Usually I love Google Maps and its Street View function. Not tonight. I was screwing around, and learned that Google Maps can now put me on the road in front of my childhood home (which is a stretch considering it's a dirt road in the middle of nowhere).
I shouted something unintelligible at my husband, in that weepy 'I've got a cane toad in my throat' kind of way. He must've thought I was nuts, sitting here pointing at the screen, trying not to laugh and sob at the same time. After three tries, he finally understood what I was saying. Poor man. I don't think he quite knew what to do with me at that point.
You know, I'd think it was pretty cool, but seeing the old home place - the tree my sister and I planted as children, the place where we buried the dog, and all the little touches that are missing now that someone else lives there - it was a little too much.
The arborvitae I planted for my daughter when I was pregnant is gone. The older one that marked the entrance to our driveway - the one that snapped in half during the worst ice storm I can remember - is missing, too. Someone took my mother's honeysuckle bushes, where I used to pick 'poison berries' for my potions and as a lovely additive to my mud pies, and hacked them down to minuscule size. They probably needed pruning, but now that part of the yard just looks weird. The new owners added a rail to the front porch where there never was one. That was probably was needed, too. My mother always warned us to be careful. Except they didn't bother with place where Janet fell off and broke her arm.
The youngish black walnut tree in the front yard is huge now, but the maple beside the house was cut down because it was ruining the roof. (I'd heard about that one years ago, so not a huge shock.) And someone painted the chicken coop red. My dad's bait shop sign that hung above that door is long gone, although not quite as long gone as the shop itself.
All in all, it looks like a nice country house. The new owner has kept up the yard and taken good care of the house. But it doesn't look like my house anymore. Maybe because it isn't. My parents sold the place and moved in 2000. I was the last one out. Thank goodness I made it back to my car before I started crying.
I lived in that house from the time I was two until I was eighteen and then off and on for the next twelve years. Even after I bought my own house, that place was still home. Maybe it always will be. Or maybe its place in my heart will be supplanted once my husband and I buy a home of our own. Time will tell.
You can never go back, you know. But I keep trying. I think part of it is that I'm trying to reclaim memories I lost. Or perhaps a part of me longs for that point where life was as easy as those summers I spent wandering through the countryside with my dog, eating nuts and berries and wild grapes where I could find them. And when my biggest worry was whether I had gone too far to make it home by dinnertime.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Books I Never Read, But Probably Should've
Over at Janet's Journal this morning, my blog buddy Janet was talking about Children's Literature - what's she's read and what she hasn't. Combined with a post over at Jennifer Lyon's blog - wherein she mentioned loving a character name from a JD Robb novel - I got to thinking about the famous authors and classic novels I've never read that I probably should've by now.
These are the books and/or authors I've never read - some of which I plan on rectifying once I get some time:
JD Robb / Nora Roberts - she's only one person (albeit a hugely prolific one), but I'd like to read at least one of each of her personas
Stephanie Meyer - I've never had the urge to read the Twilight series, but The Host sounds interesting, and I suppose I really should see what all the hubbub is about with her big money books.
Scott Westerfeld - from everything I've heard I'm doing myself an injustice by missing out on his spectulative series. Uglies is definitely on my To-Read list.
Jane Austen - I've tried. Really I have. I just can't make myself get farther than a third of the way through anything I've picked up by her.
Mark Twain - Somehow, somewhere along the way I skipped reading any of his books. Seen the movies, but never read the novels. I did read one of his short stories, though.
Jean Auel - at some point, I am going to read Clan of the Cave Bear if it kills me.
Don Quixote - I've seen the play. Hell, I can probably sing most of the songs from it all the way through. I just need to get off my ass and read the book.
Mario Puzo - He's sold tons. Millions of readers can't be wrong.
John Michener - Ditto
Ivanhoe - because, come on, I love the period, and the theme of the book is right up my alley
Louisa May Alcott - I must be the only female above the age of 14 who hasn't read at least one of her books
Joseph Conrad - I've heard conflicting reports on his books, but I did enjoy the movie Lord Jim (well, most of it).
Moby Dick - Call me Ishmael. If Matilda can love it, why can't I?
Matilda - I loved the movie. I really need to read the book.
Oscar Wilde - the man's sense of humor calls to me - I can't think of why I haven't read him yet.
The Rabbit novels by John Updike - recommended to me twenty years ago
Robinson Crusoe - given the fact that I tried to write this book when I was four (by copying it onto loose leaf paper), it's sick that I haven't ever read more than the first page.
DH Lawrence - especially Women in Love, which was given to me by the best English professor a young wannabe writer could ever need
Edgar Rice Burroughs - Tarzan? Gods of Mars? What's wrong with me?
Andre Norton - I did read her MG novel Star Ka'at, but she wrote so many great books
Tolstoy - I've read longer books.
Anthony Trollope - I've read some quotes from this guy that make me want to see what his fiction is all about
Wuthering Heights - another book I tried to read and failed.
Charles Dickens - well I read The Mystery of Edwin Drood, but it's so odd I think I should try something else by him
Peter Pan - a case of love the mythology of this world, but never read the book
Anne of Green Gables - because my daughter loved it so
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco - from everything I've read about Eco, I really don't like the man, but the movie from this book was awesome, so I better read the book. (I'm a sucker for Sean Connery - even if he plays a monk.)
The Lord of the Rings - I haven't read Tolkien other than The Hobbit - which I loved - and the beginning of The Silmarillion - which I hated.
So, I guess in this month of resolutions, I should commit to reading some of these. Tell ya what, I resolve to read five of these books this year - more if I get a chance, but definitely five. If I think of anything else I'll let you know. If you think I missed anything, let me know. K?
What books haven't you read that you feel like you should've? Anybody willing to commit reading five of their own missed books this year?
These are the books and/or authors I've never read - some of which I plan on rectifying once I get some time:
JD Robb / Nora Roberts - she's only one person (albeit a hugely prolific one), but I'd like to read at least one of each of her personas
Stephanie Meyer - I've never had the urge to read the Twilight series, but The Host sounds interesting, and I suppose I really should see what all the hubbub is about with her big money books.
