There has been a lot of talk going on in the publishing world this month. A LOT. And you may have noticed that I’ve have not been amongst the ones doing the talking. Why not, you may ask? I’m one of the many caught up in this proverbial shit storm. I have a stake in the outcome. Why have I remained silent all of this time? In truth, I have many circuses going on in my world at this time and EC is just one of them. I feel there are others out there who are doing the talking in a more eloquent or knowledgeable fashion than I and have the time to dedicate to combing through the data before speaking. I am also of the opinion that sometimes too much noise distracts from the message. So, I’ve remained quiet and watched the fireworks with the same mixture awe and horror I am sure is shared by many of you.
What has been the scuttlebutt of late, you may ask? My publisher, Ellora’s Cave, has had some issues that are being brought to light. Some of the information, such as lack of sales via Amazon and downsizing of editors, cover artists and administrative staff has come from the company directly. But the nitty gritty not so pretty is being divulged by various online media outlets, and every day the noise becomes louder and uglier. Google search it, you’ll find something.
Those who have met and worked with me know I conduct my business with respect, humor, and class in all of my transactions. Yes, I can be bawdy, maybe even a little raunchy at times, but there is a difference between being sexy, confident, and smart and behaving like a low class hooker. At this time, the Ellora’s Cave public persona is not in line with my brand and business model. Now, that’s not to say it has always been that way or that they can’t pull themselves out of the gutter in the future, but at this time I do not see how that is possible. I deserve better. My books deserve better. So I have taken steps to have the rights to my book returned, but for now EC still owns them and I may never get those rights back. I am hoping that will not be the case. Please, powers that be, let that not be the case. But in the interim, I am trying to stay as non-confrontational with my current business partner as necessary.
So why am I bring this up at all?
Next week I’ll be heading off to Romanticon, a convention dedicated to Ellora’s Cave readers. My presence there may indicate a non-verbal stance of where my thoughts and loyalties lie, so I wanted to post this message to avoid any presumptions others may have by my attendance at this event.
Recently there are have been calls to boycott anything having to do with Ellora’s Cave. Lines are being drawn and sides are being chosen. It is understandable, although erroneous, to think that any author in attendance at Romanticon is in favor of how the company is conducting business. We all have our own reasons for attending, and here are mine:
1. I want to see my author friends. There are only a few times a year where I can be surrounded by people who make me laugh and reconnect me to my muse. They remind me why I spend hours everyday traversing the publishing landscape and getting my books into the hands of readers. For me, writing is easy. Publishing is hard. I want to see, hug and be surrounded by my friends during this trying time. They alone understand what I am going through.
2. Non-refundable plane ticket. I’ve already invested time and money in arranging travel. I know many people have asked why the convention is still going on at all. As an organizer for another conference, I am aware there is a timeline and when it’s crossed it actually costs more money to cancel the event than to continue with the program.
3. There is a meeting on the Romanticon agenda for authors only. I want to hear what they have to say. I want to see their faces and hear the tone in their voice. Will my mind be swayed? I doubt it. But at least I can say I was there.
Will the atmosphere be weird? How can it not? My stomach churns just thinking about it. But I am going with the mindset of having a good time and celebrate books and the readers that enjoy them. That is the best I can hope for.
In regards to any boycott, I leave that to the readers to decide. As I said, EC owns my books for the foreseeable future, and it’s not my books’ fault they are caught up in this mess. To say don’t buy them is like saying my children are bad and not deserving of affection because of their parent’s behavior. I can’t do that. What I ask for is support of the writer. Go to the library. Read our books. Fall in love with our worlds. Buy our non-EC titles. Be there for us when the dust has settled, or at least isn’t so thick. I am so thankful I started releasing works outside of that circus tent, and I hope my fellow authors are able to weather the storm.
To state for the record, I am a writer. I will be a writer with EC. I will be a writer without EC. The only person who can stop me, is me.
Now I shall set the mic down and get back to work.