My Commentary on Prime/Wildside
Seems like recently several people such as Michael Cisco, Ben Peek, Leah Bobet, Samantha Henderson, Paul Tremblay, Richard Parks, Mike Allen, Yoon Ha Lee, Gemma Files, Catherynne M. Valente have come out to discuss their experience with Wildside Press and Prime Books.
I hate saying bad things, and normally I try not to.
But I was physically ill and suicidal in early 2006 and mostly thanks to the treatment my books have had from these people over the years. Have you read Lords of Rainbow? No? Maybe Dreams of the Compass Rose? Or Salt of the Air? You are a reader of my blog so at least you have heard of these books as I mention them (since no one else ever does). *rueful grin*
Guess what, if the three books combined have sold more than 500 copies since 2002 I will eat my shoe.
No review copies had ever been sent out except on my dime (when I was going through bankruptcy back in 2002 and using my food money for paying for copies) and a couple of special ones I begged for, cried for, wept for. The woes are too long to mention in a single post.
I really should just stop.
One last thing. Imagine yourself creating the work of a lifetime, taking several decades to make it as perfect as you can, giving it your heart and soul -- your all.
And then someone takes the finished product, smiles at you, then takes it out in the back, in a dirty alley on a trash heap covered with with flies, and just leaves it there sitting on an old crate, so no one will ever see it.
That's the treatment my books got at Prime/Wildside.
*addendum*
I have to mention, to be fair, they paid me more or less in a timely fashion.
But then, payment was never an issue. If you are "owed" 5 cents for that one lucky copy sold, and they pay you promptly after no promotion whatsoever, big deal.
I hate saying bad things, and normally I try not to.
But I was physically ill and suicidal in early 2006 and mostly thanks to the treatment my books have had from these people over the years. Have you read Lords of Rainbow? No? Maybe Dreams of the Compass Rose? Or Salt of the Air? You are a reader of my blog so at least you have heard of these books as I mention them (since no one else ever does). *rueful grin*
Guess what, if the three books combined have sold more than 500 copies since 2002 I will eat my shoe.
No review copies had ever been sent out except on my dime (when I was going through bankruptcy back in 2002 and using my food money for paying for copies) and a couple of special ones I begged for, cried for, wept for. The woes are too long to mention in a single post.
I really should just stop.
One last thing. Imagine yourself creating the work of a lifetime, taking several decades to make it as perfect as you can, giving it your heart and soul -- your all.
And then someone takes the finished product, smiles at you, then takes it out in the back, in a dirty alley on a trash heap covered with with flies, and just leaves it there sitting on an old crate, so no one will ever see it.
That's the treatment my books got at Prime/Wildside.
*addendum*
I have to mention, to be fair, they paid me more or less in a timely fashion.
But then, payment was never an issue. If you are "owed" 5 cents for that one lucky copy sold, and they pay you promptly after no promotion whatsoever, big deal.