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Center One Publishing
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It looks very iffy to me. Particularly this rather confusing contest of theirs:
Here's what Center One says about the contest:
Here's what Brenista says about the contest:
Not to mention that, simply by entering the contest, you're giving away all rights to your story:
No names associated with Center One, and both its website and Brenista's are registered through a proxy, but they were created/registered within 4 hours of each other on the same day. I would assume that the owners are Rebekah McClew-Dine and Justin Dine, Center One's current sole authors.
Here's what Center One says about the contest:
Here's what Brenista says about the contest:
Not to mention that, simply by entering the contest, you're giving away all rights to your story:
No names associated with Center One, and both its website and Brenista's are registered through a proxy, but they were created/registered within 4 hours of each other on the same day. I would assume that the owners are Rebekah McClew-Dine and Justin Dine, Center One's current sole authors.
It's good that they're focusing, but young adult is a broad church covering anything from thriller to humour so I'd want to know what area specifically they're focusing on. Also, some of the romance writers on the board might want to chip in as to whether the romance market is tightening at the moment or is still open to new start-ups. I know that erotica is doing quite well right now but I think I read on another thread that there have been so many romance publishers recently that new ones need to differentiate themselves in some way or go the extra mile with marketing and publicity.
It's good that they're restricting themselves to slots but the question does arise as to whether they're capable of marketing, distributing and promoting 16 novels in one year.
I don't understand why a publisher that's looking to put out novels is running a competition to support short fiction. If you're going to support and encourage writers, then put out good books with solid sales figures.
Unless they're paying advances, I don't see why any agent would be interested in them.
I'm also a bit confused by the aim to pick up 16 new authors by December 2012 given that on the same page they're talking about putting out 16 novels a year (which can obviously consist of a number of novels by the same author).
What do they mean by "newly introduced"?
I'd want to clarify whether this means they're basically just transposing submissions into print format or whether this is done after an editing process.
Don't understand why this question is relevant. The book can either be sold or it can't be sold. The author's motivations are meaningless.
Don't understand what this has to do with deciding whether to take on a book.
A synapse is a structure in the neurological system. It's necessary to human existence but not to submitting a manuscript to a publisher. I think they mean synopsis. The fact that this typo/misuse of a word exists raises questions about their professionalism.
Yup, I can see why they'd want to include that on a submission.
Erm, what?
Erm, WTF?
To submit the form you have to agree to the terms and conditions but none are actually available. I'd be wary of this because what you don't want is Center One trying to hold you to terms that you only learn about *after* submission.
Hell no. This is a rights grab and it means that Center One can basically do anything they like with your short story without paying you.
This should clarify that the 2 year period only applies to winners (which I've extrapolated from the fact that the entry form says that work is tied up for 12 months). Personally, I think that a 2 year exclusive is too long given the value of the prize.
This bears repeating because it's a big fat no in my book. Center One should not have any right at all to use your work by virtue of entry into their contest. The right to enter is not, by any stretch of the imagination, appropriate consideration for your work and release of your work should not in any way be in Center One's discretion.
So they can take your work for 12 months, use it for whatever purpose they want without paying you and you're stuck with that.
Not good enough.
MM
They are inordinately fond of the words "comming" and "upcomming". Also, if the excerpts from the two "upcomming" books are anything to go by I wouldn't trust them to edit my work (assuming that any editing will be done).
There's also the fact that they list 2 books as being available in November 2011 and available for preorder:
- SECRETS OF THE NIGHT by Rebekah McClew
- THE SON OF AVIS by Justin Dine.
Both are listed as having pre-orders starting on 07/01/2011 but a quick check on Amazon shows neither are currently available on that site.
In addition, when you click on more details for both books, they say that the release date for each book is 31st October 2011. If there's been a delay, then it would be good to know why. If the information on the site is wrong, then it needs to be corrected (and it says a lot about the publisher's professionalism).
At the risk of sounding catty, I've got to say that the blurb and further information for each book is confusing and poorly written rather than enticing. If this is the best that Center One can do for its owners, think about what it could do for you.
Finally, from the information on the books available on the site it seems that they're taking print and electronic rights. Unless they've got a distribution deal in place with stores (i.e. they are physically supplying set quantities to stores) then they shouldn't be touching your print rights. At the moment, they don't seem to be in a position to make the most of electronic book rights as they only seem to be available via the Center One site.
