| Author |
Message |
    
Diana Hignutt
Awareness Member
Post Number:
49
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 03:52 am: |   |
Hi everybody,
It seems that our old friend HB Marcus has gotten bored with life in PAdom and has decided to spout more lies about a certain publishing company (this time being sure to leave off names to avoid lawyers). Nonetheless, he is quite clear who he is referring to. I will not let his attacks go without a response. I do not own the publishing company that was attacked, but I am proud to be one of their authors and I am their Marketing Director (hmm, I don't even believe PA has a marketing director--do they even have a marketing dept.?)
Mr. Marcus states and accurately so that we only have one title listed on Amazon at this time (CyberGod by Mark Wirtz). That is not surprising, since we have only been in operation since January, and since our books go through an extensive, REAL editing process. Our second title, Charley Sunday's Texas Outfit! by author and screenwriter Stephen Lodge is in the process of being released and the data is currently being submitted to the wholesalers, distributors and chains (online and b/m stores). In fact, we have recently entered an agreement with Baker & Taylor as partners, and are supporting this title with an ad in their Paperclips book catalog.
We have only recently sent three more books off to print. In due course, the information for those books will be sent to the distribution outlets. Unlike PA's model, we are attempting to follow industry standards. We also are working hard for our authors, sending press releases and media kits, review copies, working to get them interviews and reviews in the media, etc. We have a traditional return policy, as well.
Mr. Marcus is right in that we don't rush to get our books out. We do a quality job, using superior printers and materials to publish our books. We do extensive marketing for our authors. One of our authors recently appeared on national television to promote her upcoming book. We recently returned from the BEA Convention in Chicago where our books were prominantly displayed. The convention was a who's who of the publishing industry, yet there was no sign of PA. That's because they're in the business of selling their books to their authors not to the industry.
Mr. Marcus will soon be forced by reality to keep his mouth shut, as our authors' books hit the market and out sell anything by his precious cult-like scam publishing company that he loves so much.
Hey, HB, why not just leave well enough alone, before you look even more foolish than you already do?
Diana Hignutt
author EMPRESS OF CLOUDS (coming in August 2004)
Director of Marketing
Behler Publications
www.behlerpublications.com |
Todd Hunter
Unity Member
Post Number:
1590
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 05:05 am: | |
HB lying? Hehe...
I believe this post here would be considered 'preaching to the choir'...
:-)
Alas, all it will come down to in the end is what the authors who sign with each company think...the number of authors who mass-exodus PA sends a loud and clear statement...and a year or so down the road, we'll find out how authors feel about Behler...until then, HB will continue to have his little pseudo-pep rallies...it's nothing new, and won't be the last...
www.geocities.com/toddmhunter |
Joy Lee Rutter
Hunger Member
Post Number:
85
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 06:21 am: | |
I've stayed quiet long enough on the subject of "PA loyalty", etc. It boggles my mind when I see posts on the boards that intimidate people from having their work published wherever they want, by whomever they want. PA publish's manuscripts that have been rejected numerous times elsewhere, and people are "getting their feet wet" in the writing business. Great. I'm not going to bash PA. They published my first book and I'm moving on with my second. I am another proud Behler author. Dianna, your post has me so excited with what we have to look forward to, I could pop. 
I guess the long and the short of it is this: We live in America. Land of the free, etc. If the PA authors choose to have all of their books published with them, fine. They have that option and more power to them. I will not bash people or publishing firms on the public forums as I try to remain neutral, but I beg folks, please don't take people serious who want to scream "infidels" and "disloyal" to authors who decide to go elsewhere with their second & third books. Nowhere in my PA contract does it require any future books be published with them.
There. I've done it. I'm the sort that usually hangs back and makes no enemies. I do hope that my name is not dragged through the mud on the 'other MB', when my only "sin" is shopping elsewhere. I remain friendly to the authors there, and will continue to do so...that is if PA does not add me to their list of 'Banned Authors'. }}}
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priceless1
Wandering Member
Post Number:
178
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 08:46 am: | |
Though I do believe HB has some over-active delusions , it was, nonetheless kind of him to alert me about our demise. Considering we just sent another book out for galleys, another to a reviewer, signed 30 authors, and just had 20 pre-sales come through last week, it would appear that I have a great deal of explaining to do to.
