I've been silent for a long time. More than a year. I've crossed my fingers and wished on stars and continued to have a positive attitude with the train wreck that is Ellora's Cave Publishing.
I sold them 9 books.
They published 9 books.
I was so happy!!!
Then they stopped paying me...........................
In any other business that's considered illegal.
Guess what? It's illegal in this business too but EC for some reason has decided they're immune to actually paying their authors. Have they paid some in recent months? Yep. Have they paid me. Nope.
So before somebody over there gets a bug up their ass this is my information. Mine. I'm not quoting anyone else, though I could. I'm not dragging the horrible treatment others have received into this, though I could. I'm going to tell you my story. All of this is fact. FACT. I'm not defaming liabling name-calling or anything else. I'm simply asking everyone, my fans, my readers and anyone else who finds this post NOT to buy my EC titles. I'll be removing them from my site as well. My books. How sad.
I've been patient. I've been nice. I've sat back and waited for EC to turn around and do what's right by all of the authors who believed in them. I truly no longer believe it's possible. I no longer believe in EC. How incredibly sad.
I haven't received payments for any books sold after the end of February 2015. Not a thing. Not a single penny has been sent to me for 9 books. So that's 11 months worth of sales I haven't seen. ZERO dollars for hundreds of thousands of words. Are you fucking kidding me??
Not even the common courtesy of a royalty statement was sent telling me how many books I sold / money owed me. Just unsigned email after unsigned email saying we don't care and if you don't like it sue us. Wow. Just wow.
So for months I did nothing, hoping it would get back to normal.
It didn't. Not ever. Though the hurtful treatment, the awful name-calling and the abusive treatment coming from a select few at EC has never ceased. Maybe if some people took that time they dedicated to throwing stones and put it back into the company so we could actually get paid I wouldn't be sitting here right now typing this and I could actually be doing something productive. LIKE WRITING!!!
With no payments forth coming no matter how many times there was promises, assurances, excuses and insincere words, my agent and I started officially requesting rights back to all of my books. Yes. All of them. Why? I'M NOT BEING PAID AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY BOOKS I'VE SOLD IN 11 MONTHS. Super simple, right?
Not so much. The emails go unanswered for months and months and months and when we finally do get an answer back it comes from another "unsigned" email account with a yes or no and some other blather about things they can't prove. They say I sold too many copies. How would I know? Seriously? HOW WOULD I KNOW WITH NO ROYALTIES AND NO STATEMENTS??
1. When questioned on specifics we're told the check is in the mail.
Sorry don't believe you.
2. Uhh....we had an accounting software issue.
This would make it #6,291 in the line of accounting software debacles that have caused delays in....everything. Try again.
3. We changed accounting software.
Really? With the same exact accounting issues showing up? That's unlikely.
4. Someone died.
MMkay, but that actually doesn't mean the business locks down and nothing goes in or out like the Willy Wonka Factory.
5. People were sick.
With what? Meningicoccalmoniastreporrhea?
6. You're asking contracts and we don't have access to royalty info.
WTF? But whether my rights are returned to me (contracts) is solely based on how many copies have sold (royalties). So what are the numbers?
We don't have them yet because checks haven't been cut.
*coughbullshitcough* Then how do you know how many copies I've sold in the last 12 months?
.......really...........long............silence..............*dial tone* If you've reached the operator in error please hang up and dial someone who cares.
So we've requested rights back again, and again, and...........you get the picture.
And there you have it. My last straw? When I sent an incredibly personal, heartfelt email beseeching them to do what is right. Pay me what you owe me and give me my books back. I've never once publicly bashed the company (that ship done sailed today) and I've never threatened them with anything. Not a thing. Not my corporate attorney, not with social media dispersment of the truth. Nothing. I've played nice. I've played by the rules.
No. More.
So......what does this mean for my readers? I am specifically asking you not to buy any of my 9 EC books. This includes all of the Members Only books, Buried Permission and Nico's Curse. I have lots of other books out and LOTS more coming this year.
To the new authors at EC - RUN!!!
