I hinted at this briefly on Facebook earlier in the week. For those of you who don’t know, here is the announcement made by Breathless Press a couple of days ago.
. . . sad face . . .
So . . . yeah. I knew about this. Or I knew it was coming. One thing (among many) that I can say about the folk behind Breathless Press is that they have always been open, honest and frank about everything going on behind the scenes, choices being made and the reality of what is going on around us.
That being said I did hope for a different outcome. Of course I did.
Anyway . . . what do I do now? ‘Slippers & Chains: Sugar Dust‘ is currently in their hands (though my rights will be back very soon) and ‘Slippers & Chains: Second Base’ is with a beta reader. I was readying myself to send that to my BP editor by the end of May. Can’t do that now.
I have several options, I guess, but looking back at the state I was in last week, most of them aren’t very attractive to me at this point.
Choices:
- Send to alternative publishers to see if they will take on the novel. Go through whatever editing process they have and sign up new contracts.
- Self publish under Little Vamp Press
- Stop the series completely and start something new
. . . well that last option can sod right off. It’s an option, but I know there are people who will be devastated to learn that there will be no more of the ‘Cage Story’ as it was so lovingly dubbed. More than that, I love these characters and the potential mileage they have in them.
Middle option? A bit like Ileandra with ‘Silk Over Razor Blades‘ it was always my plan to do exactly that until the Funk Master said I should submit it. So this route is viable. And it’s not like I haven’t done it before, right?
The first option is the most scary because I have no idea how these new publishers will treat me. If they’ll even take the novel on. If I’ll have to do a whole ream of new edits to satisfy the style of a new publishing house.
. . . Basically, I don’t know what I want. I have no idea.
It’s maddening because this year was all planned, but doubly so because every rational bone in my body says shiz like this happens all the time and that the strength of character shows not in avoiding it but dealing with it. -_-
I had a little cry – not for me, but for all of us, because the BP family is lovely and I adore them and I’m so sad that this has happened to all of us, not just me – and ate waaaaaaaay too much food on Monday. On Tuesday while DSB was recording for the podcast I spent sime time on the BP Facebook page chatting with other authors about the options. Yesterday I spent an hour gabbing on #writingchat and felt very much better.
Today? Well today is a new day, isn’t it? And I need to make some decisions. The Sprogs are at nursery now (they started their new one yesterday) so I have the day largely to myself. It’s time to take that snotty horse by the reins, leap back into the saddle and show it who the hell is boss.
I’m not used to be lost and adrift. Being unable to make decisions. That’s not me. For a short while . . . this song described my life.
Time to go back to being that person. Strong. Assured. Confident. Trusting in my ability to make the right choices for my career.
Rawr.
Writing: A Conversation Without Interruptions 
My honest opinion? Don’t rush to make any decisions. Give it time for the news to really sink in and let yourself decide how you want to move forwards. Keep working on the series, or let Ileandra take over for a while, and just let the answer bubble up ergonomically when it’s ready. It’s a massive decision to make, and you don’t want to make the wrong one just for the sake of doing something now. When the time is right you’ll know what you want you do.
I’m sorry to hear the news. It’s rubbish, but I have faith that the right thing will happen for you when the time is right xx
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Thanks Sally. ^_^
You’re right of course, though I’m all ready getting some nudges from my heart. I kinda sorta know what I want to do. But I damn well better be ‘proper sure’ so I’ll wait. 😉
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Very sorry to hear this news. What a let down 😦
You must never give up, and at least you now know that one publisher was interested. There will be others. Or self-publishing. You have lots of options to consider.
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Thanks Ruth. That’s what I tell myself. I was stunned enough when BP took on the manuscript in the first place! Who says I can’t do that again? Or that I can’t go solo and be just as successful if not more so.
Just that niggling little decision to make. 😉
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Whatever you decide, you’re not alone. You can count on having some support and encouragement along the way!
I think it really depends on the sort of momentum you’ve built up and how well that can transfer over to another publisher or to the self-publishing route.
For example, you could view this is an opportunity to really hone your editing skill, if you want to self-publish. That way, you’re less reliant on having an editor to bring it up to the desired standard.
Then again, editing is time-consuming. Beta readers can get tired of seeing the same story with each round of edits. It sure would be nice if you could offer them a choice of stories to read. Perhaps you can add a few shorter stories into the mix so that you have a rotation. Just a thought!
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I’m broadening my search for beta readers actually. Since it really does look like going solo is going to be the way forward, I’ll need to ensure that I have a good roster of people I can rely on to help me. You’re right, honing the editing skill is an important task and more than anything, that’s one of my weaknesses, so I do need to do that.
I guess forcing myself to go solo also forces me to work on that skill, because there’s no one to blame but me if things don’t go well.
Again, I kinda know what I want to do, but I don’t know if I should. Guess I need more time to mull on that.
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I guess the thing with editing is, it’s a methodical process. You just need to figure out a method which lets you get through it without going insane. 🙂
I added a To-do list plugin on my site today, so I’m going to try that out and see if it helps me remember what I’m stuck on or just what’s next. 🙂
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Hehe, a little bit insane is okay, right? :p
So far all of my works have been reasonably small so it isn’t too tricky to edit stuff like that. When I start branching into more novels like Ileandra, that’s when it will get really tricky. Fortunately, she seems to have a method that works pretty well. So I plan to nick it for myself! 😉
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Sorry to hear this. I guess it is good that you can see your options though. So many people can’t even see options after heartbreaking news like that. So, you’re on the right track there.
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The range of reactions to the news amongst the authors is quite startling. From anger to bleak despair. I suppose I’m quite fortunate in that I have self-pub experience already and that, generally, was my main choice of releasing my works. It’s just a pain that I have a taste of releasing with a publishing house now! Heh, otherwise it would be an easy decision.
I’m very, very fortunate, on many counts and I’m doing my utmost to remember that. 🙂
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I believe something else will turn up for you. Probably when you are least expecting it to…
Don’t get down hearted, stay strong, its another hurdle, but one you will get over.
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Thanks, chick. I just gotta keep on stepping, keep on pushing and all that shiz. Certainly not the first set back I’ve seen, right? Nor will it be the last!
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