PhoenixJohnson:
Asking questions of NNP and others is fine. But why the need to pick apart everything and bash on it?
I'm so glad that we've established that it's okay for us to ask questions because from the tone of some of the NNP authors who've come here, you'd think it was completely outrageous for us to do so.
As regards picking things apart, it's called "analysis and it's being done on the basis of the information presented. If you've got information that counters some of the opinions being offered here, then by all means (and for the umpteenth time of asking) let us have it.
hoenixJohnson:
Most publishers don't list bio's on their sites. For privacy reasons.
I can actually understand why an erotica publisher may wish to keep their details private if it's not their main job and they're concerned about it impacting on their other life. But it's certainly not the case that "most" publishers conceal their details for privacy reasons because (as has been said before) knowing who is behind a publisher and what their experience is goes to the publisher's credibility.
PhoenixJohnson:
And as for the figures, that's up to the authors to divulge, as it's their business. But like I said earlier, from what I have seen from the authors already published, they are thrilled with their numbers.
Well, a publisher can equally divulge ball park figures if it so wishes and after 6 months of trading, Naughty Nights should be able to do that.
It's all very well saying that you know people who are "thrilled" with their numbers but that tells us nothing. I know people who've been thrilled to sell 100 books over 3 months, but if you're objectively looking to make some money then 100 books isn't high and it suggests that there's something lacking in promotion and distribution.
PhoenixJohnson:
You're all saying about the immaturity of that blog post in response to this, and yet here there are many comments griping and whining. How is that more mature?
I'm amazed that you're even raising that as an argument.
Someone who holds themselves out as a spokesman for a company needs to act with professionalism and communicate effectively - particularly if that person is holding themselves out as the Director of Marketing. Again, it goes straight to the company's credibility because that person is the 'face' of the company.
As regards the behaviour of people on these boards, in all honesty most of the posts here have been perfectly reasonable. You might not like what's being said and you might not like the questions being asked, but no one is saying anything outrageous or immature here - on the contrary, the questions asked and issues raised are highly pertinent. If anything, it may be said that the most immature responses have come from NNP's own authors.
PhoenixJohnson:
Websites are constantly changing, and the staff at NNP are all extremely busy. Gina has said she is planning to get to it, and she will. Everything takes time to work out kinks.
Again, the website is the first port of call for most people looking at a publisher. A poor website with grammatical errors and missing information doesn't inspire confidence. In the 21st century, the website should look professional from day 1.
PhoenixJohnson:
How about you quit complaining about little things like that and just reserve judgement for time when NNP has had more time to smooth any wrinkles and prove themselves? If you don't want to submit just yet, that's your prerogative. There are many people who are willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. If you want to stick with large, established press's that's your choice. Give NNP time to prove our points. Enough with the picking and niggling. I'm sure that's not what this post was for.
Everyone involved with NNP is going to do our best to make sure that it doesn't go the way of other starter presses, but thrive and grow in to something fabulous. We're happy to be involved with them, and as I've said a few times in this post, if you don't want to be part of it, that's your choice. Just don't rag out on NNP just because you don't want to go with them. Give it time.
I think a lot of people here (myself included) have said that authors would do best to see whether NNP is still around in 2 years time and if so, what the sales figures and royalties are like there.
Personally, I genuinely hope that NNP does make a go of it and comes good but I have seen so many people like you who talk about giving publishers a chance where those publishers start out with precisely the same issues as NNP and 99% of the time it doesn't go well.
It's telling that despite everything that's been pointed out here - all perfectly legitimate points - you are dead set on viewing the same as "ragging" on NNP. It isn't. It's simply good business and as an author, you are a business person and you need to make sure that you are protecting your interests.
If you want to ignore everything that's being said here then that's entirely up to you. However you don't get to tell anyone here that they shouldn't say it to other authors who may be thinking about NNP.
PhoenixJohnson:
I have seen some of their numbers, but like I said, that's up to the authors to divulge. But I will say it exceeds ten in a month. Not by just a couple sales, but by quite a few sales.
Okay then. We've established that some NNP authors have sold more than 10 books a month. Finally, some progress.
Penny Peterssen:
As I am the person who has caused a lot of upset with my blog, I would just like to state here and now, that what I write on my blog is my opinion, just as what everyone writes on this forum is theirs and as such should be respected in the same vein.
You wrote that blog speaking in your capacity as director of marketing. As such, it is entirely reasonable for people here to assume that you are speaking on behalf of the company.
Penny Peterssen:
In regards to my typo's and grammatical errors, forgive me for being human and writing at an extremely late hour. But before you start pointing out my mistakes, might I also say that are some posts on here that are not 100% free of typo's and have errors but to point them out is just being petty.
Again, you wrote your blog in your capacity as director of marketing for the company not as a private person expressing their opinion on a message board. There's a difference between a corporate communication from someone who identifies themselves as being an officer of a company and a private individual making remarks on a board.
If you can't get your head around that, then maybe you're in the wrong job.
Penny Peterssen:
If you will all be patient, I will be posting a short statement that hopefully will answer the concerns that you all have regarding Naughty Nights Press, that will have owner approval and I am hoping that it will help to end this discussion and nit-picking of things that have gone beyond the original question.
Here's some free advice: you should have issued the statement first and not made a blog post about it. That would have been the professional thing to do and it would probably have drawn a line under this. By making your blog post, you've added fuel to the fire.
Penny Peterssen:
I would like to apologize to Silver-Midnight, I did not mean to offend you. I just could not understand how selling books through Amazon, Smashwords and All Romance could be considered a red flag. But I will address the reasoning behind why we chose these places over others soon.
It's cool that you're apologising but I'd have to question your statement that you had no intention of offending her. The whole purpose of your blog post was to ridicule and belittle her for asking questions. Again, it's not professional.
I look forward to reading the statement with bated breath.
MM
Is she for real?! I don't know who the publisher is at NNP, but she needs to take a page from the Chrissy Brashear playbook and nip this sh*t in the bud, like, right now.*
