Nov 9 2007
Chippewa / Lady Abell Publishing Closes Doors
Another epublishing house closes its e doors. Apparently a family issue has caused the owner to not continue at this time. I heard some conflicting reports of unpaid bills for the last 2 quarters but I also heard that the rights are all reverting and royalties will be paid.
Also Siren Publishing is bidding on the Trisk assets with a promise to return all rights unencumbered.
Related posts:
Nov 09, 2007 @ 18:41:22
Dang, no more Hillbilly Haven!
Nov 09, 2007 @ 19:13:33
I’m not surprised. One of my friends is published there and she has NEVER seen a single royalty check from them. Nothing but a bunch of empty promises of “your money is coming soon” and then more excuses when it never arrives. And something “personal” always got in the way of running the company and adhering to their contracts. I wonder why any of these people start publishing houses when they’re not willing to give 100% of their time running them and the contract isn’t even worth the paper it’s printed on. I feel badly for the authors, but in the long run, I’m glad the publisher is finally going under and not sucking in more trusting people with their false promises. Good riddance.
Nov 09, 2007 @ 19:29:52
I know someone who considered starting an epublishing company without having any prior experience whatsoever in publishing. Why? Their thought was that a) it was quick and easy money and b) how hard could it be? It’s not like you actually had to print books, just have downloads. (Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed and the idea was scuttled.)
I’m not saying that’s what happened with Chippewa / Lady Abell or any other publisher, but having watched someone walk through the idea (they were counting on writers being “desperate” to get published), it was a little scary. And this wasn’t someone who was intending to defraud anyone; they just didn’t understand the complexities.
Nov 09, 2007 @ 20:42:23
As an author who’s been with LAP for two years, I’ve never had a problem with royalties, contracts, or anything such thing.
Yeah, it sucks. It hurts like hell. But we’ll all move forward from this.
Nov 09, 2007 @ 20:43:10
Sheesh. That should be: “any such thing”.
Nov 09, 2007 @ 20:45:44
I would think one scroll through of Piers Anthony’s site with it’s endless list of closed ebook sites would be enough to convince anyone that this is not an easy business to “get rich quick.”
Nov 09, 2007 @ 21:44:23
Thats yet another epub I have never heard of.
Nov 09, 2007 @ 22:28:49
Reports of delays in payment are only ‘conflicting’ to the extent that some authors always got paid promptly and some didn’t. The reasons can be debated but payments absolutely were significantly delayed over the last year or more.
Nov 09, 2007 @ 23:32:37
I am going to miss the cover snark. Nothing beat THE GOLD PLATED GARBAGE TRUCK.
Nov 10, 2007 @ 00:39:56
Ann, We must never forget the Humper County Vampires or my favorite, Oklahoma Space Odyssey.
If there is a God do not let T.C. Allen’s literary legacy be lost to us.
Nov 10, 2007 @ 07:24:41
And another one bites the dust…
Nov 10, 2007 @ 08:12:41
Teddy and Ann: I *know* T.C. Allen on another writers’ loop.
I’m glad to see you like Tommy’s work. He is as enormously talented, funny and irreverent as his books. I look forward to every one of his posts.
Nov 10, 2007 @ 11:55:25
Chippewa/Lady Aibell Publishing Closes Doors
What took ‘em so long?
Nov 10, 2007 @ 13:51:49
Thank you all for thwe kind words. As soon as I can get it all together, “The Gold Plated Garbage Truck” is going to be expanded to a book length novel. The Humper County citizens shall also be added to and rewritten to become “an authentic book about Oklahoma Vampires and other worthy citizens.
I am sorry Rebecca has closed her doors, she gave me a lot of help I can never repay her for.
My novel “Good Girls Swallow” was due out this next year. I shall try to find another home for it as I seek a new publisher.
Again, thank you for your kind words.
Tommy Bird (writing as TC Allen)
Nov 10, 2007 @ 16:11:29
This is excellent news for Lady Aibell authors who were struggling to get rights returned from an uncommunicative and at times, hostile and threat-slinging, publisher.
I’m pleased to see this end without having to get my agent involved in order to be treated fairly by this company.
Anna J. Evans
Nov 11, 2007 @ 10:20:21
I am sorry to see Chippewa and Lady Aibell Press closing its doors. Many new authors found a home with them, and some staff were given the chance they needed to break into the Publishing Industry with someone willing to guide them along the way.
Many of us have issues to deal with on a daily basis, and I know that Rebecca Tried to make the company stronger, her hiring me only a couple of months ago proved that much. However we have to consider that she decided to close doors instead of letting the company lag behind further to things out of her control.
With any business it is a gamble and many do not realize the hours, blood, sweat and tears that are needed to make it a success. Before we can consciously criticize someone else we need to take a long look at not only ourselves, but also at more than what is simply in front of our face.
Mourning the Loss.
Dee
Nov 11, 2007 @ 10:33:07
I know that Rebecca Tried to make the company stronger, her hiring me only a couple of months ago proved that much.
Actually, her hiring anybody within the last few months seems a bit disingenuous to me, especially if she knew that the company was floundering. They say that the first sign that a company is in trouble is when e-mails and phone calls go unanswered, and according to a couple of ex-Chippewa author’s blogs that I’ve read recently, this was very much the case.