Scott Westerfeld - from everything I've heard I'm doing myself an injustice by missing out on his spectulative series. Uglies is definitely on my To-Read list.
Jane Austen - I've tried. Really I have. I just can't make myself get farther than a third of the way through anything I've picked up by her.
Mark Twain - Somehow, somewhere along the way I skipped reading any of his books. Seen the movies, but never read the novels. I did read one of his short stories, though.
Jean Auel - at some point, I am going to read Clan of the Cave Bear if it kills me.
Don Quixote - I've seen the play. Hell, I can probably sing most of the songs from it all the way through. I just need to get off my ass and read the book.
Mario Puzo - He's sold tons. Millions of readers can't be wrong.
John Michener - Ditto
Ivanhoe - because, come on, I love the period, and the theme of the book is right up my alley
Louisa May Alcott - I must be the only female above the age of 14 who hasn't read at least one of her books
Joseph Conrad - I've heard conflicting reports on his books, but I did enjoy the movie Lord Jim (well, most of it).
Moby Dick - Call me Ishmael. If Matilda can love it, why can't I?
Matilda - I loved the movie. I really need to read the book.
Oscar Wilde - the man's sense of humor calls to me - I can't think of why I haven't read him yet.
The Rabbit novels by John Updike - recommended to me twenty years ago
Robinson Crusoe - given the fact that I tried to write this book when I was four (by copying it onto loose leaf paper), it's sick that I haven't ever read more than the first page.
DH Lawrence - especially Women in Love, which was given to me by the best English professor a young wannabe writer could ever need
Edgar Rice Burroughs - Tarzan? Gods of Mars? What's wrong with me?
Andre Norton - I did read her MG novel Star Ka'at, but she wrote so many great books
Tolstoy - I've read longer books.
Anthony Trollope - I've read some quotes from this guy that make me want to see what his fiction is all about
Wuthering Heights - another book I tried to read and failed.
Charles Dickens - well I read The Mystery of Edwin Drood, but it's so odd I think I should try something else by him
Peter Pan - a case of love the mythology of this world, but never read the book
Anne of Green Gables - because my daughter loved it so
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco - from everything I've read about Eco, I really don't like the man, but the movie from this book was awesome, so I better read the book. (I'm a sucker for Sean Connery - even if he plays a monk.)
The Lord of the Rings - I haven't read Tolkien other than The Hobbit - which I loved - and the beginning of The Silmarillion - which I hated.
So, I guess in this month of resolutions, I should commit to reading some of these. Tell ya what, I resolve to read five of these books this year - more if I get a chance, but definitely five. If I think of anything else I'll let you know. If you think I missed anything, let me know. K?
What books haven't you read that you feel like you should've? Anybody willing to commit reading five of their own missed books this year?
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Stylish Blogger Award
1) I'm 5'7 3/4" - but I tell everyone I'm 5'8. In fact, I always thought I was 5'8 until they measured me in the hospital. Maybe the accident shrunk me a quarter inch.
2) I still think of myself as short because my four siblings are all taller than I am. So's my mom. And my father was taller than me, too. Even my youngest nephew is taller and he's like 13. The only family members who are shorter now are the great-grand nephews, and my one niece who was stunted as a child due to medical problems.
3) I had a mid-life crisis on my thirtieth birthday. It lasted about an hour. In Vegas, getting ready to go clubbing, I suddenly realized I wasn't young anymore. I went through every outfit I had in my suitcase - mixing, matching and rejecting. It ended when I accepted I wasn't going to look like the glamor girls at Studio 51, and that was fine by me. I ended up dressing for comfort instead of style and had a blast.
4) I have a mole on the bottom of my foot, but I can't see it anymore because my leg doesn't bend that way. (At least, I hope it's still there. :wink:)
5) I secretly love South Park and I watch it whenever my husband goes to bed first. "OMG, you killed Kenny. You bastard." ROFL
6) I'm absolutely neurotic about keeping my hands from getting too dry. I have lotion in my purse, in my car and five different kinds in my bathroom, so I'm never too far from moisturizer. My favorite is Suave Advanced Therapy.
7) I'm one of the approx. 25% of head injury cases who wind up with heterotopic ossification. Basically, this means that while my brain was spazzing out, it grew bone inside the soft tissue of my thigh and hip. My x-rays look freaky, but you can't tell unless you touch right where it's at. Yep, people, that rock hard thigh is not from working out.
So, there's seven things you didn't - and not have wanted to - know about me. I don't usually return the favor by passing out these awards. Suffice it to say that all my visitors are Stylish Bloggers. (I mean, they come by here, so they have to have style. Right?) Give yourself an award for being a stylish group of people.
=o)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Query Mistakes
The other day I saw this link to an article about query mistakes. It's got some pretty good information in it, so I thought I'd pass it along.
The Biggest Mistakes Writers Make When Querying Literary Agents
Over the course of my querying, I've made several of these, but not in a long time. Here's hoping I'm not making them unconsciously. And here's to never making them again.
If you're out there in the query trenches, good luck to you. I'll be jumping back into the foxhole shortly.
The Biggest Mistakes Writers Make When Querying Literary Agents
Over the course of my querying, I've made several of these, but not in a long time. Here's hoping I'm not making them unconsciously. And here's to never making them again.
If you're out there in the query trenches, good luck to you. I'll be jumping back into the foxhole shortly.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Don't Spend Your Life Weeping for Things Lost
I woke up this morning with things aching that haven't ached since the last big snow of last winter. Shoveling snow will do that to a person. Of course, it never helps that I broke my collar bone 17 years ago... Seventeen years ago today, in fact. At about this time (because it's two hours later in Michigan). Maybe the pain is a sense memory of that day. If so, it would be the only memory I have from that epic body-smooshing, brain-bruising car crash.
But I don't want to dwell on that. It happened a long time ago and I'm not the same person I was then. Seventeen years has a tendency to do that to most everybody, but it was a quicker process for me. In fact, by the time I came back into my head on January 24th, I was already a fairly changed woman. Smooshing and bruising will do that, too.
