May December Publications

[KodyBoye]

I had been previously tipped off of suspicious activity (as said person who tipped me off was concerned with a professional relationship,) but I guess I can 'let it out of the bag,' more or less, now that it's been officially confirmed by the man himself.

By the way--for those wondering, Sex Abuse 1 is sexual contact with a person under 14 years of age.

I've had little contact with Mr. Brown over the few months I've known him (most of which has been through Twitter, but some of which has included comments to my page on Facebook.) I myself will not comment on this, but thought I would let others be aware of it.
​

 

[jennontheisland]

You got a link to that? And permission to post it in its entirety?

 

[veinglory]

I know nothing about this situation at all but the resonance with a press name of "May December" (a name for romance between people of greatly different ages) is rather unsettling.

 

[para]

So, what suspicious activity are you reporting that relates to writers?

Link to the press: http://maydecemberpublications.com/
Link to the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/May-December-Publications/130807060292773

The website says the press is named after the months that the owners children were born. They seem to specialise in horror and speculative fiction.

 

[KodyBoye]

You got a link to that? And permission to post it in its entirety?

Link is here. His offenses are public knowledge.

As to what suspicious activity I'm reporting, it's... well, what I screencapped/posted here. Take it as you may, but I'm a bit disheartened to find this information out. I thought I should let other people know simply because of the crimes (whether true or not) he's been incarcerated for.

 

[profen4]

This is the place to do research on pubs. I think knowing the kind of person at the helm is very pertinent.

 

[veinglory]

In a business context it will bother some people and not others. But at least it is transparent.

 

[victoriastrauss]

I think Mr. Brown's criminal history is completely irrelevant.

May December has a poor contract--inappropriate terminology, no reversion clause, royalties paid on "profit" with that term not defined--which is a much more appropriate reason to be suspicious of it.

- Victoria

 

[defyalllogic]

May December has put out a few anthologies now, does anyone have any experience with them? Is their contract still the same as Victoria described it?

 

[victoriastrauss]

I saw the contract in June 2010, but I'd guess it's still pretty much the same.

- Victoria

 

[JL_Benet]

http://maydecemberpublications.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/May-December-Publications/130807060292773?ref=ts&fref=ts

 

[Unimportant]

Appears to be a self-publisher-trying-to-turn-commercial: a woman set it up to publish her husband's work. No evidence that she has anything but goodwill and good intentions to back up her business plan. My advice: wait a couple of years.

 

[Marian Perera]

From the website:

Here is a sneek peek

a randomly drawn winner of teh group

For only a few ho heed the dire warnings

The Godessess of Lilith

 

[aliceshortcake]

Appears to be a self-publisher-trying-to-turn-commercial: a woman set it up to publish her husband's work.

More specifically:

May December Publication was started by Denise Brown in 2009 out of her believe in her husband’s writings.
http://maydecemberpublications.com/beginnings/

 

[julirew]

I've worked with Denise Brown on one publication and found they were responsive and did what they said they would do regarding editing and promotion. I would call the payment they offer "token."