Before we can consciously criticize someone else we need to take a long look at not only ourselves, but also at more than what is simply in front of our face.
I don’t understand this paragraph. Who needs to look at themselves? The authors? People in general? Who?
Nov 11, 2007 @ 10:35:30
I meant to add, unless you were hired to sort out the problems at Chippewa, that I could understand.
Nov 11, 2007 @ 11:15:27
Um, let’s see. I have a business. I spend a lot of hours and sweat making it work. No blood (not even the occasional paper cut), no tears (really, there’s no crying in business!). I have quarterly, annual, and 3-year business plans I go over every month. I watch my accounts very closely. I make sure I have enough cash on hand–and then some. (Most small businesses fail due to insufficient cash flow. That’s why large corporations usually have a Treasurer’s department to handle ALL cash in the company. Individual business units are not allowed to handle the cash they generate.)
Yes, a business is a gamble. But a good businessperson identifies those risks BEFORE starting the business or before expansion (e.g. before going into print) and takes the steps to mitigate those risks.
Of course, since Chippewa/Lady Aibell Press is closing due to “personal reasons” instead of financial, I probably didn’t need to go into all of the above.
Nov 11, 2007 @ 21:12:48
( I meant to add, unless you were hired to sort out the problems at Chippewa, that I could understand. )
I was hired to help both Chippewa and the Authors get more exposure and offer ideas. I am sorry that there was not more time to take this farther and I wish the Authors and Staff the best of luck.
Many people Criticize without knowing all the facts, both Authors and the general public. I personally have done this in the past, and hoped to have learned from my mistakes. So before we jump on the band wagon or begin making derogatory comments we need to consider not only what we do know but also facts that we do not.
Blood Sweat and Tears is a figure of speech for putting all you can into the Business even to the extent of giving up a personal life or other venues. Also anyone who has been in any form of business learns something new as they grow, no one knows everything or what may happen to cause a Drastic Change.
Nov 11, 2007 @ 22:28:12
If I have to know all the dirty sob strewn details about the private trails and tribulations of the publisher to ascertain the “whys” and “whatever else” of their eventual bankruptcy then might I suggest a “tell all” book so that the authors who are still owed money can benefit.
Nov 12, 2007 @ 06:13:33
I’ve had my book with them for over a year, and have not seen one royalty check. at times i even forgot it was there.
Nov 12, 2007 @ 10:42:16
Ditto, no royalty checks. And very little communication and what little there was often was hostile or pithy to the point of rudeness.
I have worked with five e-publishers and just signed my first New York contract. All but one of those companies have been professional people who are lovely to do business with. I am the last to criticize, but in this situation I feel I have the right to do so. The business was not run effectively. End of story. I don’t care about the personal issues. Business is business. That attitude is what allows me to keep feeding and clothing my kids.
Anna J. Evans
Nov 12, 2007 @ 12:50:15
To all posters each of you have made valid points and only those I know about personally and not from another source can I comment on. So to that extent I cannot say one way or another about your personal grievances with them as I was not there. I do however wish you the best of success and hope that you have a bright future.
Dee
Nov 12, 2007 @ 14:26:18
Yes, I know it’s a figure of speech…but I hate when it applies to business because it shouldn’t. Yes, you learn something new in business every day and you can’t predict the future, but because of that, you learn from those who are successful–and work out contingencies for worse case scenarios.
Nov 12, 2007 @ 15:41:50
I’m one of those authors affected. Contrary to whatever might have been said by the publisher, I was not notified, but had to hear the news from my editor at Phaze. I’ve sent the C/LAP editor an email, but have yet to hear back, and am not holding my breath in regard to any royalties. In the past I’ve had to twist arms to get a statement or payment.
I’ve since removed any and all links to my C/LAP works from my webpage.
Nov 13, 2007 @ 00:25:29
Very true Ann Bruce.
L.E. Bryce a letter was sent out to the Authors Group, if you need a copy of it, I would be willing to send it to you. You can contact me at the Marketing Manager email.
Dee
Nov 13, 2007 @ 00:48:54
I guess I should have discovered this site far earlier. I had no idea until today that Chippewa had closed their doors. It would have been really nice if, as one of their published authors, I would have been notified. Shouldn’t that be in the contract somewhere? If you quit, you need to inform your clients? Oh well. Every new company is a gamble, and evidently this one wasn’t one of my wiser ones.
Regrets to those of you who were also published there, and I wish you well with your books.
Ginger
Nov 13, 2007 @ 02:15:24
Not everybody belongs to the Authors’ Group, so technically it doesn’t constitute “informing the authors.”
Nov 13, 2007 @ 02:54:22
>L.E. Bryce
Not everybody belongs to the Authors' Group, so technically it doesn't constitute “informing the authors.â€<
Granted not all the Authors are there but I would have thought the new ones would have been since they need to know what is happening with their Books. Not criticizing just my thoughts. Anyway if you would like for me to email you the letter then please send your email address to mm.cpllc@gmail.com.
Dee
Nov 13, 2007 @ 03:50:06
Sorry I wasn’t clear in my post. I was saying that I wished that Chippewa had notified their authors of their closing. I found out through other authors posting on a loop, and that led me here. I appreciated the information I found on this site that helped me understand what had happened.
