JoJo Publishing / Classic Author & Publishing Services

[rallygirl]

Today I received an email from a publisher informing me they had got my manuscript (1st 3 chapters). Is this normal? I only sent the manuscript yesterday. The editor also told me in the email she "likes my stuff" and had tried to phone me (silly me had phone turned off). She went on to say "now it's up to the other guys" (I think meaning co-workers?)...

Excuse my ignorance as I havent had a novel published before, and in the past (when I have sent other manuscripts) all I have received (three months later) are rejection slips and no other contact.

Is this one promising? I'm kinda excited!!

Thanks in advance
Rallygirl

 

[KTC]

What's the name of the publisher? Did you look into them?

 

[rallygirl]

Yes I looked into them and someone did recommended them to me.

 

[Chickenchargrill]

Did you post it or email it in?

For the short's I've sent to places, I got an acknowledgement email straight away. It was a while until they got chance to read it and give feedback though.

 

[Chickenchargrill]

who is the publisher?

 

[rallygirl]

I posted it

That's why I'm so suprized at such a quick response!

 

[KTC]

How could you post it one day and receive an email the next? That's fast post. Australia mail must move faster than Canadian! Wow! Maybe just wait and see what else they have to say?

 

[majiklmoon]

rallygirl,

Please be cautious..I learned the hard way there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there trying to take advantage of authors. If you are uncomfortable telling us the name of the publisher, may I suggest you go to Bewares and Background Checks and see if the publisher is listed there.

I came this close to being sucked in by The Children's Literary Agency - which has 9 million different aliases it operates under. So please be cautious. And if I'm way wrong, and I so hope I am, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chickenchargrill]

It's the same here, you post one day, they should get it the next.

They must have read the whole three chapters as soon as they got it!

 

[rallygirl]

Yes and being so close to Easter I thought it was quick... lol

Publisher's name is "JO JO Publishing" they are here in Victoria Australia .

 

[KTC]

Well...same place...I guess it would be possible. Wow, still. I always find that anything I send like birthday cards and such always arrives late. Maybe we're just more lax. here?

Congrats, by the way...it sounds promising!

 

[rallygirl]

Thanks KTC. I'm off to see a fellow writer tomorrow to talk to him about it. At the moment I'm on edge and cant even think of sleep! I just needed to find out what was normal and what wasnt in publishing responses.

 

[Chickenchargrill]

Not heard of them myself, but it looks fine, they're a specialist publishing house, so it makes sense they would have the time.

Looks promising, good luck!!

 

[rallygirl]

Thanks chicken! I will keep you guys informed to what's happening.

 

[rallygirl]

rallygirl,

Please be cautious..I learned the hard way there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there trying to take advantage of authors. If you are uncomfortable telling us the name of the publisher, may I suggest you go to Bewares and Background Checks and see if the publisher is listed there.

I came this close to being sucked in by The Children's Literary Agency - which has 9 million different aliases it operates under. So please be cautious. And if I'm way wrong, and I so hope I am, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's bad luck! I thought about all that stuff too. Great to know I can pop in here and talk to fellow writers!

 

[cwfgal]

I'm a little suspicious of this because publishers rarely (if ever) call or make any kind of decision about a work without having read the entire manuscript. Did the email ask you to send the rest?


Beth

 

[Aconite]

I'm with cwfgal on this. Legit publishers rarely call and rave about your work before they've read your complete manuscript and decided to make an offer. I'd strongly suggest you go to the Bewares and Background Check board here on AW. In the Index at the top of the page, there are several threads on this sort of thing. I'd be very cautious, if I were you.

 

[CaoPaux]

This the one? http://www.jojopublishing.com/

 

[janetbellinger]

I noticed on the JoJo site that they also offer "services" to authentic new authors, which to me raises a red flag. What kind of services, and what do they charge for them?

 

[JerseyGirl1962]

I noticed on the JoJo site that they also offer "services" to authentic new authors, which to me raises a red flag. What kind of services, and what do they charge for them?

I don't know, Janet - where did you see anything on services? I saw something on Memberships, but that seems to be directed toward readers; something like, "You join and we'll send you advance notice of our new books." It's that type of thing.

It could just be that my brain is not registering the services thingy that you saw.

~Nancy

 

[FolkloreFanatic]

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but...

...it doesn't seem like Jo Costello has any experience selling fiction (which is why you're posting int this forum, right?).

It always raises red flags whenever someone says "helping new authors to follow their dreams." In this case, I think it's more of the publisher's inclination towards self-help language, but still.

That said, JoJo appears to have a legitimate market for self-help and inspirational books in Australia.

 

[triceretops]

We offer support and encouragement to genuine new authors by providing infomation and awareness of other services that might be of assistance in helping them to realise their dream.

This is the quote from their webpage that could be construed as a warning, but it is unclear, since you have to ask them questions via their email solicitation. What is a GENUINE new author, anyway? I would contact them first to find out a bit more about what they are offering.

Tri

 

[Jamesaritchie]

services

We offer support and encouragement to genuine new authors by providing infomation and awareness of other services that might be of assistance in helping them to realise their dream.

This is the quote from their webpage that could be construed as a warning, but it is unclear, since you have to ask them questions via their email solicitation. What is a GENUINE new author, anyway? I would contact them first to find out a bit more about what they are offering.

Tri

It's just never a good idea for an agent to recommend other services, period.

 

[triceretops]

I agree, James. This sounds like a bait and hook to me. I think it's nebulous enough to where you can't put your finger on it, and that's the intention.

Tri

 

[rallygirl]

Thanks for your replies...i guess I will just sit tight and see what happens now...maybe nothing? Nice to have dreams in the meantime
At least I took that step forward and sent my manuscript out, otherwise it would still be sitting on my desk gathering dust...