[ePub] Moby Books

[Charke]

Cheers All,

Moby Books has appeared on Craigslist as a Vancouver based E-Publisher looking for manuscripts. I haven't been able to find anything about them. Their website is one page plus a stock submission form. There is very little information. I'd like to know who works there. There is a children's publisher by the same name who keeps popping up during searches. They don't seem to be on Absolute Write at all yet. It looks like they just started. Does anyone know anything about them?

Link Website
http://www.moby-books.com/

Link Craigslist (until the add goes down)
https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/wrg/5623176191.html

Mark Charke

 

[Helix]

That's an astonishingly uninformative web page. They have an equally uninformative Twitter account.

Independent ebook publisher Moby Books (Canada) is looking for novels, novellas, and short story collections by emerging and established authors. Authors can submit full length manuscripts or partial queries for consideration. Payment and contract based on a print publishing model. Deadline: ongoing.

 

[mrsmig]

Hmm. I just sent them a "mock" submission asking the sort of questions one would normally want answered by a publisher prior to trusting them with one's manuscript. We'll see if they answer. I'll share if they do.

 

[BenPanced]

HYOOGE red flags with full klaxons sounding, flashing lights, and fire doors dropping:

1. There is no information about them on their site beyond the submission form. Nada. Nothing. Zero. Blank. Zippo grits.
2. There is no information about them even on their Twitter page, really.
3. Not even a blog page.
4. I'm not even finding any way to contact them beyond the submission form or on Twitter. Seems rather foolish of them to limit their interaction with potential customers or authors.
5. This little block of information:

   Moby Books has appeared on Craigslist as a Vancouver based E-Publisher looking for manuscripts.

   A publisher worth their salt wouldn't go trawling teh intarwebz like this to look for authors. They'd have other outlets available.

To quote...everybody in the Star Wars films, I have a really bad feeling about this.

 

[Filigree]

I have snagged great art gigs off Craigslist before. I have NEVER seen a worthwhile publisher on it. Every time I see a publisher trolling Craigslist, I'm pretty sure they'll fall somewhere amid the Filigree's Rule criteria for Run While You Can.

 

[PeteMC]

potential customers or authors.

I would be astonished if those two groups don't turn out to be one and the same...

 

[BenPanced]

Potato, potato...

 

[mrsmig]

Today I received a polite and intelligent email from Angela Caravan in response to my mock submission and accompanying questions. She stated that she is the principal of Moby Books and while "not very well established in the publishing world," she has a Master's degree in publishing and has worked "in editorial and production for small press in the past (right now I work as an editor and copywriter)." She also says:

1) They are brand new and have not yet published any books, and the sparseness of their website reflects that
2) They are e-book only and will sell through Kobo, Amazon, Google Books and eventually, their website
3) They plan on paying advances as well as royalties
4) Their focus is currently on the local market "with a few feelers on the web"

She actually suggested that I wait to submit until they're a little better established, and that I might wish to subscribe to their newsletter to stay abreast of developments.

In all, I thought it was a considered and refreshingly honest response, and I wish Angela and Moby Books the best as they launch.

 

[Filigree]

Okay...that's more honest than the usual response. I'll give her kudos for that.

 

[PeteMC]

Oh okay, wasn't expecting that! Fair play to her.

 

[CaoPaux]

Site gone, TW ceased Fall '16.