I guess what I wanted to say, in relation to that, was don't spend your life weeping for things lost. Nothing gets accomplished that way. I could've sat on my ass, let everyone do everything for me, and bemoaned my fate. Lord knows, enough people wanted me to*. If I'd done that, though, I'd still be walking with a cane and working as a clerk in some plant store in Michigan.
And if I spent my time crying about the things lost in my writing, I'd still be sitting with one book finished and another half done because I just couldn't make myself write in the face of all that rejection.
Just like making myself learn to walk right again, the process is so painful sometimes I want to lay down and cry. Just like re-learning my multiplication tables again, the process is often so frustrating I want to scream and thrown things. And just like the night my then boyfriend admitted my shiny, red scars made him nauseous, the process can be so disheartening I want to curl up in a ball and quit trying.
Acknowledge the pain and move on. Acknowledge the frustration and move on. Curl up in a ball, if you have to, and cry until your chest aches - but MOVE ON. No matter how hard it seems, moving on is the only path to succeeding.
Because if you do spend your time weeping for all the things you've lost, you might miss your chance for something really great.
Onward and upward, Folks. There's nothing to see back there.
*Not my family - who were totally awesome through the whole damn thing.
But I don't want to dwell on that. It happened a long time ago and I'm not the same person I was then. Seventeen years has a tendency to do that to most everybody, but it was a quicker process for me. In fact, by the time I came back into my head on January 24th, I was already a fairly changed woman. Smooshing and bruising will do that, too.
I guess what I wanted to say, in relation to that, was don't spend your life weeping for things lost. Nothing gets accomplished that way. I could've sat on my ass, let everyone do everything for me, and bemoaned my fate. Lord knows, enough people wanted me to*. If I'd done that, though, I'd still be walking with a cane and working as a clerk in some plant store in Michigan.
And if I spent my time crying about the things lost in my writing, I'd still be sitting with one book finished and another half done because I just couldn't make myself write in the face of all that rejection.
Just like making myself learn to walk right again, the process is so painful sometimes I want to lay down and cry. Just like re-learning my multiplication tables again, the process is often so frustrating I want to scream and thrown things. And just like the night my then boyfriend admitted my shiny, red scars made him nauseous, the process can be so disheartening I want to curl up in a ball and quit trying.
Acknowledge the pain and move on. Acknowledge the frustration and move on. Curl up in a ball, if you have to, and cry until your chest aches - but MOVE ON. No matter how hard it seems, moving on is the only path to succeeding.
Because if you do spend your time weeping for all the things you've lost, you might miss your chance for something really great.
Onward and upward, Folks. There's nothing to see back there.
*Not my family - who were totally awesome through the whole damn thing.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
When Does Research Become Stalling?
I have 10-15K left to write on UEQ. I have queries to send out for DLN. And I'm committing myself to finding a home for several of my older manuscripts. (I also have a boatload of housework to do and a pile of books to read, but that's just added stuff I don't want to think about.)
What did I do yesterday? I researched ebook publishers. Well, I started out just doing some simply research, which then turned into writing a big huge helpful post for other writers in my position (because, ya know, I didn't find a single site that gave me everything I wanted from a list of ebook publishers, so I, like, made my own.)
Okay, so I didn't look very hard for an adequate list. I googled epublishers a couple of different ways, taking the first few lists and running with them. As I went down lists of links, I found too many broken links and too many others who simply weren't accepting submissions, which lead me to the post I worked on yesterday.
Anyway, the point I was trying to make was that at some point along the way, I think my researching might have turned into stalling. I took a simple task - to collect links for myself - and turned it into an all day event that isn't even finished. Or rather Day One of an ongoing event that could distract me for an untold amount of time. I mean, kee-ryst, I spent almost an hour reading 7 pages worth of a forum where people venomously either attacked or defended one publisher in particular. Talk about unproductive - for me and for them.
At the time, I thought I was being productive, but looking back now, I think I was just stalling. The problem now is, I still need to do the research whether I'm subconsciously stalling or not. Ack. Oh, the workings of the sometimes neurotic mind.
Ever get tangled up in research only to realize you're probably stalling? How do you balance necessary research with unnecessary avoidance of the real work? Any hints and tips will be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and a big shout-out to the members of My Posse - new and old. Howdy, folks, thanks for being here. And for the newcomers, welcome to The Spectacle. Feel free to wander around, read a few old posts, and enjoy the mayhem.
What did I do yesterday? I researched ebook publishers. Well, I started out just doing some simply research, which then turned into writing a big huge helpful post for other writers in my position (because, ya know, I didn't find a single site that gave me everything I wanted from a list of ebook publishers, so I, like, made my own.)
Okay, so I didn't look very hard for an adequate list. I googled epublishers a couple of different ways, taking the first few lists and running with them. As I went down lists of links, I found too many broken links and too many others who simply weren't accepting submissions, which lead me to the post I worked on yesterday.
Anyway, the point I was trying to make was that at some point along the way, I think my researching might have turned into stalling. I took a simple task - to collect links for myself - and turned it into an all day event that isn't even finished. Or rather Day One of an ongoing event that could distract me for an untold amount of time. I mean, kee-ryst, I spent almost an hour reading 7 pages worth of a forum where people venomously either attacked or defended one publisher in particular. Talk about unproductive - for me and for them.
At the time, I thought I was being productive, but looking back now, I think I was just stalling. The problem now is, I still need to do the research whether I'm subconsciously stalling or not. Ack. Oh, the workings of the sometimes neurotic mind.
Ever get tangled up in research only to realize you're probably stalling? How do you balance necessary research with unnecessary avoidance of the real work? Any hints and tips will be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and a big shout-out to the members of My Posse - new and old. Howdy, folks, thanks for being here. And for the newcomers, welcome to The Spectacle. Feel free to wander around, read a few old posts, and enjoy the mayhem.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
ePublishers
I always thought this would be one of those 'drag me kicking and screaming' kind of things, but I made the decision to research e-publishing with a mind toward getting something published. (Yeah, yeah, Kristen, I know.)
In the spirit of helping out my fellow writers, I thought I'd compile some links as I go along - because why should I make other people reinvent the wheel, when I'm perfectly willing to reinvent one myself. Below is that reinvention - hopefully with some added value people might appreciate. (Italics are their words, and the regular print after is my thoughts, for whatever they're worth.) I tried really hard to make sure these were actual publishers - you know, the ones who pay you - but if you see one that doesn't belong, please let me know.
