Firefly & Wisp Publishing

Springs · 08-05-2011, 10:25 AM

Over the past year, I've been writing and editing my first novel. Now that it's finally finished, I would like to try to publish it and see what happens. I found a list of pubishers on a different website, which had writers' recommendations and concerns. One of the publishers which had no complaints was Firefly & Wisp. They looked okay upon my initial inspection, so I sent my first three chapters to them. Only a few days later, they responded to my query saying they were really into it and requesting my full manuscript. Originally, I was ecstatic, but then I started becoming suspicious of their quick and emphatic response, so I did a little googling and looked a little closer at the "authors" page on their website. As it turns out, it appears that they've only published three books. Only one of these has been printed in hard copy (and it's not even in stock on Amazon), and the other two ebooks were written by someone from Firefly & Wisp itself. They do have five more writers on their page listed to release their first books throughout the rest of this year or the first half of next, but I'm still skeptical.

Does anyone know anything about Firefly & Wisp, or have any experience with them? If not, could you please at least give me your more experienced opinions on what I should do? I have no issues with working with new/small publishers (after all, I'm a nobody in the writing world, too, so we might as well help each other start out, right?), but is there a line that should be drawn in regards to how small of a publisher is acceptable? From what I've seen searching them online, they do promote their books fairly well, so that's something, though I suppose distribution would be a concern. I'm just worried because I don't want to pass up my dream opportunity to get my foot in the door, but at the same time, I don't want to make the wrong choice and ruin this particular book's chance at something great. It wouldn't hurt to send in my manuscript and see what they say, at least, right? If they reject it, I won't have to worry about the decision at all, and if they do like it, I can still turn them down should I find something about them that I particularly don't like.

Oh well, let me know what you think. I'd like a more experienced outlook on this.

Queen of Swords · 08-05-2011, 12:15 PM

Firefly and Wisp's About Us page

Quote:

We love to read all kinds of different stories! We welcome fan fiction! Send us some of your best fan fic!

No objections at all to fanfics here - I write them myself - but this is the first publisher I've seen which requested them. Most publishers are inundated with submissions, and therefore don't need to request further material that cannot legally be published.

From their Submissions page, this is equally problematic:

Quote:

If you have an idea for a story and would like us to hear it... email us at submissions@fireflyandwisp.com

I have dozens of ideas. Until they're written into manuscripts, though, why would they be worth a publisher's time?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Springs

I have no issues with working with new/small publishers (after all, I'm a nobody in the writing world, too, so we might as well help each other start out, right?)

If you're a nobody in the writing world, doesn't it make more sense to find a more established publisher? I just don't see how a press like this could help a nobody writer, especially given what you've already found out about them. I'm published with a small press too, so I'm not advocating that you hold out for a major house, but Firefly & Wisp seems to be on the opposite end of that spectrum.

Jrubas · 07-14-2012, 06:44 AM

Firefly and Wisp is actually a very good publishing house to go with. Their books have been on a number of bestseller lists and their authors are simply amazing. Trust me, I'm one of their authors and I am very satisfied. To me, Firefly and Wisp isn't just a company- it's a family. Here, check out their website: http://www.fireflyandwisp.com/

Jrubas · 07-14-2012, 06:48 AM

Hey, everyone. I just wanted to throw this link up. I've been signed with Firefly and Wisp since May 2011, and I'm VERY satisfied with what they've done. If you're looking for a good publisher, at least consider Firefly. http://www.fireflyandwisp.com/

Richard White · 07-14-2012, 07:08 AM

Best seller lists?

I'm afraid I'm going to have to see some proof of that (and I don't mean they were the #10 on Amazon's X/X/X/X/X list. I mean, you can subdivide anything down to make numbers meaningless.

I'm looking for Locus, or NYTimes or USAToday or something I've actually heard of before a "best seller list" means anything.