Ginger
Nov 13, 2007 @ 08:16:14
It saddened me that Rebecca closed her doors. I have suffered through enough failures in my life that I know the taste of the bitter ashes of defeat.
There have been a few complaints, warranted or not about the failure to report sales and royalties on the part of Rebecca. I chalk it up to experience and am thankful a little pocket change was all I may have lost.
Rebecca gave me my first chance here in the states and I remember it was she who helped me improve as a writer. If I lost a few royalties, they were more than made up for in the benefits I got from my short association with Chippewa.
I for one wish her well.
Tommy Bird (writing as TC Allen)
Nov 14, 2007 @ 13:43:29
No surprise. Chippewa had stopped returning emails months ago and prior to that made excuse after excuse after excuse not to meet contractual obligations. The tell-tale signs were there for the past year or more when the art director and most of the editors all jumped ship.
The lack of professionalism was astounding and I’m not even sure why I tolerated it for so long. Perhaps I was just hopeful she’d get her act together.
My real concern is the authors ever finding out what their true sales were and getting the royalties they are owed. Many of the Chippewa’s books are still out on sites like Fictionwise for sale as of today (11/14/07).
Nov 14, 2007 @ 14:35:42
So to those of you have may have been through this. What happens now? Do we automatically get the rights to our work back? What about the cover art? Does that belong to us as well. Sorry to be such a dim bulb but I’ve recently moved and everything is packed in boxes. I have no idea where to look for my contract. :(
Nov 14, 2007 @ 22:12:18
I highly doubt you’ll ever know what your true sales were. More than once I’ve felt the royalty statement (when I got one, and only after much arm-twisting) underrepresented figures.
I sent an email days ago, but haven’t received a response.
Nov 15, 2007 @ 19:27:14
It’s fraud plain and simple if the true sales are not reported to the authors. Unless we could get Fictionwise and the other sellers to give us the true sales, we’ll probably never know.
As for the rights, I’d keep the email she sent stating the rights were coming back to the authors on 30 Nov 07 as proof. The covers I believe are owned by Chippewa and do not revert to the author.
I wouldn’t expect a response to your email L.E.. She didn’t respond when she was still trying to run the company; why would she bother responding now?
Nov 15, 2007 @ 20:07:53
On what is returned unless I am mistaken it will only be the original unedited manuscript. As far as Fictionwise goes http://fictionwise.com/authorinfo.htm this is there page on sales. I cannot help everyone and wouldn’t know where to begin on some of it, but I am trying to make this easy as possible on those that I can. But please remember that I was only Marketing Manager there for the last couple of months, so I only have access to so much.
Dee
Nov 17, 2007 @ 13:13:57
It’s not the manuscript, its the rights to the novel or work, period. The email said “all rights.”
Dee, I appreciate your help but you were just as hoodwinked as the rest of us. Rebecca has not been straight with her authors or anyone else involved in Chippewa/LA for a long time.
Nov 19, 2007 @ 21:44:09
Interesting…Amazon just announced their new e-book reader the Kindle…and today I find my book on Amazon in Kindle format…sold by Chippewa.
Any guesses what’s going on here?
Nov 19, 2007 @ 22:45:09
I know that it takes time to remove a book from distributors and my guess but by no means answer is that is what this is. I know that Amazon has a way for authors to contact them and this may be what is needed here. I can offer to post a question about this to Rebecca but other than that I wouldn’t know what to say. Any questions sent to my Gmail account or to this loop will not reach me after the holidays as I am closing that account. If needed you can email me at my personal address and the least I can do is offer you friendly support.
Dee
owensdee07@aol.com
Nov 28, 2007 @ 12:24:38
Ronin — if you’re still following this thread, please email me. I’m an editor/former editor with Chippewa Publishing, and have been in contact with Amazon concerning the Kindle offerings.
My email address is editorjana at gmail dot com
Nov 29, 2007 @ 14:48:16
My novel never came out with Lady Aibell, thank goodness. Unfortunately, the blanket email sent to the author’s loop does not, as I’ve found out, constitute a legal return of author’s rights. I have tried repeatedly to contact Rebecca to have a letter of rights reversion sent to me regarding my novel, but she has not replied. Unsurprising, considering in the 8 months my book was contracted she never once replied to an email I sent her except one. The one where I asked to be released from my contract less than two months before Chippewa shut down. She refused then to give me my rights back, even though she had to have known she was going to be closing her doors.
I fear rights are not going to be legally returned. I am working with a lawyer right now to try and enforce the contract. Until then, my novel is lost to me and it makes me mad more than it makes me sad. I was actually happy to hear Chippewa/LAP was closing, because I thought it meant my novel might finally be free. Not so, apparently.
I’m at a loss and not sure what to do. I am unwilling to let that novel go. It was never even released, never made it past first round edits in over 8 months. I am not going to let this go and I would hope Ms. Pack would do the right thing finally and just give back the rights to us all.
I’m not exactly holding my breath.
Nov 29, 2007 @ 15:26:51
Fae,
Letters are going out today. Several folks have already received their letter. I received mine. If you don’t get yours today, please email me.
K.
Nov 29, 2007 @ 16:49:28
I received a letter, Kay. Whether it is legal or not I am leaving up to my lawyer to decide.
