- Status
Re: parodies
What someone needs to do (<cough> Jim <cough>) is to get another first time author from another publishing house, big OR small (perhaps one of each) and post comparative numbers from the same time frame. I'd be interested to see how books from first time authors (who NEVER get published by other publishers, dontcha know) stack up against PA's "Top Ten". That would at least be evidence of a scientific nature regarding what PA's about.
I'd do it if I knew how. I have forgotten how Jim said he looks that stuff up.
And as for FanStory... I'm not really familiar with them, but I fear for them anyway. I've been a member of other critique groups (before you even go there, ProandCon) and gotten great feedback. Feedback which helped polish my ms into something that real, albeit small, publishers (note
lural) asked to look at.
I hope some of them take the initiative to do the research on their own.
What someone needs to do (<cough> Jim <cough>) is to get another first time author from another publishing house, big OR small (perhaps one of each) and post comparative numbers from the same time frame. I'd be interested to see how books from first time authors (who NEVER get published by other publishers, dontcha know) stack up against PA's "Top Ten". That would at least be evidence of a scientific nature regarding what PA's about.
I'd do it if I knew how. I have forgotten how Jim said he looks that stuff up.
And as for FanStory... I'm not really familiar with them, but I fear for them anyway. I've been a member of other critique groups (before you even go there, ProandCon) and gotten great feedback. Feedback which helped polish my ms into something that real, albeit small, publishers (note
lural) asked to look at. I hope some of them take the initiative to do the research on their own.
more parodies
"We still have yet to receive payment for the ad your took out in our Sept. issue of our book review section. Since all our emails, letters, and phone calls have gone unanswered we are sending you to a collection agency and have notified our attorneys.
NYT collection department."
"As I have said before, do not take that tone with us. We are the fastest growing publishing house in America and we strive to, at no cost to the author, to make PublishAmerica a household name. Your threats are laughable and as to your arguments? We will not stoop to contradict your arguments, as they may not even credibly be called arguments.
Your letter was so unprofessional and nonsensical, that we were instructed to simply ignore it. Per paragraph 24 we are releasing you of your contract. All remaining stock of your book will be sold, without any royalties paid to you, and you are to refrain from speaking about PublishAmerica in any forum.
Support@publishamerica
Kevin
"We still have yet to receive payment for the ad your took out in our Sept. issue of our book review section. Since all our emails, letters, and phone calls have gone unanswered we are sending you to a collection agency and have notified our attorneys.
NYT collection department."
"As I have said before, do not take that tone with us. We are the fastest growing publishing house in America and we strive to, at no cost to the author, to make PublishAmerica a household name. Your threats are laughable and as to your arguments? We will not stoop to contradict your arguments, as they may not even credibly be called arguments.
Your letter was so unprofessional and nonsensical, that we were instructed to simply ignore it. Per paragraph 24 we are releasing you of your contract. All remaining stock of your book will be sold, without any royalties paid to you, and you are to refrain from speaking about PublishAmerica in any forum.
Support@publishamerica
Kevin
Sales & Stuff
Okay, Risseybug, here ya go:
The book is The Food of Love by Anthony Capella. It's a first novel; Mr. Capella isn't a celebrity of any sort. The book was published in July of '04 in trade paperback by Viking. I chose mid-summer because most of the PA Bestsellers were published in mid-summer. The publisher and the book were chosen entirely at random. Anyone who wishes to repeat the experiment can get the Ingram numbers by calling (615) 213-6803 with the ISBN.
19OCT04
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 12,119
Barnes & Noble Sales Rank: 8,327
Ingram's Stock Information:
<Blockquote> On hand across all warehouses: 1,288
On order across all warehouses: 0
On backorder across all warehouses: 0
This week's unadjusted demand: 3
Last week's adjusted demand: 7
Total sales this year: 1,457
Total sales last year: 0</Blockquote>
That's perfectly on track to be a nice midlist book, with maybe 5,000 to 10,000 sold before it goes out of print. I wish Mr. Capella a long and happy writing career.
