Okay, and here we go!
They still haven't figured out the difference between a message board and a blog. O well. At least I'm notable.
Here are some notable quotes from one of the main bloggers on Absolute Write Water Cooler known as James D. Macdonald, “Your Genial Uncle.” His words, not our.
Yeah, that's what I have as a custom user title here at AW. Just like amergina has "powered by the beans of Java" and MichaelZWilliamson has "Combat Word Hacker." I'm usually pretty friendly, too. Just not to scammers.
Quote #1
“If your book flops it’s because your publisher doesn’t need to sell books to make their profit.”
Here's the reference for that, from this very thread, back in 2005:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=232037&postcount=19 Please note that the anonymous poster didn't dare given the link, because he didn't want you to see the context. Here's the full post:
If your book flops it's because your publisher doesn't need to sell books to make their profit.
For your next book please consider a commercial press.
What's the antecedent for "your publisher"? Answer: Tate. So substitute in the antecedent and read the quote:
If your book flops it's because Tate doesn't need to sell books to make their profit.
That's completely true. They already have their profit in hand when you sign that check for $4,000.
As I recommended at the time (and still recommend to all vanity-press authors in general and Tate authors in particular), next time try a commercial press.
LETS look at that statement. If that were true, what about these major flops.
Journey to Justice by Johnnie Cochran. Ballantine paid a
reported $3.5 million.
Behind the Oval Office by Dick Morris. Random House paid an estimated
$2.5 million.
Leading with my Chin by Jay Leno. HarperCollins paid a
reported $4 million.
Surely these big boys would’ve like to sell some books.
Cochrane didn't pay $3.5 million. Morris didn't pay $2.5 million. And Leno didn't pay $4 million. They got paid. In advance. On the other hand, their various publishers didn't pay $3.5, $2.5, and $4 million respectively. Those reported amounts include escalator clauses. I'd explain
escalator clauses here, but the anonymous guy doesn't care about them, or any other aspect of real publishing.
All of those authors "sold some books." None of those publishers wound up losing money on those books. And all of the authors came out ahead. Unlike your typical Tate author.
In real publishing, the publisher takes the risk. In vanity publishing, the author takes the risk. That's the difference.
Quote #2
“One thing I’ve always wondered… where and when did Dr. Tate (Founder of Tate Publishing) get his PhD?”
What in the world is this remark about? Personal bullying, character assassination,
getting off base, confusing the issue or all of the above?
None of the above. Dr. Tate is very fond of using that "Doctor." It adds a certain cachet of respectability. Of erudition. Of achievement. It's all over his website.
Respectability, that is, if and only if it's from an accredited institution. If it's from a diploma mill, or if it's a degree that he just decided to award to himself one day, then that too speaks volumes to his personal trustworthiness.
This is no more relevant to publishing than Mr. Macdonald stating that he was a enlisted boatswain mate and then an “officer.” One thing we always wondered………what rank of an officer were you and how is that background information important to what you do now ?
I was a Navy Lieutenant, (O-3), Surface Warfare Specialist. I made Lieutenant in 1982, between my billet as Gunnery Officer on USS Plymouth Rock (LSD-29) and Navigation/Administration Department Head on USS Moinester (FF-1097).
Since that information was listed on a page on my homepage marked "Biography," the reason I posted it should be obvious. I gave the name of my high school too.
These days I don't sign myself as James D. Macdonald, LT, USNR. I don't make, and have never made, any connection from that part of my life to what I'm doing now. Even though being a military officer does imply a certain degree of integrity, loyalty, patriotism, and personal courage.
So, how about it? Where and when did Dr. Tate earn his PhD? That should be a very easy question to answer. It should be right on his biography page. Oh, wait....
Quote #3
“Chris P, here’s a question to ask your nephew: Have you, personally, ever bought a Tate book? Has anyone you know ever bought one? If not, what makes you think that anyone will buy your book?”
Well, A book stands alone from the publishing house. Once it’s released, it up to the buyers to decide which book(s) are a success. The distributors want that book to sell because they make money too. Most people couldn’t tell you who published Harry Potter, but they own the book. This remark is so unprofessional.
Let prove how stupid this remark is by saying, “Have you, personally, ever bought a Macdonald book? Has anyone you know ever bought one? If not, what makes you think that anyone will buy your book?” Duh!