Not walk, or even speed walk. Grab your shit and leave as fast as you can. They are not a reputable publisher. They've called us bad apples for months because we actually wanted to be paid or we wanted our rights back. Well guess what? At some point you'll want to be paid, too. Do not sign with them. Do not. We are leaving in droves for a reason. Lots of reasons. Thousands of rea$on$... And I'm sorry, you are not a special snowflake when it comes to them. You will get stepped on and thrown aside just as quickly as we were. Learn from us. Please. If even one person reads this post and doesn't pub with them then it will be worth it.
No business on the planet can withstand treating their contractors and customers like this. None. Well. Maybe if they were a Pro-Kink company and people paid them to be degraded and shit on. Oh that's right. You know what kink has that EC doesn't?
FUCKING CONSENT.
And I never once gave EC the right to treat me like shit. Never gave them consent to hold my 9 books hostage while they sent unsigned emails over and over again because they weren't brave enough to own their pile of vomit they were dragging each of us through.
To my EC editors and graphic artists and media gurus and every wonderful person I met at Romanticon - I adore you. Each and everyone one of you. I've learned so much from you and I have no idea when I'll ever be able to repay you. But I will somehow. I am a force to be reckoned with because of you. I am an author because of you and I will forever be grateful.
I am thankfully one of the lucky ones. I didn't let the shit storm that is EC fuck with my joojoo and writing muse. In 2016 I have no less than 15 things being published. 15!!!! From no less than four different publishers and I'm having a story published in the February issue of Penthouse Magazine. Why? Because I can and NO ONE will hold me back any longer.
Never Settle.
It's tattooed on my side for a reason.
Will the Members Only Series die? HELL NO!!!!
I love that series. I love my fans that love that series. I have 7 MORE books to write in it. Will I give one more word to EC? Not in this lifetime or the next. I will get my books back. They've chosen the hard way. OK. Their call. I did my best to play nice and see if they could be the stand up company I fell in love with several years ago. The company I wanted to write books for. They couldn't. And they can't prove me otherwise. Obviously. Since they've had months and months to provide it and they just....can't.
Plus the thought of them actually paying me what they owe me and giving me the rights back on all of my books is less likely than finding a rainbow-haired unicorn named JazzHands who shits skittles and dances to techno music every night at 9.
Why am I writing this now?
Because they no longer have any power over me.
Thanks for reading. You guys all rock some serious kinds of awesomesauce. Now, I'm going to find JazzHands.Toodles!!!
Disheartenly Yours,
Just Another Nameless Faceless Former Author from Ellor---oh no that's actually wrong.
I'm brave enough to actually put my name on this because I own every word of it!
*clears throat*
*grabs mic*
"Jennifer Kacey - peace out..." *drops mic*
Elite
Metal – Book one in the Elite Warriors Series
Elite Ghosts –
Book two in the Elite Warriors Series
Final Surrender
– The Surrender Series
Violet's Shadow –
The Shadow Mates Series
Aslan’s
Stranger – Fantasies A-Z Series
.jpg)
Jennifer Kacey is a writer, mother, and business owner living with her miniman in Texas. She sings in the shower, plays piano in her dreams, and has to have a different color of nail polish every week. The best advice she’s ever been given? Find the real you and never settle for anything less.
Website - http://www.jenniferkacey.com/
Newsletter - http://jenniferkacey.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=f09bd32b8c279cebcc930950e&id=2a45c210e8
Blog – The Decadent Divas - http://www.thedecadentdivas.blogspot.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.kacey.7
Facebook Author Page - https://www.facebook.com/jenniferkaceyauthor
Twitter - https://twitter.com/JenniferKacey
Amazon Page - http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Kacey/e/B00GXHUB30/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d9_al1?_encoding=UTF8&refinementId=618073011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0G8ZPDQJVKJPKXNBRY10&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846
Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6941549.Jennifer_Kacey
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jenniferkacey/
You are awesome! You have my complete support. I hope it all works out for the best. Never did understand the unsigned emails, either.
ReplyDeleteHow shitty is the no signature!! If you're gonna be a douche and not do anything you're contracted to do then not give me my rights back?? I'm done. They picked the hard way. I'll take it.
DeleteI wish you all the best with this fight. You deserve better. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melissa!! I won't stop til I get what I'm owed. Might take a while. No worries. I have time.