(ETA: I just found the link to EPIC - the Electronically Published Internet Coalition (or Connection, depending on where you look) - who seems to be a watchdog group for ePublishers. If you're concerned about anything you find at any ePublisher, please contact these folks. It looks like they know what they're doing. YMMV)
In no particular order*...
Samhain Publishing - Samhain Publishing is now open to general submissions of all genres of romance and erotica, as well as fantasy, urban fantasy and science fiction with strong romantic elements. We are refocusing our efforts and will no longer be accepting submissions in other genres for the time being, including women’s fiction, chick lit and young adult. (Since my work doesn't have strong romantic elements, this one isn't for me - even if I wish they were.)
AKW Books - Quality new eBooks at low prices. (I tried to find some 'about us' type page, or even a paragraph talking about what they do, but I found nada. (Okay, so I didn't look for more than a few minutes. I'm committed to doing this, but let's get real.) They look legit. The only wrinkle I saw is that they require authors to provide all their own artwork - including the cover. They do have an interesting blog.)
Aspen Mountain Press - Aspen Mountain Press is seeking stories in all genres. Please know we will not accept manuscripts that encourage racial / religious intolerance, illegal acts, or abuse. Beginning with a minimum word count of 20k and extending to 90k creative, unusual, well-written stories that draw the reader into your world will garner our attention. We especially like tales that cross genres; for example a science-fiction mystery.We only contract COMPLETED manuscripts and do not accept proposals from authors unknown to us. (That last part shoots me in the ass, but maybe one of you is known to them. If so, good luck.) Additionally: Aspen Mountain Press will launch its new Aurora Regency imprint on October 15, 2010! Aurora Regency at Aspen Mountain Press is a line devoted to Regency romance. Traditional Regency romances, as exemplified by Georgette Heyer’s work, are first and foremost historical fiction about a very specific (and short) era.
Whiskey Creek Press - Whiskey Creek Press is a royalty-paying traditional publisher of fiction and non-fiction, and we publish in ebook and trade paperback formats. WE ARE LWAYS OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS. Whiskey Creek Press charges NO fees of any kind to authors for publishing services. Editorial service, cover art design and production, paperback set-up fees, and ISBN numbers are provided at absolutely NO fee to our contracted authors. WCP authors may purchase copies of their print books at a substantial discount off the retail price. WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS IN ALL FICTION GENRES. WE ARE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN ALL GENRES OF ROMANCE, SCIENCE FICTION, AND FANTASY. (Seems like a good one. All I need now is a business plan. Spin it, Salesgirl. Spin it.)
Atlantic Bridge - a full service, royalty paying e-publisher. Our doors have been open since February 2000 and through these past years, our focus has remained the same. That focus is to publish the highest quality books from the most outstanding authors we discover. We are looking for manuscripts from creative writers of fiction genres such as Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, along with Celtic stories of myth and legend. We are looking for that "something different", that "something unique" which doesn't fit into the mold or stands just outside the box. We are looking for those works which create a paradigm shift within a genre or sub genre. (Closed to submissions. Check back with them for updates.)
Awe-Struck Publishing - Awe-Struck Publishing was founded in 1998. Awe-Struck was acquired by Mundania Press LLC in January 2009. (Closed to submissions. Check back with them for updates.)
Blade Publishing - DOA
Bluewood Publishing - an international full royalty paying publisher. Providing your manuscript meets our submission quality and content criteria, we will edit it with you, design a cover, and publish it on the major e-book retail sites. All we ask is that you actively get involved with promoting your book and we will help you to do this. We are always on the lookout for quality submissions of any length, from short stories with a minimum of 3,000 words up to full length novels. We will not consider works of less than 50,000 words for printing. Bluewood Publishing is a royalty paying publisher, and the services we provide are not charged to the author. Please ensure your manuscript meets the following guidelines. (These folks are in New Zealand - which may or may not be a bad thing for us Yanks. I really like their site and their business model, so they may be worth a go, even if currency exchanges could make payment a pain in the wazoo.)
Virtual Tales - a US-based publisher of print, eBook and serialized novels and novellas spanning a variety of fiction genres and styles. We are currently looking for talented authors, editors and artists to help us add to our fiction catalog. (Another one looking for a marketing plan. Paging Dr. Spin.)
Calderwood Books - Good readers deserve good books. Calderwood Books chooses its books because they are enjoyable reads, not because they fit marketing profiles. We welcome cross-genre books and those that don’t fit into whatever is the current print-publishing fashion. Don’t form expectations about what you will find here. (Some of the books in their catalog look interesting. I'm not sure how any of my works would fit into their current listings, but it might be worth a shot. Closed to submissions. Check back with them to see if they're open.)
Champagne Books - Champagne Books publishes novel length fiction in both electronic and trade paperback formats. While we are happy to look at all genres we have a specific interest in: Contemporary Romance, Time Travel Romance, Historical Romance, Science Fiction/Futuristic, Fantasy, Steam punk. (Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (ahem, if you're out there, Natalie, lookie here) Aside from being out of the US, they seem like just the right place for my stuff. We'll see what further research reveals.)
Club Lighthouse Publishing - Not really sure about this one. Their site won't let me copy anything that might urge you to hop from here to there. Suffice it to say, they looked good enough for me to put them here. (And no, I haven't put every site I find on here.) They look to be either Canadian or British - since their guidelines say that they accept US English, they will change it over to their spellings.
Colvin Publications Pty Ltd - DOA
Double Dragon Publishing - We welcome submissions from new, unpublished authors as well as from those well known to the public. We also welcome authors who do not enjoy the services of an agent.We are currently accepting only SCIENCE FICTION, including Hard (Science) SF, Space Fiction, Sci Fi, Future Fiction, Lost Civilizations, Utopias, Distopias, Disaster Novels, Alternate Histories, Time Travel, Parallel Worlds, etc., and FANTASY, including Myth, Legend, Fairy Tales, Traditional Fantasy, Magic Realism, Sword and Sorcery, Epic Fantasy, Horror, Gothic, etc. (Closed to submissions until March 2011.)
