So Venus Press is defunct and not so much as an eyebrow raised within the e-book community?
I got this from Piers Anthony’s site:
“April 2007 update: the bad news just keeps coming, questioning the motives of the proprietor, whose own books may have received better treatment than those of other authors. Meltdown.
I say this with regret, as I was generally satisfied with the treatment of my own book: this answers the description of what in erstwhile science fiction fandom was called GAFIA, pronounced GAH-fee-a. That is, Getting Away From It All. When a fan got overwhelmed, he/she might simply abdicate, disappearing from the scene, letting obligations fall where they might. The proprietor seems to have gafiated. And finally, as March ended, the site went off the Internet. This looks like death.”
Apparently the owner just decided she’d had enough? Wow…
Not that I’m surprised, it was only a matter of time.
I have to say, it’s a shame for the authors who stayed with them out of misguided loyalty. Talk about being royally shafted.
Alessia Brio
May 27
10:53 pm
I wouldn’t say there weren’t eyebrows (or blood pressures) raised. The Yahoo!Group got rather ugly for a while back in January. Most of the authors, thanks to the tireless efforts of the second-in-command at VP, got the rights to their work back before the final crash — and most of it’s found new homes with other e-pubs. Phaze (my publisher) picked up a fair number of the orphans. Piers’ VP book (Relationships) will be reissued by Phaze in July.
Ann(ie)
May 28
8:34 pm
“So Venus Press is defunct and not so much as an eyebrow raised within the e-book community?”
Dunno about anyone else, but I wouldn’t even consider subbing to an e-pub that’s been in business less than three years. Too many go belly up in the early days due to cash flow issues, mismanagement and what-not. I’m not interested in the hassles that go along with a start-up.
Anonymous
May 28
10:30 pm
I had a feeling something was up when Tracey West announced her departure back in December. When one of their best selling authors announced soon afterward that she was pulling I figured it was time. Even before, though, I had contemplated asking for my rights back due to the lack of response there. I’ve since replaced all of my former VP works.
As for VP’s age, I had thought they had been around for more than three years. I don’t know all the details in involved, but the owner just simply stopped being responsive.
MERLIN
May 29
7:41 am
Apologies for the usual digression into the world of football but do we actually want Owen Hargreaves ?
M.
Karen Scott
May 29
12:58 pm
Merlin, I’ve never rated Hargreaves, so I’ll wait and see what he does. I didn’t rate him in the England side, and neither did anyone else until last year. I think the money could be spent better. He’s no Roy Keane is he?
MERLIN
May 29
2:03 pm
Exactly my reaction. I hope Fergie can see something that I can’t.
And who on earth is Nani ?
I like the Berbatov idea though : is it true or is it just a rumour ?
OK – back to the romance fiction.
Having agreed to read some Nora Roberts (for educational purposes of course) I’ve now been talked into reading “Sin Street” by Selah March.
If I’m not careful I’m going to start getting interested in this stuff !
M.
Karen Scott
May 29
2:47 pm
Oooh let me know what you think of both authors Merlin!
Nani is from Sporting Lisbon, but I have no idea about his pedigree.
I think Berbatov would be a great buy for us, he was awesome for Spurs this season.
But there’s also players like Darren Bent rumoured to be on our to-buy list. I guess we’ll have to see what Fergie does this year, but like Raffa Benitez said, getting in early is key!
Selah March
May 29
7:22 pm
Having agreed to read some Nora Roberts (for educational purposes of course) I’ve now been talked into reading “Sin Street” by Selah March.
Oh, good grief, like we don’t know who’s gonna win THAT cage match.
“In this corner, La Nora, Queen of Romance, weighing in at an amazing fifty-bajillion copies sold! And in this corner…some chick nobody’s ever heard of. What’s her name again? and she writes what now?”
And hey! I’m EDUCATIONAL, dammit! I’m all KINDS of educational.
*blows kisses to Merlin*
I love a man who’s willing to take a risk. 😉
Ann Wesley Hardin
May 29
9:50 pm
I want Merlin to read me now. Wah! But pit Selah against Nora first *gg*.
MERLIN
May 30
1:09 pm
I won’t be able to read either of them for a couple of weeks as I currently have my head stuck in a book by “another woman” who writes romance of the “old-fashioned” kind.
(Actually it’s more history than romance which is why I’m reading a “gurly book” in the first place).
M.
Erotic Romance Epublisher Comparison
May 30
5:32 pm
Indeed, they went belly up in January and the website went down in April. It was noted, without great surprise, at the time. They had a pretty mixed record from the start.