Books don't stand alone (a better word would have been "apart") from their publishing houses. Distribution (another topic that Tate doesn't like to talk about) plays a big part in sales.
Our anonymous friend palms that card very clumsily. Here's how that last sentence should have read if he had been able to think or reason: “Have you, personally, ever bought a Macdonald book? Has anyone you know ever bought one? If not, what makes you think that anyone will buy
his next book?”
A more reasonable thing to say would be, "J. K. Rowling is published by Scholastic. Macdonald is also published by Scholastic. I bet he's sold a ton of copies."
Duh.
Quote #4
“You’re right, Dick! I’m not J. K. Rowling nor am I James Patterson. I’m just a shaggy-ass midlist writer. But I’ve paid off my mortgage, put two kids through college, have another two in college right now, and I’ve done it by writing. Writing for publishers who paid me in advance. Who sold books to readers.”
This is pure bully. Very defensive, complete with bad language, ( must be the sailor in him). Well what about your wife’s income? Or did you forget her?
Scammers come across as a bunch of maiden aunts when it comes to "bad language." Another scammer had to retire to her fainting couch when Victoria used the f-word. Seriously, is that the
best you guys can do?
I wouldn't have called my remarks defensive. I'd have called them aggressive. And bullying? When I'm standing between inexperienced authors and the guys who want to steal their lunch money? This anonymous one-note has lost sight of, and hopes others won't notice, who the bullies are. I'm not the one sending around fake cease-and-desist orders.
Well, what about my wife's income. You mean my co-author, who shares a byline with me, who is a full-time freelance writer, of whom it is said, (in the entry on her in
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, Clute & Grant, editors, Macmillan, 1997, page 287) "all her books have been written in what seems an equal partnership with James D(ouglas) Macdonald"? That wife? No, she doesn't work outside the home, doesn't have a separate income, and doesn't have benefits that I share. All of our royalty checks have both of our names on the Pay To line. Nope, I haven't forgotten her. She's sitting at her word processor not three feet away from me right now.
By the way, she has an
earned PhD. University of Pennsylvania, 1981.
Quote #5
“How about you post the answer in public right here?”
This is a common chant from Macdonald. However he refuses to answer any questions about him
I'll give this anonymous coward points: He spelled my name right. But it's really hard to reply when he has comments turned off and refuses to post his name. Is there some question I haven't answered? Go ahead and ask. I'll reply in public, as I always have, to any question asked in public.
The answer I was looking for, by the way, was where and when Dr. Tate got his degree. So, how about it? How about you post the answer in public right here?
But if you read the whole blog,
message board
it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that the original question was so off the subject matter anyway. He confuses and side tracks the issues.
Brain surgeons, in general, don't know a lot about publishing, or about scams and scammers.
Since Dr. Tate keeps trying to gain the public's confidence by referring to himself at "Dr. Tate," you can see that the question isn't off topic in the slightest, no matter how much Dr. Tate would like it to be. It speaks directly to his reputability.
But the issues. Ah, yes, the issues. The issue is that Tate is a vanity press. Have I failed to address that point? I'm sorry. I'll say it again so you can't accuse me of sidetracking: Tate is a vanity press.
We need professional people, not angry, self-appointed, foul mouth tyrants, who are not family oriented.
Are there really professional message board commenters? Do you have to go to school for that? Nor am I angry. I'm amused. Self-appointed? I suppose so. I was unaware there's a Federal Board of Commenters that needed to give me a certificate. Do you happen to have their address? But what's this "family oriented"? Talk about your "off the subject matter"!
Indeed! I'm interested in current events, politics, American society, military history, and a whole lot of other topics. I write about them all. You have a problem with that? You're invited to post your own comments there, too. Comments haven't been turned off at that blog (Note: Making Light
is a blog).
Then we found out that he availiable for school visits. Bet that line is long.
http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/visits.htp
I am indeed available. Does your local school need to have a real author come and talk with the kids (and the teachers) about the writing life? I'll need your name and address, of course, and a contract with the school. Travel and lodging up front, plus an honorarium. I like to schedule six months ahead.
Whoever this person is--in addition to being a coward--he's stupid, demented, or a scammer himself. Possibly a combination of all of the above. I base this conclusion on the apparent fact that he has to have read a lot of my comments to gather his paltry ammunition, but still hasn't learned anything about publishing.
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So, Dr. Dick, where and when did you get your degree?