MM
- SECRETS OF THE NIGHT by Rebekah McClew
- THE SON OF AVIS by Justin Dine.
Both are listed as having pre-orders starting on 07/01/2011 but a quick check on Amazon shows neither are currently available on that site.
In addition, when you click on more details for both books, they say that the release date for each book is 31st October 2011. If there's been a delay, then it would be good to know why. If the information on the site is wrong, then it needs to be corrected (and it says a lot about the publisher's professionalism).
At the risk of sounding catty, I've got to say that the blurb and further information for each book is confusing and poorly written rather than enticing. If this is the best that Center One can do for its owners, think about what it could do for you.
Finally, from the information on the books available on the site it seems that they're taking print and electronic rights. Unless they've got a distribution deal in place with stores (i.e. they are physically supplying set quantities to stores) then they shouldn't be touching your print rights. At the moment, they don't seem to be in a position to make the most of electronic book rights as they only seem to be available via the Center One site.
MM
I think you're right, based on this Tweet and the account labels her as "Traditional Publisher".
It is nice to see she says, "An author should never pay to have their book published."
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Agreed. I think it's quite useful and appropriate for authors to ask themselves, "If I submitted to this press and got rejected, would I still be keen to buy their books and read them just for my own pleasure, based on the author/title/cover art/back cover copy/etc?
I can clear up a lot about "Center One Publishing LLC." To start, authors retain all rights to their books, they never lose rights of their writing.
Right now since the company is brand new, it is looking for new authors to start off with. The company is still working on getting their name out there and known. They do have an account with Barnes and Nobles online and local bookstores along with Amazon.com. Now I'll give you the back history for why the company started in the first place.
Both authors Justin Dine and Rebekah McClew had a goal of having their books published. However many of their friends had sadly gone through "Vanity Press's" which charge an author to have their book published and do not always promise to promote or do more then simply physically publish or put these books online without advertising. The eventual goal of the company is to be owned by several authors who being published themselves understand what fellow authors go through looking to be published and what they want from a publishing company.
The company is primarily owned by Justin dine and Rebekah McClew. However a few other family members are working for the company also until the company gets off the ground more.
Both have worked as editors and both had worked at the Traverse City Record Eagle News paper for several years. Instead of waiting for a traditional publisher to publish their books they had decided to start their own publishing company to promote theirs and others writings. Far to many of the larger publishing companies have settled on their big sellers or are simply not accepting submissions. There are several other smaller publishers which can afford to only publish so many books because of the cost to them and not their authors. These are Traditional Publishers which Center One Publishing is.
None of the future authors chosen will ever put a dime out for their books being formatted, printed,advertised, placed or returned when a customer decides they do not want the book. Every bookstore either physical or online requires the right to return a book if the customer decides to. A few do have limits to this. The author is also encouraged to get their Writing/ Manuscript copyrighted before submitting.
Both Justin and Rebekah are available for chat and respond rather quickly to any inquiries. Both can be contact through the website and are also found on Facebook.
For authors who have already been published, they are offered a signing bonus. Those who are not heard of or not in print such as new authors just starting out, they are not offered one yet. Just like any other traditional publisher out there, they make a portion from the books sold. With the cost of printing, storing, advertising, charges from Amazon, these are taken out of the company portion. Authors make a slightly higher rate being paid then from C.O.P then other traditional Publishing companies. The company puts out quite a bit of money for each author they choose, so they will want to make sure the Manuscript/ story is worth selling to a broad audience. Most of this is discussed in the contract between the company and the potential author.
As for the authors who are listed, the books are not listed with any online seller right now because they have been busy looking for others to market at the same time as their books. This will be their first placement. However if others are not chosen by October then these two books will be done before that. Most only need two authors at a time. Majority of Publishers have a goal or determined number of authors they promote due to cost to them and again not to the author. Right now their books are delayed with this.
When a company starts up they make plans and start out with advertising. Unfortunately when you first start and no one knows you it's hard to find authors or participants. Every one has to start somewhere. The company has only been operating for about 2 years, with making sure contracts and contests are legal with lawyers, making sure there is adequate equipment and time to properly run a company, it does take time and money. Unfortunately at the beginning is when most are working out the bugs of the company. Which is why the company appreciates any suggestions or questions in general.
Book stores also require quite a bit from Publishing companies before they allow them to submit authors to them which also takes time. Reviewers separate from the company also generally require 1-3 months to review a book. This would be the New York Times and others like them.
