TTA Press
A general word of caution regarding TTA Press. I probably don't need to be this detailed here, but I feel like I need to be given the circumstances.
On 6/8, I sold my story ‘Tumblebush’ to TTA for Interzone; the story appears in the current issue 276. Very exciting. So I thought.
In the initial email, editor Andy Cox told me payment would be £39 (plus copy), sent via paypal shortly after publication. He also said he would be in touch soon. I expected communication regarding a contract, rights, timelines, etc. as is customary. His next communication was to share art associated with the story. It is amazing and I was thrilled. Then the issue goes up for sale on TTA's website. On 6/25 I emailed Cox regarding a contract. There was no reply. On 7/10, I email him again. No reply. On 7/25, after I received the contributor’s copy in the mail, I messaged him on Facebook about the contract. He emailed me to say there would not be a contract, and that he never used them. He also said that he told me this upon sale (he didn't).
I pressed him to define the rights and terms of the sale, which he defined as ' the right to publish your story for the first time in the English language, and nothing more.’ I had 'nothing to worry about.' Payment would be 'soon.' I would have never agreed to the sale without a contract or explicitly defined terms in writing. He said he would forward the email in which he explained to me the contract or lack thereof. I knew he wouldn't, because this never happened. At this point, I reached out to Writer's Beware for guidance on this issue. Obviously not getting rich off this sale, but I was concerned given the nature of the correspondence that payment was simply not going to happen.
Cut to 8/27. I emailed Andy again, following up on his expected communication and the payment. He asks me 'what difference does it make' that he never forward the email where he promised he explained to me the rights. As I told him, it makes a difference because it’s unprofessional. It makes a difference because he set an expectation for communication around a major point of concern and didn’t follow up on it, just as he didn’t acknowledge my initial emails to clarify the contract. It makes a difference because this expectation was founded on the false premise he had informed me there would be no contract, when he hadn’t. It makes a difference because my story was in print before I knew where I stood regarding rights and before I was paid. All of this could have been avoided with simple, common courtesy.
Andy did pay me 8/28. After consulting WB, I am posting this here as a word of caution to any who consider subbing to TTA. They produce great magazines, with great stories that receive award consideration but if you do submit, be advised of my experience.
