Comments on: Triskelion Update: Gail Northman Resigns

By: Pride & RWA Precedence: The Devil’s Advocate | The Naughty Bits

Pride & RWA Precedence: The Devil’s Advocate | The Naughty Bits — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:02:47 +0000

[...] Triskelion Publishing Fiasco so I will try to just point out the highlights. Here and Here and Here and finally Here. It is very much a cautionary tale for writers looking at ePublishing and getting [...]

By: Brenna Lyons

Brenna Lyons — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 12:55:01 +0000

As a former Triskelion author, I can state that I am sad to see Gail go, though I am no longer with the company. As you stated, I viewed Gail as the person to go to at Triskelion. When there were no answers forthcoming, she was the route to them. As far as I know, she was always straight with everyone, and that is something to be prized. I wish Gail luck, wherever she may land.

Brenna Lyons

By: Judith Rochelle

Judith Rochelle — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 19:15:09 +0000

Like many other Trisk authors I am in flux. Gail bought my first book there and has been a mainstay of my career there. I am truly sorry to see her leave, but I still have several of my Desiree Holt novellas there ebcause I believe one way or another the company will forge ahead. That being said, I am happily building my career with two other epubs – Ellora’s Cave and The Wild Rose Press – wherfe I have been treated with respect and dignity, have terrific editors and am already experience grest success with my releases with both companies. The people behind both of these companies have their heads screwed on straight. They were both at our recent chapter conference and were outstanding. So anyone looking for a new epub home, don’t pass up wither of these two.

By: Rhonda Penders

Rhonda Penders — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:56:27 +0000

These posts were brought to my attention by several of my authors and I struggled with whether to comment or not. As one of these so called “start-ups”, I do take offense to everyone feeling that because one company failed or one company didn’t make it, all of us are the same. While every publisher opens their doors for the same reason; to get good books published and into the hands of readers, not every company operates the same way. I would never sit here and attempt to talk about the problems at Trisk, its simply not my place. I feel horrible for the owners of the company and for the authors caught up in it all. Its actually quite sad and nothing to be sneered at.

As for being small, I am quite happy that The Wild Rose Press is still small. We are taking our time to grow and expand. We dig our roots deep and let them take hold before we move onto the next venture.

We have been very busy in all our lines, but as Karen from Echelon said, Ellora’s Cave does seem to get the majority of the erotic romance submissions. That’s ok. As she pointed out, Ellora’s Cave can’t publish all of them and the rest of us are here to take your manuscript when it can’t fit in there. I have no problem being second to a company who has made as many strides as EC. I recently met some of their top people and I was very impressed. There’s a start-up that no one can say did anything wrong.

There is room out there for all types of writers and all kinds of publishers. You, as a writer, should find the company that will fit your needs. Each writer has to make that determination on their own. All I would say is this, do not put down small publishers, or electronic only publshers if you have never been with one. I get very annoyed when people turn up their noses at the smaller companies and then once we get RWA recognition, they turn right around and think we’re suddenly ok. RWA recognition is, of course, the brass ring, but if and when we get there, it won’t change a thing in how we operate. It certainly will not suddenly make The Wild Rose Press a different type of publishing house.

I hope that the authors who have been with Triskelion and are looking for a new home will certainly look to some of the other houses, The Wild Rose Press included. I promise you that we will do our best by you.

Thank you.

Rhonda Penders

By: Karen Syed @ Echelon Press

Karen Syed @ Echelon Press — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:45:09 +0000

All companies are startups in the beginning. The level of professionalism–from the author and the publisher–determines if they can remain productive or not. Echelon has done very well, we are approaching seven years and continue to grow in sales and productivity. We are still trying to find a footing in the erotica department, but outside of a few authors, we have had little support. One of the reasons is Ellora’s Cave. Every author who writes erotica would like to be published by them, unfortunately they, like all other publishers, have limited publication slots available. One of the things I have noticed in this segment of the industry is that when an author (almost always the new authors) come into the business, they do so expecting to maintain control of their work, artwork, everything. This is not the case in most instances. It simply isn’t how it is done. When an author signs on with a publishing house, they should expect to work in a professional atmosphere and to see a certain amount of changes. Even in the eBook segment. Published is published and it is all about professionalism. The point I veared away from is that with so many new authors not understanding or accepting how the industry operates, this increases the number of “start ups” that can’t make it work. As an author and publisher, I know how valuable the support of your authors is and I have to respect those authors who know when it is time to get out. Don’t just go with a house to get published, take pride in your work and be willing to stand up for what you believe is right. And please, don’t generalize the industry. The book industry is ever-growing and changing and is is unfair and detrimental to say that all eBook companies are startups, or that all companies that produce their titles in eBook are eBook companies, and that POD is evil. It simply isn’t true. Authors and publishers should be judged on their individual merit–just like people.

By: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World « Reading While Black

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World « Reading While Black — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:57:21 +0000

[...] lack of diversity and feminist POV, while within the romance genre, we’re wrapped up in the latest gossip and anticipating the next flame [...]

By: anon

anon — Thu, 31 May 2007 17:36:22 +0000

I agree with Nora Roberts. Of all the epubs out there, only a few will survive. EC is an exception since they did, indeed, pave the road of Erotica. I think they’re going to be around a very long time. The others are a dime a dozen.

By: Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts — Thu, 31 May 2007 12:50:19 +0000

Back in the early days of yesteryear, or the first half of the 1980, every publisher jumped on the category romance bandwagon. Silhouette’s success in Americanizing the Harlequin framework, and taking a hefty chunk of the market had everyone starting up a category line. Many were here then gone in a fingersnap, some held a bit longer. Only Bantam’s Loveswept garnered any real success in the form. There was Rapture, Second Chance, Circle of Love, Leather and Lace and many more lost to me in distant memory. Some authors got their start in one of those short-lived lines, and some got the shaft when the line folded.

These lines were, absolutely, start-up companies, trying for a piece of the popular category romance pie.

It seems to me many of the ebook companies fall into that same area. Ellora’s Cave, like Silhouette, plowed a road. Others followed–and while some could go the distance, many will, inevitably, stall on the side of that road.

By: rae

rae — Thu, 31 May 2007 12:43:13 +0000

How many e-books have you read?

Hey Betty,
Why don’t you take a wonder over to Elloras Cave and check out the authors under M. You might see something very enlightening.
yours,
a very amused reader

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 31 May 2007 01:28:55 +0000

I am sure McCarty can defend herself, but I’ve observed her to be nothing but a professional and a supporter of ebooks. I didn’t find her statements to be “galling” or “hypocritcal” but factual and good advice for newbie authors.