As for such a wide range with the "Young Adult" books. The other areas are limited for now, however Young Adult is a higher sales area which is easier to promote. However the company does not handle Fiction horror in any of their categories and will be listed to clarify this.
By now I'm sure many of you are either wondering who I am or have as I'm assuming already guessed who I am. I am Ann Dine and can be contacted at [email protected] I work for the printing company. This is the reason the Publishing company can pay their future authors more is simply because they own both ends instead of sending out to another company for printing. Right now I have several printing jobs going through our printing press. We do not actively advertise this since it's already quite busy and not currently taking new orders. Center One Publishing and Brenista Printing are both registered LLC's and run on their own. Brenista started much earlier then the publishing company and will always run on it's own separate budget.
If you have any questions feel free to either email me or contact someone from the site itself.
Right now since the company is brand new, it is looking for new authors to start off with. The company is still working on getting their name out there and known. They do have an account with Barnes and Nobles online and local bookstores along with Amazon.com. Now I'll give you the back history for why the company started in the first place.
Both authors Justin Dine and Rebekah McClew had a goal of having their books published. However many of their friends had sadly gone through "Vanity Press's" which charge an author to have their book published and do not always promise to promote or do more then simply physically publish or put these books online without advertising. The eventual goal of the company is to be owned by several authors who being published themselves understand what fellow authors go through looking to be published and what they want from a publishing company.
The company is primarily owned by Justin dine and Rebekah McClew. However a few other family members are working for the company also until the company gets off the ground more.
Both have worked as editors and both had worked at the Traverse City Record Eagle News paper for several years. Instead of waiting for a traditional publisher to publish their books they had decided to start their own publishing company to promote theirs and others writings. Far to many of the larger publishing companies have settled on their big sellers or are simply not accepting submissions. There are several other smaller publishers which can afford to only publish so many books because of the cost to them and not their authors. These are Traditional Publishers which Center One Publishing is.
None of the future authors chosen will ever put a dime out for their books being formatted, printed,advertised, placed or returned when a customer decides they do not want the book. Every bookstore either physical or online requires the right to return a book if the customer decides to. A few do have limits to this. The author is also encouraged to get their Writing/ Manuscript copyrighted before submitting.
Both Justin and Rebekah are available for chat and respond rather quickly to any inquiries. Both can be contact through the website and are also found on Facebook.
For authors who have already been published, they are offered a signing bonus. Those who are not heard of or not in print such as new authors just starting out, they are not offered one yet. Just like any other traditional publisher out there, they make a portion from the books sold. With the cost of printing, storing, advertising, charges from Amazon, these are taken out of the company portion. Authors make a slightly higher rate being paid then from C.O.P then other traditional Publishing companies. The company puts out quite a bit of money for each author they choose, so they will want to make sure the Manuscript/ story is worth selling to a broad audience. Most of this is discussed in the contract between the company and the potential author.
As for the authors who are listed, the books are not listed with any online seller right now because they have been busy looking for others to market at the same time as their books. This will be their first placement. However if others are not chosen by October then these two books will be done before that. Most only need two authors at a time. Majority of Publishers have a goal or determined number of authors they promote due to cost to them and again not to the author. Right now their books are delayed with this.
When a company starts up they make plans and start out with advertising. Unfortunately when you first start and no one knows you it's hard to find authors or participants. Every one has to start somewhere. The company has only been operating for about 2 years, with making sure contracts and contests are legal with lawyers, making sure there is adequate equipment and time to properly run a company, it does take time and money. Unfortunately at the beginning is when most are working out the bugs of the company. Which is why the company appreciates any suggestions or questions in general.
Book stores also require quite a bit from Publishing companies before they allow them to submit authors to them which also takes time. Reviewers separate from the company also generally require 1-3 months to review a book. This would be the New York Times and others like them.
As for such a wide range with the "Young Adult" books. The other areas are limited for now, however Young Adult is a higher sales area which is easier to promote. However the company does not handle Fiction horror in any of their categories and will be listed to clarify this.
By now I'm sure many of you are either wondering who I am or have as I'm assuming already guessed who I am. I am Ann Dine and can be contacted at [email protected] I work for the printing company. This is the reason the Publishing company can pay their future authors more is simply because they own both ends instead of sending out to another company for printing. Right now I have several printing jobs going through our printing press. We do not actively advertise this since it's already quite busy and not currently taking new orders. Center One Publishing and Brenista Printing are both registered LLC's and run on their own. Brenista started much earlier then the publishing company and will always run on it's own separate budget.
