Interesting few months and a new arrival

EileenG

Sorry I haven't been posting much recently, I've had a very busy couple of months. Short version: I sacked my publisher, got a new one, and published a new book.

Some of you will remember that my first book, Don't Feed the Fairies, was published by an American publisher as an e-book. It was selling consistantly, and they were very keen to bring it out as a paperback. I wasn't so keen. A couple of you here have pointed out editing issues with the e-book, and I was worried that they'd bring out a paperback with similar problems, so I said I didn't want to go into print.

I had no idea that saying this would make some of the other authors rethink their decision to go into print, and start looking at quality control. Particularly when I did a structural edit for one author and picked up a load of stuff their editor had missed.

A couple of them left, then the CEO of the company went on the most astonishing, racist, homophobic rant on Facebook (where he has 5000 friends, including Bill Clinton and Arnold Schartzenegger). Even if he was drunk AND off his meds, there was no possible excuse for it. And he didn't take it down till Facebook forced him.

As a result, he's now under Federal Indictment for Hate Speech, has a five year restraining order and is facing a libel action.

I sent an e-mail saying I couldn't be associated with anyone who bahaved like that, took my book and left.

Which was a great gesture, but left Fairies homeless. But the author I did the edit for spoke to her company, and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough who had done a review for me, also spoke to her publishers, so I ended up getting two offers in the same week.

So Fairies is back on sale, and the second book in the series, Don't Eat the Earthlings http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Earthlings-Cytolene-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B006MGTOTE/ref=pd_sim_kinc_2?ie=UTF8&m=A2HD1FRBBEUS3N is now on sale.

Mr E

Curious about that rant... is it documented anywhere?

Congrats on the new book!

EileenG

I'm kind of surprised it hasn't gone viral. It would have made a gouger blush. Dyke, c*unt, whore was the gist of it. When the author showed it to a judge for the restraining order, he advised her to sue for libel.

I took a screen shot, if you really want to see it.

pickarooney

Forget the fairies, I want to read the book about the drunk racist and the publishing dust-up!

PM/mail the screenshot please.

Kinski

Sounds like you're as well out of there anyhow, Eileen!

I'd like to see a screenshot too, but don't know if I can trust myself not to stick it on my Facebook...

EileenG

Yeah, glad to be out of there.

The interesting thing is that since I left, my sales have gone up, with no promotion at all. Makes me wonder if they were telling me the truth about how many books I was selling. I'm going to get after them for verified sales figures, but it's tougher when they are thousands of miles away.

Toasterspark

My God, what is that man doing to Cytolene on the cover? :P

kickarykee

Congrats on both books, Eileen!
I think what you did was the right thing to do and you're brave to have done this even if it meant having to "start anew"
Your titles sound so funny - really would love to read your books and will get back on them once I read the ones currently waiting on my shelves

EileenG

Toasterspark wrote: »

My God, what is that man doing to Cytolene on the cover? :P

You do know how her species mates, don't you? I have to work hard to keep it R-rated.

EileenG

kickarykee wrote: »

Your titles sound so funny

The third one in the series is Don't Hunt the Humans.

Yeah, I had to take a couple of deep breaths before I sent that e-mail, but once I did, I was surprised how relieved I felt. I really didn't want to be involved with him.

Toasterspark

EileenG wrote: »

You do know how her species mates, don't you? I have to work hard to keep it R-rated.

Raunchy all the same! Good stuff, I like the way you title your books too, the names roll off the tongue.

kickarykee

EileenG wrote: »

The third one in the series is Don't Hunt the Humans.

Yeah, I had to take a couple of deep breaths before I sent that e-mail, but once I did, I was surprised how relieved I felt. I really didn't want to be involved with him.

Will have to get that one, too!

EileenG

kickarykee wrote: »

Will have to get that one, too!

I'll be delighted.

Just an update on the psycho publisher. He has been on Amazon tagging his former author's book with his stuff, and she called the cops because it was breaking the restraining order. The cop who answered was black, and had seen some of psycho nutcases FB racist rants about Obama. Jail time beckons.

kickarykee

Serves him more than right.
Unbelievable what kind of people are out there...

EileenG

He has now tagged that author's books on Amazon with a lot of porn titles, so that when you search for her, a lot of porn pops up. I'm beginning to think he's out of his effing mind.

So glad I'm out of there. Current publisher is sane!

pickarooney

Give us some names!

EileenG

J Darroll Hall. Also writes as Jackie Darroll. Go to Amazon, search for Ragz Books and you'll see what I mean.

pickarooney

Nothing showing up for me.

Coffeeapple

Congrats on the second book! I read that guy's wikipedia page, it doesn't say much about his craziness (maybe some kind soul should update it), but he seems to have had a lot of involvement with the adult entertainment industry. He sounds seedy.

EileenG

When the libel case goes to court, I predict a lot of updating, all protected by court privilage.

I have a few friends who are or were involved with adult entertainment, so that wouldn't put me off. The general psycho asshole-ness would do it.

kickarykee

If you say he's involved with the industrie I figure the tagging goes to sell his own stuff rather than prevent her from selling hers, but it's still incredible ...

Yay for sane publishers ^^

EileenG

I personally feel it's spite, just to try to affect the sales of one particular book, which has a good shot at being a must-read in school libraries, as it is all about bullying.