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Samhain Publishing

seaaircarol

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Maybe the same thing will happen to you that happened to me--later on you will get a more detailed rejection. Perhaps they send a form along so you're not kept waiting, and then later they say more. I don't know, though. I'm just guessing. It sounds like most people are only getting one response from them.

Again, sorry.
 

Christine N.

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Bummer, David.
I do have to say they have the nicest rejections I've ever received. (I got a rejection first, then a request to resubmit if I rewrote and fixed the problems she had, THEN I got an acceptance.)
 

Saanen

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Sorry to hear that, David! About your rejection, it could be they're swamped right now and don't always have time to give a critique.
 

David McAfee

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Sorry to hear that, David! About your rejection, it could be they're swamped right now and don't always have time to give a critique.
Thanks, but again, it's not that big a deal. I'll live. Rejection is part of the business. I was disappointed, sure, but life goes on. Currently working on another novel, after which I plan a rewrite of this one and then off to more houses (there are plenty of them out there).
 

JamesAllen

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Well, the word is in, and that word is No.

Ah, well...


Sorry, David. :( Is this submission the novel you mention on your blog, that has gotten you favorable feedback from other editors?
You got your rejection right at the twelve week mark.
I'm still waiting on mine.
There was a recent discussion on Romancing the Blog, I think, where Samhain editors were talking about giving up on critiquing rejections and just sending forms instead. It looks like they decided to go ahead with it. You and I just have bad timing. :/ It's a shame because I was looking forward to a sentence or two of feedback. It would've been helpful and a nice change of pace from the forms. :)
Probably Samhain's deal with Kensington has changed things to the point where they can't spare time to offer feedback anymore.
 

Jersey Chick

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According to Angela James' post on RTB, part of the decision was based on a writer who publicly criticized her personalized rejection on her blog and to discourage people rewriting and resubmitting based on the points offered in a personalized rejection. It also discourages rants to the editors themselves from authors. It's also a lot less time consuming as well. Personalized or not, rejections still suck.
 

Jennifer Robins

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Way back in Aug. I submitted my MS only to find out the first of Oct. that they never got it, so I had to send it again. Now I wait again.

Jennifer Robins
 

RoccoMom

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According to Angela James' post on RTB, part of the decision was based on a writer who publicly criticized her personalized rejection on her blog and to discourage people rewriting and resubmitting based on the points offered in a personalized rejection. It also discourages rants to the editors themselves from authors. It's also a lot less time consuming as well. Personalized or not, rejections still suck.


I received a personalized rejection earlier this year, and i did rewrite, but another small press bought the original version before i resent it to Samhain. I sent them another novel and received the aforementioned form rejection about two weeks ago.

It is a shame, becasue the personalized rejections did help me in recrafting the story. Just like High School - one sour apple has to spoil the barrel for the rest of us.
 

Saanen

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It is a shame, becasue the personalized rejections did help me in recrafting the story. Just like High School - one sour apple has to spoil the barrel for the rest of us.

That's what I was thinking! I really appreciated the critique I got with my rejection, and it not only helped me in my rewrite but it also made me realize that the same problem the editor saw in this book is a recurring problem in all my writing. I'm awed, frankly, because even my writing group (a savvy bunch of published writers) hadn't pinpointed it.
 

David McAfee

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It is a shame, becasue the personalized rejections did help me in recrafting the story. Just like High School - one sour apple has to spoil the barrel for the rest of us.


My thoughts exactly. It only takes one selfish, clueless idiot to ruin things for the rest of us. I was really looking forward to their observations, too.
 

kiwiauthor

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... this is an amazing thread. It's fantastic to hear good things about small publishers.

It's not often I send hours reading a thread from beginning to end, but this one was worth every minute. To all involved, thanks for the entertainment and information, I learnt a great deal.

Not about to miss-out on all the fun, I submitted to Samhain, (they seem like a rarity in this business and would be great people to work with; goes for their authors too.).

Update: I was shocked to receive a request for a full two days after submitting a synopsis and the first three chapters on an epic fantasy no less.

Congratulations to all those who received contracts, and commiserations to those who received rejects. We all know how the latter feels! But, by jove, doesn't it feel much better when it come from an editor who actually gives a damn :).

Alex.
 

Saanen

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Good luck! I subbed to Samhain because of this thread too--it's certainly exciting and uplifting to read. I still hold out hope that I can place something with them eventually. :)
 

JamesAllen

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Update: I was shocked to receive a request for a full two days after submitting a synopsis and the first three chapters on an epic fantasy no less.

Two days--wow. Congratulations, Alex. I hope they send you a quick acceptance for the full.
I sent a synopsis and my first three chapters 13 weeks ago and am still waiting to hear. I must be doing something wrong. :D Who is your editor, do you know?
 

veinglory

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Good to hear Alex. I am assuming you are a NZer, that makes you -- as far as I know -- the second in the Samhain stable of authors :) (points to sig)
 

kiwiauthor

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Thank's guys. Toni, I'm going to check out your books, they look interesting. Goes for the rest of you 'published' kind too :). Saanen, best of luck on the requested full. Who's it with?

James ... I suspect it is as others have said here, the waiting is relative to what genre you are submitting. The editor who read the frist three chapters and made the request for a full was Eve Joyce.

Veinglory: Aoteroan apteryx, just like you :) Great to see you doing so well so far from the nest.


Thanks again, for the support, guys. I'd buy a round, but since we're on line, it'll have to be rep. points instead.

I'll keep everyone informed.

Alex.
 
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Saanen

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Saanen, best of luck on the requested full. Who's it with?

That was my Samhain request, actually. They ended up passing on it, but the editor gave me some really excellent advice, so it was almost as good as an acceptance. :)

(Peter Jackson lives next door and I was a hobbit int he making of LotRs with the rest of our tiiny population:).

Okay, that is seriously awesome! :)