Ridan Publishing

[shaldna]

Has anyone got any updates on the delayed books?

[Sheryl Nantus]

Originally Posted by shaldna

Has anyone got any updates on the delayed books?

Nothing on the Ridan website seems to have changed... nothing from her hubby's blog or Robin's own blog.

Nothing new.

As it stands I'd be wary of submitting to this publisher if only because of the lack of updates. I don't know where or how she's selling her books but it does seem to this untrained eye that she's taken on too much and something's got to give.

JMO, YMMV.

[thothguard51]

Do I smell the scent of sour gym socks????

[shaldna]

Originally Posted by Padraigph

Why Ridan Sucks
BS News Flash:Nathan, Todd your both getting screwed
The only new work i.e. books new to print were Nathan Lowell and Todd A. Fonseca
and of course Her Husband
even their twitter page shows only pics of her husbands books (now published by orbit) talk about not showing a little Impartiality
Makes you wonder what the hell are they doing ?
Alot of fluff to make Michael Sullivans book's attract attention

Well, that's certainly helping further the discussion.

If you have direct experience with them then I'm sure we would all love to hear it in a less personally attack.

However, I suspect this is nothing more than a fly-by poster we will never see again.

[JSSchley]

Been following this thread for quite awhile now, because Robin runs one of the few writers' Meetup groups in my area, and so I've been sort of interested in her progress. (I don't know her personally, but just connected 2 and 2 and took an interest in Ridan.)

But in the interest of information, I tried to figure out what was going on with Michael's book, and it almost seems that Orbit put out book #6. At the least, they are responsible for the Kindle version, because the Orbit contract was done when book 5 was already slated to be released individually.

Still doesn't quite explain why Ridan was able to get out the paperback version on time when all the rest of the books are delayed, but it does seem they're working on Orbit's deadline (because the Orbit version of books 5 and 6 was released this month), which aside from it simply being Michael, may have to do with the book releasing on time.

Saw one of Michael's Orbit editions come to the register the other day, but as he has "local author" status at our store, he's got a little more face-out attention than he probably does elsewhere.

[priceless1]

Originally Posted by JSSchley

But in the interest of information, I tried to figure out what was going on with Michael's book, and it almost seems that Orbit put out book #6. At the least, they are responsible for the Kindle version, because the Orbit contract was done when book 5 was already slated to be released individually.

Still doesn't quite explain why Ridan was able to get out the paperback version on time when all the rest of the books are delayed, but it does seem they're working on Orbit's deadline (because the Orbit version of books 5 and 6 was released this month), which aside from it simply being Michael, may have to do with the book releasing on time.

It's really bad karma when you openly attend to your husband's books and let others slip through the cracks.

[Sheryl Nantus]

Originally Posted by priceless1

It's really bad karma when you openly attend to your husband's books and let others slip through the cracks.

Only if no one minds.

As long as the current Ridan authors don't mind being shuffled aside for her hubby's career nothing will happen.

As soon as one or many invoke that "30 days and I'm gone!" clause bragged about earlier in this thread I think we'll see some action.

Or maybe not even then. Unfortunately there's a slew of publishers in this forum who stay in business even though they're doing worse things to their authors.

Time will tell...

[priceless1]

If those authors don't mind, then they are the most tolerant, understanding authors in the world. I hope Robin doesn't abuse their patience much longer.

[Terie]

I don't see what Michael's work with Orbit has to do with the operation of Ridan.

Ridan is run by Robin, and she should be able to attend to her own job regardless of what Michael is doing, just like any other author's spouse attends to theirs.

Alternatively, if he does work (such as editing) for Ridan in addition to his own fiction writing, he should be able to do both, just like any other author with a day job can't slack off on the job just to attend to their writing. If he can't do both, then he needs to give one up just like any other writer has to do.

[JSSchley]

Originally Posted by priceless1

It's really bad karma when you openly attend to your husband's books and let others slip through the cracks.