(Obviously my Missouri roots are showing through again, because someone's gonna have to "show-me" to make me believe this.)

profen4 · 07-14-2012, 07:53 AM

Yeah, I want to see those bestsellers lists, too. Maybe some sales figures? do boi tre em do lot nu sieu mong khan ta so sinh cho be ban buon ban buon trang phuc ca mua kich

Katrina S. Forest · 07-14-2012, 08:20 AM

Hey, I just noticed that this company's submission guidelines are copied directly from Tor's:
http://us.macmillan.com/Content.aspx...orforge&id=255

For comparison:
http://www.fireflyandwisp.com/FAQ.html

Edit: Correction, their entire FAQ is copied right off Tor's site, not just the submission guidelines. And yes, I kept a copy of the page, in case it changes later.

amergina · 07-14-2012, 09:42 AM

Wow. Folks who think it's okay to lift content from another website!

That's just who I want working on *my* novel!

BenPanced · 07-14-2012, 10:05 AM

One staff member seems to have some sort of experience in publishing but the rest is either nebulous or not there.

Mac H. · 07-14-2012, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrubas

Firefly and Wisp is actually a very good publishing house to go with. Their books have been on a number of bestseller lists ..

Hi Jurbas,

Based on what Katrina has demonstrated is on the Firefly and Wisp website - it really does appear as if Firefly and Wisp are copyright-infringing plagiarists.

That isn't exactly a good look for a publisher.

Given that Firefly and Wisp appear to be copyright infringing plagiarists (or, alternatively, subcontracted out their writing to someone who plagiarized) ... is there any reason you should trust them when they make claims like 'our books have been on a number of best seller lists' ?

It might be worth asking them for a lot of evidence before accepting their assurances.

Good luck - I hope you find a better publisher.

Mac
(PS: Associated brands are 'HotRomanceEbooks.com' , 'Lee Duncan Books' & Xchyler Publishing' .. so you might want to avoid them as well.)

[NOTE: I've received a message that Xchyler Publishing is not associated with ff&w. Since this hasn't been cited, here, I'm inserting a note that this hasn't yet been established --MacAllister]

saphirablue84 · 07-14-2012, 10:19 AM

wow! It is exactly the same. Knowing that makes me question them a little more than I already was.

Kitty Pryde · 07-14-2012, 11:01 AM

They claim to be affiliated with Xchyler Publishing, http://www.xchylerpublishing.com which states on its home page that it "...is intent on being a leader in the new era of independant publishing." make of it what you will.

katci13 · 07-14-2012, 12:03 PM

Wow, that's crazy. Not to mention, Firefly's website is all kinds of off center. Just saying.

I can't believe it's just copied word for word like that. I wonder if there's a way to report it.

Old Hack · 07-14-2012, 01:24 PM

I'm sure that people who work for Tor will know about this soon. Trust in the internet.

Katrina S. Forest · 07-14-2012, 05:04 PM

Another unsettling piece of info, this time from their News page:

Quote:

We are pleased to announce that all Firefly & Wisp books have DRM. Digital Rights Management. No matter where you download the book, you will not have to pay an extra fee to convert it to your apps.

So, they're saying that if I buy a F&W book off Amazon for the Kindle, it will work on my Nook because it has DRM? I'm sorry, but that's not what DRM means. And if you tell customers that's what it means, they're going to be very unhappy when realize it's not true.

Plus, if I did purchase the Kindle version and discovered that my Nook wouldn't read it, the legal course of action would be to ask for a refund and then go download the Nook version from Barnes and Noble. It would not be to pay some third party to convert the file for me, as that would cheat Barnes and Noble out of their share of the profits.

Terie · 07-14-2012, 05:24 PM

So these folks don't seem to know copyright law (something governing the chief assets they're contracting and products they're selling), nor do they seem to know basic ebook technological terms. What then do they know about publishing?

