I've got good news: this won't affect Labyrinth. Night Shade doesn't own the rights to the book; my original contract was only for 2 books plus an option on a third. (For those not familiar with publishing lingo, an option just means they have right of first refusal: I'm supposed to give them a contractually-specified number of days to make an offer on the book, and then if they do offer in that time, say yes or no to that offer before I (or rather, my agent) could shop the book elsewhere.) So it doesn't matter what happens - if NS files bankruptcy, Labyrinth will not be part of the ensuing mess. (Unlike the first two Shattered Sigil books, alas.) Likely in that situation I would just do a kickstarter to try and cover production costs, and put Labyrinth out myself (in both print and ebook form). A hell of a lot of work, but I'm certainly willing to tackle it if that's the only way to get the book into reader's hands. So fear not! Dev and Kiran's story will have a proper ending.
As for what's going to happen to the first 2 books: that, I don't know yet. But thank God for my wonderful agent. Instead of freaking out from stress, I got to dump this entire mess into her capable hands and have an awesome day teaching my son how to boogie board:
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| Here comes a wave! Ready...set.... |
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| GOOOOOOOO!!! |
Wait, where are the mountains? The snow? The ice axes? The pitons? ;)
ReplyDeleteAS far as Labyrinth...if Brad can do it for his series, why can't you?
Hey, the ocean was my first love. :)
DeleteAnd yes...long before this went down, I made Brad promise to let me pick his brain about how to do an awesome job with Kickstarter. (Let's just say that NS's current situation isn't exactly a surprise to those of us contracted to them.)
You would do great with a Kickstarter. I'm here any time. Have fun while you're there and try to leave this mess behind for a few days. From the pics it looks like you're able to do that a bit, so good on yer, mate!
DeleteThat's a shame - the printed copies of your novels were really well done, right down to the font size and texture of the paper. Can't say I understand all the business aspects, but they got good works out there by good authors.
ReplyDeleteAnd you know I'll back Labyrinth, even if I have to drive out there to get a copy. :-)
Speaking of which, is the water really that warm out there for swimming?
Yes, Night Shade made beautiful books, and they had a lineup of really terrific authors. Two of the reasons I don't at all regret signing the deal with them in the first place. (Also helps that I went in with my eyes open. When I signed my deal, I knew it could be a rough ride, thanks to other authors having gone public with concerns, and SFWA putting NS on probation. I decided the benefits of NS's distribution and artistic reputation outweighed the negatives, and I still feel signing was the right way to go, for me.)
DeleteAw, thanks for the vote of support for Labyrinth! Means a lot.
Swimming in Colorado in April would indeed be a frigid experience. I leave the rest up to your deductive powers of reasoning. ;)
Looking forward to Labyrinth of Flame. Happy to Kickstart it if you can't find a publisher sane enough to jump at the chance to put it into the world!
ReplyDeleteditto
ReplyDeleteI will definitely support your kickstarter, but hopefully it doesn't come to that. Very much looking forward to the conclusion of a great series, but so sorry you have to deal with this mess.
ReplyDeleteHooray for good agents (and smart authors). Looks like you're having a Ball. Keep on! Your readers will wait (though I'm lucky I get to have an early look.)
ReplyDeleteThanks, all! Crazy times right now (I'll admit I'm worried over the fate of the first two books), but fingers crossed it'll all work out in the end. And it really helps to know that people care about the books, that I'm not suffering the slings and arrows of the publishing biz for nothing. :P
ReplyDeleteMan, that sucks. I know how it feels to have a publish implode underneath me. Of course, that allowed me to buy my remaining stock at pennies on the $20.00. I have since sold all but 2 of those books at a greater profit than I ever would have made off the sales through the publisher.
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