[FONT='Georgia','serif']Greetings!
A friend told me I was taking up considerable space here so I checked it out for myself. Seems fine, although I am neither an advocate for or against any publisher. but in the future I’d be most appreciative if you’d use my name rather than "The Pipe." After all, isn’t that beneficial even if a post, story, or whatever is somewhat derogatory? Can’t think of a single professional writer, and I know a great many, who tries to remain anonymous. However, one comment attributed to me was the work of another person.[/FONT]
[FONT='Georgia','serif']The purpose of this post is twofold. First, someone who prefers anonymity questions actions regarding my age. True, I am 83. Quite active, though. A few years back, while somewhat shackled by the aftereffects of a heart attack coupled with a nasty and chronic affliction known as ulcerative colitis, I stumbled back to the computer determined to make up for an absence of roughly two years. Among other projects waiting for attention was a five-part family history written a decade earlier solely for the few relatives still breathing. I was interested in having a neater copy of a segment concerning my somewhat less-than-pleasant experiences as an infantry rifleman in the invasion of Normandy. I had no interest whatsoever in getting back into the mainstream other than marketing a few short mysteries to high-paying magazines. In searching around I discovered I could obtain not one but two neatly-prepared copies of this gray-haired segment from an outfit called PublishAmerica. It could be done in a surprisingly short period of time. All things considered, time was of the essence. I had read many less-than-flattering comments about this publisher but they were of no interest to me. If that excuse is not satisfactory to some people, I apologize for the heart attack.
It turned out to be a somewhat amazing experience. With not one iota of interest in anything more than obtaining that one neat copy, you can imagine how dumbfounded I was when people began buying the finished product. I have never bought a single copy of the book, not even one, yet other people have. It now can be found in the library of the United States Military Academy at West Point, at the General George C. Marshall Foundation, in the archives of the 4th Infantry Division (just back from its third tour in Iraq) and in a number of university and public libraries. It also led to two appearances on a History Channel series. In addition I have been sent royalty checks equaling or surpassing, depending upon word count, the amount paid for a short story sold to a major market. All this because I wanted one neat-looking copy.
I have spent money, though. There was the cost of paper and ink to print the manuscript as well as an envelope and stamps to mail it. Everything beyond that has been gravy.
I can hear the comments now: Why didn’t you send it to a major market when you had already been published by several and were acquainted with so many people in the business? The answer is simple, I didn’t want to because of the reasons cited above. I wanted one copy, that was all. The second copy, by the way, was confiscated by my wife.
For a while I did attempt to assist newcomers with concrete advice on the publisher’s message board. Covering the same ground again and again eventually grew boring. When weary, which happens more frequently these days, I do enjoy posting on another message board as well as several conducted by professional writers of mystery stories.
So I have no beef with the publisher, although some of its methods, particularly pricing, could be improved upon. That is hardly my concern. If I did harbor any ill feelings I would do what most writers I know would do, chalk it up to experience, forget it and move on to other writing. I cannot imagine making a career out of blasting said publisher. Doing so is tantamount to banging your head against a brick wall. Should senility creep in and alter my thought processes so I indeed would spend time that way, I would sign my name to every comment. Anonymous comments, wherever found, are meaningless.
I should mention that a highly-regarded mystery writer who has had many short stories as well as books published by major trade publishers in the past has within the past 30 days had his latest book published by PublishAmerica. His previous one was published by the respected mainline firm of Charles Scribner's Sons. The switching of publishers was owing to the increasing changes in publishing and the difficulty faced by even long-established writers in placing manuscripts today.
Mentioning this does not in any way mean I am an advocate of or for said publisher. It merely is something of interest in the changing world of publishing.
It should be of little interest to anyone , although it appears to be to some folks here, so let me say that most of my working life has been spent as a newspaper reporter, bureau chief, award-winning daily columnist and writer of a weekly travel column that ran in 25 newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune. The large papers I worked for in the distant past include the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal. I much preferred a medium-size paper where, in addition to covering a beat, a reporter was allowed to do a variety of other jobs. Among them for me was covering Cincinnati Reds baseball in the 1970s as well as one of my great loves, high school sports. Since spending two years as a Pinkerton detective half a century ago, every cent I have earned has come from writing. Starting in 1979 I have been fortunate enough to have had many mystery short stories and novellas published in major markets.
One person questions a comment I once made concerning some agents not wanting members of their stable writing blogs as this is not a moneymaker for the agent. This did not originate with me but from a column in a Mystery Writers of America monthly publication. One of those commenting was a New York agent I worked with in the past. I enjoy blogging myself and have written about 400.
I have one suggestion, if I may. While I realize that much of what is posted here qualifies as socializing, since this and associated threads are seriously devoted to blasting a business firm it seems levity is out of place. I enjoy levity, but clever one-liners and standing jokes regarding eating habits appear more appropriate elsewhere. In addition, some of the more vitriolic posts could use a bit of monitoring or editing so they avoid treading on dangerous ground. All posts supposedly blast only the publisher, not its writers. After reading some, you could have fooled me. This is surprising as some of those who post here have had books published by the targeted firm. Isn't that being a little rough on your own people?
Well, that’s it. Hope I’ve covered everything. My next short story to be published will be in the June issue of Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, should anyone be interested. It’s part of a series that has been running since 1988. If anyone here writes that sort of story, AHMM and its sister publication, Ellery Queen MM, are markets that pay very well. As difficult to crack as having a book published by a mainline firm, of course, because each magazine receives thousands of submissions a year and is now buying fewer than a hundred. Being published in either, or in a select list of major publishers, but not small presses, qualifies a writer for active membership in Mystery Writers of America. This offers many benefits to a writer.
I have no interest in a back-and-forth exchange so I won’t return again unless I can be of assistance or clarify a point, but please feel free to let the derogatory comments flow at will. Having been cussed at, shot at, bombed and shelled as well as floored by an inconsiderate enemy soldier, my skin is coarse and thick. I would appreciate it if you would limit your own comments to comments I have actually made. In addition, please always use my name. Isn’t that what the promoting end of the business is all about?
Best regards and good luck,
Dick Stodghill [/FONT]