Oh, agreed completely. Nothing about how any of this has been handled speaks well for Ridan, I don't think.

Originally Posted by Terie

I don't see what Michael's work with Orbit has to do with the operation of Ridan.

Nothing, really, except that the Kindle version of his book was done by Orbit, according to the info I found on Ridan's website and on Amazon. That would explain why his book released when no other Ridan book did. But it still doesn't explain why Ridan was able to also release the paperback version when it seems the entirety of their list is held up (and for a reason which, while worthy of sympathy, is professionally unacceptable).

And the fact that Michael is the publisher's husband just...makes the whole thing not look good.

Edited to include the link to the page on Ridan where it says Orbit is putting out the ebook of his most recent.

[LillyPu]

Originally Posted by Michael J Sullivan

You keep the lion's share of the profits, and you can cancel the contract at anytime. Of course, the downside to that is that they reserve the same right, and they can drop you at a moment's notice if you become too high maintenance. In that sense, it is a true partnership.

I wonder what 'too high maintenance' is. Speaking out? With all the authors' hard work invested already... is it no wonder they're silently crossing their fingers and hoping for the best?

Wasn't the start of Ridan just a vehicle to 'self-publish' her husband's books anyway? Correct me if I'm wrong.

I hope things get back on track for the authors involved, and soon.

[shaldna]

Originally Posted by LillyPu

I wonder what 'too high maintenance' is. Speaking out? With all the authors' hard work invested already... is it no wonder they're silently crossing their fingers and hoping for the best?

I'm personally torn on that clause in their contracts. I mean, if you have a serious issue then it's good to know that you can just leave and that's fine, BUT on the other side I don't like that the whole thing can just be called off on a whim of either party - to me that's not necessarily good for business.

Wasn't the start of Ridan just a vehicle to 'self-publish' her husband's books anyway? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes.

[JSSchley]

Michael has time to reply to reviews of his books...

I guess he must not work with Robin anymore now that his books are out with Orbit.

This gets my serious side-eye. Both because I think authors shouldn't reply to their reviews and because I would hope he might be helping the publishing company through this difficult time. He certainly has seemed from posts here to be involved with its operations.

Honestly, I kind of wanted to root for Ridan because for me they're local, and they seemed to really have nailed their niche and be doing most of the things right, as opposed to most e-pub startups I've seen. And because Michael is an example of a self-pub author who was able to really leverage his self-publishing. But I've been disappointed in what I've seen.

[thothguard51]

Michael keeps his twitter account up to date as well, as he should...

To me, it sounds like Robin is suffering burn out, which can happen in any industry. She has been going at this for a long time now. If this is the case, then she needs to delegate authority to others and recharge her batteries for the sake of the authors she has taken on.

I was able to get AC Crispin's Stargate book but I am waiting for the others to go live on Amazon and I will only wait so long...

[shaldna]

Originally Posted by JSSchley

Michael has time to reply to reviews of his books...

Bear in mind that Robin often posts using Michael's various accounts and logins too.

Originally Posted by Terie

I don't see what Michael's work with Orbit has to do with the operation of Ridan.

It shouldn't have anything to do with it at all. As you said, the two should be independant, and if he can't do both then something will have to give.

I'm not sure how much Michael does in terms of Ridan, but I know he does all the covers.

In this case the book was released by Orbit as, according to amazon, was the ebook. So this shouldn't even be taken into account with regards to Ridan at the moment. However, had Ridan released the book at this time, when other authors are getting dicked around, then that would be an issue. But as it is, it doesn't have an impact at all.

[Padraigph]

Well actually Ridan did release her husbands softcover book & ebook Percepliquis to Amazon on 1-16-2012 so it seems she can get hubbys work out but not everyone else

[thothguard51]

There could be lots of stuff going on behind the scenes that we are not aware of at this moment. I am not seeing where her authors have really started revolting on the slow and missing releases other than their statements of waiting to hear from Ridan...