As I told someone yesterday, last time I checked it takes about 4-5 months to publish a book, especially when one has editors reading every line for developmental and copy issues. We opened our doors in January, so I'm hoping someone gets HB a calculator for his birthday. All he has to do is look at our website and he'll see that we're far from crawling under a rock.
HB just needs to scratch an itch.
Lynn
Lynn
behlerpublications.com
lynnprice.net
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Bill Nelson
Wandering Member
Post Number:
198
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 08:58 am: | |
Damn,
I miss everything!
I rushed over to that other site to see what their village idiot had done now. Nothing!
Did they pull a post already or did I misinterpret what was going on?
Maybe he hasn't had his "Hey, everyone, look at me. Please, look at me!" fix lately.
bn |
priceless1
Wandering Member
Post Number:
179
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 09:09 am: | |
Nope, your lyin' eyes don't deceive you, Bill. It's gone. From what people were telling me, too many people running to our defense. Can't have that. Besides, if they pull it, the subject will become a non issue with the other boards. Add to the fact, that it was great publicity for us, and they wisely decided it prudent to drop the subject. Smart move.
Lynn
Lynn
behlerpublications.com
lynnprice.net
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Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1335
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 09:15 am: | |
they must have just pulled it. I watched it from yesterday, build into a small frenzy where he was rallying everyone round the maypole to tell all of the world how stupid anyone was who might even think about going with another company and then Kevin kicked in his two cents worth and some started thinking maybe it wasn't such a great idea to bash others for just seeeking another venue for their publishing needs, after all this is America, right...... and that was the end of it that I read late last night, but someone must have gone ahead and had a field day after that. HB just won't let up once he gets a burr up his ass....
Very sad that they let him continue to be the rallying cry, as it really looks bad for PA, and all the authors that post under his inflamatory rants. He must really believe in the communist manifesto and all that it stands for. Only his publisher can make the right decisions, only his publisher can do right by him and everyone else concerned with the company, only his publisher does a good job, etc.... too bad he never stepped out into a mall where there are about 10 stores all doing the same things and selling the same things, at different price points and getting by very well. Live and let live.
I sure would not want to be living under his roof when that pot finally explodes. It will be a dastardly mess.
Claudia |
Kevin P. Grover
Unity Member
Post Number:
1196
Registered: 03-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 09:29 am: | |
Lynn, you're forgetting one thing....
With the glitches at Amazon.com...there are a lot of titles that are coming up as unavailable...or simply not listing at all. These have been confirmed by Amazon.com as being internal - something they couldn't argue because the titles that aren't listed on the .com site ARE being listed on the .ca and .fr sites.
"Brainwashing, Drunks & Madness", the memoir by Dr. William Mayer that we released in hardcover...jumped in 4 days to 32K on BN before they literally ran out of stock. Amazon has it listed, but as unavailable. We're currently working on THAT problem (extra emphasis being put on it due to interest by some high-ranking government officials and (most importantly) their wives.
Although, even though BN was glitched due to their changeover for purchase policies...and Amazon was really glitched (and still is)...we managed to sell a grand total of 29 for June 1-4...with the numbers still coming in (my reports are about 3-5 days behind and I haven't checked since last Thursday).
So, at any rate, that could also explain why a lot of titles aren't being found on Amazon...due to their internal glitches.
www.winterwolfpublishing.com |
priceless1
Wandering Member
Post Number:
180
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 10:00 am: | |
As usual, Kevin, you're right on top of things. I'm thrilled for your success, and continue to hail your kindness and honesty.
Yep, we've had some frustration with Amazon and continue to do so with our second release, 'Charlie Sunday's Texas Outfit!' Oddly enough, it's listed for sale in Canada, but is taking its sweet time getting listed in the US. These data bases take time in adding the info, and we understand that and are keeping a diligent watch on them.
Lynn
Lynn
behlerpublications.com
lynnprice.net
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Kevin P. Grover
Unity Member
Post Number:
1197
Registered: 03-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 10:05 am: | |
Yep, Lynn..which is why I took my complaint to the big cheese himself.