DeleteI know this may be incredibly naive, because surely, at this point, given what you've been through, you've addressed the option...of suing them for breach of contract?? You aren't the only one involved, so if its a money issue, band together with the other authors affected and bury them! I admire your tenacity Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteMy corporate attorney has been brought up to speed and we're determining the next step now. I have options and I'm not going to be quiet any more.
DeleteI hope your corporate attorney takes them for more than just the money they owe you because doing what they are doing causes more problems for you than just the missing money. Our books are our babies. How dare they do this to you!
DeleteKick their greedy, lying asses, Jennifer.
Delete<3 I've been hearing the same thing from other EC people. I'm so sorry it's happening to you.
ReplyDeleteBeen sooooo awful!!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see you taking a stand. I experienced this with a different publisher (the demon who shall not be named) and was thankful to finally get full rights back to my title. After I left, many authors followed suit. Long story short, it's painful now but it DOES get better. Best wishes to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's already better with how much I have coming out this year. Booyah!!
DeleteAbsolutely vile behavior from a supposedly reputable company. Sue the bejeesus out of them and kick dirt over that shit. Best of luck, hon.
ReplyDeleteI hope this post reaches the masses. Needs to be said and we need to be heard.
ReplyDeleteWE NEED TO BE HEARD!!! It's ridiculous what's happening and people keep forgetting. No more.
DeleteI sat next to one of their peeps at RT last year, chatting politely over lunch. She asked for my card, encouraging me to submit to them. My reply. "I don't think so."
ReplyDeleteThank all you brave authors who told your stories. I'm happily self-pubbed, but glad I wasn't the slightest bit tempted to let them waste my time!
Hope you get your rights back - breach of contract!
Self-pubbed is soooooooo awesome!!! Love the other houses I'm with too!!!
DeleteJenn, Feeling your pain (and living it too) but after all is said and done, I am so happy we met through this. You--and our fellow authors, editors and artists that came into my life through this baptism-of-fire experience continue to brighten each and every day.
ReplyDeleteYou know I love you!
I'm SOOOO thankful for meeting you. There are bunches of people I adore that I've met through my dealings with them. Adore you!!!
DeleteThis whole situation makes me so sad and angry for all of you. Not just because you're authors. Because you're humans and regardless of any "Company Issues"...you deserve to be treated with respect. Other than cussing up a storm on your behalf...it leaves me speechless. You've handled yourself with the utmost class. I...wouldn't have. Bravo and hugs, Gorgeous <3
ReplyDeleteSpeechless. Yes I am. It's unbelievable and in my opinion so needless. Adore you!! MWAH!!!
DeleteHugs, hugs, hugs, Jennifer. I'm so sorry that EC has completely imploded like this, and even though they were the first to ever get my money as an ebook vendor, they won't be seeing a penny more, ever. You all will rise above this!
ReplyDeleteI know!!! And they were THE publisher that I wanted to publish with. Then this. So sad!
DeleteFucking consent. LOVE IT!!! And I love you! Preach, sista!
ReplyDeleteI thought that was quite....inspired!!! Love you!!!
DeleteGo you!!! I'd once thought of submitting to them, but decided to aim higher. We work too hard at our writing and self-promo to be treated as if we are worth less than nothing.
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY!!!
DeleteThe same thing is happening to me only no lawyer will touch the case because either A) No idea of how much I am owed OR B) I can't pay anything up front.
ReplyDeleteThankfully I don't have that trouble. I have corporate attorney's for my day jobs and I'm pulling in the big guns now. I did the nice thing. I did the wait and see thing. I did the begging thing. The repeated emails. Beseeching. Got nothing but like it or sue us. Ok. I'll take option too.
DeleteAlso, check with Ann Jacobs. I believe she was looking into a class-action suit. Don't know where that stands at this time.
DeleteSorry this is happening, I've been hearing this about this company. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteSo awful!!!