HapiSofi · 07-14-2012, 09:35 PM

F&W welcome fanfic. They can't spell "independent". Those aren't good signs. But what the (bleep) kind of publisher can't write their own FAQ and submission guidelines? Those are both documents that say, in essence, "this is how we do business." If they're so clueless on both counts that they have to use versions plagiarized from other publishers, what can they actually be said to know?

Jrubas, does anyone other than you work at Firefly & Wisp, or is it all your own fiction?

Medievalist · 07-14-2012, 10:11 PM

I suppose it means something to steal from the best?

But seriously, dudes, what were you thinking?

evilrooster · 07-14-2012, 10:33 PM

Fumbling the DRM phrasing is particularly ironic. Just sayin'.

Jrubas · 07-16-2012, 05:34 AM

...Uhhh...yeah, the guidelines and FAQ are about as similar as night and day. Where do they look the same to you?

Jrubas · 07-16-2012, 05:36 AM

I mean really. What the hell? Are you an idiot or something? They are NOTHING alike.

callalily61 · 07-16-2012, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrubas

I mean really. What the hell? Are you an idiot or something? They are NOTHING alike.

Jrubas, I strongly suggest you read the Newbie Guide.

NOW.

AW's one big rule is "Respect Your Fellow Writer." You've just broken it.

Try again, please, starting with an apology.

Sage · 07-16-2012, 05:43 AM

http://www.fireflyandwisp.com/News.html

Quote:

UPDATE: It has come to our attention, that our recent web designer has infringed on copyrights. We apologize to the other website for this error, and can assure you that as soon as we heard of this incident, everything was taken down and changed.

callalily61 · 07-16-2012, 05:46 AM

They didn't read their own website before making it live?

They're saying that their designer write the text of their website?

They didn't write their own FAQ and submission guidelines?

amergina · 07-16-2012, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrubas

I mean really. What the hell? Are you an idiot or something? They are NOTHING alike.

They aren't now.

However, they were, which you can clearly see in this Google Cache of the Firefly and Wisp FAQ.

There's no such thing as an erase button on the Internet.

07-14-2012, 06:48 AM	#4
Jrubas permaflounced Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 24	Firefly and Wisp Book Publishing. Hey, everyone. I just wanted to throw this link up. I've been signed with Firefly and Wisp since May 2011, and I'm VERY satisfied with what they've done. If you're looking for a good publisher, at least consider Firefly. http://www.fireflyandwisp.com/

07-14-2012, 07:08 AM	#5
Richard White Writer Beware's Faithful Igor Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Maryland Posts: 1,456	Best seller lists? I'm afraid I'm going to have to see some proof of that (and I don't mean they were the #10 on Amazon's X/X/X/X/X list. I mean, you can subdivide anything down to make numbers meaningless. I'm looking for Locus, or NYTimes or USAToday or something I've actually heard of before a "best seller list" means anything. (Obviously my Missouri roots are showing through again, because someone's gonna have to "show-me" to make me believe this.) __________________ Richard C. White on Facebook Writer Beware's Blog http://www.twitter.com/nightwolfwriter

07-14-2012, 07:53 AM	#6
profen4 Monkeys are evil Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The Great White North Posts: 1,356	Yeah, I want to see those bestsellers lists, too. Maybe some sales figures? do boi tre em do lot nu sieu mong khan ta so sinh cho be ban buon ban buon trang phuc ca mua kich __________________ Steven Whibley \| author website Last edited by profen4; 05-14-2013 at 04:13 PM.

