tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post4922841106290247971..comments2024-03-24T12:54:09.148-05:00Comments on Kevin's Corner: Guest Post: Orphaned by Debra H. GoldsteinKevin R. Tipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04170714419133752724noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-66578444692053074012016-03-16T21:20:43.344-05:002016-03-16T21:20:43.344-05:00KM,
I'm glad Wildside picked up your book. H...KM, <br />I'm glad Wildside picked up your book. Having started reading your series, I really enjoy it. Also glad to see you'll be at Malice because I gather it means the knee is doing well.Debra H. Goldsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17533446284471717884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-91376773885708940092016-03-16T21:19:36.297-05:002016-03-16T21:19:36.297-05:00Teresa,
Thanks. The best thing is that so many oth...Teresa,<br />Thanks. The best thing is that so many other writers have been so encouraging to all of us caught in this dilemma -- whether it is Five Star or one of the other houses that many of you have mentioned or had a series cancelled by - the friendships and encouragement truly help one get back to writing again (I won't compare it to getting back on the horse because I'm the type that would slide off the other side).Debra H. Goldsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17533446284471717884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-74687321446472428102016-03-16T21:17:20.725-05:002016-03-16T21:17:20.725-05:00Kay,
Yup....but I'm still going forward with m...Kay,<br />Yup....but I'm still going forward with my plans to promote Poker. No sense letting it die on the vine. And, I'm having a blast with it. Have to have a smile in this business....and I wanted it badly enough to leave a safe position, as you well know. Debra H. Goldsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17533446284471717884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-24912095710934226722016-03-16T19:01:29.810-05:002016-03-16T19:01:29.810-05:00After five books in a series, Musa, my publisher w...After five books in a series, Musa, my publisher went out of business.<br /><br />I was fortunate that Wildside picked up the series. The sixth, Abductions and Lies, is due out (by Wildside) momentarily. I've been assured it will be available by the Malice Domestic conference, which is the weekend of April 29 to May 1.<br /><br />One thing this did for me, though, was to make me rethink my writing. I have put a lot more emphasis on short stories, and I now have notes for several crime novels that are not in the series. As if I didn't already have more ideas and plans than time to write.<br /><br />KM Rockwood<br />Jesse Damon Crime NovelsKM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-7863207461707976192016-03-16T15:38:02.755-05:002016-03-16T15:38:02.755-05:00This is great information about contracts and how ...This is great information about contracts and how volatile the publishing world is today! Teresa Ingehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09666880625322906160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-66425221792790170372016-03-16T14:50:57.832-05:002016-03-16T14:50:57.832-05:00I didn't realize you were caught in the Five S...I didn't realize you were caught in the Five Starr mess, Debra. I am so sorry. (I can't keep track of all my writer friends' various publishing houses, mea culpa.) I am glad you wrote about this. I think it helps to vent and get feedback from others in your boat, or nearly so.<br /><br />Publishing is a super-fraught business these days, we all know that, but when something crashes, it is horrid.<br /><br />I know you will keep on, and perhaps we just have to realize that this is the New Normal. No long term contract--where "long term" means three books! Geesh, those good old days must have really been GOOD. Sigh.....<br /><br />Write on! Regardless. Write on! kkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02296326994943617709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-70661511445297764732016-03-16T14:10:17.501-05:002016-03-16T14:10:17.501-05:00Earl, thank you for the encouragement. It's f...Earl, thank you for the encouragement. It's funny, I think most of us have treated it like grief -- there's been shock, anger, sadness, and for the most part, as Maggie writes, commitment to move forward. That commitment, as you note, does show us how badly we want to be writers. A lot is in the query or draft stage .... but my fingers are crossed for all of the talented writers facing this situation at the various houses. DebraDebra H. Goldsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17533446284471717884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-1087790300598064332016-03-16T12:22:26.408-05:002016-03-16T12:22:26.408-05:00It feels unsettling to be standing on the deck of ...It feels unsettling to be standing on the deck of a sinking ship. Maybe its like a divorce. It can appear amicable on the face of it, but the emotions of being cut run deep. Even knowing its a business decision doesn't help.<br /><br />The third book in my dreamwalker series will be out in October. I've got 2 more of these written and had plans for more. So I decided to query other publishers to see if they would take an ongoing series. No takers as of yet, but I'm ever hopeful. And if it doesn't pan out, I can pub through my indie line I created for my backlist. That's a lot of work though. I hope I can partner with the right house to keep my series going.<br /><br />I hope you shop your series around as well.Maggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-69155976341674254972016-03-16T11:29:38.832-05:002016-03-16T11:29:38.832-05:00
