Monica Jackson has blogged about a PW article regarding Genesis Press’ allegedly shoddy business practices, including “failure to issue royalty statements, delayed and missing payments and inaccurate tax forms.” Seems a group of authors have banded together to protest Genesis’ history of unprofessional conduct and breach of contract.
Authors quoted in the article have a long history of problems with the publisher, and Genesis has responded that they’re aware that they are behind but are making efforts to correct the problems. They also place the blame on their previous distributor.
Monica adds her own story in her entry, and it’s sadly similar to the rest: her novella was published, but she received no royalty statement as contracted. Nor did she receive a 1099. Most of the authors quoted, and Monica herself, received no satisfaction for their repeated inquiries to Genesis.
Genesis further insistst that all past problems with authors have been resolved, but those same authors disagree that they were even contacted about their complaints.
Monica’s theory as to why the authors tolerated this treatment from a publisher is that it stems from a mentality among minority authors that treatment like that from a publisher is better than not publishing at all, or self-publishing. She also wonders if romance blogs and authors will pay attention to an issue that affects only minority authors.
While I am less than delighted as a romance blogger at being painted with the white brush of assumed disinterest, I have to say, that freaking sucks, and I’m horrified that Genesis got away with it for as long as they did.
The authors quoted have already written to the RWA and to the Writer’s Guild to alert them to their concerns regarding Genesis’ business practices, particularly now that older Genesis books are being re-released by Kensington. Beyond that effort, what more can they do?
‘I would like for those who feel irritated, outraged, or just generally P.O.d that a publisher would do this to its writers, to also blog about it. I don’t know how long news takes to proliferate through the internet, but it’s out now. If you’re concerned, spread the word. Thanks.’
If there’s an offical press release somewhere, let me know. I’ll post it to my private author list; they’re a good bunch of bloggers.
I’m certainly PO’d.
Mistress Stef
Thank you for accepting and not denying my heartfelt apology for having the gall to share my perceptions and previous experiences with you, and understanding exactly what I meant.
I accept your denial of me and everything I said and have experienced.
Monica…
The only person denying anything is you. The rest of us actually read the posts.
Judge not, lest ye be judged yourself.
Now THERE’S a quote.
Did you? I really don’t think you did.
The people who made thoughtful posts didn’t deny their racism. They rarely bought it up. The angry, mean posters inevitably did. In fact, that’s all their posts were generally about—how I was a awful person for implying they were R, exactly what I’d ALWAYS experienced before and what my inital post referred to.
When you asked me to tone it down, what I tried to communicate what the word meant to me. I said everyone was, even myself because we were ara product of this society. I said I had no problem relating with people like that as long as they were willing to see me as a individual and it was a bridge to understanding. You took the post as a dire insult and insulted, put me down and degraded me.
I never called indivudals the r-word unless their posts clearly reflected it. I never called you teh r-word. You’ve insulted, denigrated me and said what I’ve experienced in my life simply wasn’t true.
I accept that you mean that. I can move on despite you dislike me, misunderstand me and everything I’m about and dismissing my perceptions or anything i say about my life.
You can’t seem move past the experience I shared about how people treat me in my world.
And I apologize for unsettling you and whoever else I did by sharing my world.
Stef:
Publisher Weekly’s online post about it is here:
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6372747.html?display=current
If the link doesn’t work, I link to it from my own lonely part of the blogosphere: http://www.seressia.com/blog
Thanks.
Sent to my author list, Seressia. I’d blog myself, but my author site’s what you call in transit. I will once my web goddesses get it back up.
Other than that, is there anything else? Would writing letters to anyone help?
Thanks for showing up, Seressia.
I leave it to your tact and prudence.
Later!
Quote “You’ve insulted, denigrated me and said what I’ve experienced in my life simply wasn’t true.” Unquote
Pot meet kettle.
Quote where I called Stef names or insulted her for what’s she’s experienced or shared.
All I ever said was something most people like me but are too wise and tactful to state openly.
What upset Stef and the rest was of you was when I stated that I found most whites the r-word. And then worse, tried to explain what I meant.
I wish I hadn’t shared that. It was something that never should have been said on such a venue. I apologized.
What else do you want me to do?
‘Thanks for showing up, Seressia. I leave it to your tact and prudence.’
So you’re the night shift? Cool. Tell me more about your books.
I blogged about it and I e-mailed Miss Snark. She and I have corresponded sporadically about other things. She even wrote me a haiku, once. I hope she’ll blog about this because she has a huge readership. If you can think of something else I can do to get the word out, let me know. I could e-mail Agent Kristin too; I correspond with her sometimes as well. I will get people talking about if I can.
