“Every single author who has gone on record trashing this company on the internet is in breach and has made my list.”
Monday, October 13, 2008Posted in: New Concepts Publishing, New Concepts Publishing behaving like fucktards
Ahhh Madris DePasture, she really is the gift that just keeps on giving.
Several people sent this rant to me yesterday, so I thought I’d post the salient bits on here. The e-mail was from Madris, to her beloved authors. Vidi:
For those of you who’ve been with us here at NCP for a while, you’ve very likely heard this speech before, but we have a lot of new authors now who haven’t, so please bear with me. I’ve recently had another nasty run-in with an author and felt like I should post something to explain since you’ve no doubt heard by now what a hateful, nasty bitch I am.
Damn, people are calling her a nasty bitch now? How verry dare they?
I’ve been accused of being blunt. I am. I don’t deny it. I’m southern born and bred, but I’ve got a good bit of the Scot in meβso, yes, I can be excruciatingly blunt. I am, have always been, and always will be as courteous, respectful, professional, and polite as I possibly can be, however, as long as I’m approached in that manner. I can, and will, be as mean, nasty, hateful, and rude as yoU can be, maybe a good deal more than you can, if you verbally attack me and insult me.
That’s the bottom line. Treat me as you would like to be treated. I expect it. I require it and as long as authors approach me with any question or doubt and treat me with the respect I deserve, I’ll respond as politely as I can. I don’t need, want, or expect brown nosing. I will not brown nose. I will apologize ONLY when I am wrong.
If I was a newbie author and I received an e-mail like this, I’d have to at least wonder what I’d let myself in for, but I guess the Desperate-To-Be-Published don’t give a crap as long as somebody’s willing to publish their work.
We’re always happy to get new authors and hope that they’ll be successful and sell many books. Authors should understand coming into this business, however, that we, as publishers, have no more control over how well you do, or how badly you do, than any other publisher. We try to take what you’ve produced and present it to our customers as appealingly as possible, but, in the end, the customers decide what they like, what they don’t like, and what they have no interest in.
Wow. Let us all marvel at her motivational and inspirational way of addressing her new authors for a minute…
Regardless, we have one of the largest customer bases in the business and it is HIGHLY unlikely that your book will sell better than it does at NCP. For those of you busy burning your bridges, keep in that mind and you should also keep in mind that I make it a policy never to do business with anyone I know will stab me in the back.
Your contract clearly states that you will support NCP and promote the company. Every single author who has gone on record trashing this company on the internet is in breach and has made my list.
And the sad thing is, her words will probably frighten some of her authors into keeping quiet about her ill-treatment of them.
I do realize that a lot of people are feeling the stress of the economic crises. Biting the hand that might feed you isn’t the smartest move you could make, however, and, as I told my last husband before I booted him to the curbβDon’t take out your frustrations on me. I won’t stand for it. I will try to help if there’s any way I can, but I’m not going to be your doormat or your punching bag. I don’t turn the other cheek.
As always, this material is Β© copyrighted by Madris DePasture and any reproduction in whole or in part is a copyright violation that will be reported. (KS: Oh goody!)
I bet her authors felt all lovely and warm inside after reading this latest rant.
Batshit isn’t the word. She might even be in the same league as The Vicious Rhinoceros and her side-kick.
Jaq
October 13
1:50 pm
I think this is what really incenses me when reading this latest example of ‘professionalism’ from Madris, the overall feeling of intimidation and disrespect.
Emmy
October 13
2:16 pm
I still don’t get how she has decided she can copyright a mass email, any more than an author talking about their experiences constitutes a slanderous breach of contract.
Blah?
JulieLeto
October 13
2:35 pm
I think that it’s very safe to say that at this point, anyone who continues to publish with NCP after all this looks utterly desperate and kind of pathetic–at the very least, to the readers who are online and who are following this train wreck. I’m sorry that your publisher is reflecting on you that way, but she is. I’ve read some of her emails…both sides…and in no way does she use rude language ONLY when the other person used rude language first. I just hope that newbie authors will do their homework and find out what sort of outfit they are selling their rights to. Unfortunately, they don’t. And IMO, there is nothing more pathetic than that. There are too many other publishers (even small presses) who at the very least, treat their authors with the utmost respect, even when things go south. It’s called professionalism and if this woman thinks she understands that concept…well, that’s a big indicator of how out of touch she is.
Teddypig
October 13
3:29 pm
Dani Harper moved to Cobblestone Press. Good for her.
I just worry about the writers.