Good luck to all the other authors of LAP/Chippewa. I hope we all can forget the mess ever happened and find good, stable homes for our work.
Nov 29, 2007 @ 19:30:02
I intend to go forth in good faith and place my stories back out on the market. My reasoning is two-fold.
No contract is valid if there is willful deceit on the part of either party concerned. There was evidently de facto bad faith on the part of Chippewa.
Second, whether the email was a legal document or not, since it came from the publisher it is my reasonably expectation it legal and binding. If it is not, then the electronically signed contract must be all or in part invalid.
I am not a lawyer but I have represented myself in court before and won every time except once on a traffic ticket.
Tom Bird (TC Allen)
Nov 29, 2007 @ 22:20:52
I agree, Tom. I am using the email and going forward. The contract would be hard for Chippewa to enforce in my case anyway since she was clearly in breach for quite some time.
Good luck to all former Chippewa authors.
Nov 30, 2007 @ 07:13:35
I believe there should be another epublisher out there who would welcome us with open arms. We have a proven track record of sales. If I come across anything promising I intend to share the info with the others from Chippewa who need it most right now.
Tom
Oh, BTW: I just got my stories back just as they appeared in Chippewa. Janna has been very helpful.
Nov 30, 2007 @ 08:07:39
This comes as sad news for us because we have been working on creating special ebooks from some of the Chippewa authors for our reading device. It’s taken us a while to convert approximately 30 or so different titles, but we’ve sent royalities to Rebecca for the last two quarters and I have a current quarter check for 15 different titles that totals $130.18.
Obviously, this isn’t a ton of money, but it does show a hearty appetite for reading in our little club. It’s really going to be painful to take down the books we’ve just put up. Perhaps if the various authors regain their rights, they can contact me directly and I can reinstate their books in our club.
I hope this can be a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy situation.
Nov 30, 2007 @ 16:38:13
I sent you a reply to your message and a PS.
If you did not get them, please contact me at tombird@utahweb.com
Sincerely,
Tom Bird
Jan 06, 2008 @ 14:03:24
Are there any other ex-Chippewa authors that are trying to get in touch with Rebecca? I’ve sent numerous emails, with no response. I don’t know how else to get in touch with her.
Jan 06, 2008 @ 14:35:19
Lisa, I too have been trying to get in touch with Rebecca to offer her any assistance I can. Regardless of everything that has happened, I still remember the good things. She was of great help to me with advice etc. that I cannot ever repay.
It is as if she hopped into a hole and pulled the entrance in after her. I hope she is okay,
Tommy Bird
Jan 06, 2008 @ 19:12:03
One of my Lady Aibell stories is still listed at Amazon Kindle. Anyone else?
Jan 06, 2008 @ 19:31:44
I guess I ought to go take a look. I have started to rewrite everything and submit it all to others.
Tommy
Jan 14, 2008 @ 11:50:33
I didn’t have the greatest time with Chippewa, as a writer. I definitely felt excluded from things, especially since I didn’t jump in on the Publisher’s lovefest. I thought it was a business, and as such, personal issues shouldn’t be part of the discourse. As a person who didn’t write romance, too, I felt secondary and almost unwelcome. I’m not happy to see C/LAP close down, but I am glad to have the rights to my book back. That along with the opportunity to have the book actually printed and sold are worth the royalties I never saw.
Jan 14, 2008 @ 12:25:48
Just thought the other Chip/LAP authors might like to know that more than a few are still being sold via Amazon. A Willa Okati title, Ella Scopilo, The Vamirotica anthology and others. Interesting, yes?
http://www.amazon.com/tag/lady%20aibell%20press/ref=tag_rss_rs_itdp_item_at?_encoding=UTF8&tag=erobooks-20&creative=381421
Who knows where else these titles are still being sold.
Jan 14, 2008 @ 12:53:05
My book is no longer listed. the print v05 is out of stock but will likely remain listed as Amazon trades second hand copies. I hope the other ebooks will finally come down soon. The long they are up the longer people will need to see reports for to cover that period.
Of course I am still waiting for mine. Anyone else got a final reckoning?
Jan 14, 2008 @ 14:11:07
I’d be happy with an initial reckoning.
Feb 01, 2008 @ 17:12:28
Any former Chippewa writers find a new publisher yet?
FYI, I’ve not gotten a final reckoning yet and personally, I doubt we’ll ever see it.
Feb 01, 2008 @ 17:32:02
Paging Dr. Jones has found a new home with Eternal Press. They’re very open-minded when it comes to re-releasing books, and also welcome stories that don’t quite fit the box other publishers insist you fit into.
Feb 01, 2008 @ 23:52:27
I was one of the authors affected. The Chippewa owner, Rebecca Pack, promised to catch me up on sales statements, royalties, ect. and never has. The reason she gave about closing doors being due to a family crisis? Sorry, but I never heard a word of any of that until authors in general started voicing their concerns. Only then did she own up to me that the doors were closing. Despite her promises she’s failed to keep her word and appears to have vanished off the face of the earth. I guess not all is lost; I still have a letter returned to me by the post office, the one where I told her I wasn’t renewing and I sure did expect her promises fulfilled. Nice keepsake, lol. At least my story has found a new home.
