A Heartfelt Plea
Please don’t buy any of my titles published by Aspen Mountain Press. Although it sounds like and even feels as if I’m shooting myself in the foot, the fact that I’m not receiving royalties from this publisher means I’m doing the opposite.
I’m not receiving royalties (which were already in arrears when they ceased). I’m not receiving calls. I’m not receiving emails or anything in the mail. The owner, Sandra Hicks, hasn’t even appeared on the AMP authors’ official loop for sometime — has even banned authors from there possibly coincidentally after they have spoken out and ask pertinent questions. When she did stop by it was to make statements that did not address the serious issues her writers are asking her. Issues including why do out of contract works — in some cases MONTHS out of contract — continue to be sold despite repeated pleas from the authors for them to be removed. In the last email I received from Sandra Hicks I was promised two of my out of contract works would be down end of September quarter, and yet they remain up for sale. I can only speak for myself and comment on things I’ve seen and heard, but I have been assured by many of the writers at AMP that they have received similar promises in the past all to no avail. I have emailed Sandra Hicks to tell her I do not wish to be associated with a company dealing in illegal practices — I have received no reply.
Fortunately, many of the subsidiary sellers have been paying attention and are starting to remove AMP books from their sites. The owner of AMP has failed to respond to them as well, and I’m assuming they also have to consider the long-term legal implications of breaking copyright. A heartfelt thank you goes out to them from all the authors involved.
Do not purchase my titles. You will be putting the proceeds into another woman’s pocket, not mine. Should you stumble across any AMP titles by other writers I suggest you contact those authors or read their blogs to see if they feel the same.
When cases such as these occur there’s often split reaction as to whether the authors should remain silent or not. My view on this is that it ‘depends’. Certainly in the beginning one tries to reach an amicable solution with the publisher, but when a publisher goes AWOL what can one do? AMP is now listed at many warning sites and in all conscience that is a relief — the 40+ writers mired in this mess would hate for any newbies to walk into this. So please, if you’re considering submitting to Aspen Mountain Press, I must advise you to think twice…and then a third time and a forth. You’ll save yourself a lot of heartache.
4 Comments
As a survivor of a similar experience with Cobblestone Press, I can tell you that I appreciate the stress of this level of “coming out” and exposing a publisher for unethical and illegal practices. It takes a lot because for so long, the only way to get your books to readers was through a publishing houses. Writers operated in fear of getting blacklisted. With the advent of the e-reading market, more authors are able to have access to e-publishers or indie publishing. Complaining is still uncomfortable, but making others aware of severe problems with a publisher is the right thing to do. No one should put up with not getting paid for their work.
We don’t hesitate to bash the pirate websites…as far as I’m concerned, Cobblestone Press was pirating my work. It wasn’t until I went public with the fight (after months of non-payment and no returned emails) that they started to pay me some of the money I’m owed. Last week I received the 2nd quarter Fictionwise money from Cobblestone, but I have yet to receive the first quarter money. ARe paid second quarter royalties on August 5th, but Cobblestone still has not forwarded that money, either, despite the fact that 2 pay cycles have passed.
Instead, they are playing games and sending royalty checks from sales from their own site in amounts of under 2.00. Completely ridiculous, considering since I already know books were sold at these sites during the months in question.
Read more about the problems at Cobblestone on my blog link below, and new writers, beware. Even if you do your homework, it is still possible for your publisher to develop problems. Just don’t accept that piracy is a normal part of a an ethical publishing business.
http://lauraharner.blogspot.com/2011/08/happy-anniversary-harner-and.html
Good luck to all the AMP authors.
Laura
Thank you. There is always controversy over whether an author should go public in such cases, but my view is that naturally any professional tries to negotiate but when every effort on the part of the writer fails, what else can one do? The owner of AMP has effectively gone AWOL and has not only ceased to pay the authors but has effectively been selling out of contract works for some time, either ignoring or ‘promising’ to remove them and then doing nothing. You’re quite right — this behaviour actually feels worse than piracy.
In addition, where writers once lived in fear of being blacklisted, any ‘good’ publisher understands these situations occur through no fault of the writer. If I were speaking out alone I would feel terrible, but I’m not. Alas, there are many of us trapped at AMP to keep each other company in private and in public. That’s not to say this doesn’t feel uncomfortable. The reality is that of course all the writers are more concerned with their own personal issues, but this really isn’t good for the industry. None of us want or need bad press like this, and all should support those speaking out; I’m happy to say these days, many do.
I’ll drop by your blog, and good luck.
Can you not take this to a lawyer? Surly this is illegal. Right?
Yes, of course it is. And the writers are looking into legal options. Some have made plans but have to wait for certain contractual obligations to expire before they can act. In some cases this is a few days to a few weeks depending on whether they’re waiting to be published, are published without pay, have works selling out of contract etc. Of course, lawyers cost…in some cases more than the works are worth, although that isn’t the case for every author there. In the meantime, at least subsidiary sites are listening. The minute they’re realised out of contract works have been up for sale they’ve dropped AMP as fast as they could. The fight will continue.