Okay, Risseybug, here ya go:
The book is The Food of Love by Anthony Capella. It's a first novel; Mr. Capella isn't a celebrity of any sort. The book was published in July of '04 in trade paperback by Viking. I chose mid-summer because most of the PA Bestsellers were published in mid-summer. The publisher and the book were chosen entirely at random. Anyone who wishes to repeat the experiment can get the Ingram numbers by calling (615) 213-6803 with the ISBN.
19OCT04
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 12,119
Barnes & Noble Sales Rank: 8,327
Ingram's Stock Information:
<Blockquote> On hand across all warehouses: 1,288
On order across all warehouses: 0
On backorder across all warehouses: 0
This week's unadjusted demand: 3
Last week's adjusted demand: 7
Total sales this year: 1,457
Total sales last year: 0</Blockquote>
That's perfectly on track to be a nice midlist book, with maybe 5,000 to 10,000 sold before it goes out of print. I wish Mr. Capella a long and happy writing career.
Re: FYI
Thanks Nancy and others. This is me after receiving that email from PA :jump .
Namcy, did you get that email from me? :hail . If not let me know and I'll resend it. :head .
Violet
Thanks Nancy and others. This is me after receiving that email from PA :jump .
Namcy, did you get that email from me? :hail . If not let me know and I'll resend it. :head .
Violet
Re: Contract Termination
Yo, ProandCon, you still haven't told me the name of your book. I'll be happy to buy a copy.
Yo, ProandCon, you still haven't told me the name of your book. I'll be happy to buy a copy.
Re: Contract Termination
I definitely don't see what is being said here as an attack. I've belonged to a few writing groups. Even in the best groups, the quality of writing varies widely. That's the point of getting critiques, isn't it?
The best writing groups, however, also have people on board who know something about publishing, whether they're published or not. I know this because they've saved me from making some huge mistakes. :hail
For example, in one critique group, someone sent me a "critique" offering to publish the story in his e-zine. He told me I would only lose my "electronic rights" or something like that. (No mention made of pay, which is why I hesitated.) When I contacted the owner of the group about that, he pointed out that if I gave that guy the story, I'd lose my first rights.
Not all writing sites are managed by people who know about rights; copyrights; publishing; etc. I know that at some sites, if I had said an e-zine offered to publish my story and that the publisher had said I wouldn't lose my electronic rights, everyone would say "Anne, that's great!!!" But sometimes, what's needed is "Anne, look out."
Sure, a writing style can still be helpful and supportive even if the people there don't know Yog's law, etc. But if you never go to any other site, you won't learn the warning signs of scam agents, you might sign a bad contract because you didn't know any better, you might trust the B.S. put out by a shady publisher.
I definitely don't see what is being said here as an attack. I've belonged to a few writing groups. Even in the best groups, the quality of writing varies widely. That's the point of getting critiques, isn't it?
The best writing groups, however, also have people on board who know something about publishing, whether they're published or not. I know this because they've saved me from making some huge mistakes. :hail
For example, in one critique group, someone sent me a "critique" offering to publish the story in his e-zine. He told me I would only lose my "electronic rights" or something like that. (No mention made of pay, which is why I hesitated.) When I contacted the owner of the group about that, he pointed out that if I gave that guy the story, I'd lose my first rights.
Not all writing sites are managed by people who know about rights; copyrights; publishing; etc. I know that at some sites, if I had said an e-zine offered to publish my story and that the publisher had said I wouldn't lose my electronic rights, everyone would say "Anne, that's great!!!" But sometimes, what's needed is "Anne, look out."
Sure, a writing style can still be helpful and supportive even if the people there don't know Yog's law, etc. But if you never go to any other site, you won't learn the warning signs of scam agents, you might sign a bad contract because you didn't know any better, you might trust the B.S. put out by a shady publisher.
Re: Contract Termination
Violet, did you just sign the papers without changing them?
I have mine, but am loathe to sign and send them back due to the clause about keeping shut about PA's policies and, frankly, the evidence that they'll keep selling my books and keeping the royalties ( pittance that they are...)
Violet, did you just sign the papers without changing them?
I have mine, but am loathe to sign and send them back due to the clause about keeping shut about PA's policies and, frankly, the evidence that they'll keep selling my books and keeping the royalties ( pittance that they are...)