Debra, I know exactly how being orphaned feels. M...<br />Debra, I know exactly how being orphaned feels. My first book came out from a publisher who shut down within six months. Fortunately, I found another -- and a better -- publisher who picked it up. Things like this are only tests-- like rejection letters -- to see how badly we want to be writers.Earl Staggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13349667172813175960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-13646013594710465772016-03-16T08:13:36.340-05:002016-03-16T08:13:36.340-05:00Warren, so sorry to hear that as you and all of us...Warren, so sorry to hear that as you and all of us were so excited about your upcoming short story collection. It is a lousy feeling but all you can do is keep plugging. DebraDebra H. Goldsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06616156832441083902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-71778975568628200312016-03-15T23:58:27.108-05:002016-03-15T23:58:27.108-05:00The publisher who committed to get my new short st...The publisher who committed to get my new short story collection out this year is taking a hiatus due to a health problem. Another publisher I worked with went out of business. I feel your pain.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-17313852879119927972016-03-15T21:05:18.756-05:002016-03-15T21:05:18.756-05:00Cindy, That is another alternative. I just haven&...Cindy, That is another alternative. I just haven't gotten that far yet. Thanks for pointing it out......and perhaps being an informational resource in the future. DebraDebra H. Goldsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06616156832441083902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-17324997963875030552016-03-15T19:16:39.539-05:002016-03-15T19:16:39.539-05:00Hi Debra. My publisher closed in 2013 due to the d...Hi Debra. My publisher closed in 2013 due to the death of one of the owners. It was a very sad situation both personally and professionally. But the other owner gave us our rights back and I decided to indie publish my books. I already had a launch party planned so I had no choice! Indie publishing has been the best experience for me. I have total control over everything and I've sold well over 100,000 books. It's more work but definitely rewarding. I wish you the best. Just remember there are many wonderful options out there for you. Cynthia Samplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14929989117595369746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-49506599502476370182016-03-15T18:59:24.349-05:002016-03-15T18:59:24.349-05:00Susan, I'm sorry to see your series go. I kno...Susan, I'm sorry to see your series go. I know it has been well-received. Allan, we can commiserate on being one book Five Star wonders.<br />LC and Allan, my understanding is that there are many issues involved: a)whether the book had sales and if it wasn't a blockbuster, there is nervousness about taking on another one in the series; b) who owns the rights to the characters; c) who owns what rights - for example, although my first publisher gave me back all my rights to Maze in Blue, I presently only own the trade, hardcover, e-book, and audio rights .. Harlequin owns the mass market rights; and,d)there is a question of whether an agent's time will result in monetary reward or not because the book already was out there.<br />Kaye and Linda, thank you for your kinds words. From your ears to .........<br />Kevin, you scare me. I seem to remember a short story by the Brothers Grimm about a tailor.......<br />Even though I'm somewhat frightened, Kevin, thank you for having me as a Kevin's Corner guest today. DebraDebra H. Goldsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06616156832441083902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-68949823916625663112016-03-15T17:35:41.952-05:002016-03-15T17:35:41.952-05:00Debra, you know my heart is with you. The sad thin...Debra, you know my heart is with you. The sad thing to me is that your books are so good, and those wonderful characters are now doomed to wander in the limbo. Still, I'm just glad you haven't given up yet. You are an excellent writer and I know you will find the success you deserve. xoxoLinda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-21408198208772233132016-03-15T15:19:38.817-05:002016-03-15T15:19:38.817-05:00I have killed a half dozen short story markets. I have killed a half dozen short story markets. Kevin R. Tipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04170714419133752724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-84267426268398632722016-03-15T15:17:23.729-05:002016-03-15T15:17:23.729-05:00That's tough, losing your first 2 novel publis...That's tough, losing your first 2 novel publishers! I used to be able to shut down short story magazines who accepted my offerings. One only lasted one more issue after I was in the first one. Another one published quite a few of my stories before it disappeared. I think probably 4 or 5 of them have gone away--but that's not uncommon for magazines. Less common for book publishers, and you hit two of them! I'd rather you don't do it again! I have faith in you!!Kaye Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596677617002735674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-79422415613097670462016-03-15T14:39:52.000-05:002016-03-15T14:39:52.000-05:00I'm another first book author orphaned by the ...I'm another first book author orphaned by the Five Star mystery line. Like LC Rooney, I wonder why publishers are unwilling to take on an existing series--the first book has created some kind of audience; isn't that better than the situation that exists when a new book comes out and no one has heard of the writer? I understand the reluctance if the series was discontinued because of lack of demand, but when a publisher has dropped an entire genre, you'd think there'd be opportunities available for a savvy publisher.<br /><br />All the best with your new book, Debra.Allan J. Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06066540739977912609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-84622105186041962992016-03-15T11:19:05.523-05:002016-03-15T11:19:05.523-05:00Debra, you are the ultimate survivor! I know only ...Debra, you are the ultimate survivor! I know only good things will be coming your way and can't wait to read the new book!Judy Penz Sheluk, authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07631631805016814056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-22751660920213507592016-03-15T10:48:51.896-05:002016-03-15T10:48:51.896-05:00Forgive my ignorance (I am just preparing to query...Forgive my ignorance (I am just preparing to query for my first novel), but why are publishers reluctant to publish sequels to books published by now-defunct competitors, assuming all rights have reverted to the author?LC Rooneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03055996189988961428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849561.post-7157702570587629942016-03-15T10:40:21.786-05:002016-03-15T10:40:21.786-05:00Debra, I too am adjusting to the end of the Five S...Debra, I too am adjusting to the end of the Five Star mystery line. My next Anita Ray will be published in August 2016, and I've already started another series. It's too bad. I liked Five Star--the editors, designers, and on up the hierarchy. I've had a good run with them and I'm sorry to see them end. But as you say, time for something new.<br /><br />Good luck with your new book.Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.com