‘I blogged about it and I e-mailed Miss Snark.’
I think she’s the cool chick I met at RT last year.
Trying to recall, I think they’re called the Absolute Write Water Cooler? It’s a forum for people to check out pubs. I wonder if they’re on it yet.
Hee. I just posted a thread about it on Absolute Write. I’m doing what little I can.
I don’t see the point in debating whether I am racist. I’m a white woman living in Mexico. I am a minority here. I try to help people when I can and speak no evil, and I do the best I can with what life has handed me. It is what it is.
‘I try to help people when I can and speak no evil, and I do the best I can with what life has handed me. It is what it is.’
You rock. That’s like the best thing I’ve heard in this thread.
All I’m saying is when you make blanket statements or you use words or phrases such as “you people” or “you venues”, you deny any other indiviuality except for your own. You deny all others personal experiences. And yes, you’re right, denial is a form of racsism.
And now to quote Gump, That’s all I have to say about that.
I remember you, Ana. Is your husband’s family treating you okay?
I wish I had somebody to hit me on the noggin when I bring it up. Every other black person in the universe has more sense, but I get emotional. There is nothing worse a black person could ever do.
The more the word gets out about GP, the better, especially to the larger literary community.
LOL! Hardly the night shift—more like the pinch hitter since this is more posting than I think I’ve ever done in one day. (Was the FMA in your early post referring to Full Metal Alchemist? I have to go buy the DVD tomorrow!)
My first book was an interracial called No Commitment Required, published in 2000 by Genesis Press. Race wasn’t an issue for the characters but some people around them had issues. They had their own issues to deal with (deaths, suicide attempts, etc.) but they found common ground in each other.
Its sequel No Apologies came out in 2002, also through Genesis, featuring their friends. My third book with Genesis was Three Wishes in 2004, with the biracial heroine and white hero. Race was a mild issue for them, but again, more for the people around them. She couldn’t have children, his daughter wanted a mother, he wanted someone to love him and his child.
Through the Fire came out this year, my last book with Genesis Press. Brandt is Maya’s brother grappling with the deaths of his wife and child, and the heroine is a famous self-help guru with issues of her own. I have my first paranormal featuring a family of AA werewolves, in an anthology called Vegas Bites coming out in November. New publisher, new hope. But I can say I got paid the advance for that way before the book came out, which is refreshing—an advance that’s actually paid in advance.
I like writing interracials in that I like to show how people from supposedly disparate backgrounds can have similarities that bind them together. Everybody wants to be loved and accepted, right?
Lord, that’s enough. I think I need a drink now.
Good deal, Seressia, you’re a wonderful example of how to carry oneself. And your books rock, esp. No Commitment Required
I said something similar myself.
Monica, the less said about that, the better. I am officially a non-person.
(Was the FMA in your early post referring to Full Metal Alchemist? I have to go buy the DVD tomorrow!)
Oh, HELLS yes. I’m going to take a break at 12:30 and watch Inuyasha and FMA. I have the movie, but I’m making myself wait until I’ve seen all the episodes, and it’s torture! The curse of it not coming on until 1 am when I have to get up for the day job at 6; I missed a lot of them and saw others out of sequence.
‘My first book was an interracial…’
Nice. They sound more like mainstream contemp than the usual ‘romance’. Is that right?
Now, are you one of the folks getting reprinted by Kensington?
‘I like writing interracials in that I like to show how people from supposedly disparate backgrounds can have similarities that bind them together. Everybody wants to be loved and accepted, right?’
Spoken like a true FMA fan.
Definately. I think that factor combined with the exotic aspect are most important.
Ana, Oh no!
Sigh. Feel free to e-mail me privately if you want to talk.
I should be in bed. There’s a full time job out there with a conference call at 9 am followed by a staff meeting that I must be properly caffeinated for.
I understand that people see red when the “R” word or the “N” word are used. It’s hard not to cringe or get defensive or flame or hit delete. That tells me that we still have a long way to go. I mean collectively we, not ethnically we. I think there still needs to be discourse on racism, because there are multiple levels of racism, most of which don’t involve white sheets or burning crosses.
This isn’t the forum for that though— unless we talk about it as it relates to romance, which it seems we’ve gotten away from. Can we go back? Please? Mulligan? (please, if you’re Irish, don’t be offended at that last one)
Can we stop the Monica bashing? She’s explained. She’s even apologized. Let it go.
Thanks to those who are spreading the word. We appreciate it. I’ve really got to go to bed now.