Re: just a comment...
I haven't received the papers yet, only the email telling me they PA will release Death by Bad Magic from contract. I'll let you know when the papers arrive and if it has the 'gag order', which by the way, I have already spoken my not wanting that in the release papers, long before PA sent this email telling me I would be realesed.
Violet
I haven't received the papers yet, only the email telling me they PA will release Death by Bad Magic from contract. I'll let you know when the papers arrive and if it has the 'gag order', which by the way, I have already spoken my not wanting that in the release papers, long before PA sent this email telling me I would be realesed.
Violet
My Book
Mr. McDonald,
Well, I'd hate to corrupt or tempt you. My book is pretty hot with some scenes that you might read twice just for the fun of it.
It might lead you to divorcing your wife and trying to find a woman like some of the women characters in my book. Then you would be saying dang I wish I hadn't read that book.
No, I better protect you from my book. You seem like a decent and fair person who just enjoys getting people to put up or shut up.
Then again, it might spice up your marriage.
Mr. McDonald,
Well, I'd hate to corrupt or tempt you. My book is pretty hot with some scenes that you might read twice just for the fun of it.
It might lead you to divorcing your wife and trying to find a woman like some of the women characters in my book. Then you would be saying dang I wish I hadn't read that book.
No, I better protect you from my book. You seem like a decent and fair person who just enjoys getting people to put up or shut up.
Then again, it might spice up your marriage.
Re: Contract Termination
Thanks, Jim. Would that those numbers from someone published by a real traditional publisher open some eyes.
Hmmm. 14 copies, compared to over 1,400?
I'd say that's a good enough reason to NOT go to PA for publishing.
Thanks, Jim. Would that those numbers from someone published by a real traditional publisher open some eyes.
Hmmm. 14 copies, compared to over 1,400?
I'd say that's a good enough reason to NOT go to PA for publishing.
Violet
Violet, major congratulations to you. <img border=0 src="http://www.absolutewrite.com/images/Emotesnoopy.gif" /> I'm thrilled for your success and know that your writing career will take off to new heights. I must caution you that PA has offered to release people from their contracts before and the authors are still waiting for the final paperwork. Or they get the final paperwork, sign it, and discover PA is still selling their book.
No way do I want to burst your bubble, but I do want you be careful. With these guys, it's hardly ever a case of just being over.
Violet, major congratulations to you. <img border=0 src="http://www.absolutewrite.com/images/Emotesnoopy.gif" /> I'm thrilled for your success and know that your writing career will take off to new heights. I must caution you that PA has offered to release people from their contracts before and the authors are still waiting for the final paperwork. Or they get the final paperwork, sign it, and discover PA is still selling their book.
No way do I want to burst your bubble, but I do want you be careful. With these guys, it's hardly ever a case of just being over.
Powers of Persuasion?
Look deeply into my eyes, ProandCon. You will sell James Macdonald a copy of your book by telling him which title to purchase. :wha
Look deeply into my eyes, ProandCon. You will sell James Macdonald a copy of your book by telling him which title to purchase. :wha
Or you won't ProandCon, because...
...we'll know your nickname is a lie if you reveal your real name. By the way, how's the weather in Frederick these days?
:ha
...we'll know your nickname is a lie if you reveal your real name. By the way, how's the weather in Frederick these days?
:ha
Re: parodies
Thanks Lynn.
Yes, so I have read of some authors who's books are still being sold who were suppose to be released from PA.
I will take my time and work with PA in resolving this issue of books being sold after the book has been released from contract. I must have faith and believe that things will work out for me on this, and that PA and I can part company without any ill will between us.
But then again, PA and I really won't part company since they will still have my first book with them. They can keep that one.
Violet
Thanks Lynn.
Yes, so I have read of some authors who's books are still being sold who were suppose to be released from PA.
I will take my time and work with PA in resolving this issue of books being sold after the book has been released from contract. I must have faith and believe that things will work out for me on this, and that PA and I can part company without any ill will between us.
But then again, PA and I really won't part company since they will still have my first book with them. They can keep that one.