Dragonfly Publishing - Please note that we do not publish graphic material. That means no erotica, no horror, and no military fiction. We consider all types of TRUE science fiction and fantasy, as long as the content does not include graphic situations that mandate an adult R-rating (18 or older). Teen / Young Adult books should keep as close to a G-rating as possible. Genre Fiction works should fall under a standard PG rating, which means it is suitable for young teens and up to read. (Closed to submissions. Check back with them for updates.)
Draumr Publishing - (Not a spelling error. Draumr means 'dream' in Norse.) We are currently seeking submissions for Draumr Publishing fiction genres such as science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, adventure, suspense/thriller, non-bbw romances (including all the subgenres listed above), and gay/lesbian stories. (They're also looking for books with a big, beautiful MC for their Dangerous Curves line. I don't have any of those, but they might be good for my one suspense novel.)
E-Press Online - We welcome nonfiction and fiction submissions as follows: Nonfiction pertaining to the art and craft of writing, as well as Resource for Writers books. Fiction in the following genres: Mystery (and sub-genres, including crossovers) U.S Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Category Romance. (Looks straightforward enough.)
Fictionwise - A Barnes and Noble Company - (I'm not seeing their submission guidelines, so if anyone had the link, leave it in the comments.)
Gypsy Shadow Publishing - (I'm unable to copy from their submission guidelines, but they publish 'high-quality, well-written manuscripts in a variety of genres and lengths'. The site is pretty attractive. They also have free books available so readers can get a feel for their writers before they spend money, which is always good.)
Hard Shell Word Factory - We publish book-length quality non-fiction and fiction--Romance (all categories), Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Western, Historical, Mainstream, Young Adult and Children's books. (Closed to submissions. Check back with them for updates.)
Lillibridge Press - seeking stories in these genres ONLY: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror/Gothic, Myths/Tales, Magick/Occult, Superheroes, High Romance, LGBTQ, and Erotica. Stories can stand alone or be part of a well-developed series, but MUST HAVE AN ELEMENT OF THE SPECULATIVE. (Thought we had a winner, but I can't figure out how to purchase any of their books, and one e-book has a price of $9999.99. Nevermind, I figured out how to buy, but that huge typo price is still worrying. I'm leery, but it appears to be worth further investigation. And they have awesome covers. Anyone who makes awesome covers can't be too bad. Right?**)
Literary Road - Independent Books for Independent Minds. (I like that, but their genres don't seem to fit me, and they don't seem to have very many books for sale.)
Lyrical Press - a commercial fiction publisher, and as such, our goal is to entertain and satisfy our readers. Please keep that guiding principle in mind while considering Lyrical Press as a potential home for your work. Lyrical Press is actively acquiring all sub-genres of erotica and romance. We are also seeking urban fantasy and steampunk. (They have some hella-pretty covers, too.)
Multi-Media Publications - an independent publisher focused on delivering high quality books, ebooks, audiobooks, DVDs and interactive learning solutions. Using technology to its fullest advantage since 1988, Multi-Media Publications has been a pioneer in digital content delivery, offering many of its titles simultaneously in print and several ebook formats. (Closed to fiction submissions. Check back with them for updates.)
Mushroom eBooks -interested in book-length fiction of all genres, particularly science fiction, fantasy, horror, thrillers and romance. Your story should be well written, clear, artfully plotted, and have three-dimensional characters. Above all your story must be an "unputdownable page-turner". (Closed to submissions. Check back with them for updates.)
New Concepts Publishing - ONLY publishes romantic fiction. Non-fiction, children's or young adult stories, mysteries or suspense, unless it is romantic suspense, will be immediately rejected. New Concepts Publishing DOES publish romantic fiction in sub-genres: Science Fiction/Futuristic, Paranormal, Fantasy, Historical and Contemporary romance, some romantic suspense, and also Erotica, although we prefer that the erotica be romantic in nature and require that it be targeted toward our audience-women. (They have a nice breakdown of their payouts. Too bad about the 'only romance thing'.)
SynergEbooks - a company with a firm foothold in electronic publishing, and has already expanded to include CD-ROMs, audio books, and trade paperbacks, carrying more than 350 digital titles, more than 50 of which are available in print. Genres include Fiction, Nonfiction, Romance, Young Adults, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Poetry, Humor, Mystery/Suspense, Inspiration, Cookbooks, Self-Help/Reference, Suspense, Mystery, Business, True Crime, New Age, Native American, and an ever-expanding Children's section. (Open for submissions but only until February 15th. If you miss that, check back for a new window.)
Uncial Press - seeking submissions of complete manuscripts. Our present needs are for Georgian, Regency, Victorian, and western American historical romance, fantasy and paranormal stories; cozy and traditional mysteries; Science Fiction; and nonfiction how-to books and humor. Please feel free to query us about stories in other genres, because the list of what we would like to see is far too long to include here. We will consider both book-length works (at least 50,000 words) and superlative shorter fiction (at least 5,000 words.) (Take a look at their sample contract. The thing I'm not digging is they require the author to get their own copyright. I don't think that's standard procedure, but what do I know?)
Untreed Reads Publishing - actively seeking short stories, novellas, reprints and print works that have not previously appeared in ebook format. Spanish-language fiction is a high-demand item. Please note that due to a full production schedule, at this time we are not entertaining full-length fiction works with the exception of: materials from agents, Spanish-language, existing Untreed Reads authors, the creation of ebook versions of previously published full-length print works or reprints of either print or ebook. We plan to resume accepting full-length fiction submissions from all other sources in June. (Check back in June, I guess.)
Wings ePress - always looking for innovative fiction... actively looking for Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance and Young Adult.
Write Words - all genres except books for small children. Only books for Ages 12 and up, please. We are actively seeking romance, mystery, and non-fiction. (Looks like they do paperbacks and ebooks.)
Writers Exchange - welcomes both first time novelists and multi-published authors. We provide indepth editing for those newer authors who require the extra work and also less intensive editing for those authors who have been published previously and know their craft better. If you have cover art already available for your books please mention this in your submission as this will save time in the publication process.