I was over at Monica’s site yesterday reading about some of the ideas for promoting AA fiction and the idea of a website/blog of honest reviews of AA fiction came up.
I think this is an exciting idea, especially for AA/IR Romance. I have never read an AA romance – not because I’m against it, but because I really can’t tell from glancing at an obviously AA book if it’s Chic Lit, Lit, or Romance without name recognition. (In most of the bookstores I’ve been to they’ve all been grouped together.) Everybody knows Nora Roberts is a romance author, but the only AA romance author I can name off the top of my head is Monica because she posts here. I can’t say how many times I’ve read a review here of an author I’d never heard about, only to run out and buy it. I’ve even had to resort to ordering on-line at times. I think it’s only my ignorance that keeps me from doing the same for AA romance, esp. since some days I get so bored with the same old authors I would kill for something with a different perspective, to whatever degree.
…I know this yearning isn’t about Genesis, but I just thought I’d throw it out there.
‘I understand that people see red when the “R†word or the “N†word are used. It’s hard not to cringe or get defensive or flame or hit delete. That tells me that we still have a long way to go.’
I have one last thing to say on this. I am not attacking Monica—I have seen this behavior numerous times on many forums, which is why I want to comment. This is intended to clarify and help.
It doesn’t matter how you personally feel about a button-pushing word or term when you use it in a public forum, what matters is how other people react to it, and whether you use it in reference to behavior or apply it directly to a group.
I may consider motherfucker to be a fairly benign word with only mild negative connotations and many ranges of definition, but that’s doesn’t mean I can say a certain group of people are motherfuckers and not expect several members of that group not to get on my case about it—and most likely miss what else I have to say.
Even if the world ‘all’ isn’t actually used, speaking of a group suggests it.
You can’t expect the members of a group not to feel singled out if you’re talking about their people, and then complain you weren’t talking to them directly. While admirable that it’s possible to view people as entities outside the generalalities of race and creed, the human tendency is to assume they are part of any generalization. That’s not paranoia, that’s logic.
However, it’s usually safe to say a certain group has tendencies toward behaving like motherfuckers without calling everyone in that group directly a motherfucker, and then mention why.
Then those who aren’t don’t apply the label to themselves, because hey, I posted that SOME people in a group ACT like motherfuckers, and I presented a damn good argument. I’m commenting on the BEHAVIOR of SOME, not applying to label directly to all. Semantics? Maybe. But it works.
If they read the post and my reasons for motherfuckerism don’t apply to them personally, they don’t get offended. In fact, they’ll probably share similar experiences. God knows, we’ve all been around motherfuckers.
Then the learning can start, and views passed on and debated clearly without the initial “What did you call me?” reaction.
Those who are motherfuckers will probably cause problems, sure. Most likely, my message won’t reach them, but true motherfuckers have no interest in changing anyway.
The reason for saying what I did was to reach a better understanding with members of the group who aren’t motherfuckers, but may not be aware of the members of the group who are, and what they do. Then instead of the whole group getting up in arms, only the true motherfuckers show their colors.
Then the people who SHOULD get a ration of crap get it, instead of the well-meaning folk who actually bore no ill will other than being angry and wanting to share.
Thank you.
I know this yearning isn’t about Genesis, but I just thought I’d throw it out there.
I have read Kayla Perrin, personally—I believe she’s a Genesis author, or was. I really liked it—had a Terry McMillan feel. Brainfarting on the title, but it was about three women done wrong who kick the bastards’ asses.
I’ve worked with Wanda Hudson, Adrienne Kama, and Felicia Cummings at my old ebook company, and I recommend all three. Great voices. Kr Wilson as well.
I know there are more, but those are the ones I recall offhand.
Thanks. I’ll look into them.
I am new to this site and cant believe I am choosing this thread to delurk. I was very disturbed by reading this thread and the subsequent responses to the posting on September 21st. I think lots of great points were made that were totally lost in the vitriol and defensiveness on September 20. I think what people need is a little introspection. And found a great article at http://www.stockton.edu/~teaching/bildner/TalkingAboutRace.pdf that could help explain why the discussion devolved into name calling and defensiveness as it did.
Interesting marketing strategy.
1. Accuse all non-Blacks of racism.
2. Offer solution in form of buying one’s books.
(Apologies to Mistress Stef for chickenshittery.)
Yeah, but you admit you’re chickenshit. That gets you half respect.
*deep breath*
Glad to see Monica’s sticking around, and will continue to contribute to SB as a place to communicate with a more diverse range of readers and writers in the genre. Good to hear the warning about Genesis, and to collectively offer sympathy to those affected by the shady business dealings.