I contacted Jeff Bezos personally and asked that he look into the matter. I even forwarded him copies of their tech and customer service departments...which showed my getting the brush-off for two weeks now.
Of course...I DO have a couple of other options....
www.winterwolfpublishing.com |
Kevin Yarbrough
Wandering Member
Post Number:
136
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 03:31 pm: | |
HB can rant all he wants, from the look of it a lot of other PA authors are seeing him for what he is: a spoiled brat who is in need of much attention. I'm tired of his crap and I will tell him.
As I told him on the other post, before it was pulled, if one of the PAvidians were to be signed by Scribner, Doubleday, Viking, etc., he would be the first to congrat you. But if you leave PA for another small publisher, Lord help you if it is Behler, then you are a traitor, infidel, cutthroat.
We don't owe PA a damn thing. I know I don't. Yes they produced the book at their expense, but they sure as hell ade it back when I bought my fifty copies. They don't promote my book, I don't promote my book (not anymore, got tired of being turned down by bookstores). They let people know my book is out by having it at amazon, bn. com, etc., I let people know my boo is out by saying what it is, what it's about, and where to get it. I'm doing just as much as PA is doing so, as I see it, we are even. I don't plan on going back to them for my other books, as of right now if I can Get "Bone Gap" done it will be sent off to Leisure Books in hopes that they like it, if not it will be shopped around to agents.
HB can rant all he wants, but in the end it will bite him in his ass. He will say the wrong thing about someone and they will sure him for libel, and PA as well for allowing him to do it on their board. No good deed goes unpunished. All his so called "good deeds" will come back to him in the end, and it won't be pretty.
Claudia, I will always put my two cents in when HB is over there trying to shove lies down other PAvidians throats. And from what I can see my doing this seems to be having some effect. People are seeing him for what he is, and that is nothing more than a big mouth, attention seeking, wanna be. He will be PA's downfall, and I hope to hell I see it happen. He can write all the books he wants for PA, but after twenty years, if he saves all of his royalty checks, I can bet he won't have enough money to take an alaskan cruise.
I want something more in a publisher other than just slapping my book together and saying "here you go". I want a publisher that will stand behind me and my book, help promote it, so we can all make a lot of money. If people are hapy with PA than that is fine. If they want all their books published by PA, that is fine as well. Me, I'm ready to move on. I don't like the same thing for to long, not unless it is producing something.
Kevin |
Todd Hunter
Unity Member
Post Number:
1593
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 03:54 pm: | |
"As I told him on the other post, before it was pulled, if one of the PAvidians were to be signed by Scribner, Doubleday, Viking, etc., he would be the first to congrat you."
I wouldn't be too sure...
He'd probably go around saying how terrible you were for leaving PA, where you have it so good...
You know, bring up all the old misinformation about the big publishers...
and how you wouldn't get anything more out of them than you get at PA...
Puh-shaw!
www.geocities.com/toddmhunter |
Stacy Anderson
Awareness Member
Post Number:
47
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 04:27 pm: | |
Hi All,
Lynn wrote:
" Though I do believe HB has some over-active delusions , it was, nonetheless kind of him to alert me about our demise. Considering we just sent another book out for galleys, another to a reviewer, signed 30 authors, and just had 20 pre-sales come through last week, it would appear that I have a great deal of explaining to do to. "
Thirty authors already, Lynn? Wow that is fantastic! That is amazing, keep up the good work and I hope Behler makes it to the top fast!
Kevin Y.,
Man you're funny! I don't know much about this PA place but I have heard things from authors that weren't so happy about them too. Your response had me laughing in my chair! Much success for your current book!
Stacy-Deanne
www.stacy-deanne.net |
Harry Simenon
Wandering Member
Post Number:
174
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 01:27 pm: | |
HB is our best ally, and PA’s worst enemy. But they don’t realize that yet.
 |
Steven Shrewsbury
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
833
Registered: 04-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 04:39 pm: | |
Why does anyone even talk about this any more?
Hear the sound of HB?
It is the sound of one hand clapping...