Mar 23, 2008 @ 20:34:05
I was one of the artists that did work for Chippewa— I and another artist friend of mine have yet to receive a single royalty check from the company, and very few sales reports (like one or two).
I was highly disappointed when Chippewa failed to notify me and the other artist when it closed its doors, on top of never being paid for my work.
I highly doubt I will ever see a penny from this company, even after all of the legal mess is said and done.
Apr 08, 2008 @ 09:23:13
I’ve tried to contact her and no, no reply. No sign of payment. Nothing. Honestly, despite Rebecca’s claims, I doubted anything would turn up. It woul have been nice to have been wrong though.
Apr 12, 2008 @ 13:31:56
I believe the whole “family emergency” line was an excuse. Rebecca was in over her head and rather than being honest with her authors, she cut and ran.
Meanwhile, I’m still looking for another publisher. I’ve submitted to about a half dozen with no word back. Anyone else have luck?
Apr 12, 2008 @ 13:41:21
Ronin, I would suggest you look into Loose-Id and Red Rose Publishing. I’ve enjoyed a positive relationship with both these publishers.
And yes, at this point I agree it probably was all a big excuse.
Apr 12, 2008 @ 15:06:50
I agree, total excuse. My unreleased LAP book is currently in the hands of my editor at a *very* reputable, top of the line publisher and should be hearing its fate once everyone gets back from RT. Hopefully it’ll be good news. Good luck, Ronin, and everyone else.
Apr 12, 2008 @ 15:07:50
Thanks, Desiree. Unfortunately, I was the ugly duckling at Chippewa and write mysteries, not romance. Eventually…
Jun 28, 2008 @ 19:18:13
Just a general point-of-interest update:
I was a Chip/LAP author. All of my titles have found new homes. When we were given our rights back, we were told we would be paid all due royalties by November of 2008.
It's June of 2008 and I have not received anything. No money and no statements. I have never received a royalty statement. I cannot reach Rebecca. I suspect it will take legal action if we want to be paid.
Jun 28, 2008 @ 19:26:51
Cup, check Karen Scott’s blog, she had some veeeery interesting info about Rebecca a couple months ago. As did Capo’s blog but it’s been deleted now, you could maybe still see it cached on Google, tho.
FWIW, my unreleased (thank god) LAP novel was recently sold to Ellora’s Cave. Good riddance to bad rubbish, in the case of Rebecca and LAP. Good luck to all those owed outstanding royalties. I suspect Cup is right, and it’d serve Rebecca right to get audited for every dime she owes people.
Jun 28, 2008 @ 23:01:36
Fae,
Thanks for the info. I’m still looking for Capo’s blog. Gratz on Ellora’s Cave! They have a great name and I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful experience with them. I hope to have something with them one day.
Cup
Jun 29, 2008 @ 00:30:20
Damn, looks like it was never cached by Google. Sorry, Cup. It had her myspaces (two of them) and might have helped you track her down.
Thanks for the congrats, I’m thrilled with EC.
Jul 05, 2008 @ 01:22:07
I am sorry to hear of their closing. Twice Mrs. Pack had attempted to purchase novellas from me, but never followed through.
Would I be imposing to ask what e-publishers are currently seeking new authors?
Jul 05, 2008 @ 01:53:29
Jul 05, 2008 @ 06:03:39
Bay, I’d personally recommend that you try your work at the established publishers before going for another start up. The best plan is to start at the top and work your way down, not vice versa. Ellora’s Cave, Samhain, Loose ID, arguably the top three epubs, are all open to submissions right now. All are established, pay very well and are about as likely to go out of business as the sky is to be pink.
As I said, start at the top, why sell yourself and your book short? No offense meant to Eternal Press, but with the dozens of epubs that have closed down, some in a blaze of fire, in the last year and a half, it’s just good business to stay away from any publisher that doesn’t have a proven, stable track record.
Jul 05, 2008 @ 10:56:45
Jul 05, 2008 @ 11:38:57
If that works for you, all good. Myself, I prefer to have more than trust and hope to build my career on. Trust and hope is for friendships, not business. Just look at all the people who trusted and hoped with Chippewa/LAP. Didn’t get em much, did it? Apply that to the dozens of others who asked for trust and hope and then went down a year or less later…trust and hope do not a career make.
Jul 05, 2008 @ 11:56:02
I didn’t mean to get into a row with anyone when I posted, I was simply responding to Bay’s question with my own experience. You’ll notice I simply suggested that after she try those you named and still finds herself without a publisher, she might consider Eternal Press. There are no definite guarantees in ANY business, and trust has a place in all walks of life. People trusted that Triskelion would last…RWA even recognized them, but they folded too.
I can’t imagine doing business without any form of trust involved. That doesn’t make sense to me. Enough said on this topic. Bay can do whatever she likes and I wish her well.
Jul 05, 2008 @ 12:17:40
No row, simply pointing out that I disagree that “we can only trust and hope”. Anyone looking to make a career of writing had better do more than trust and hope, that’s all.