07-14-2012, 08:20 AM	#7
Katrina S. Forest Wait, didn't I kill that character? Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Querying Central Posts: 1,559	Hey, I just noticed that this company's submission guidelines are copied directly from Tor's: http://us.macmillan.com/Content.aspx...orforge&id=255 For comparison: http://www.fireflyandwisp.com/FAQ.html Edit: Correction, their entire FAQ is copied right off Tor's site, not just the submission guidelines. And yes, I kept a copy of the page, in case it changes later. __________________ My synopsis thinks it's so tough. Come on over and beat it down. "So we must daily keep things wound: that is, we must pray when prayer seems dry as dust; we must write when we are physically tired, when our hearts are heavy" -Madeleine L'Engle Last edited by Katrina S. Forest; 07-14-2012 at 05:05 PM. Reason: Edited the link to show the entire FAQ, not just the submission guidelines

07-14-2012, 09:42 AM	#8
amergina Waltzing with fae. Slowly. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 5,524	Wow. Folks who think it's okay to lift content from another website! That's just who I want working on my novel! __________________ Stories n' Stuff: Eight o'Clock Walk (horror flash) in Hazard yet Forward Cl0se Quarter (M/M paranormal novel) from Loose Id Sl0w Wa1tz (M/M paranormal short) from Loose Id I have a Website! My Pen Name has a Website! I also Tweet!

08-05-2011, 10:25 AM	#1
Springs practical experience, FTW Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Pennsylvania and Virginia (depends on the time of year) Posts: 131	Firefly & Wisp Publishing Over the past year, I've been writing and editing my first novel. Now that it's finally finished, I would like to try to publish it and see what happens. I found a list of pubishers on a different website, which had writers' recommendations and concerns. One of the publishers which had no complaints was Firefly & Wisp. They looked okay upon my initial inspection, so I sent my first three chapters to them. Only a few days later, they responded to my query saying they were really into it and requesting my full manuscript. Originally, I was ecstatic, but then I started becoming suspicious of their quick and emphatic response, so I did a little googling and looked a little closer at the "authors" page on their website. As it turns out, it appears that they've only published three books. Only one of these has been printed in hard copy (and it's not even in stock on Amazon), and the other two ebooks were written by someone from Firefly & Wisp itself. They do have five more writers on their page listed to release their first books throughout the rest of this year or the first half of next, but I'm still skeptical. Does anyone know anything about Firefly & Wisp, or have any experience with them? If not, could you please at least give me your more experienced opinions on what I should do? I have no issues with working with new/small publishers (after all, I'm a nobody in the writing world, too, so we might as well help each other start out, right?), but is there a line that should be drawn in regards to how small of a publisher is acceptable? From what I've seen searching them online, they do promote their books fairly well, so that's something, though I suppose distribution would be a concern. I'm just worried because I don't want to pass up my dream opportunity to get my foot in the door, but at the same time, I don't want to make the wrong choice and ruin this particular book's chance at something great. It wouldn't hurt to send in my manuscript and see what they say, at least, right? If they reject it, I won't have to worry about the decision at all, and if they do like it, I can still turn them down should I find something about them that I particularly don't like. Oh well, let me know what you think. I'd like a more experienced outlook on this.

07-14-2012, 06:44 AM	#3
Jrubas permaflounced Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 24	Firefly and Wisp is actually a very good publishing house to go with. Their books have been on a number of bestseller lists and their authors are simply amazing. Trust me, I'm one of their authors and I am very satisfied. To me, Firefly and Wisp isn't just a company- it's a family. Here, check out their website: http://www.fireflyandwisp.com/

07-14-2012, 10:05 AM	#9
BenPanced Behold, yon interrobang! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: WIP it, WIP it good... Posts: 13,258	One staff member seems to have some sort of experience in publishing but the rest is either nebulous or not there. __________________ When you aren't looking, this sentence is in Courier font. i can haz blogg nao? On The Frizz Now available from Musa Publishing! .

07-14-2012, 10:19 AM	#11
saphirablue84 Fighting off ninja plot bunnies Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 40	wow! It is exactly the same. Knowing that makes me question them a little more than I already was. __________________ Look Ma! Another blog!

07-14-2012, 11:01 AM	#12
Kitty Pryde i luv you giant bear statue AW Moderator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 8,862	They claim to be affiliated with Xchyler Publishing, http://www.xchylerpublishing.com which states on its home page that it "...is intent on being a leader in the new era of independant publishing." make of it what you will.

