Setting the Record Straight
Dear Absolute Write:
My name is E. Martin. I am the owner of Hopewell Publications, a small press that I established in 2002 during my retirement from a long career in publishing. When I stumbled across your blog, I was shocked by the level of misinformation, distortion of facts, and overall vitriol regarding the Hopewell Publications and especially the Eric Hoffer Award. Let me take a moment to present the facts.
Hopewell Publication’s primary business is publishing books, not “selling publishing services to new authors.” It is not a vanity press and does not charge for reading or publication. It is not part of or associated with Infinity Publishing or any other self-publishing outfit. Hopewell Publications derives most of its income from the sales of the books it publishes. Originally, it published mostly classic reprints (i.e. out-of-print books with a proven sales record), but has expanded to new fiction and nonfiction over the years. It does not prey upon first-time authors. In fact, most of Hopewell’s books are from established authors. Recently it has expanded its editorial staff and hopes to hire two new editors by the end of the year. The emphasis will be fiction from new and established authors. Serious writers with polished manuscripts are invited to visit our submissions portal.
The Eric Hoffer Award Book Award is actually run by the Eric Hoffer Project. Hopewell Publications assists them by handling their financials. It is set up for on-line transactions and the minutia that goes with that. Eventually the Hoffer Project will be a full scale nonprofit and the registration process will change. The Hoffer was established by author/editor Christopher Klim, who has brought all of Eric Hoffer’s books back into print through Hopewell Publications. (By the way, that is a good example of a classic reprint.) Klim actually stakes the annual prize for the prose and book award.
The Eric Hoffer Award for Prose, which is published in Best New Writing, has never charged an entrance fee and never will, regardless of what people on this blog imply.
The Eric Hoffer Award for Books, charges $50 for a single category registration, which enters a book in a number of award categories including the grand prize. One blogger, performed a misguided business breakdown for approximately 1000 registrants. His outline in the media would be called a hatchet job and in a court of law it would be called libelous. In truth, the Hoffer Book Award has become a year round operation. Thousands of calls and e-mails have to be handled. Endless media. Over one thousand registrants must be handled and distributed to judges around the country. Books are heavy. This is a huge cost. The six dozen judges receive an honorarium for their work. The dedicated staff needs to be paid. This is not a million-dollar operation. It’s not even a thousand-dollar operation.
The US Review of Books charges a minimal cost for a 300-word professional review. The writers are being paid--unlike many book reviewers on the Internet. The authors/publishers are receiving honest coverage that they would not receive elsewhere. All of the reviewers are professionals. The USR hides nothing about what it does. People appreciate the service. Almost 20,000 people subscribe to its monthly newsletter. It’s a needed service, and if you don’t want it, then you don’t have to use it. To vilify it, is a waste of time.
Now I understand that what I say will not change the minds of the more angry people on this blog, and they will dissect and twist my words. I see what goes on here. A frustrated writer can be pretty nasty and arrogant. This is a blog that purports to instruct new writers, but it appears to be confusing them with vitriol and downright lies. What a waste of time. Writers should be writing.
Recently, I have sold the press. I am a very old man. I was born on a New Year’s Day during the Great Depression and have worked every day of my life. However, I hope that the new owner of Hopewell Publications continues expanding the press and bringing exciting new and known writers to print.
Good day, and good-bye.