Jul 05, 2008 @ 12:34:26
As one of the authors signed on with Eternal Press and I’ve been signed on with them for a year now, I have to agree with Ginger’s statements. This is a tough business and you never know what goes on behind the scenes, how stable one company is versus another. Harlequin has always been a stable print company, but even they aren’t stable right now, so if they aren’t, I’m betting not many of the others are either.I love EP’s owner. Ally works hard to establish an open door relationship with her authors. She’s upfront, honest, open to communication and her respect for her authors is apparent in every message she sends out. Yes, EP might fold tomorrow, so might Loose Id, Samhain’s or any of the others. No one has any guarantees in today’s unstable economy. The world could also end tomorrow and none of it will matter then. In the meantime, I’m staying with EP…it’s like having an extended family, everyone cares about and encourages each other…when you have that much love and support with a group of people you’ve never even met, then something is definitely right about EP…Tabitha Shay
Jul 05, 2008 @ 12:50:55
This isn’t about Eternal Press, who I’ve personally never heard of before, which to me says something about a company that’s been in business for a year. This thread is about authors screwed over by Chippewa/LAP and some discussion about how to avoid that in the future.
One way to avoid it is to place one’s work with established, stable companies that pay well, on time, and give an author exposure and recognized publishing credits. That’s all. No need to turn it into a “Let’s defend Eternal Press”, ok? All I said was the truth, an author has a better chance of not being screwed over if they aim for publishers with an established, stable track record. No, there’s no guarantees, but there *are* odds, and the odds favor established presses.
I’m not saying your publisher is shady. I’ve never heard of your publisher. Personally, I don’t want a publisher that treats me like family. I want one that treats me as a business partner, because writing is a business.
Jul 05, 2008 @ 13:25:06
I don’t think anyone has to defend Eternal Press, but your tone or lack thereof makes people feel defensive. I responded to Bay’s question with my opinion, and you turned this into a conversation about trust not playing a role in business. I’ve never worked with a company in which it didn’t..from employees to management. You have to trust that people will do the right thing. Sometimes you’re disappointed, but more often not. I much prefer a business where I’m treated as a professional, but with trust that my talent contributes to the success, hope that we all stay afloat, and friendship and support when I need it.
So where are you published that you are treated only as business partner rather than a friend, and where trust is not key to your relationship? Just curious.
Jul 05, 2008 @ 13:35:11
And now you’re putting words into my mouth. I never said trust had no place. I said I disagreed with your statement that “we can only trust and hope” and said I prefered to have more than trust and hope on my side in business. I said an author had better do *more* than trust and hope if they want to make a career out of their writing.
And since you asked, I write for Ellora’s Cave primarily. And no, EC are not my friends. They are my publisher. Have I made some friends there? Absolutely. But my relationship with my publisher is a business one, first and foremost. I don’t need a publisher to love me, I need them to sell my book and make me money. I will never understand those writers who prefer ‘friendship’ and ‘love’ from a publisher over proven sales and exposure. More power to you, but I strongly disagree with the practice.
Jul 05, 2008 @ 13:48:17
Actually, I wasn’t defending EP, I was supporting Ginger.I never heard of Chippewa/LAP., so what does that say? There are hundreds of publishing companies out there, just because you haven’t heard of EP doesn’t mean they aren’t an established publishing company. Can you name all the publishing companies out there? Because I sure can’t.I much prefer to be treated with respect and my work treated with just as much respect as I am as an author than to submit my work to the bigger, well known companies and the editor rewrite my story to suit herself/himself. The EP editors don’t take creative control away from the author, I like that, which is one of the reasons why, as long their doors are open, I’ll remain with them. We get paid on time, paid well and they give their authors plenty of exposure.When business is necessary, it’s all about business, but in between times, we’re family. I like that. It doesn’t mean you have to, it’s what works for me…Tabitha Shay
Jul 05, 2008 @ 13:58:50
Just keeping up with the conversation, it sounds to me that Fae was offering only a timely warning about the industry in general. I didn’t sense she was attacking any individual epubs.
Jul 05, 2008 @ 14:03:53
Sorry, I didn’t mean to put words into your mouth, I responded to my interpretation of your post. Clearly we see things from a different perspective, and what works for one won’t always work for another. I need more than just a business association, so I’ll stick with what I know and appreciate. I wish you the best in your writing endeavors and no hard feelings here.
Ginger
Jul 05, 2008 @ 14:12:21
No hard feelings here, either Ginger.
Jul 05, 2008 @ 14:34:27
Hopefully we’re all adult enough to have a buzzing discussion without anyone’s feelings getting hurt. I think we all want to see all publishing companies make it good. As long as they do, as authors, we stand a better chance of surviving as well. This profession is tough, it’s tough for the publishers and the authors, you have to have a good, professional working relationship with everyone involved, even authors from other publishing sites, because even though there are hundreds of publishers, it’s a small world when it comes to the loops and we are all bound to meet up again, eventually.There’s room for all of us and everyone must do what they are the most comfortable with…if Fae prefers everything on a strictly professional basis, she has a right to her choice and decision.In the meantime, I prefer a more family like atmosphere, that is my choice. It’s what I’m comfortable with. It doesn’t make me right, but it doesn’t make me wrong, either. Everyone have a happy Fourth of July weekend and see you on the loops…Tabs
Jul 05, 2008 @ 17:01:23
Fae-
Congrats on your deal with EC! I, too, was a Chippy writer. My mystery was due out Dec07 and then, well, you know the drill. Anyway, same story here, Rebbecca disappeared off the face of the earth. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to stumble on the myspace pages you mentioned. Would love to know what happened to her. But….I too submitted to Cerridwen Press and was told it made it through the first phase. They said the next phase could take up to 12 mos. Just wondering how long you waited to hear back? I’ve heard great things about Ellora/Cerridwen, and I am excited they expressed some interest. I hope to hear from them soon. Any info would be appreciated. I was happy to see this thread about ex-Chippy authors resurrected. Happy 4th weekend to everyone!
