[Publisher] Rosa Romance

[Semi-Pro]

Anyone know anything about this epublisher? I like their premise -- books about Hollywood and glitz -- but something seems off.

http://www.rosaromance.com/index.php

On their submission page, they claim to be an imprint of Sub Rosa Books, a subdivision of a motion picture and television production company.

Yet, even quick searches of Amazon.com and Fictionwise come up empty -- e-published or print. They also ask for prospective authors to fill out a registration form to submit work.

Another thing... The listed authors all seem to employ the same web designer.

 

[veinglory]

They opened in January 2007 and have not exactky set the ebook world on fire as far as I can tell. Their submssion process was bizarre enough to suggest lack of familiarity with the industry of e-publishing and I find the reference to being an imprint of an unnamed studio overly coy. If the studio is a good connection, why not name it?

 

[Semi-Pro]

So true! If they had major motion picture contacts, I'd expect them to shout the name from the rooftops.

 

[victoriastrauss]

Here's Sub Rosa Books. According to the FAQ, it's "a division of a Motion Picture and Television Production Company that has been covertly operating in Hollywood since 1980." Here's Sub Rosa Entertainment, the parent company.

Here are Sub Rosa's film making claims. Some of the titles are familiar--but read the fine print at the bottom of the page. Here's Sub Rosa's management team--Charles Terry Goldstein, VP of Business Affairs, is also a Rosa Romance staff member.

Here's the 2002 press release announcing the formation of Sub Rosa Books. Here's a call for submissions from WritersWeekly from around that time describing Sub Rosa's interests and submission process. Sub Rosa appears to have published just five books, all nonfiction. The most recent pub date is 2004.

So there does appear to be some filmmaking experience here, but Sub Rosa's publishing history is patchy at best, and Rosa Romance's staff's experience with book publishing is unclear.

- Victoria

 

[Semi-Pro]

Thanks, Victoria. I couldn't find anything, so I bow before your research skills. Looks like they just may be out of their depth when it comes to electronic publishing.

 

[veinglory]

But Rosa Romance, linked above, does not seem to clearly be associated with Sub Rosa, unless I am missing something?

Edited: now I see a mention on the 'about us' page. I am not sure it was there before but it may have been.

 

[para]

Another thing... The listed authors all seem to employ the same web designer.

The websites appear to be owned & created by the publishing company. Seems like a little group of friends. All the author bios mention they are working/living in LA & work/worked in the Film/Television industry. Strange how they seem to be rather vague about what they have been doing all this time. One thing I've noticed about Hollywood/TV types is they aren't exactly shy about coming forward with their achievements. No matter how minor they are.

The news info is interesting on May 6, it says Karen Jackovich "our boss" but she's not mentioned on the staff list unless I'm looking in the wrong place.

Also this bit from May 7 is really illuminating

...It's no wonder my authors book deadlines aren't being met ... and you know what? I can't blame them in the least. They write romance for love. They work in the film business to make a living. Since they have to feed their kids, animals, whatever ... show business has to come first and Rosa Romance books second. Ah well, the advantage of Rosa Romance being part of a film company is that a) I understand the author's time constraints and b) we have the backing to hang in there unlike some other smaller publishers who have gone bye-bye recently. But it's still frustrating, isn't it? These authors are such good writers that I want more of their books to read and from the emails I have been getting, so do you. Sorry ... we're trying.

Other strange thing is their headquarters appear to be in Nevada according to the whois information. Or maybe there is nothing strange about that.

One to avoid methinks. It doesn't look like this is a priority or a business, more of a hobby.

 

[veinglory]

The little group of friends effect in epublishing often reflect use of multiple pen names, sometimes by the owners of the press. Separate people tend to create separate web presences. Not saying this is the case here, but it is the case with other epublishers.

 

[CaoPaux]

Sub Rosa sites come up blank. No activity on Rosa Romance site or Yahoo group since '10.