If you have any questions feel free to either email me or contact someone from the site itself.
Unless they're doing a work for hire, authors always retain copyright in their work. What they give (or lose, depending on how you phrase it) is a licence to publish. Anyone experienced in publishing knows that and the fact that you're saying it as if it's some kind of special thing that marks you out, points to inexperience.
A publishing company needs to be focused on making sales of books that it's selected because they believe it can sell and they can sell it. A publishing company is not a support group.
This is rubbish. My friend got a deal this year with Harper Collins and he had no previous publishing experience. There are plenty of people on this site who got publishing deals this year with advance paying companies that are open to submissions.
Copyright should be registered by the publisher.
No author should ever have to pay for returns anyway.
So royalties are paid on the cover price and not net? Unless the rate is specified here, it's not possible to say if the rate is higher than that offered elsewhere.
Were those lawyers experienced in publishing law? Because your short story contract terms are extraordinarily onerous and I would never counsel a writer to accept them.
Bookstores want good return rates. Reviewers from newspapers want credible products. It's easier to get a response from good blogging sites.
There's still a lot of work to be done here before it's a worthwhile venue in my opinion and I'd advise anyone to give it a couple of years to see what the sales figures are like.
MM
Ann, I suspect that many people will be put off by the spelling and grammatical errors - not to mention the generally poor standard of writing - on the Center One website. Don your editor's hat and look at the following blurb for Justin Dine's Son of the Avis:
This is one step removed from gibberish. It wouldn't encourage me to either buy the book or submit my work to Center One Publishing.
This is one step removed from gibberish. It wouldn't encourage me to either buy the book or submit my work to Center One Publishing.
There is no way to purchase books from your website. I don't see the two available titles on Amazon.com either. This is not encouraging to readers or authors. This operation is nowhere near ready for prime time.
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Interestingly, Center One complains about this very thing on their Facebook page:
Good God. Please tell me that the person who wrote that isn't an editor...
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Since most of the planet, including the owners of Center One, use Facebook, I'd suggest that they put on their editors' hats and revise their Facebook page. The current text doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in Center One's editorial capabilities.
More Facebook gems from Center One:
I don't know about everyone, but an awful lot of people do seem to be convinced that they are capable of writing a book. Where would the vanity presses and dodgy small publishers be without them? Alas, talent and motivation are two very different things. If you lack the talent to write a publishable and saleable book all the the motivation in the world won't help you.
So is J K Rowling!
Novice writers, if a frank rejection letter is enough to break your spirit you're probably in the wrong business. The brutal truth is that the majority of unpublished writers will never get out of the slushpile because their work simply isn't good enough to be published. The ability to put a book-length number of words on paper doesn't make you a special little snowflake who DESERVES to be a published author.
I don't know about everyone, but an awful lot of people do seem to be convinced that they are capable of writing a book. Where would the vanity presses and dodgy small publishers be without them? Alas, talent and motivation are two very different things. If you lack the talent to write a publishable and saleable book all the the motivation in the world won't help you.
So is J K Rowling!
Novice writers, if a frank rejection letter is enough to break your spirit you're probably in the wrong business. The brutal truth is that the majority of unpublished writers will never get out of the slushpile because their work simply isn't good enough to be published. The ability to put a book-length number of words on paper doesn't make you a special little snowflake who DESERVES to be a published author.
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Nasty rejection letters? Puh-leeze. I've never received a 'nasty' rejection letter (but I have quite a lot of 'great' ones to go along with all the perfectly respectful ones). I don't have a single writer friend in all my acquaintence who has received a 'nasty' one.
Perhaps Center One has some weird definition of 'nasty' that normal people don't recognise?
Or are they just precious flowers who consider a basic rejection letter to be 'breaking down the spirit of the writer'?
In any case, what a weird bunch of things they say in their public spaces!
It's probably 'critical', meaning 'things my friends and family are too nice to say to me'. Ego-boosting won't help you but constructive criticism will.
Old (?) URL in maintenance mode, and new/store URL (c1books.us) reads "Center One Books is Currently under reconstruction until October 1st, 2016.
Thank you for your patience." An example of what they were building: http://store.c1books.us/index.php
Thank you for your patience." An example of what they were building: http://store.c1books.us/index.php