(to steal a one liner from Harlan Ellison)
www.stevenshrewsbury.com |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1343
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 06:02 pm: | |
Steven,
The reason people are still talking about this is that this item is from a new posting that was started on the weekend. I do firmly believe that it was you or possibly Kevin, (but Kevin doesn't have a book with Behler, does he?) he was targeting in this last escapade. This one came up on the PA board on Sunday, maybe you didn't see it, perhaps? He didn't name you exactly, here is what he did say that led me to think that, and I read it and made a copy of the original post:
"HB Marcus
6/13/2004
02:07:58
Subject: PA, PULL THIS!!!
Message:
I just got the urge to see what's been going down. Whoops! All those people who said I didn't know what I was talking about are going: "Aw crap! That idiot was right!"
Here's the deal, there is ONE author currently being distributed by the new publishing company, who stripped us of our ranks to build theirs. CAN YOU SAY WHOOPS!?!
The only author even being offered on Scamathon.con is a friend of mine I never had a doubt of being noticed. He can do anything on his own. It's like a bike ride to him,
Anyway, my condolences to the pooor fools who quit what they had with PA to enter obscurity central. That means you have to go door to door to tell people you even have an ISBN number.
Oh how sad. Wasn't it me who said a new company can't skip steps and do what PA does? Wasn't it me who said that people were tossing their current status for a get-rich-quick-scheme? Or maybe it was me who said that you bought Microsoft stock from Gate's parent's garage sale and traded it in for a handful of beans.
Any stalks yet? No? I suspected as much.
Anyway, HB is back on the job fans. I know who is saying what. I don't like fakes. When I see them, I get a little upset. Don't play the side of the fence that's convenient at the moment. I will call you on it.
The main deal is, those who abandoned PA got nothing to show for it unless they hang on the coat-tails of a marketing genius as a last resort. That guy goes without anyone's help. He put up a roadblock for himself and jumped it anyway."
If you please R, and anyone else who might question my posting of this, it is not a violation of copyright or plagerism or anything else, as the person who posted this put it on a public board. And due credit is given to the author of this particular item, note the heading as to who wrote it at the top.
Claudia
(Message edited by Cltvcoyote on June 15, 2004) |
Dee Power
Awareness Member
Post Number:
21
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 06:26 pm: | |
This has nothing to do with PublishAmerica, but every time I try to post a new topic it reverts back to the "Just had to tell you" subject line. So I thought I would just post at the end of this thread.
I am totally jazzed! I was able to arrange interviews with the editors at the New York Times Book Review and the book editor of the Los Angeles Times for our book, "The Making of a Bestseller."
So, if you had the chance, what would you ask them?
Maybe I should ask if they have a policy against reviewing PublishAmerica and other POD books? (grin)
Dee
http://www.BrianHillAndDeePower.com |
Diana Hignutt
Awareness Member
Post Number:
50
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 03:58 am: | |
Dee,
Since I am sending all of our books to those two mighty review sources (yes, and many others) please ask them what a girls gotta do to get reviews for small, independent, NON-POD titles of great quality. I submit to them in hopes of getting lucky with one of our titles, but I fear that the old boy network may make that a wasted exercise (still ya never know, right). Please ask them if they honestly review small press titles, or (and remember do not give my name) if they are in the pockets of the big houses. You know, never mind, I doubt they'll answer that one...
Diana |
Steven Shrewsbury
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
834
Registered: 04-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 05:59 am: | |
Huh...you are right, I never saw that...but since PA has banned me from their boards, I wagered they didn't want ME.
Again, the hand in air comment...what he says really doesn't matter, I suppose, but thanks for posting it.
I did not sign with BEHLER because of any spite or such a thing. I deal with MANY folks in the small press or POD world. I saw a professional attitude and a possibility to shed some light on the world via GODFORSAKEN.
Again, it ain't the only book I have ever written, to put it crudely.
BTW, I deal with many HORROR boards with a few writers who have MADE IT so to speak. They use PA as a punchline. When I told them I signed with Behler for GODFORSAKEN and that it was a new company, a small press, they always check these things out, and said, cool deal.
Respectability goes a long way. IF one has an advocate for a company that acts like a professional, professionals will notice that. IF you act like a baboon, they will throw peanuts or worse.
www.stevenshrewsbury.com |
Jennifer Lynn
Unity Member
Post Number:
1278
Registered: 03-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 07:21 am: | |
What he said....
Jennifer Lynn
www.jenniferlynn.ca |
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