DeleteYou are a rockstar, Jennifer! I loved your first post, and I love this one. They've been out of line for quite some time, and it's refreshing to see the authors speaking out against the injustice of the way they've been treated. I was warned away from submitting to them -- albeit as a nudge nudge wink wink type of deal -- a couple years ago, and my oh my am I glad I listened to the advice. I was so horrified to learn about the "Controversy" surrounding the lawsuit and then to hear that authors weren't getting paid, no author deserves that. Ever. Fingers cross, and good energy your way to get your babies (books) returned to you soon!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!! I'll win sooner or later. And I'm a patient girl. :)
DeleteIf nothing else, I'm so glad we met. That's all that can be said for the abusive business relationship we're trapped in. I've met such wonderful people.
ReplyDeleteExactly! And I thought about it before I posted this. Would I change it to get rid of EC but that would mean I wouldn't have met so many amazing people. I wouldn't trade that.
DeleteGO, JENNIFER!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteKnow you are not alone! Someday, your babies and mine will be liberated. Loved your post.
ReplyDeleteLove and hate that we are all in the same boat. It's ridiculous that they think it's okay and just keep doing it. Horrible! Thanks for reading!!
DeleteThis is such an awful situation. I absolutely loved your Members Only series and I hate that they will understandably not be available to readers for a while. I hope you can get your rights back soon. And I will continue to buy your other books. You are a terrific writer!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Rose!!! I hope it all gets handled soon. I have life to live!!!
DeleteYou are an incredible author and you will kick ass in spite of them. In the meantime, I will, as always, continue to support you.
ReplyDeleteI've heard bad things about Elora Cave Publishing. I checked them out because I thought or maybe I've heard that they are Canadian company. There's Elora town not far from where I live. When I checked their website, there seem to be some connection to Canada, but I coudldn't be too sure. Anyhow, I checked their submission page and they are pretty much telling you what kind of books they are looking for from the opening to the last page, well then, that kind of snuffs out the creativity. In that case why don't they write that book they want so bad? They didn't strike me as anything special to tell you the truth, then all this bad rep started to seep out and well, it all spun towards the drain. Staying away from them.
ReplyDeleteGOOD!!
DeleteWay to go lady! Proud to call you friend and will see you in San Antonio in a little over a month!
ReplyDeleteLaura_Topaz
SMOOCHIES!!!
DeleteSo sorry this is happening to you and so many others. The same thing happened in 2012 with Noble Romance. Promises not kept, emails unanswered, payments not sent and excuses such as new software, payments not in from third parties, then when authors complained, the CEO quit, and spent time on social media telling everyone she was "taking out the trash," in other words, unfriending most of the authors. The business was left to someone who didn't have a clue about the publishing business. He threatened authors, said he was "going to teach authors how to act," made a lot of promises he never kept, emails were insulting and belligerent, he refused to give rights back, etc. He went on Piers Anthony and said that no certified letters had gone unanswered, which was a bold faced lie. At least 130 authors reported sending certified letters, demanding their rights and royalties, and they, to this day, have gone unanswered. Thank God Noble Romance no longer exists.
ReplyDeleteA group of authors stood together and spread the word through social media, blogs, etc. That got his attention. Then we got letters from their attorney, who swore not paying us wasn't a breech of contract. The upshot was, when we all threatened to exercise the audit clause in the contract. Shortly after that, we all got letters stating they were returning our rights and shutting down, which they did. This went on for a year and a half, but we won.
We never got paid what we felt was owed. In our business, we have to depend upon the publisher to tell us the truth about our earnings. The publishing business can be a playground for disreputable people. They have all the records in their hands and when authors call them on their shortcomings, they turn things around on the authors.
Jennifer, I wish you all the luck, but get together with some of the authors, and audit EC. That'll get their attention.
It makes you wonder if some of the employees from Noble Romance have made their way to Ellora's Cave.
DeleteI heard that Jill Noble (under the name she's using now) was working at EC last year.
DeleteOh, this made me snort!
DeleteYou mean, like Jaid Black hiring Jill Noble?
If someone wrote this in a book, readers would complain of implausibility. How sad so many authors, editors, graphic artists, have been dealing with it for years--and years, and years, and years.
With how long it has already gone unanswered who knows how long until we get what we need.
