR: You don't choose a pen name to stand out, you choose one to fit in.)
(Which, btw, is pronounced "Zavier" or sometimes "Eks-avier"--I've heard both. Not "Skavier." Which shows again that our questions regarding the correct pronunciation of "Xchyler" aren't us being snotty or rude, it's us understanding the sound made by the letter X and being confused as to what that means for the pronunciation of your company's name.
To quote Herman Wouk in MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR: You don't choose a pen name to stand out, you choose one to fit in.)
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Years ago I worked with the Latin American Programs department at Ft. Amador (formerly 5th Naval District), an Echelon 2 command.
We called the Xerox machine the Sherosh.
So there's that.
What does the name of this publisher have to do with anything?
If they'd asked my advice I'd have told them that their name should be:
1) Easy to spell
2) Easy to pronounce
3) Not embarrassing to say aloud.
We called the Xerox machine the Sherosh.
So there's that.
What does the name of this publisher have to do with anything?
If they'd asked my advice I'd have told them that their name should be:
1) Easy to spell
2) Easy to pronounce
3) Not embarrassing to say aloud.
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Same with pen names: if no one can pronounce a name they read online, they're not going to be able to ask the book shop employee where to find you. If no one can spell a name a friend recommended to them, they're not going to be able to search for the author online.
Okay fine, after an hour of reading/swapping between tabs on both this thread and the F&W someone finally got me to chuckle.
They have an exceptionally unique submission process. It takes too long to do all that. What happened to 3 chapters and a synopsis?
A chapter-by-chapter synopsis not exceeding three pages in length?
Story arch?
"Demonstrate a sound understanding of your manuscript's structure?" That sounds like an exam question!
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I've always liked structures with lots of arches. Also balconies, catwalks, and bridges. Don't know how well I can claim to understand the acoustics, though, since I'm not a sound engineer.
So, Xchyler has apparently gone through a complete re-haul of staff and ownership, and has been demoted to a sci-fi/steampunk arm of Hamilton Springs Press. Thoughts?
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Does this mean Xchyler's passed the two-year mark?
Also, can someone explain why steampunk and paranormal are under one imprint? I know I'm clueless about how publishing works -- having several genres under one imprint seems logical at least -- but that seems an odd combination to me.
Also, can someone explain why steampunk and paranormal are under one imprint? I know I'm clueless about how publishing works -- having several genres under one imprint seems logical at least -- but that seems an odd combination to me.
I think popular authors like Gail Carriger have done well marrying the two genres in their books, so it's becoming more common to categorise them together. You can stick historical paranormal under the label without too much confusion even if it is lacking in cogs.
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IMO, no. If you read the About Us page you'll find that Xchyler nearly closed its doors when one partner left, but didn't because the other partner was able to find an equally inexperienced-in-professional-publishing business partner. The new partners renamed the company and made the previous nearly failed Xchyler an imprint.
IMO, the two year clock was reset when the new business partner signed on because there's still nothing to indicate what nearly happened to Xchyler won't happen to the new entity.
As a side note, I find their referring to Xchyler as "The X" amateur and silly.
-brianm-
I find their submission system a bit odd. You have to submit a story to an anthology first - which I think is an unpaid anthology, by the way - and then they'll contact you if they're interested in one of your full manuscripts? Or am I reading this wrong?
Edit: Winners get royalties. Didn't notice that first time around! Sorry.
Edit: Winners get royalties. Didn't notice that first time around! Sorry.
According to their website:
Open Submissions season is October 1st-November 30th. At that time, we will accept general submissions of all fiction genres, with a special emphasis on Paranormal and Steampunk, from established or unpublished authors. We will consider previously released manuscripts on a case-by-case basis.
Open Submissions season is October 1st-November 30th. At that time, we will accept general submissions of all fiction genres, with a special emphasis on Paranormal and Steampunk, from established or unpublished authors. We will consider previously released manuscripts on a case-by-case basis.
Yes - I have a story in their January Fantasy anthology.
So far, in the last year, my experience with Xchyler has been fantastic. The editors are knowledgeable and informative. Management takes the time to answer any questions I have. And most importantly, I get my royalty checks on time.
So far, in the last year, my experience with Xchyler has been fantastic. The editors are knowledgeable and informative. Management takes the time to answer any questions I have. And most importantly, I get my royalty checks on time.
An amusing coincidence: Xchyler's anthology Legends and Lore contains a story by Danielle E Shipley entitled Two Spoons. Followers of the Firefly and Wisp debacle may remember that in 2011 Danielle Zwissler claimed that she had turned a novel with the same title, written in collaboration with her husband, into a screenplay in which the Lifetime Movie Network had shown an interest. Had Zwissler submitted to Xchyler under a different name? No - Danielle E Shipley's Amazon author page reveals her to be a different person.
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I'm glad you've found publishing with them to be a positive experience.
How many copies have you sold, if you don't mind me asking?
I don't check here often, so sorry it took a while to respond.
A couple of hundred, split between trade size softcover and e-book. I don't have a breakdown of Kindle/Nook sales. Xchyler ran a promotion in October, bringing my book to #4 on the anthology list. I don't have numbers as to sales, yet.
As a side note, all six Xchyler anthologies were in the top 10 on that list for most of the promotion, including the #1 spot.
Hope this is helpful.
A couple of hundred, split between trade size softcover and e-book. I don't have a breakdown of Kindle/Nook sales. Xchyler ran a promotion in October, bringing my book to #4 on the anthology list. I don't have numbers as to sales, yet.
As a side note, all six Xchyler anthologies were in the top 10 on that list for most of the promotion, including the #1 spot.
Hope this is helpful.
Circa 2012, Danielle was saying that Lifetime wasn't interested...they were actually MAKING the movie.
Unfortunately it's impossible to judge much of anything from Amazon sales ranks.
I hope you'll have some sales numbers soon to let you know exactly how successful your efforts have been.
That doesn't surprise me at all. By the way, Jrubas, it's nice to have you back after the F&W debacle!
Thanks. Sorry about the lag. I'm awful at social media.
I don't wanna drag up the past. All of us at FAW and Xchyler wound up looking stupid. But I feel like I should say one thing: The reason I got booted from beta reading at Xychler is this: They sent me a manuscript. I read it, fixed a few minor errors I saw, and sent it back with my overall impression, which wasn't good. It was a poorly written story. Turns it, out was by Carrie or Mary or somebody's friend, and they didn't take too kindly to me not fawning all over it. They also demonstrated a complete misunderstanding of what a beta reader actually does. It’s always been my experience that a beta reader basically reads a work, and then gives feedback. “Hey, your pacing’s off” and “Hey, that’s a funky analogy on page six...you might wanna change it.” Like I said, I fixed a few minor errors on my end, but I didn’t take the entire thing apart because, you know, that’s the editor’s job.
Therefore, anyone who was listed as a “beta reader” for Xchyler was, in actuality, expected to be a full editing service.
Of course, I can't speak for the company as it stands today (is it still there?), but that was certainly the case in December 2011 and January 2012.
Ouch! Yes, I can see why that would be a problem. Another cue that this pub may not have the experience necessary, if they don't know crucial differences between jobs.
Also troubling is the mere hint of preferential treatment for friends-of-owners, if it's not backed up by the same quality standards as regular submissions. Thank you, Jrubas, you've given me another data point for Filigree's Rule.
Also troubling is the mere hint of preferential treatment for friends-of-owners, if it's not backed up by the same quality standards as regular submissions. Thank you, Jrubas, you've given me another data point for Filigree's Rule.