Cobblestone Press - an electronic publisher of sensual& erotic romance and short story erotica seeking creative storytelling and original style. Because we at Cobblestone Press are selective about what we accept, we are looking for authors to set the standard of writing for this press; authors that show extraordinary ability to weave tales of romance through strong, unforgettable characters, plots that twist and turn with layers of conflict and emotion, and a style that sets them apart from other writers in the market.
Drollerie Press - believes in providing quality entertainment to our customers: good stories, polished with good editing, accompanied by quality cover art, and provided at a reasonable price, in as many ways as our customers want to enjoy them. (Submissions closed until June 15th.)
Eternal Press - currently accepting: Novellas, and full-length manuscripts from 20,000-140,000 words. Genres: Romance, Erotica, GBLT and BDSM, Paranormal, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Thriller, Historical, Young Adult. (Canadian company. Another one looking for a marketing plan. This must be a somewhat standard thing amongst ePubs.)
LBF Books - any fiction genre you can think of, we publish it. Except for picture books and young readers. Middle-grade, YA and adult in any genre are welcome here at LBF! (Closed to submissions until further notice.)
L&L Dreamspell - a small publishing company based near Houston, Texas, producing print books and e-books in both fiction and non-fiction. Genres including Romance, Erotica, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi, Fantasy Paranormal, Non-Fiction Writer's Handbooks, Paranormal and Metaphysical Non-Fiction topics and more. (Looks legit.)
Mundania Press - the home of uncommonly good books for the discerning reader. Mundania Press is a publisher of select novels and short stories. We specialize in science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, and paranormal. (Currently closed to SF and F, but open for urban fantasy, paranormal romance, horror and steampunk.)
Zumaya Publications - One of the advantages of the new digital publishing industry is that we are able to offer titles from talented authors previously overlooked by traditional markets or who write in genres transcending standardized categories of fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery and others. Zumaya's philosophy is simple. If it's a great, well-written story, we'll publish it. (Currently closed to submissions. Check back with them later.)
More research to come later...
One thing I've noticed while reading these sites was that most of them state: No Simultaneous Submissions. (Sometimes with all caps and exclamation points.) This means you submit to one, and wait 1-4 months before you can submit to the next. Not exactly writer friendly, but I can understand their thinking. They've probably been burned by people who don't have the sense to say something after accepting an offer somewhere else. Please please please - if you have your work out at multiple places (this goes for agents, too) and you get an offer, let everyone else know. It's just common courtesy.
(Most links were originally found at eBook Crossroads, but I did the extra legwork. As always and with everything you read online - independently verify that the people you are thinking about working with don't suck and aren't out to part you from your hard-earned moolah. And for the love of all that's good, don't use only one source as a reference point - not even me. Some people / sites / forums / blogs have axes to grind. Like me and my axe to grind about people with axes to grind. :wink:)
* because I'm too lazy to alphabetize right now.
** totally joking about that, but their covers are really nifty
In the spirit of helping out my fellow writers, I thought I'd compile some links as I go along - because why should I make other people reinvent the wheel, when I'm perfectly willing to reinvent one myself. Below is that reinvention - hopefully with some added value people might appreciate. (Italics are their words, and the regular print after is my thoughts, for whatever they're worth.) I tried really hard to make sure these were actual publishers - you know, the ones who pay you - but if you see one that doesn't belong, please let me know.
(ETA: I just found the link to EPIC - the Electronically Published Internet Coalition (or Connection, depending on where you look) - who seems to be a watchdog group for ePublishers. If you're concerned about anything you find at any ePublisher, please contact these folks. It looks like they know what they're doing. YMMV)
In no particular order*...
Samhain Publishing - Samhain Publishing is now open to general submissions of all genres of romance and erotica, as well as fantasy, urban fantasy and science fiction with strong romantic elements. We are refocusing our efforts and will no longer be accepting submissions in other genres for the time being, including women’s fiction, chick lit and young adult. (Since my work doesn't have strong romantic elements, this one isn't for me - even if I wish they were.)
AKW Books - Quality new eBooks at low prices. (I tried to find some 'about us' type page, or even a paragraph talking about what they do, but I found nada. (Okay, so I didn't look for more than a few minutes. I'm committed to doing this, but let's get real.) They look legit. The only wrinkle I saw is that they require authors to provide all their own artwork - including the cover. They do have an interesting blog.)
Aspen Mountain Press - Aspen Mountain Press is seeking stories in all genres. Please know we will not accept manuscripts that encourage racial / religious intolerance, illegal acts, or abuse. Beginning with a minimum word count of 20k and extending to 90k creative, unusual, well-written stories that draw the reader into your world will garner our attention. We especially like tales that cross genres; for example a science-fiction mystery.We only contract COMPLETED manuscripts and do not accept proposals from authors unknown to us. (That last part shoots me in the ass, but maybe one of you is known to them. If so, good luck.) Additionally: Aspen Mountain Press will launch its new Aurora Regency imprint on October 15, 2010! Aurora Regency at Aspen Mountain Press is a line devoted to Regency romance. Traditional Regency romances, as exemplified by Georgette Heyer’s work, are first and foremost historical fiction about a very specific (and short) era.
Whiskey Creek Press - Whiskey Creek Press is a royalty-paying traditional publisher of fiction and non-fiction, and we publish in ebook and trade paperback formats. WE ARE LWAYS OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS. Whiskey Creek Press charges NO fees of any kind to authors for publishing services. Editorial service, cover art design and production, paperback set-up fees, and ISBN numbers are provided at absolutely NO fee to our contracted authors. WCP authors may purchase copies of their print books at a substantial discount off the retail price. WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS IN ALL FICTION GENRES. WE ARE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN ALL GENRES OF ROMANCE, SCIENCE FICTION, AND FANTASY. (Seems like a good one. All I need now is a business plan. Spin it, Salesgirl. Spin it.)