Jul 05, 2008 @ 17:08:10
Mine was an inside submission (as I had another book already contracted with EC), so my wait time was dramatically less than those subbing cold. I wish I could give you more info on how long you might have to wait, but unfortunately I don’t. Good luck, I hope it’s good news! EC is a wonderful place to write.
Jul 05, 2008 @ 17:21:53
Thanks. It is great to hear so many positive things about an e-Publisher. Best of luck to you!
Jul 06, 2008 @ 04:30:48
Are you really comparing Harlequin with these e-book publishers?
Your publisher isn’t your family, and shouldn’t be considered as such.
Attitudes like this is why so many desperate-to-be-published authors get royally shafted.
I’m not as polite as Fae, and my opinion is that anybody who looks upon their publisher as if they were family, are fools, who will eventually get shafted.
Jul 06, 2008 @ 04:47:23
LOL, one can always trust Karen to say it bald, minus the sugar-coat. So, yeah…what she said. :)
Jul 06, 2008 @ 11:48:11
On the many roads to publishing, no single one is “right.” In fact, the only WRONG path is taking one you don’t want.
There are as many reasons NOT to pub with a big house as there are to do so, go ebook vs print, agent or not, etc. So the problem with telling authors how to succeed is that such advice is colored by a personal definition of success we do NOT all share.
Sure, few authors want a pub who fails to deliver or closes its doors. I’ve experienced both. Still, what some consider being “shafted” is what others call living their dream. For instance, many would tear off a limb to pub with Kensington or Harle, yet I’ve been advised not to pub with either. Why? The warnings came from authors whose definition of “shaft” and mine somewhat differ.
Concepts like trust, hope, and camaraderie have a solid place in a writing career. If we had no hope of selling, no trust our work was good enough or that pubs existed with enough camaraderie to forge a solid relationship, none of us could be here.
Jul 06, 2008 @ 12:51:13
I completely agree with Lisa. Seeking publication is a personal decision. What suits one would drive another crazy.
My opinion is that everyone contemplating a writing career should take personal inventory first and decide what is most important to her about writing and being published. Is it the joy of the writing itself? Is it the money? Is it the hope of fame? Where is he on the patience/impatience continuum? Can he accept long delays and waits? Is she able to separate her personal “sense of self” from her professional one? How well does she tolerate rejection?
That personal inventory can help a writer decide where he wants to stick his toe in the pool–or whether to plunge in at all.
There is no “one size fits all.” And the answer for me might be very different from the answer for you. A friend and I entered the industry at exactly the same time. In the time it took me to have one novel published with a New York press, my friend had published over twenty novellas (starting with small presses and ending with Ellora’s Cave). She’s recently signed a print contract with Kensington.
Neither way was better than the other. Each suited our individual personalities.
I have other friends who write fan fiction and who have no desire to seek commercial publication. And I know someone else who was so determined not to cut a word out of her 175K-word manuscript that she is pursuing self-publication through Lulu.
The secret is to know yourself and to do your homework about the industry to minimize the surprises.
Jul 06, 2008 @ 16:26:12
I have a novel that’s passed the “first stage” with Ellora’s Cave. I was told it can take as long as 12 months to reach the “second one.” Too long. I signed a contract elsewhere.
I make a point of placing one novel only, per publisher. That way if they go belly up, it’s only one title to place elsewhere.
The entire publishing industry is in crisis. Paper books are going the way of the dinosaur. You can’t even give them away to charities anymore. Just like computers over five years old, nobody wants them.
Jul 10, 2008 @ 03:55:39
So far, I’ve really only offered to three publishing companies since I don’t have an agent. Chippewa said they loved what I submitted, but were always putting me off (they lost my phone number, then a contract was lost in the mail). Ellora’s Cave kept my manuscript for some months, then said it was in the final stages of acceptance. I then waited a year, and no deal. I’ve also tried Samhain. They loved the writing, but just couldn’t get into the characters. It is rather difficult to do erotic adventure in 20K words and have excessive characterization at the same time, but I understand their critique and am working on that aspect of my writing.
I appreciate all the input here. Any comments on acquiring an agent are also welcome.
Jul 18, 2008 @ 13:13:39
Chippewa lost nothing, that was just an excuse. IMO, Rebecca had two problems; lack of organization and lack of integrity.
Jul 26, 2008 @ 23:37:56
My wife was an author who published with Chippewa. While she was forgiving of all Rebecca’s crap, I wasn’t. It was one thing after another, one excuse after another and it never seemed to end. Her novel was eventually published and Sandra got to see that happen before she passed on.