Sparky
October 13
3:59 pm
Wow, that’s a special kind of special. I’m actually impressed. It’s rare you see one relatively small body of text with so much batshit in it.
Cher Gorman
October 13
4:54 pm
Thank you, Karen for posting that e-mail. She mentioned my name specifically in it as well. I am still stunned and reeling from this whole, horrible experience with NCP.
Cher
Kristie(J)
October 13
5:26 pm
Oh NOES!!!!!!! Not THE LIST!!
Honestly – how this person gets new authors to still sign with this whacked out company is mind boggling!!
And just out of curiosity ’cause I’ve never seen it – has she ever been wrong (in HER MIND) so that she has ever actually apologized?
Ciar Cullen
October 13
5:31 pm
Shades of Triskelion. Don’t get on that damned list of bad authors. Whooooo, very scary.
Citizens–You WILL support NCP and the company, or be reported and taken to the bad author island. I can hear it over the loudspeaker now…
Marianne LaCroix
October 13
5:33 pm
I am completely mortified that one of my publishers acts like this. No, I haven’t given them anything beyond the 3 works they hold prisoner. They refuse to let anyone out early….most likely because their entire site would be wiped clean of everything other than the owners’ titles.
And at this point, who cares if they make Madris’ LIST??? It isn’t as though she is releasing us from our contracts.
Ciar Cullen
October 13
5:34 pm
Oh yeah, and how the hell does she have the nerve to blame it on being Southern or Scottish? Guh, why am I asking…
Marianne LaCroix
October 13
5:37 pm
I live in the South and most people here bleed hospitality, not hostility.
She is shoveling pure crap and I take offense to her indication that Southerners are angry hicks.
kerry
October 13
6:19 pm
It really is a shame for authors who have books with her. I’ve seen some books on fictionwise that I would have loved to purchase, but if they are published with NCP, I refuse. They’ve lost any potential sales to me. I will not allow any of my money to support this woman and her intimidation tactics. I’m glad to hear that some authors are leaving and I hope that the ones who’ve been “blacklisted” find much success elsewhere with other decent publishing companies.
JulieLeto
October 13
6:26 pm
I think all the unhappy NCP authors should start a website called “I’ve Been Blacklisted by a Mad Publisher.” Get some promo mileage out of it…esp. if you have books available with other publishers.
Cher Gorman
October 13
7:16 pm
Hi Julie π
We actually already have a web site called New Concepts Peniteniary.
Cher
Cher Gorman
October 13
7:17 pm
Thank you, Kerry for your support. π
Cher
K. Z. Snow
October 13
8:36 pm
Hate to tell ya, but NCP still has some die-hard support among its authors. Beats me why, but I’ve seen evidence of it. (Then again, since entering the wild ‘n’ woolly world of e-publishing, a whole lot of attitudes that defy logic have induced me to scratch my head. Surprised I have any freakin’ hair left!)
K. Z. Snow
October 13
8:44 pm
So maybe it’s time for some physical attacks. π (Sorry, just noticed that line and couldn’t resist.)
Teddypig
October 13
9:10 pm
Kick her ass KZ!
K. Z. Snow
October 13
9:19 pm
I’ve never even published there, Teddypig, but now I’m probably on THE LIST, too! That oughta learn me not to have an unsanctioned sense of humor.
Tina Burns
October 13
9:29 pm
It’s unfortunate that this just continues to continue.
Maddie
October 13
9:29 pm
Knock it off K.Z. before she lawyers up and email you a threatening letter stating how you threatened her.
I’ve stopped ordering from NCP because of her and her crazy a** antics,
I did thought that the you get more flies with honey than vinegar came out of the south, I guess her crazy family didn’t get that memo
Ellen Ashe
October 13
11:24 pm
“Your contract clearly states that you will support NCP and promote the company.”
Yeah. What the contract DOESN’T say is that NCP will SUPPORT the author in any way what-so-ever. They don’t. They won’t. And if they feel like dropping your book they won’t hesitate and there’s not a damn thing the author can do. My lawyer found that out for me last March.
Ebony
October 14
1:30 am
What recourse do these authors have? Can they still write for other publishers?
theo
October 14
3:02 am
Methinks she’s been sniffing a bit too much of her own ink…
Kay Lloyd
October 14
6:22 am
As a buyer and reader, I’ve been following all this with great interest. I have to think that those who think they’re being treated well are deluded. Either that or they’re so intimidated they are afraid to “speak up” against the company.
Personally, I don’t care how well certain writers say they’re being treated. The overall unprofessional attitude of NCP has convinced me to never but another dime toward any writer while they’re still there.
