Thanks for posting, Angie. I think your response is the epitome of professionalism.

Angela, thanks for posting this. Did the odd clause in the definition of vanity publishing have anything to do with it? You mentioned the bit about the $1,000 advance, but one topic that has been burning up the blogs in the last day is that RWA now defines as vanity/subsidy any publisher whose primary distribution is through its web site.

If an author sells to Samhain and eventually earns $1,000 in royalties, will s/he be eligible for PAN?

I held out hope that the clause was just a misinterpretation on our parts. I’m not published in ebook format, but I certainly understand and commiserate with every author and house that this effects.

Samhain was successful before RWA “recognized” the house, and I have no doubt that you will continue to grow by leaps and bounds afterwards. I’ll go buy a few books now to keep that going.

What a wondeful statement Angela.

Thanks for the update.

Affects my feeling for Samhain not at all. Very eco-cromagnon of RWA. Right as Live Earth is entreating everyone to do what they can for the environment, RWA decides to recognize only publishers who kill trees.

If I were there I would buy you many drinks and make up outrageous stories of past fictional RWA scandals.

Every year I think about joining RWA and every year they do something like this to convince me not to send them a check.

I don’t remember which writer or which conference but the writer mentioned the Samhain presence and appreciated the moral support from their publisher. The writer also stated that there was little to none support from other e-publishers. I have been buying from Samhain almost since its inception and I will continue to purchase both e-books and print books. RWA needs to get their priorities straight. :chair:

We’re not a vanity publisher, even under RWA’s definition, which I hope will be redefined, regardless The difficult thing for us is that we weren’t allowed to attend the general assembly (associate members, which is editors, agents, etc. can’t attend) so all of our information is coming secondhand, as we’ve been unable to meet up with any RWA officials who can give us the…well…official word, lol. So in actuality, we’re assuming we’re losing recognition. Perhaps tomorrow we’ll wake up and find we’re exempt That would be lovely but again, still, it wouldn’t change our business.

I will be disappointed if we’re unable to attend any conferences because we do have a nice presence at a number of smaller conferences and I enjoy doing them.

I’m sorry for your disappointment. It’s certainly not going to affect my wanting to submit to you. Obviously RWA just hasn’t quite gotten with the times yet.

Wonderfully put, Angie. It’s really too bad so many new authors will miss out on being able to have appointments and learn more about Samhain through RWA.

It is quite sad and disheartening, but this decision in no way effects my buying decisions for Ebooks. Samhain has proven itself to be a business that is fucntioning in the best interest of all parties wether the author or the seller. It’s a shame that you will lose the benefits of the RWA recognition for the conferences, but IMO it’s their loss.

It’s a shame when the actions of others effect the group as a whole. I know the RWA is trying to protect it’s memebers but in the era of technology, I can’t help but feel like they are taking a step back instead of forward.

Again I’m sorry Angie that this has happened, but you keep publising great books and I know myself and lots of others will keep buying them.

I wonder how other writers’ associations treat the epublishers. And if their response was part of the RWA’s decision.

Jackie is right is the epitome of professionalism.

I’m sorry, but I’m just going to say it like it is. RWA is an organization run by dinosaurs. Too old to understand technology, and fearful of the competition companies like Samhain and EC provide. If it weren’t because I love my local chapter so much, I’d be outta there. Angela, your professional and classy response is comendable. Samhain has proven to be a strong, reliable company, and it’s a shame you’re being shoved under the vanity press umbrella. As a romance reader and author, their decision has absolutely no sway over where I submit my work, and where I buy my books. Keep going strong, because I’ll continue to support Samhain.

Don’t sweat RWA. They are not what indie/e needs, and until they get their head out of the sand and stop tripping over themselves, they are more a detriment to indie/e authors and publishers than a help. Every time they stick their feet in it, they look worse for it. Not us…them. In the meantime, EPIC’s out there and is focused on the industry, as we know it. What does RWA know?