Atlantic Bridge - a full service, royalty paying e-publisher. Our doors have been open since February 2000 and through these past years, our focus has remained the same. That focus is to publish the highest quality books from the most outstanding authors we discover. We are looking for manuscripts from creative writers of fiction genres such as Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, along with Celtic stories of myth and legend. We are looking for that "something different", that "something unique" which doesn't fit into the mold or stands just outside the box. We are looking for those works which create a paradigm shift within a genre or sub genre. (Closed to submissions. Check back with them for updates.)
Awe-Struck Publishing - Awe-Struck Publishing was founded in 1998. Awe-Struck was acquired by Mundania Press LLC in January 2009. (Closed to submissions. Check back with them for updates.)
Blade Publishing - DOA
Bluewood Publishing - an international full royalty paying publisher. Providing your manuscript meets our submission quality and content criteria, we will edit it with you, design a cover, and publish it on the major e-book retail sites. All we ask is that you actively get involved with promoting your book and we will help you to do this. We are always on the lookout for quality submissions of any length, from short stories with a minimum of 3,000 words up to full length novels. We will not consider works of less than 50,000 words for printing. Bluewood Publishing is a royalty paying publisher, and the services we provide are not charged to the author. Please ensure your manuscript meets the following guidelines. (These folks are in New Zealand - which may or may not be a bad thing for us Yanks. I really like their site and their business model, so they may be worth a go, even if currency exchanges could make payment a pain in the wazoo.)
Virtual Tales - a US-based publisher of print, eBook and serialized novels and novellas spanning a variety of fiction genres and styles. We are currently looking for talented authors, editors and artists to help us add to our fiction catalog. (Another one looking for a marketing plan. Paging Dr. Spin.)
Calderwood Books - Good readers deserve good books. Calderwood Books chooses its books because they are enjoyable reads, not because they fit marketing profiles. We welcome cross-genre books and those that don’t fit into whatever is the current print-publishing fashion. Don’t form expectations about what you will find here. (Some of the books in their catalog look interesting. I'm not sure how any of my works would fit into their current listings, but it might be worth a shot. Closed to submissions. Check back with them to see if they're open.)
Champagne Books - Champagne Books publishes novel length fiction in both electronic and trade paperback formats. While we are happy to look at all genres we have a specific interest in: Contemporary Romance, Time Travel Romance, Historical Romance, Science Fiction/Futuristic, Fantasy, Steam punk. (Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (ahem, if you're out there, Natalie, lookie here) Aside from being out of the US, they seem like just the right place for my stuff. We'll see what further research reveals.)
Club Lighthouse Publishing - Not really sure about this one. Their site won't let me copy anything that might urge you to hop from here to there. Suffice it to say, they looked good enough for me to put them here. (And no, I haven't put every site I find on here.) They look to be either Canadian or British - since their guidelines say that they accept US English, they will change it over to their spellings.
Colvin Publications Pty Ltd - DOA
Double Dragon Publishing - We welcome submissions from new, unpublished authors as well as from those well known to the public. We also welcome authors who do not enjoy the services of an agent.We are currently accepting only SCIENCE FICTION, including Hard (Science) SF, Space Fiction, Sci Fi, Future Fiction, Lost Civilizations, Utopias, Distopias, Disaster Novels, Alternate Histories, Time Travel, Parallel Worlds, etc., and FANTASY, including Myth, Legend, Fairy Tales, Traditional Fantasy, Magic Realism, Sword and Sorcery, Epic Fantasy, Horror, Gothic, etc. (Closed to submissions until March 2011.)
Dragonfly Publishing - Please note that we do not publish graphic material. That means no erotica, no horror, and no military fiction. We consider all types of TRUE science fiction and fantasy, as long as the content does not include graphic situations that mandate an adult R-rating (18 or older). Teen / Young Adult books should keep as close to a G-rating as possible. Genre Fiction works should fall under a standard PG rating, which means it is suitable for young teens and up to read. (Closed to submissions. Check back with them for updates.)
Draumr Publishing - (Not a spelling error. Draumr means 'dream' in Norse.) We are currently seeking submissions for Draumr Publishing fiction genres such as science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, adventure, suspense/thriller, non-bbw romances (including all the subgenres listed above), and gay/lesbian stories. (They're also looking for books with a big, beautiful MC for their Dangerous Curves line. I don't have any of those, but they might be good for my one suspense novel.)
E-Press Online - We welcome nonfiction and fiction submissions as follows: Nonfiction pertaining to the art and craft of writing, as well as Resource for Writers books. Fiction in the following genres: Mystery (and sub-genres, including crossovers) U.S Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Category Romance. (Looks straightforward enough.)
Fictionwise - A Barnes and Noble Company - (I'm not seeing their submission guidelines, so if anyone had the link, leave it in the comments.)
Gypsy Shadow Publishing - (I'm unable to copy from their submission guidelines, but they publish 'high-quality, well-written manuscripts in a variety of genres and lengths'. The site is pretty attractive. They also have free books available so readers can get a feel for their writers before they spend money, which is always good.)
Hard Shell Word Factory - We publish book-length quality non-fiction and fiction--Romance (all categories), Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Western, Historical, Mainstream, Young Adult and Children's books. (Closed to submissions. Check back with them for updates.)
Lillibridge Press - seeking stories in these genres ONLY: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror/Gothic, Myths/Tales, Magick/Occult, Superheroes, High Romance, LGBTQ, and Erotica. Stories can stand alone or be part of a well-developed series, but MUST HAVE AN ELEMENT OF THE SPECULATIVE. (Thought we had a winner, but I can't figure out how to purchase any of their books, and one e-book has a price of $9999.99. Nevermind, I figured out how to buy, but that huge typo price is still worrying. I'm leery, but it appears to be worth further investigation. And they have awesome covers. Anyone who makes awesome covers can't be too bad. Right?**)
Literary Road - Independent Books for Independent Minds. (I like that, but their genres don't seem to fit me, and they don't seem to have very many books for sale.)
Lyrical Press - a commercial fiction publisher, and as such, our goal is to entertain and satisfy our readers. Please keep that guiding principle in mind while considering Lyrical Press as a potential home for your work. Lyrical Press is actively acquiring all sub-genres of erotica and romance. We are also seeking urban fantasy and steampunk. (They have some hella-pretty covers, too.)