DeleteI was one of those Noble authors and it was heartbreaking to be trashed by CEO #1 then treated like gum stuck on the bottom of CEO #2's shoe. He literally ignored me until I found out he sent my royalty report to someone else. He panicked and finally had to answer me because I accused him of playing fast and loose with my personal info. I was truly concerned about identity theft because if they could screw something that simple up, I was worried my SS# and other info was treated just as poorly. And then they had the nerve to have their lawyer say we'll give you your copyright back. WTF? They never owned the copyright and I couldn't get that through their arrogant thick heads. They really had no idea how the publishing industry works.
DeleteMy take on what's happening here is that EC knows full well how publishing works, they're just choosing to play by their own unscrupulous rules and hiring their own unscrupulous people (yes, at one point last year, Jill Noble was listed on their staff page - there ain't nothing noble about her). Well, that arrogance and ignorance will bite them hard on the ass - keep up the fight and know you have lots of support. The noise about their behavior and antics is growing to decibels too high to ignore anymore.
It'll take some time - unfortunately, not only are they unscrupulous, they are clearly stubborn. But eventually, they'll make a mistake they can't explain away by calling authors bullies and continuing their "poor us, we're the victims" games.
Wouldn't it be great if anyone who has bought one of your books since you stopped being paid turned the receipts in to you so that you would have some answers? Start showing those to Ellora's Cave and see if maybe they can figure things out. If they need someone willing to do virtual data entry, I'm more than happy to help out. They can contact me. Seriously. There is no justification for that kind of chaos...real or imagined. If you can't figure out the bookkeeping software, I can put it in a pretty easy to understand excel spreadsheet...by author. There is genuinely NO EXCUSE.
ReplyDeleteNone. We have some things in the works.
DeleteThere was also no justification for Ellora's Cave to "accidentally" lose customers' sales date for on-site sales when they did the "site migration." This was supposedly after an e-mail by Patty Marks to everyone swearing up and down that they had redundant backups.
DeleteOh, and it happened while they were in the middle of the Dear Author lawsuit.
Shocking I know.....=\
DeleteThat's my shocked face!
From a quick search, it appears at least one found an editing job at EC or back to EC. I seem to remember she worked their before Noble. I saw a dedication to her in a 2016 book.
ReplyDelete...worked there, not their. LOL
DeleteThat's why I left them, too. They stopped paying me. I have my rights back now, but it took a while.
ReplyDeleteWaiting any longer isn't going to work for me anymore.
DeleteWhat a lousy deal! I hope you've contacted Preditors & Editors so they'll put a warning on their website.
ReplyDeletehttp://pred-ed.com/
I'll look into it. Thank you! !
DeleteYour contract should state how long they will hold your rights. If the time is up, you should be able to get your rights back. I was with a publisher that stopped paying me when that date ended, even though they were still selling my books. When I questioned this on their author loop, the whole staff attacked me openly. They also tailored the contract about ebooks and then said "check here" if you want the book in print. They only paid their authors the same amount (not percentage) for print books as ebooks, and you know the price difference there. Sad days. Get your rights back, continue writing, and really question your next publisher on contract terms. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteDoing all of that and more. Diversification..
DeleteGood for you! 👏👏👏👏👏👏
ReplyDeleteYeah, those should be some clapping jazzhands! *applauding*
DeleteJazzHands!!!! Such an elusive unicorn! :)
Deleteyou go Jennifer--it is your work-- they need to pay you and let go of your material--
ReplyDeleteWill share this for you
Thank you! !!
DeleteSuch a crying shame
ReplyDeleteSeems so needless!
DeleteWishing you all the best as you work on getting your books back. Nobody should be treated that way. I look forward to your next releases.
ReplyDeleteThanks,Cathy!!
DeleteGood job lady! It is really disheartening to know that this nonsense is still happening. Here's to a kickass 2016 and many successful releases!
ReplyDeleteHere Here!!
DeleteI feel for you and other writers...this is a disgrace! I actually had an EC gift card....low and behold they changed their computer system and can't find the 50.00 card any longer....gosh what a surprise. I wish you and all the other EC former authors luck...and hope you reign supreme in this fight for yours.
ReplyDeleteThat is outrageous!!! SMH This world is built around customer service. Without it there is nothing but death of the brand. So sad...
DeleteI feel for you and I understand what you are going through cause I went through this with Red Rose. I never got the money they owed me but I was lucky enough to get my rights back for my book. This is why if I decide to publish anymore it will be Self Published. Good luck to you.
ReplyDeleteSelf Pub is awesome!! Learning curve is pretty quick and then you have complete control!
DeleteI am one of the newbie authors who had EC on their list to submit to. I am grateful to you and everyone who spoke up and stopped me from going down that route. It's scary-exciting to get your first book out there. Having to deal with the stuff you had to deal with might make many aspiring authors lose heart. Please don't lose yours. There's a war still to be won.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're going to find another amazing publisher!!! I won't lose heart. No one is making me lose my happy when it comes to writing!
DeleteGood luck, Jennifer. I bailed over a year ago, with a lot of unanswered questions, but six months after my request, my books were returned. I hope you're as lucky. Blessings to you... Denyse
ReplyDeleteKeep asking and keep getting a no you don't quality but we're not able to prove it. Wait til we get around to it or sue us. Are you kidding me?? So bad.
DeleteI only have one book with them but I have had EXACTLY the same experience with this horrible, disreputable, and dishonest publisher! I kept my mouth shut until now as well. They answer my last email by saying "sue us". So sad.
ReplyDeleteI only have one book with them but I have had EXACTLY the same experience with this horrible, disreputable, and dishonest publisher! I kept my mouth shut until now as well. They answer my last email by saying "sue us". So sad.
ReplyDeleteThat's it exactly! It's so ridiculous.
DeleteOne of the big reasons I haven't read the Members Only books is because, I was late to the Members Only party and by the time I arrived I didn't want to give EC any money. I think it is awful what EC has become. Not only treating their authors so poorly but others too. I used to love them and bought many a book, but nothing with an EC logo for a year now. I wish you much luck with getting your titles back. How dare they hold them hostage. In the mean time, glad you continue to write. Love the Elite Warrior series. Thank you/
ReplyDeleteLove the Elite series!!! And love that you still have MO to enjoy when I get them back and redistribute them. I'll make it happen!!
DeleteDear Jennifer, I'm so sorry you've been treated this way. And it's no comfort to know you're not alone. I'm one of their former editors, and I have not been paid my final $800+ for 14 months now. I too get nasty emails, so this is their way of communicating with people they no longer need or like. Please know, there's life after EC! I have a lot of work now, and hope to get more in the future. Two of my mentoring editors, who are no longer there either, were wonderful! "My" authors were terrific! And until the shitstorm hit, it was a great life! I hope you enjoy 2016 and all the success headed your way! <3 Hugs, Mary
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary!!!!! Life is already so much better but it would be REALLY great to actually have my money and my books back.
ReplyDeleteOmg! That sucks ass! I had issues with my company too (Eternal Press) at the first fricken book, so I knew it wasn't for me, and never published anything else with them. I'm on my 34th book, I write 3 pnr series, cont & hist(they totally missed out hahaha!) so I couldn't even imagine some shit like this! In my opinion you're completely tame, and dignified. I might have gone straight hood! Lol.
ReplyDeleteBoycott their asses to the fullest, and I will post this on every site I have!
Rock on, we're behind you!
Authors have to stick together!!!
Exactly!! We have to stick together. That fact that so many publishers have a history of doing things like this is unimaginable to me. I mean...WHY???
DeleteThanks for spreading the word!!
Ditto, ditto, ditto to everything you said - but I have 19 pieces of work with them - most full length novels. No payment for sales after February. No rights back though I keep asking. Their response is - sue us - but the cost and difficulty of that is immense. I have cried long and hard about this. Even if I asked readers not to buy my books, what is to stop EC saying I sold more than 100?? They have lied to us, promised to pay and haven't. I can't believe writers are still signing with them. So they are probably paying them at our expense. Just give me what you owe me and my rights back. You are pocketing my money and I'm so disappointed by your behavior, EC!
ReplyDeleteExactly. To all of this. It's ridiculous. I'm positive they are stealing from Peter to pay Paul. No doubt about it. It's reprehensible and I hope someone buries them.
Deletegonna throw this out here as an idea: take your nine manuscripts, find covers and self-publish. then dare them to sue you for breach of contract as their actions have been so egregious that i doubt they would follow through. that way, you screw them and make your money at the same time. two birds...
ReplyDeleteI've thought about it. But I haven't done anything that breaches the contract. And just because they have time and time again doesn't mean the contract is voided. And just putting mine up means there would be two of each and would completely confuse readers. Definitely not what I'm wanting to do!!
DeleteI am late to the party here, but I am so there with you. I am in a continuing battle with them dragging my rights back. I won't even confess how mnay titles I had with them. And still have that I can't get returned. My heart is with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, pretty lady!!! It just seems like such a waste of brain power for all involved. SMH. Will be very VERY glad when I'm done with them.
DeleteIf you're ever looking for a new publisher, I'm always looking for dedicated authors! I always send out royalties within 15 days of me being paid and tell you how many books you've sold as soon as I know. My contract even has a clause that gives you back the rights to your books if not paid for a sale within 6 months, specifically because of what I saw happening at EC.
ReplyDeleteCheck out Smutpire Press!
Thanks for the info!
DeleteHave y'all thought of contacting some of the news outlets? They are always looking for a new kind of story and a "BEWARE FUTURE AUTHORS" seems like one that they could run with. Possibly free advertisement for you and the end of EC as well as notice to other companies. Just a thought
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Debbie!!
DeleteWe readers are behind you Jennifer! Kick their asses!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane!!!
DeleteAuthors: a class-action suit is being put together. Reach out to Jeffrey Nye — jmn@sspfirm.com. Jeffrey's up to speed on the epic clusterfuck that is EC and he was recommended by Marc Randazza. If he's giving the guy the thumbs up, you know he's capable of suing their greedy, lying, sociopathic asses into the next century.
ReplyDeleteAlready in contact with him and another attorney in OH. :)
DeleteHow are things going? I just heard about Samhain closing down and googled EC....ive been aware of their assholness for years now. Very sorry to hear about your losses- its a violation of your creativity and I congratulate you on your ability to move forward ❤💙💚💛💜
ReplyDeleteEC is currently refusing to give me back the rights to my remaining 7 titles with the reason being they are all still selling too many copies. The amount they want to buy them back is ludicrous and I haven't seen any royalties paid since the royalties collected in July of 2015. So they're holding 11 months worth of royalties for ransom along with the 7 titles. It's. Ridiculous. And I haven't heard of ANYONE getting a check since January of this year. It's completely illegal and the only reason they're staying afloat is because they aren't paying us our money. Immoral bastards.
ReplyDeleteHey Jennifer! I'm so glad I Google'd "Ellora's Cave Problems" because this post was the first thing to come up in my search. I'm a long time erotica writer myself and have been seriously considering publishing for the first time (like doing my research on publishers and self publishing) and thankfully came across your fantastical blog pot. Even after reading EC's submission guidelines, there was a little red bell going off in my head and WAH-BAM!-- I find your story. I knew I read someone shitting on EC way back on a tumblr post earlier this year, and was shocked to discover how many people they're ripping off (and to think they have the FUCKING GALL to announce they're accepting new genres besides erotica. WTF?). As a (hopefully) future published author, I am rooting for you and your epic-ness in taking the bastards down, and if there's anything I can do, even if it's just to spread the word over and over again, I'd be more than happy to. I wish you much luck in this, my dear!
ReplyDelete*"...fantastical blog POST". Although this is a pot filled with amazing, down-to-earth truth people need to hear :)
DeleteIt's truly been unbelievable the amount of woo-is-me victim mentality they've tried to populate through social media. Amazing how quickly HUNDREDS of us can negate the bull they're trying spin. Been awful but my end game I believe is FINALLY in sight!!
DeleteSuper glad I could help!!
You should reach out to the other authors like Kim Knox who also hasn't been paid or gotten her 14 books right back. And start a multi-person lawsuit against them.
ReplyDeleteIf you all stand together, maybe you can take them out of the publishing world altogether.
I wish you luck!
Thankfully I have all my rights back now. SOOOO happy to be done with them!
DeleteI am going thru this very thing as well..no royalties, no answers.. can you help me? i'd love to add to the suit
ReplyDeletecolleen
Thankfully I got all my rights back several months ago and have republished all the books. I wish you lots of luck!
DeleteThankfully I got all my rights back several months ago and have republished all the books. I wish you lots of luck!
Delete