Brenna Lyons
http://www.epicauthors.com

I’m a generally loyal person. Since I’m published at Samhain, it’s not a far stretch to deduce where my loyalties lie.

I don’t personally care one way or the other if Samhain is able to regain RWA status. Why? Because I don’t plan on ever joining the RWA, no matter how “famous” I get down the road. This epublishing snafu was merely the final nail in the coffin for me.

I don’t need the RWA to tell me I’m an author. I write books, I publish books, I sell books. What is that if not an author? I don’t need them to give me an award. My awards are my fan mail, people who love my books enough to drop me a line and tell me so. I don’t need them to wear a ribbon on my chest. I’ve got enough jewelry.

I personally don’t want to be part of a popularity club that smacks of a high school click that I gotta pay to join.

I believe Samhain is growing by leaps and bounds. Within a few years time, Samhain will be quite the force to be reckoned with. The only reason I’d go to an RWA Convention would be to watch them eat their words and reinstate Samhain as a recognized publisher. Of course by then, they’d have some other wording and even more hoops that would shut us out again.

Methinks RWA “royalty” doesn’t like the way epublishing is reshaping the industry and wants to make sure the hotter, stranger books are left out in the cold. Well guess what? They better get outta the dang way before they’re bowled over by people who aren’t real “authors” writing for publishing houses that don’t really exist.

~~Becka

Amen to that, Becka! It’ll be like the running of the bulls in Pamplona!! :bdance:

Ms. Angie, did you receive official word yet?

Classy statement Angie! Thanks for the heads up! What a shame that RWA is taking this stance.

Classy response, Angie. I’m a total Samhain supporter and author. I’ll keep my membership in RWA in spite of the organization’s tendency to circle the wagons.

No, Bam, no official word. We’ve tried to get up with a Board member who might no, left messages, but haven’t gotten a response. We’re still waiting to hear.

well… at least tell me the food is good.

There’s something very backwards and snobbish about this RWA decision, and completely insulting when they lump ebook pubbing with vanity publishing. I’m an editor with Freya’s Bower. I don’t take it kindly that the effort I put into someone’s novel is waved off as negligible when I work hard to produce a quality product that’s as good as any I’ve seen in print. Dollars up front do not mean quality.

I will be disappointed if we’re unable to attend any conferences because we do have a nice presence at a number of smaller conferences and I enjoy doing them.

Chapters were “deregulated” from National, so (unless the new Bylaws say otherwise) chapters can make their own decisions about who is published and which publishers they allow at their conferences.

:wiggle: why am i not surprised

Very professional statement Angie, and RWA hasn’t displayed the same professionalism over the last several years in my opinion.

I certainly will continue to enjoy the quality books and authors that Samhain publishes! And I support and enjoy the fine authors from several ePublishers and absolutely LOVE the convenience of eBooks!

I couldn’t care less if you are “recognized” by RWA or not. RWA has no impact on my buying power as a reading lover. Until I started following the news about the publishing industry a few years back, I had no clue who RWA was or what they did. I found books, and authors I enjoyed, and didn’t give a fig about a RITA unless it was a Margarita.

LOL Things haven’t changed much!

Blessings be! Rock on Samhain…your fans are with ya!

Patrice

Nicely (maybe too nicely :giggle: ) said, Angie. Still, after all this, my loyalties lie 100% with Samhain. They offered me my very first contract (before they were RWA-approved), after years of my belonging to RWA which, to be honest, didn’t give me a whole lot.

Yeah, well, I’d love to say I’m surprised but I’m not. RWA lost me a couple of years ago. I considered rejoining when Samhain got their recognition because I thought it might be a sign that RWA was changing for the better. Now… not so much.

However, I’m confused by the $1000 thing. Is it a $1k advance, or $1k earnings? Because if it’s earnings, Samhain should definitely qualify based on my paycheck. So confusing… but again, I’m not surprised. Needless to say, I love being a Samhain author and nothing RWA does will change that, period and final. :kissie: