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[Publisher] Rebel Books LLP
- Thread starter Finchlark
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Is this the company?
Rebel Books LLP
Interestingly, they identify themselves as an LLP, but the only details I can find on Companies House are for a limited company rather than a limited liability partnership (which would need to be registered).
The only information on the entity's founders is here:
This is all very nice, but it doesn't set out any concrete experience that would suggest that either "driving force" can turn that dream into reality. Nor does it name either "driving force". Personally, I'd want to see named individuals with a proven track record in the publishing business.
This is a bit of a red flag to me. For publications to be a success, the publisher needs to be able to get the books into stores and then have a solid marketing plan. Yes, authors may need to get involved in publicity and marketing, but they shouldn't be tying themselves to making the books a success - that's the publisher's job.
Anthologies and short story collections are not a good way to start out into the YA market, especially if they don't have any established YA authors making a contribution (note - it's possible that they do, but they don't name anyone and the anthology seems to be open to submissions).
Another red flag. Marketing the books to various booksellers is not the same as having a distribution deal in place to get those books into stores. The fact that they're planning to open their own on-line shop suggests that even they accept it's unlikely that people won't find their books in stores. And the author is going to have to be responsible for some of their own marketing, suggesting that the publisher doesn't have the capitalisation to budget for the marketing they'd normally need to do.
The focus on short stories suggests they're not taking full length manuscripts. How they expect to establish readership loyalty is therefore unclear to me.
Making a submission to a publisher should never, under any circumstances, put you at risk of going onto their spam, sorry, mailing list. If this is how they're planning to market future publications, then it seems pretty bloody clueless. And desperate.
They're not making up-front payments for stories or, it appears, advances. Again, it goes to suggest that they don't have sufficient capitalisation. Bear in mind that a publisher that's not geared up to selling books in stores is not geared up to make bulk sales, which means that you shouldn't expect those royalties to be particularly high.
If you're a YA short story writer, you'd be better off going to a magazine like Cricket (which at least counts as a professional credit).
Oh goody. I'm sure that those tips will be real nuggets of wisdom.
Yeah. And more money has to be paid out as an advance as well. Still, it's good to know that they're admitting they don't have a lot of money behind them.
Incidentally, the hotmal account email address is not a reassuring sign. Any professional publisher should not be relying on a free email account.
Basically, there's nothing to suggest that this company has a professional basis for offering its services, which isn't to suggest it's a scam - they're more likely well-meaning but clueless amateurs. Personally, I'd wait to see if they're still in business in a couple of years and if they can get their books into stores before submitting anything.
MM
Rebel Books LLP
Interestingly, they identify themselves as an LLP, but the only details I can find on Companies House are for a limited company rather than a limited liability partnership (which would need to be registered).
The only information on the entity's founders is here:
This is all very nice, but it doesn't set out any concrete experience that would suggest that either "driving force" can turn that dream into reality. Nor does it name either "driving force". Personally, I'd want to see named individuals with a proven track record in the publishing business.
This is a bit of a red flag to me. For publications to be a success, the publisher needs to be able to get the books into stores and then have a solid marketing plan. Yes, authors may need to get involved in publicity and marketing, but they shouldn't be tying themselves to making the books a success - that's the publisher's job.
Anthologies and short story collections are not a good way to start out into the YA market, especially if they don't have any established YA authors making a contribution (note - it's possible that they do, but they don't name anyone and the anthology seems to be open to submissions).
Another red flag. Marketing the books to various booksellers is not the same as having a distribution deal in place to get those books into stores. The fact that they're planning to open their own on-line shop suggests that even they accept it's unlikely that people won't find their books in stores. And the author is going to have to be responsible for some of their own marketing, suggesting that the publisher doesn't have the capitalisation to budget for the marketing they'd normally need to do.
The focus on short stories suggests they're not taking full length manuscripts. How they expect to establish readership loyalty is therefore unclear to me.
Making a submission to a publisher should never, under any circumstances, put you at risk of going onto their spam, sorry, mailing list. If this is how they're planning to market future publications, then it seems pretty bloody clueless. And desperate.
They're not making up-front payments for stories or, it appears, advances. Again, it goes to suggest that they don't have sufficient capitalisation. Bear in mind that a publisher that's not geared up to selling books in stores is not geared up to make bulk sales, which means that you shouldn't expect those royalties to be particularly high.
If you're a YA short story writer, you'd be better off going to a magazine like Cricket (which at least counts as a professional credit).
Oh goody. I'm sure that those tips will be real nuggets of wisdom.
Yeah. And more money has to be paid out as an advance as well. Still, it's good to know that they're admitting they don't have a lot of money behind them.
Incidentally, the hotmal account email address is not a reassuring sign. Any professional publisher should not be relying on a free email account.
Basically, there's nothing to suggest that this company has a professional basis for offering its services, which isn't to suggest it's a scam - they're more likely well-meaning but clueless amateurs. Personally, I'd wait to see if they're still in business in a couple of years and if they can get their books into stores before submitting anything.
MM
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By way of update and clarification, a subsequent check on Companies House has found that Rebel Books LLP is now listed as having been registered with effect from 27 April 2009. The fact that it's a registered limited liability partnership suggests that the founders are serious about taking it forward as a commercial venture.
In addition, information about the people organising it has been put up on the Rebel Books website here. While both are active members of the SCBWI, neither appears to have any actual publishing experience on the book front. This is not encouraging in the sense that it suggests they lack the contacts to get books into stores.
As I've said before, the reason commercial publishers don't tend to produce anthologies or collections of short stories because there is little money in it. Given that it appears contributors will only receive payment via royalties, it is therefore possible that authors will not see a lot of money in return for their story.
Personally, if I was a YA/children's writer looking to place a short story I'd be looking at the pro-paying magazines first (such as American Girl, Boy's Life, Cicada, Cricket, Faces Magazine, New Moon Girls' Magazine, or Odyssey) because not only does that represent money up front, but it also counts as a professional credit that can be used in a covering letter to an agent or publisher.
MM
In addition, information about the people organising it has been put up on the Rebel Books website here. While both are active members of the SCBWI, neither appears to have any actual publishing experience on the book front. This is not encouraging in the sense that it suggests they lack the contacts to get books into stores.
As I've said before, the reason commercial publishers don't tend to produce anthologies or collections of short stories because there is little money in it. Given that it appears contributors will only receive payment via royalties, it is therefore possible that authors will not see a lot of money in return for their story.
Personally, if I was a YA/children's writer looking to place a short story I'd be looking at the pro-paying magazines first (such as American Girl, Boy's Life, Cicada, Cricket, Faces Magazine, New Moon Girls' Magazine, or Odyssey) because not only does that represent money up front, but it also counts as a professional credit that can be used in a covering letter to an agent or publisher.
MM
Published four books in '10 (including two by founder), but site is long gone. LLP dissolved in May '13.