Publication of Collection Fell Through - AGAIN!

[Richard H. Fay]

Through no fault of my own, the forthcoming publication of my illustrated dark speculative poetry collection has fallen through yet again (grrrr). For the second time in as many years, my collection is suddenly without a publisher. The first publisher pulled out of publishing my collection in August '08 due to the material being too diabolic. This time around, although the collection was under contract, edited, and apparently ready for the layout process, the publisher involved just released the rights back to me. It seems she simply has too much on her plate to deal with everything, and my collection is one of the things being cut. This wasn't entirely unexpected news, but it's still incredibly frustrating.

Perhaps this collection is indeed "too diabolic", since it has put me through hell! I can't believe this has happened to me, to this collection, yet again. I want to start swearing up an absolute torrent, but I know it will do no good.

Chalk it up to the craziness of the publishing realm. Apparently, quality isn't really an issue in this case, since the collection had been accepted, had been under contract, had been edited, and was going to be published by the publisher in question, up until today. It's more a matter of luck, bad luck in this instance. Yes, luck does seem to have something to do with it, luck and the looniness that is the world of publishing. This collection might have been published almost two years ago, but for such looniness.

So, any of you publishers out there who haven't already pulled out of publishing my collection interested in publishing an illustrated collection of my dark speculative poetry, both previously published and previously unpublished material (poems and illustrations)? It's already in a pretty polished state. At least, that's what I was told. I've got at least one other place in mind, but I'm open to offers. Anyone? Otherwise, I may just consider doing something rather improper and shocking and self-publish the bloody collection (gasp).

[Scott M. Sandridge]

Ouch! I'm sorry to hear about that. Publishing can be a pretty crazy business sometimes.

[Richard H. Fay]

Ouch! I'm sorry to hear about that. Publishing can be a pretty crazy business sometimes.

Ouch is right.

Yes, publishing can be quite crazy at times, and I seem to keep running into this craziness on a fairly regular basis. A bit of sanity would actually be a nice change of pace right about now.

[Mike Griffiths]

How disappointing. I'm sorry for you man. If you just weren't so dog on diabolical. Good luck in the future. I'm sure you'll get it to press.

MDG

[Richard H. Fay]

Thanks!

Funny thing is, compared to a lot of horror writers out there, I'm not very diabolic at all. More often than not, I use quite a bit of restraint when writing my horror verse. However, some of the situations I present in my poems are definitely diabolical. Such things terrify me, so I use such things in my poetic tales of terror.

[cussedness]

IT is a beautiful book. Right now I am having to do all of my own layout and formatting and preparation to get things uploaded. Trying to justice to poetry is beyond my talents. My layout man has been having too many health issues to continue helping me with them. I really regret having to give up dreams of having a poetry line.

[Richard H. Fay]

I almost hate to say it, but as beautiful as it may be (in a dark sort of way), I'm seriously considering breaking up the collection if publisher number three doesn't show an interest in it. I queried, and now I'm awaiting a reply. If the reply is a "thanks, but no thanks, we'll pass on this", I'll probably send out some of the darker unpublished works to various zines, and add some of the less "diabolic" stuff to my other, rather ambitious collection-in-progress. I really don't know where else to consider sending the first collection, and I'm starting to wonder if it's even worth the time and effort to keep plugging away at trying to get it published.

My other option might be to self-publish the thing, but I don't know if I really want to go that route. Time and money considerations may rule that plan out, especially considering the extra work it takes to do the layout for poetry. Hiring a professional layout person is out of the question; I'm too much a "starving artist" to be able to afford it!

[Firlefanz]

Good luck this time, Richard. I's a shame you lost it twice around already.

*squeezes thumbs!*

[SJHigbee]

So sorry to hear about your disappointments, Richard. Fingers crossed that attempt no three comes through for you...

[Richard H. Fay]

Good luck this time, Richard. I's a shame you lost it twice around already.

*squeezes thumbs!*

Thanks!

I'm still awaiting a reply from publisher number three. I guess I just wait and see what happens. It does suck that this has now happened twice.

So sorry to hear about your disappointments, Richard. Fingers crossed that attempt no three comes through for you...

Thanks!

I hope attempt number three does work out, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm learning not to put a lot of faith in the publication industry. Too many dashed hopes and broken promises.