Something else to remember, is that Robin gave up her day joy to devote herself full time to Ridan. Not sure from what I have read how this has inproved Ridan's standings if they can not meet the announced deadlines.

As I said before, If I am following an author and the deadlines for new work keeps getting pushed back, I am only going to wait so long before I finds me a new read...

There are a few exclusions to that rule, like with GRRM... But Michael is no GRRM, yet anyway...

[Sheryl Nantus]

I don't think we'll see Ridan authors actually "revolting" - there's plenty of other publishing houses with worse reputations that have kept their authors despite horrible circumstances far beyond just missing publication dates.

But it's good for those who see/saw Ridan as the have-all and be-all of small publishing with their high sales and open-ended contracts to read through this and see what's happened over time.

All the best intentions and well wishes can't regain lost sales due to books being delayed, for whatever reasons.

[priceless1]

Originally Posted by thothguard51

Something else to remember, is that Robin gave up her day joy to devote herself full time to Ridan.

No one should make allowances for a publisher's employment status because it isn't part of the equation. Publishing is a tough business, and it comes down to whether publishers put out a quality product and get it to market on time.

[shaldna]

Originally Posted by Padraigph

Well actually Ridan did release her husbands softcover book & ebook Percepliquis to Amazon on 1-16-2012 so it seems she can get hubbys work out but not everyone else

I hadn't realised that they had released one through Ridan at the same time the orbit edition of another book came out. Thanks for the info.

Actually, I have to agree that this is a pretty bad show on Robin's part.

Originally Posted by priceless1

No one should make allowances for a publisher's employment status because it isn't part of the equation. Publishing is a tough business, and it comes down to whether publishers put out a quality product and get it to market on time.

Totally this.

[shaldna]

Still no word on the delayed books then?

I notice that the Ridan website hasn't been updated since 6 December.

[Sheryl Nantus]

Originally Posted by shaldna

Still no word on the delayed books then?

I notice that the Ridan website hasn't been updated since 6 December.

*surfs around*

Well, there doesn't seem to be much of anything. There's an entry by Robin herself on the Solar Clipper's web page where she talks again about losing her father and all the hard work involved in dealing with his estate.

http://solarclipper.com/news/news-not/#comments

However, there's not universal support for her situation. As seen in threads about other publishers - a personal crisis, even something as 'orrible as losing one's father, shouldn't have a company grind to a stop.

It does seem that she's the *only* editor for Ridan.

I'd still stand by my previous statement - whatever good she might have done in the past for her authors is pretty well shadowed by the fact that she isn't finding anyone to help her at the cost of possible sales and support from her customers.

But we've seen this before again and again - small publisher overextends herself and at the first speed bump, be it illness or crisis, the entire enterprise collapses in a heap of cards.

*sighs*

[Terie]

Originally Posted by Sheryl Nantus

It does seem that she's the *only* editor for Ridan.

That being the case, Ridan should not be signing more books than Robin can edit. Alternatively, Ridan should hire more editing staff.

This shows a failure to develop an effective business plan.

[shaldna]

Originally Posted by Terie

That being the case, Ridan should not be signing more books than Robin can edit. Alternatively, Ridan should hire more editing staff.

This shows a failure to develop an effective business plan.

Completely. I just can't understand why the work for those books wasn't complete before then. There should never have been this delay in the timeframe.

It's over commiting and understaffing and poor poor planning.

[thothguard51]

Would love to hear what the writers who have signed on with Ridan have to say about all of this delay stuff. Like David and AC Crispin.

If I am not mistaken, AC had additional books in her Star Gate series due out last month and I still have not seen them listed for the Kindle yet. As a new reader to the series, this is a little disappointing to me.

During the time I have waited for AC's books to become available, I have bought and read 5 books by Bernard Cornwell in his Saxon Chronicles. Those sales might have gone to Ridan had AC's books been available.

So, has any of her authors other than Michael heard anything?