Oh, and somebody please give the link to the New Concepts Penitentiary? I’d like to send cookies to the inmates.
JulieLeto
October 14
1:55 pm
Ebony, of course they can write for other publishers. They can’t take the books with them because they can’t get their rights back, but nothing should be keeping them from submitting elsewhere. (Unless they signed sucky option clauses, in which case…them’s the breaks.)
I’d really like to hear from those authors who think that their publisher’s behavior is okay. Any of them brave enough to post? (With a real name?)
Cher Gorman
October 14
2:12 pm
I have another e-publisher–Loose Id who have been wonderful. They send out royalty statements on time and a day or two later I receive a check. They answer any questions an author may have and do so in a prompt and professional manner. They have treated me and my work with respect from day one. They don’t jerk their authors around, they don’t play games. They have honor and integrity.
In regard to NCP and my book appearing on the Fiction Wise site. Fiction Wise did send an e-mail to NCP telling them to resolve the situation with me ASAP. Yesterday I received an e-mail from the NCP “author laison” who did not sign their name. I’m sure it’s Madris or Andrea. I’ve pasted it here. There was no statement about suing me for copyright infringement. They also attached a royalty statement. Will wonders never cease. NOW they want to send me a check!
“All sales reported on the royalty statement are sales final. This means sales weβve collected the money on. This also means that Distributor sales reported on the statements lag behind direct sales by one quarter. In other words, when our royalty statement reflects sales made during July, August, and September, the distributor ebook sales that also appear on that royalty statement are from sales made during April, May, and June.
There is a misconception among authors regarding the distributor sales ranking. On average, books do about the same amount of sales through the distributor as they do on our site. Occasionally, they wonβt do as well, and sometimes they do better, but typically, if your book sold 200 on the NCP site in its first quarter, you would be looking at sales around 200 in your first quarter on the distributor site.
If you have moved within this past year, please forward your address to us so we can send your check out.”
I also received an e-mail from Fiction Wise. This is what they had to say:
Cher,
“Fictionwise sends royalty reports to all partner publishers every quarter.
NCP will remain a Fictionwise partner publisher.
Thanks!
Best regards”
Thanks and Best Regards??? He should have just said BEND OVER!!
Cher
JC Wilder
October 14
3:27 pm
NCP isn’t the only publisher to corner the market on bad behavior though I have to say, this has hit an all time low. I was threatened with a lawsuit from another epublisher because I was ‘spreading malicious lies’ about them. I was then labeled as a ‘troublemaker’ and they proceeded to spread that little lie around.
All I did was tell the truth about MY experience.
Then one of their best selling authors (NYT author) removed all mention of them as a publisher from her website. She, too, has been labled a troublemaker…blah…blah…
But we’re still here…still writing… π
New Concepts Penitentiary – I’d like to knit them some socks please. π
Robin Bayne
October 14
4:00 pm
I got that same email Cher, and did not understand it. I assumed it was because my only title with NCP is now one of the famous “released” titles on their public notice.
Seeley deBorn
October 14
5:05 pm
I just can’t believe they still have “new authors” to send these things to!
Seeley deBorn
October 14
5:06 pm
I still can’t figure out where the comments are pulling that pic of me from!
NCPAuthor
October 15
2:37 am
I got that same email today. I got my royalty statement as well—-my quarterly earnings were about twelve bucks. I also got a statement with my entire sales record since the book’s release last year: I’ve sold only about 400 copies. Interestingly enough, Madris included a note with the statement that said 400 copies is “well above average sales for a contemporary”.
If 400 ecopies in one year is “well above average” for them, maybe that goes to show why they seem to be in trouble. 400 copies in one year is pathetic.
I am lucky enough to not to have sold NCP my print rights, and I have my sole title at NCP coming out today in print from a Random House imprint. (thank God). I’m not bound by any option clauses there either, and I have multiple books coming out from reputable publishers in the next year. I only signed w/ NCP in the first place because of bad advice from a bad literary agent (who I have since fired).
HelenKay Dimon
October 15
4:24 am
That’s just ridiculous not to mention highly unprofessional. Like Julie, I’m hoping this is a wake-up call and that people will stop signing on for this sort of treatment just to get published. Please take your work somewhere else.
Cher Gorman
October 15
3:14 pm
Writers and authors don’t sign with a publisher like NCP “knowing” they are going to get “the treatment” just so they can be published. That’s ridiculous! I certainly didn’t!