Violet
Re: PublishAmerica Big Spenders' List
You are a godsend! Thank you so much for all of your hard work in helping us out.
:hail
You are a godsend! Thank you so much for all of your hard work in helping us out.
:hail
Re: fanstory
This thread moves so fast...
Anyway, harking back to an earlier post.
They say they will allow links to the outside if you ask permission first, but not in all cases. Also, if you simply refer to another site by name, and not URL, they will delete the post. I know because I joined up last week just to see how the workshop looked from the inside. My post talking about Teresa Nielsen Hayden's Slushkiller post on her Making Light blog vanished within an hour.
(I later posted an excerpt from the post, and so far, that has survived.)
This thread moves so fast...
Anyway, harking back to an earlier post.
They say they will allow links to the outside if you ask permission first, but not in all cases. Also, if you simply refer to another site by name, and not URL, they will delete the post. I know because I joined up last week just to see how the workshop looked from the inside. My post talking about Teresa Nielsen Hayden's Slushkiller post on her Making Light blog vanished within an hour.
(I later posted an excerpt from the post, and so far, that has survived.)
Slushkiller
Those of you who haven't read <a href="http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/004641.html" target="_new">Slushkiller</a>, take the time now to do so.
Those of you who haven't read <a href="http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/004641.html" target="_new">Slushkiller</a>, take the time now to do so.
Re: Contract Termination
Have no fear P&C. Should things escalate to a full media blitz and picketing; I won't be alone. There are plenty of authors who still haven't received their royalty statement from August, correct royalties based on sales they KNOW were completed, a properly edited MS, etc. Double check your royalty statement (if you received one) you may want to join us...:snoopy
Have no fear P&C. Should things escalate to a full media blitz and picketing; I won't be alone. There are plenty of authors who still haven't received their royalty statement from August, correct royalties based on sales they KNOW were completed, a properly edited MS, etc. Double check your royalty statement (if you received one) you may want to join us...:snoopy
PA on a Major "Release" Campaign
Authors who are accepting the terms of PA's legal document that has a disclosure about what can be said about them as well as has been "released" via Paragraph 24 of their contract are being turned down for legal government representation. Keep that in mind when you decide whether or not to accept PA's terms. According to my source, the Maryland Attorney General and the BBB has all but void all claims by "released authors."
:smack
Old Information:
State Of Maryland
Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division-Mr. Larry E Munson
138 East Antietam Street, Suite 210
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740-5684
Ann's New Information:
Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division-Beth Silverman
200 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202
Authors who are accepting the terms of PA's legal document that has a disclosure about what can be said about them as well as has been "released" via Paragraph 24 of their contract are being turned down for legal government representation. Keep that in mind when you decide whether or not to accept PA's terms. According to my source, the Maryland Attorney General and the BBB has all but void all claims by "released authors."
:smack
Old Information:
State Of Maryland
Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division-Mr. Larry E Munson
138 East Antietam Street, Suite 210
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740-5684
Ann's New Information:
Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division-Beth Silverman
200 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202
Re: Contract Termination
Don't be so over-sensitive. I didn't even mention names, or any stories I looked at. And if those writers are putting their stuff there for all to see, I'm pretty sure they are prepared to take a bit of critisism (isn't that what the site is for, anyway?)
And please call me Johanna -- I only chose JohannaJ7 as my ezboard-name because "Dave's Naked Sockpuppet" was taken.
Huh? What did I do now? I said the writing was, in most cases, so-so and a bit uncertain. It is. That doesn't mean it's bad, it's just not up to publishing standards yet. Second, I want to publish books, not write them. Even if I did write a book, it would not be posted on the interenet -- it would be sold to a publisher. And if I did decide to put a book on the net, it would not be on a site that is partnering with PA.
Don't be so over-sensitive. I didn't even mention names, or any stories I looked at. And if those writers are putting their stuff there for all to see, I'm pretty sure they are prepared to take a bit of critisism (isn't that what the site is for, anyway?)
And please call me Johanna -- I only chose JohannaJ7 as my ezboard-name because "Dave's Naked Sockpuppet" was taken.
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