Musa Publishing Acquires Aurora Regency

Aurora Regency has been purchased by new epublisher Musa Publishing, and will now be a Musa imprint.

Aspen Mountain Press continues to being behind on payments and uncommunicative and is now on the "Not Recommended" list.

See also:
Aspen Mountain Press: From Bad To Worse UPDATE!

Oops

Dennis Upkins apparently didn't realize that Amazon lists the real names of authenticated account holders on their book reviews--or he would not have posted a review of his own book, criticized as misogynist by some other readers, whilst pretending to be a bisexual woman.

On a related note, apparently Parker Publishing releases their print copies through Createspace without even bothering to list themselves as the publisher.

Aspen Mountain Press Smoke

Aspen Mountain Press is on the "smoke" list for delayed payments and communication problems.

Wellston Publishing

I find it rather amusing that Wellston Publishing is seeking "PG" romance manuscripts on the same page that they use the words "screw" and "doggie style".

RIP Lorraine Stephens

Lorraine Stephen, one of the founders of Wing Epress and e-publishing pioneer has passed away.

See also

• The Passing of an E-publishing Pioneer
• A moment of silence

Don't Mess With Texas (TM)

Apparently "Don't Mess with Texas" is slogan registered by the The Texas Department of Transportation for use in their anti-littering campaign.

So they go very hot under the collar when Hatchette released a Christie Craig romance under the same name, and decided to sue. They named not only the publisher but also the author and Barnes and Noble. They seemed particularly shocked the the book contained S. E. X.

The judge, Sam Sparks, decided that trademarks don't apply to book titles and the release will be going ahead as planned.

The winners?
1) Lawyers
2) The author with a hefty a mount of free publicity, and
3) Journalists who got to drag out all of their favorite dismissive descriptives for erotic romance (soft porn, steamy, bodice ripper, racy, etc...)

How to Write a Dick

How to write a what?

Oh, right. How to Write a Dick: A Guide for Writing Fictional Sleuths from a Couple of Real-Life Sleuths

Otherwise... the blood would be... worrying.

MARKET Leap of Faith Publishing

"Leap of faith" is not exactly the phrase I would want to have on my mind when submitting to a publisher.  But, oh well.

"Leap of Faith Publishing is a royalty paying publisher of romance and erotic romance fiction primarily."

"Patricia Richardson-CEO"

Royalties are paid on net, the CEO is releasing two of her own books through the press. Three other authors are listed.

News

Digital Manga Guild launches first title: "Digital’s strategy is to get a lot of manga onto the market quickly by using nonprofessional translators, editors, and letterers who don’t get paid up front but get a 12% cut of profits once the books start selling; Digital and the Japanese licensor also wait for their share until the profits start rolling in."

Should I Be Upset? and Rip Off, Harper Collins Publisher: "You can’t copyright an idea – but does this come too close to copying the execution?"

Bibliotastic.com Romance Author Lands Book Deal: "Heather’s new publisher Booktrope aims to be a new concept in publishing that combines what’s working in the publishing industry with what the indie authors are doing well to create a new model called ‘team publishing." [Has an publisher ever announced a new model that actually was new?]

MARKET Musa Publishing

Musa Publishing is seeking: Romance/ Erotic Romance, Horror, Historicals, Paranormals, GLBT, Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction and YA.

Marisa Branches Out

I am on record as being pretty skeptical about the use or purpose of an agent when you are submitting to epublishers. And isn't it interesting that Marisa Corvisiero is closed to submissions via the Lori Perkins agency, and is announcing via her blog that she is co-founded a "Literary PowerHouse Consulting, LLC" which will provide "Literary Consulting Services".

What, I ask you, are literary consulting services? It sound a little like asking for money up front rather than waiting around for a cut of potentially modest royalties? That would rather solve the problem of how an agent could make decent money from placing books with small presses and e-publishers.... (Of course only by divorcing the agent's interests from that of the author, which seems to rather undermine the point of having an agent int he first place).

Links

• The most niche (and bizarre) sites for finding love on the Internet
• E-book Rant, Part 1
• All Eyes on Amazon Publishing  
• Epublisher list 
• Aspen Mountain Press: Senior Staff Resigns

Closing of Embrace Official

• Rachel Lyndhurst reports that Embrace is closing. 
• Jane Holland reports that: "All rights were immediately reverted".

M/M Market: Riptide Publishing

Riptide Publishing (tagline: turning the tide of M/M Publishing).
Was the tide going out? or do they think it should?

They will be carrying gay and transsexual literature with a romance focus.

Founded by Rachel Haimowitz, Aleksandr Voinov, and Chris Hawkins and they have a bunch of established authors already lined up. 

Their royalties are 50% of net (excluding only distributor fees).

Market: Still Moments

Still Moments Publishing is an e-publisher seeking romance manuscripts in a range of M/F sub-genres. The owner is one 'Darlene Fredette'. While they are admirably specific about what they want submitted, it is less clear what they will offer as a publisher.

Cobblestone Smoke

After months of general muttering Mercy Celeste has broken ranks to make a clear statement: "I'm not happy with Cobblestone Press's business practice."

In the comments section Laura Harner agrees: "I second you on your opinion of the Cobblestone Press publishing experience" 

Mercy's blog and the Cobblestone Press AbWrite thread have more details.

See also:

• Teddypig [Aug 7]
• Mercy Celeste [Aug 7] -- "So I said what everyone was thinking" 
• Mrs Giggles [Aug 8]
  
• Dear Author [Aug 8]
• Laura Harner [Aug 9]

A Whole Lot of Nauti

I came across Lora Leigh's Nauti Dreams is in the NCP bargain bin for $11.99, although Leigh is obviously not one of their authors.

On Amazon the same title is listed simultaneously from Berkley ($9.61) and the Jove Imprint ($7.99). All listed as "in stock".

So the NCP bargain bin is... what exactly? Just an etailer? Just conveniently not listing the publisher of the books? [Confused].

The pen-is mighter than....?

[via AbWrite]

End of the Embrace?

It seems that Jane Holland has left Salt, and the epublishing imprint Embrace may have vanished. The Embrace website is currently redirecting to Salt's main website. So, possibly a dead market? (8/2010-8/2011).