No author knows this going in. There are a lot of good, reputable, honest e-publishers out there like Loose Id, The Wild Rose Press, Amber Quill Press…that treat their authors very, very well. I mean with respect for the author and their work. And being e-published doesn’t diminish the quality of the author’s work even a little bit. Good e-pubs are looking for quality work as well as print publishers. Just because you’re e-pubbed doesn’t mean you’re desperate or that it was easy for you to get published.
Kate Duffy stated a few months back on the Fog City Divas blog that at first she thought e-pubs didn’t have what it took to compete with print publishers but she admits she was wrong. She said “There’s gold in them there hills.”
I do think that e-pubs are willing to take a chance on a new author when a lot of print publishers aren’t. And I think it simply comes down to dollars. Print is expensive, no doubt about it. Not to mention the number of people it takes to get a novel on a bookstore shelf. Being e-pubbed is a lot less expensive even though an e-pub does have expenditures in publishing –editorial and cover costs for instance. I was lucky and also blessed that Loose Id gave me my first chance at publication. Working with an editor is a phenomenal experience. My writer’s learning curve went way, way up. I learned so much with that first book. So when I received my edits on the second one they were so minor I couldn’t believe it.
After the little Rocky Horror Publishing Show I’ve been through with NCP, I had firmly decided never to send anything to any e-pub again–at least one I had never worked with before. Then two days ago I received an invitation to submit to Amber Quill Press. I am going to consider it because my book would not only be electronic but print as well. However, my most immediate goal is to submit to print publishers first and foremost simply because I want the pleasure of walking into a brick and mortar store and seeing my little story on the shelf. I do have a complete ms on a print publishers desk at the moment that I’m still waiting to hear from. It’s been there OVER 2 years! One good thing about an e-pub is that the wait time is a lot less.
Cher
Desiree (Anya)
October 16
12:29 am
Hi Karen, I’ve been away for some weeks and just got back online today, and one of the first things that hits my attention is this.
The thing that once again I find almost unbelievable is this publisher’s seeming shocked response to an author’s words. For months the NCP author promotion loop at Yahoogroups has seemed virtually suppressed to posts by those viewed as traitors. (The last time I recall trying to post was to express condolences to the news that another author had lost a family member, and even this was not allowed through.) And suppression isn’t enough, apparently, when even author blogs are vulnerable to the whims of you copyrighted my words forwarded to you! scenarios. With these kind of suppressive tactics in place, I have to ask: what other kind of response did this publisher truly expect from those under NCP surveillance? For people to lay down like sheep and let the truth be gagged? Over the last few months I’ve read the many posts Ms. DePasture has sent out on the loop. I don’t quote her, I don’t re-post her words, I don’t distribute her posts. But I am one of those indeed fed up with what I feel is a practice of high-handed and hypocritical behavior. I may be wrong, but this is the feeling that her general tone leaves me with.
For my part, I did not promise, vow or agree to support the company, New Concepts Publishing. In my contract I agreed to promote my book, which I did. I therefore resent being reprimanded for not fulfilling a clause for which I did not agree to. Also, being a woman born and bred in the South, the sentiments and accusations reflected in Ms. DePasture’s latest post does NOT reflect the behavior and decorum that I was taught is the mark of a lady, whether that lady be Southern, Scottish or any other place on the planet.
Cher Gorman
October 16
5:03 am
Desiree (Anya) I have lived in Colorado for 21 years but I was raised in Georgia. I completely agree that no well bred Southern woman conducts herself in such a vitriolic manner. Or as you said neither Scottish or any other nationality would respond in such an unprofessional manner.
Cher
Desiree (Anya)
October 16
7:51 am
I should have edited myself better there, Cher, and said “from any other place on the planet.” But thank you, and am glad you understood what I meant. As I’ve said many times before, I’ve now proved again that yes, authors DO need editors LOL
BTW, I lived in Valdosta, GA for a time when I was a child π
Cher Gorman
October 16
1:22 pm
Anya, I actually went to college there my very first quarter away at school–1974. Whew! A long time ago.
Cher
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6:11 pm
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I wouldn’t have even noticed the publisher a couple of months ago, but all this NCP nonsense lost them a sale. I was wondering if they’d reformed, but seeing this makes me glad I didn’t buy the book. I feel bad for the author who lost a sale though. It might have been a better book than the one I did buy. π
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sexii_back_gurl
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1:29 am
Oh wow! So I’m going through this site and I crashed into that logo about NCP and then clicked on it. Never expected that. That email is absolutely terrifying!
She says she’s from the south? Holy hell I’ve met TONS of southern women and none of them are like that. They don’t take crap from anyone but they are more polite about it. Damn–is it me or can anyone own a business these days?