07-14-2012, 12:03 PM	#13
katci13 creative genie Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: tennessee Posts: 705	Wow, that's crazy. Not to mention, Firefly's website is all kinds of off center. Just saying. I can't believe it's just copied word for word like that. I wonder if there's a way to report it. __________________ _./'\._¸¸.•¤¤•.¸.•¤¤•….* •. .•* The Narcissistic Rose /.••.\ ¸..•¤¤•., .•¤.¤•..* Works in Progress: Futuristic Fantasy: Crafting YA Fantasy: Outlining Horror - Plotting

07-14-2012, 01:24 PM	#14
Old Hack You'll have to run faster than that SuperModerator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In the watchtower Posts: 11,453	I'm sure that people who work for Tor will know about this soon. Trust in the internet. __________________ I blog at How Publishing Really Works and The Self-Publishing Review, and I tweet as @hprw. See you around.

07-14-2012, 05:24 PM	#16
Terie Writer is as Writer does Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 3,861	So these folks don't seem to know copyright law (something governing the chief assets they're contracting and products they're selling), nor do they seem to know basic ebook technological terms. What then do they know about publishing? __________________ Changing Gears (available now) -- Winning the race doesn’t equal winning at life. *The DragonSpawn Cycle:* AutumnQuest \| WinterMaejic \| SpringFire \| SummerDanse available for Kindle Author website \| Author blog

07-14-2012, 09:35 PM	#17
HapiSofi Hagiographically Advantaged AW Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,855	F&W welcome fanfic. They can't spell "independent". Those aren't good signs. But what the (bleep) kind of publisher can't write their own FAQ and submission guidelines? Those are both documents that say, in essence, "this is how we do business." If they're so clueless on both counts that they have to use versions plagiarized from other publishers, what can they actually be said to know? Jrubas, does anyone other than you work at Firefly & Wisp, or is it all your own fiction? __________________ Winner of the Best Drycleaner on the Block Award.

07-14-2012, 10:11 PM	#18
Medievalist Cultus Gopherus MacAllister Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: þone þe in meoduhealle Posts: 22,656	I suppose it means something to steal from the best? But seriously, dudes, what were you thinking? __________________ About.Me iPad Projects AWers On Twitter My opinions are my own. \| Who else would want them?

07-14-2012, 10:33 PM	#19
evilrooster Glorious chicken of York AW Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Where eggs are small and dear Posts: 1,525	Fumbling the DRM phrasing is particularly ironic. Just sayin'. __________________ An extract from Bigglethwaite & Windemere's Manual of Proper and Exquisite English, regarding the Capitalisation of Heaveny Bodies: 1. Writers of steampunk novels, and of those set in alternate universes that branched from ours in the past, should always capitalise Sun, Moon, and Earth. 2. Writers whose works are influenced by early Robert A. Heinlein novels should capitalise Earth, but not sun. Sol may be used in dialogue, but must be capitalised and used in an offhand fashion. Moon should not be used at all in prose; the correct term in this body of literature is Luna. 3. Writers whose stories involve the Singlularity, nonhuman characters, or any political alliance extending across more than one solar system should not capitalise sun or moon. Earth should be replaced by Terra throughout. Those writing in the present day should determine what kind of future they expect and adjust their capitalisation accordingly. -- B&W 2:12

07-16-2012, 05:34 AM	#20
Jrubas permaflounced Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 24	...Uhhh...yeah, the guidelines and FAQ are about as similar as night and day. Where do they look the same to you?

07-16-2012, 05:36 AM	#21
Jrubas permaflounced Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 24	I mean really. What the hell? Are you an idiot or something? They are NOTHING alike.

07-16-2012, 05:46 AM	#24
callalily61 The Girl in the Steampunk Hat AW Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Non carborundum illegitimi Posts: 25,488	They didn't read their own website before making it live? They're saying that their designer write the text of their website? They didn't write their own FAQ and submission guidelines? __________________ <-- We're links to our Amazon pages!

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