| Author |
Message |
    
Tony Ford (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 24.31.214.250
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2003 - 08:57 am: |   |
I am looking for anything you may have on Sotok Press, a small publisher. Do you know if they are a POD, a subsidy publisher, or something in between?
Much appreciation,
Tony |
Victoria (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 24.60.187.36
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2003 - 09:42 am: | |
I took a look at their website. This looks to me like a well-intentioned small publisher. Nothing to suggest it's vanity/subsidy; and the fact that it's publishing in hardcover, and charging standard prices for its books, suggests it's working with offset rather than POD. The covers look attractive, and the excerpts--which I only skimmed--seem reasonably well-written. They're obviously targeting booksellers, which is a good sign; the small publishing list is also a good sign, since it allows them to devote attention to each book. One way small publishers get in over their heads is by putting out more books than they can properly handle, either editing- and design-wise or marketing-wise. On the other hand, if too few are published, there won't be enough income coming in. It's a tough balance, and one of many reasons small publishers often aren't able to stay in business.
The contract might be a stumbling block (many small publishers have poor contracts), and whether or not this publisher can manage to publicize and distribute its books--not to mention, stay in business--is an open question. But I don't see any obvious warning signs here.
- Victoria
Writer Beware
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/ |
Nancy Mehl
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1354
Registered: 08-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2003 - 04:02 pm: | |
Anyone have any information about Zumaya Publications?
Nancy |
Tony Ford (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 24.31.214.250
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 - 10:37 am: | |
Further information on Sotek Press (in case anyone else was wondering) is that they do charge the author money to publish their book(s). They do not consider themselves a vanity/subsidy press because they do not publish everything simply because someone sends a check along. They say they have to like the manuscript.
They do not consider themselves a POD because they use offset. They do not have much in the way of resources in regards to getting the books into any distribution market outside the UK.
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Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
638
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 - 12:10 pm: | |
Thanks for the update, Tony. Good information to pass along and have on the board so that others may find it. I wish you luck in finding someone that you feel good about working with.
Claudia |
Todd Hunter
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
720
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 - 03:40 pm: | |
Good info, indeed...
I'm curious how they can think they aren't vanity/subsidy simply because they don't publish everything that enters their 'in' box...that just makes them a vanity/subsidy press with standards, at least in my opinion...
Wishing you good luck in finding a publisher to work with, Tony... |
Victoria (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 24.60.187.36
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 07:45 am: | |
Wow, my face is red. Sotek really didn't come across as a vanity. At least I got the offset part right.
Tony, what fee are they asking for publication?
Nancy, Zumaya is an electronic/POD-based independent, and while its e-books are available through a couple of major sources (including Fictionwise) I would guess its print books have the distribution problems most POD-based companies seem to have. They also have a line of erotica books. I'm acquainted with a couple of people who've published with Zumaya and they seem happy. Writer Beware has never received any complaints.
The contract (which otherwise isn't bad) contains a couple of undesirable clauses. The editing clause seems to indicate that they can make changes without asking you (it does say you'll be consulted on "substantial" changes, but IMO this is a bit too vague for comfort); Zumaya also reserves the right to act as the author's agent if the book is picked up by a "traditional" publisher during the term of the contract, and to get a kill fee of 20% of the author's advance.
- Victoria
Writer Beware
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/ |
Tony Ford (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 24.31.214.250
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 09:19 am: | |
I didn't get a price tossed out at me, only a declaration that I would be expected to support (financially) the publication of my book if they liked the manuscript. They do advise first entry into market as hardback instead of paperback and that the run would be small, possibly below 500.
The level of the investment, therefore, depends on the level of production. If the author can provide their own cover artwork, it would be less, I suppose.
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Nancy Mehl
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1359
Registered: 08-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 08:05 am: | |
Thanks, Victoria.
Nancy |
Tony Ford (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 24.31.214.250
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 27, 2003 - 08:23 am: | |
Victoria,
Does Tekno Books have a web site? I can't find one if they do.
I had John Helfers write me requesting my manuscript based on a query I sent. But if they don't have a web site, I can't for the life of me recall where I got his email from in the first place.
Thanks in advance,
Tony |
victoria (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 24.60.187.36
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 27, 2003 - 01:16 pm: | |
Tony, Tekno Books does not appear to have a website. Their address is 1524 University Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54302. Good luck.
- Victoria
Writer Beware
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/ |
Steven Shrewsbury
Wandering Member
Post Number:
273
Registered: 04-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 09, 2003 - 06:00 pm: | |
Folks, I wrote Sotok press and got thsi response at last....
Hello Steven,
Thank you for your mail. At the moment we are looking only at full length
novels. We are, as yet, still small and funds are limited.
With best regards,
Steve Kippax
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Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
565
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 10:32 am: | |
Check this one out... Picked it up off of today's Publisher's Lunch
http://www.instabook-corporation.com |
priceless1 (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 68.96.86.244
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 02:26 pm: | |
Dennis, I'm not too certain they are still in business. Back when we were looking for printers, we looked into these guys. No one ever got back to us after several tries. It may have been our shifty eyes, I don't know.
Lynn |
Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
566
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 03:39 pm: | |
Welll.... Their web site is still up and it was discussed on today's edition of Publisher's Lunch so I gotta think there is still some life stirring there. |
Gloria Marlow
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
567
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 07:14 pm: | |
So, what is a digital bookstore? People come in and have their own books printed up or they come in and order a book they want printed? Can a digital bookstore print any book up? Like do people come in and say, "Hey, I want a copy of Pride and Prejudice" and the bookstore just whips a copy out?
I suppose that would definitely save on overhead, but do people really do that?
Gloria |
Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
584
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 06:11 pm: | |
Another one...
This just popped up in my email. Maybe it's just me but I'm never comfortable with a blind offer. Seems that if they were proud of what they've done, they'd be crowing about it.
7:57:45 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: manuscripts@earthlink.net
To: theunrealmccoy@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Hi Author,
Our 30 year old publishing company is always looking for authors,
especially non-fiction. We would love to review your manuscript. We pay
standard royalties and serve many well know authors. Maybe our
company is right for you.
If you would like to talk about your book, and find out how to submit
your manuscript personally to our division president, please call
1-888-824-4344 or 530-271-2007, M-F, 9 to 5 PM, PST, California.
We would very much appreciate your helping us out by letting us know
that you received this letter.
Thank you very much for your time and good luck with your new book.
Warmest regards,
Dane Petersen
If you wish to visit our website, please email manuscripts@earthlink.net
and a letter will be sent to you with information and website address. |
Victoria Strauss
Awareness Member
Post Number:
13
Registered: 11-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 07:24 pm: | |
Petersen is a vanity publisher. If you call, you get a serious hard-sell pitch for their quite expensive services.
- Victoria |
Violet Towe
Wandering Member
Post Number:
234
Registered: 03-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 07:27 pm: | |
Dennis, I got the very same email message, although in the first message she did not tell me what the name of her publisher was. I sent an email back asking what was her publishers name? I got the answer this morning and read what she had to say then send a reply back telling her, 'thanks for the offer, but I'll pass.' I have no idea how or where she got my email address and I would think if they have been in the publishing business for over 30 years they would not have to be sending out email messages to someone wanting to publish their book, without the person contacting them first with a query letter.
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