Snowbooks
Snowbooks is proud of being small and feisty and doing independent publishing differently.
SO it's sad that they're not that different to the big boys when it comes to being run by committee and being aware of writers' sensitivities.
A writer friend was dancing at Christmas to be told by Emma, the company's MD, that she had read his novel 'in one sitting! It's one of the great luxuries of the festive season. I have really enjoyed it, and I will be taking it to our next editorial meeting which conveniently happens to be next week to pitch it to my colleagues...I do hope that my colleagues agree with me that it is an excellent, pacey and well-researched thriller.'
Then Emma goes on holiday, worms turn, calls are no longer returned, and eventually a new email arrives. 'It was a very close call. I'm thus so very sorry to say that we've decided against making an offer for it. It is, of course, a work of immense quality, but no-one here felt that they loved it quite enough to make it theirs.'
Not even Emma, the MD, who so loved it in the first place?
Snowbooks doesn't particularly like dealing with agents ... but really if they are going to spin with the emotions of writers in his way they should require agents as filters.
And they do seem just like all the big boys. Times I've had that same reaction from the biggest houses ... editors wildly enthusiastic, then somewhere down the line somebody (often in marketing) pulls the plug. What I like about independents is that they can decide to run on the basis of an editor's decision ... That way good books that fall at committee stage can get through. The more people you get together, the more likely you are to have someone dislike a book that someone else has loved. Seems like at four people, Snowbooks is already too big for itself.
Oh well. They can keep on growing, wait for a corporate take-over, and start again I suppose.
SO it's sad that they're not that different to the big boys when it comes to being run by committee and being aware of writers' sensitivities.
A writer friend was dancing at Christmas to be told by Emma, the company's MD, that she had read his novel 'in one sitting! It's one of the great luxuries of the festive season. I have really enjoyed it, and I will be taking it to our next editorial meeting which conveniently happens to be next week to pitch it to my colleagues...I do hope that my colleagues agree with me that it is an excellent, pacey and well-researched thriller.'
Then Emma goes on holiday, worms turn, calls are no longer returned, and eventually a new email arrives. 'It was a very close call. I'm thus so very sorry to say that we've decided against making an offer for it. It is, of course, a work of immense quality, but no-one here felt that they loved it quite enough to make it theirs.'
Not even Emma, the MD, who so loved it in the first place?
Snowbooks doesn't particularly like dealing with agents ... but really if they are going to spin with the emotions of writers in his way they should require agents as filters.
And they do seem just like all the big boys. Times I've had that same reaction from the biggest houses ... editors wildly enthusiastic, then somewhere down the line somebody (often in marketing) pulls the plug. What I like about independents is that they can decide to run on the basis of an editor's decision ... That way good books that fall at committee stage can get through. The more people you get together, the more likely you are to have someone dislike a book that someone else has loved. Seems like at four people, Snowbooks is already too big for itself.
Oh well. They can keep on growing, wait for a corporate take-over, and start again I suppose.
posted by Martin at 1:33 PM
2 Comments:
Hiya - I am sorry that you feel we are no different to the rest. Of course I can see why. I suppose the answer is not to give anything away when we're talking to authors - not even to indicate that we like the book. It is a difficult one - but many authors we speak to say they'd rather be told the truth at all stages. Ideally we'd publish all the great books we read but of course that's impossible.
It probably won't help, but the reason this was a 'no' is explained by our structure. I do everything that requires a central point of contact, like sales and finance, then I have three publishers who each read, select and negotiate contracts for their own books. They then do everything to do with that book, from cover design to typesetting, production management, marketing and PR. This is why one of them has to love the book so much - because it's their working life for the next 18 months.
Again, I think I know the answer - I shouldn't read manuscripts and comment on them because it's my publishers who make the final decision.
Sorry once again that we've let your friend down. Best, Emma
Thanks for yours, Emma. You're right, being the MD and responding as such suggests more than is delivered ... Maybe with your very real enthusiasm you deserve a little fun and should pick up a book and run with it all the way now and again.
I know myself how hard it can be in a publishing house, letting an author hear your enthusiasm yet knowing others may well spike the book. I suppose with Snowbooks it's different in that the person in your role (or one of your roles) is normally the one who pulls the plug on an editor's enthusiasm. As a writer I've got to the point where it's hard to get excited over even lavish praise, because I know how swiftly the tide can turn. You don't get to write good stuff without being vulnerable.
Good luck.
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