This has been a very cruel Summer for all writers, and even agents. There has never been so many non-responses, nudges and slow contacts ever. I have talked with and written about this with dozens of other writers. In addition and in a general sense, it seems book sales have plummeted straight across the board. Of course, that depends on a lot of factors. It seems like some of the best brand name independent and medium sized publishers have changed policy, hit a wall or have gone under.
I'm going to welcome your thoughts on this this matter, rather than go off on a tangent and explain what I think is happening.
Give me your thoughts,
Chris
Ellora’s Cave (Dissolving--CEO backlash and mismanagement,
fairly recent)
Samhein (Went bankrupt--awaiting buyout news, but it’s not happening yet, recent)
Sourcebooks (From un-agent to agent, recent)
Liquid Silver (Spiraled into buyout, neglected royalties--terrible sales from about 2013 on)
Kensington (Cut YA line, but no news on Lyrical doing the same)
Soho (No longer takes un-agented subs)
Spencer Hill (Dead--complaints about no royalty payments, recent)
Arctic Wolf (Dead--my very first indication that something was wrong with the big indies--late 2013. One of my first brand-name favorites)
Avalon (A Super-publisher. Some time ago but this hit me hard--absorbed by Amazon)
Helm Publishing, including Barkley ( Very recent self-destruct)
Juno Books (Dead—huge romance publisher--two years ago, imprint of Pocket Books—additional complaints about editorial staff—I won’t mention names)
Musa (Dead--negative publicity—producing too many books at once—fairly recent).
Totally Entwined (Finch YA line has been cut, recent).
Liquid Silver (Spiraled into buyout, neglected royalties--terrible sales from about 2013 on)
Kensington (Cut YA line, but no news on Lyrical doing the same)
Soho (No longer takes un-agented subs)
Spencer Hill (Dead--complaints about no royalty payments, recent)
Arctic Wolf (Dead--my very first indication that something was wrong with the big indies--late 2013. One of my first brand-name favorites)
Avalon (A Super-publisher. Some time ago but this hit me hard--absorbed by Amazon)
Helm Publishing, including Barkley ( Very recent self-destruct)
Juno Books (Dead—huge romance publisher--two years ago, imprint of Pocket Books—additional complaints about editorial staff—I won’t mention names)
Musa (Dead--negative publicity—producing too many books at once—fairly recent).
Totally Entwined (Finch YA line has been cut, recent).
Entranced (Sponsored novel contest with decent cash prizes—blew up right
afterward)
Month9 Books (Tanking or
tanked, royalty non-payment, staff-bullying)
Vinspire Press (No longer taking un-agented subs, recent)
Booktrop (Dead--very sudden collapse, recent)
Booktrop (Dead--very sudden collapse, recent)