Multi-Media Publications - an independent publisher focused on delivering high quality books, ebooks, audiobooks, DVDs and interactive learning solutions. Using technology to its fullest advantage since 1988, Multi-Media Publications has been a pioneer in digital content delivery, offering many of its titles simultaneously in print and several ebook formats. (Closed to fiction submissions. Check back with them for updates.)
Mushroom eBooks -interested in book-length fiction of all genres, particularly science fiction, fantasy, horror, thrillers and romance. Your story should be well written, clear, artfully plotted, and have three-dimensional characters. Above all your story must be an "unputdownable page-turner". (Closed to submissions. Check back with them for updates.)
New Concepts Publishing - ONLY publishes romantic fiction. Non-fiction, children's or young adult stories, mysteries or suspense, unless it is romantic suspense, will be immediately rejected. New Concepts Publishing DOES publish romantic fiction in sub-genres: Science Fiction/Futuristic, Paranormal, Fantasy, Historical and Contemporary romance, some romantic suspense, and also Erotica, although we prefer that the erotica be romantic in nature and require that it be targeted toward our audience-women. (They have a nice breakdown of their payouts. Too bad about the 'only romance thing'.)
SynergEbooks - a company with a firm foothold in electronic publishing, and has already expanded to include CD-ROMs, audio books, and trade paperbacks, carrying more than 350 digital titles, more than 50 of which are available in print. Genres include Fiction, Nonfiction, Romance, Young Adults, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Poetry, Humor, Mystery/Suspense, Inspiration, Cookbooks, Self-Help/Reference, Suspense, Mystery, Business, True Crime, New Age, Native American, and an ever-expanding Children's section. (Open for submissions but only until February 15th. If you miss that, check back for a new window.)
Uncial Press - seeking submissions of complete manuscripts. Our present needs are for Georgian, Regency, Victorian, and western American historical romance, fantasy and paranormal stories; cozy and traditional mysteries; Science Fiction; and nonfiction how-to books and humor. Please feel free to query us about stories in other genres, because the list of what we would like to see is far too long to include here. We will consider both book-length works (at least 50,000 words) and superlative shorter fiction (at least 5,000 words.) (Take a look at their sample contract. The thing I'm not digging is they require the author to get their own copyright. I don't think that's standard procedure, but what do I know?)
Untreed Reads Publishing - actively seeking short stories, novellas, reprints and print works that have not previously appeared in ebook format. Spanish-language fiction is a high-demand item. Please note that due to a full production schedule, at this time we are not entertaining full-length fiction works with the exception of: materials from agents, Spanish-language, existing Untreed Reads authors, the creation of ebook versions of previously published full-length print works or reprints of either print or ebook. We plan to resume accepting full-length fiction submissions from all other sources in June. (Check back in June, I guess.)
Wings ePress - always looking for innovative fiction... actively looking for Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance and Young Adult.
Write Words - all genres except books for small children. Only books for Ages 12 and up, please. We are actively seeking romance, mystery, and non-fiction. (Looks like they do paperbacks and ebooks.)
Writers Exchange - welcomes both first time novelists and multi-published authors. We provide indepth editing for those newer authors who require the extra work and also less intensive editing for those authors who have been published previously and know their craft better. If you have cover art already available for your books please mention this in your submission as this will save time in the publication process.
Cobblestone Press - an electronic publisher of sensual& erotic romance and short story erotica seeking creative storytelling and original style. Because we at Cobblestone Press are selective about what we accept, we are looking for authors to set the standard of writing for this press; authors that show extraordinary ability to weave tales of romance through strong, unforgettable characters, plots that twist and turn with layers of conflict and emotion, and a style that sets them apart from other writers in the market.
Drollerie Press - believes in providing quality entertainment to our customers: good stories, polished with good editing, accompanied by quality cover art, and provided at a reasonable price, in as many ways as our customers want to enjoy them. (Submissions closed until June 15th.)
Eternal Press - currently accepting: Novellas, and full-length manuscripts from 20,000-140,000 words. Genres: Romance, Erotica, GBLT and BDSM, Paranormal, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Thriller, Historical, Young Adult. (Canadian company. Another one looking for a marketing plan. This must be a somewhat standard thing amongst ePubs.)
LBF Books - any fiction genre you can think of, we publish it. Except for picture books and young readers. Middle-grade, YA and adult in any genre are welcome here at LBF! (Closed to submissions until further notice.)
L&L Dreamspell - a small publishing company based near Houston, Texas, producing print books and e-books in both fiction and non-fiction. Genres including Romance, Erotica, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi, Fantasy Paranormal, Non-Fiction Writer's Handbooks, Paranormal and Metaphysical Non-Fiction topics and more. (Looks legit.)
Mundania Press - the home of uncommonly good books for the discerning reader. Mundania Press is a publisher of select novels and short stories. We specialize in science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, and paranormal. (Currently closed to SF and F, but open for urban fantasy, paranormal romance, horror and steampunk.)
Zumaya Publications - One of the advantages of the new digital publishing industry is that we are able to offer titles from talented authors previously overlooked by traditional markets or who write in genres transcending standardized categories of fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery and others. Zumaya's philosophy is simple. If it's a great, well-written story, we'll publish it. (Currently closed to submissions. Check back with them later.)
More research to come later...
One thing I've noticed while reading these sites was that most of them state: No Simultaneous Submissions. (Sometimes with all caps and exclamation points.) This means you submit to one, and wait 1-4 months before you can submit to the next. Not exactly writer friendly, but I can understand their thinking. They've probably been burned by people who don't have the sense to say something after accepting an offer somewhere else. Please please please - if you have your work out at multiple places (this goes for agents, too) and you get an offer, let everyone else know. It's just common courtesy.
(Most links were originally found at eBook Crossroads, but I did the extra legwork. As always and with everything you read online - independently verify that the people you are thinking about working with don't suck and aren't out to part you from your hard-earned moolah. And for the love of all that's good, don't use only one source as a reference point - not even me. Some people / sites / forums / blogs have axes to grind. Like me and my axe to grind about people with axes to grind. :wink:)
* because I'm too lazy to alphabetize right now.
** totally joking about that, but their covers are really nifty
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