And amen to Ronin’s comment above…
Jan 27, 2009 @ 15:00:28
I was contacted by an author who was published by Chippewa and she had not received anything since they closed. So even though I have not been a part of Chippewa since it closed its doors. I felt compelled to do my best to find the release letter that was mentioned. I do apologize for anyone who had to wait or tried to contact me at the mm.cpllc@gmail.com account as I had marked it closed, with forwarding information that probably did no one any good. So anyways here is the email that was sent out with the letter in it. If you have any further comments you may reach me at dee@deeowens.com, though I am not sure what else I can offer. I wish all good luck in their careers…
Dee Owens
show details 11/14/07
Reply
This is a copy of the letter that was sent out to the authors on the group. Dee
Good afternoon,
As a few of you know already I’ve been out with a family emergency.
Unfortunately, I have to make a change in priorities in my life at the
moment and my family comes first.
It is with deep regret that I must close the doors to Chippewa
Publishing LLC and Lady Aibell Press. I would like to thank all of you
for sharing your wonderful stories with the
company and our readers and giving us the opportunity to publish them.
All rights will be returned to the authors on November 30, 2007. This
will give me time to remove the books from the shelves as it isn’t an
overnight process. Please remember that even though books are removed
from the e-shelves that I do not receive immediate payment from the
wholesalers. Royalties will continue to be paid until all payments are
sent by the distributors and they owe no more. Sometimes this can take
up to a year to be paid. If you do see your books at any of our
distributors after November 30, 2007, please tell me immediately so I
can demand they’re removed from the site. Also, please remember to
remove the links from your websites pointing to the catalog.
I will be happy to write a letter of release to any future publisher
you choose for your story. I will not have dedicated computer access
until the end of November, but I can send
letters through my assistant Karin.
If you need to contact me, please send an email to my address at
ladyaeval@gmail.com as all other emaill addresses will be removed and
the group will be closed to further discussion.
I’ve enjoyed working with all of you and I appreciate the time and
commitment you have given to me and the company. I wish you luck in
all your writing adventures. Please keep
me posted on new releases that you have as I will need to buy more
books to read in the future.
Sincerely,
Rebecca
–
Dee Owens
Marketing Manager
Chippewa Publishing LLC
mm.cpllc@gmail.com
Jan 28, 2009 @ 02:37:09
Chippewa ebooks are still listed for sale here:
http://www.booknear.com/Chippewa-Publishing-LLC-publisher_1.htm
and here:
http://www.ebooksabouteverything.com/ebooks/category.cgi
Jan 28, 2009 @ 09:10:35
For those that have books for sale at various places, you can contact the location and let them know that the book rights have been reverted due to Chippewa closing its doors. You can also request the information that they have to contact the publisher, this can be used to send a release of rights letter to them. You will need to make sure that you have a legal letter, and if you are with another publisher who wants that title they may be able to help you get it released.
There are ways to draw up the request to where if there is no reply by a certain time period then you can begin the process to have the book returned to you on your own.
When contacting the ebook sites you can copy that letter above, I also forwarded the original letter to my email address and will forward it to you if needed. For those that need the letter contact me at dee@deeowens.com or pr_marketing@deeowens.com
I hope that this helps…
Dee Owens
Personalized Marketing
Feb 23, 2009 @ 12:58:07
Hello Dee, My name is Tempra Collins and I used to be an Author with Chippewa,I was there when Chippewa First opened their doors, I know I sold books because Fallen Angels gave me a five angels recommended read for my book Bad Judgment as well as Coffee time Romance.
I also bought some of my books myself just to see if I would get any kind of a check, I have been acting in good faith and not making a fuss about it but it looks like the odds are against me.
Do you think Rebecca will ever pay the Authors that haven’t been paid or should we just give up and move on?
Thanks a bunch,
Tempra Collins
Feb 26, 2009 @ 08:14:51
To: Tempra Collins
Hello Tempra I am sorry to say that I do not know. I have not spoken to Rebecca since the doors closed. If I do hear anything I will let you know.
Sorry I cannot be anymore help.
Dee Owens
Feb 26, 2009 @ 08:20:29
@Tempra Collins: You’re not going to receive a dime from Rebecca, hon. Unfortunately, just chalk it up to experience and learn from it, that’s all any of us has been able to do. Hope you find a new home for your books.
Mar 11, 2009 @ 13:24:15
Thanks so very much! I feel so bad that everything didn’t work out but I’m not going to give up on finding another publisher. Thanks again and God Bless you!
Tempra Collins
Mar 21, 2009 @ 11:32:01
So what do you do when an outfit like Chippewa folds leaving you in the lurch?
I’ll tell you what I did, started my own publishing company. I’m proud to announce that Sons of Liberty Publishing is now open for business and accepting submissions. You can check out the site and submission policy at:
Sonsoflibertypublishing.com
I’m focused on New England themed novels, both fiction and non-fiction so if you were the standard Chippewa author it may not actually be what I’m after.
Good luck to all of you.
Apr 01, 2009 @ 19:31:20
Congrats on the new publishing Company, I wish you much success.
I’ll check it out, thanks for the response.
Tempra Collins
Feb 25, 2010 @ 13:39:26
Hi Everyone
i’ve just joined here and wanted to say hi to all of you!I really hope to give something back to this board…
Cheers
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hiya
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hopefully this is just what im looking for, looks like i have a lot to read Im trying to find a way to build an e-mail list.
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