Into Every Life a Little Rain Must Fall
October 16, 2011 | It's All About Writing
But this has turned into a tsunami. I’m talking about Aspen Mountain Press and its problems. As most of you know, AMP has struggled for a long time. Their difficulties include no royalties paid, no statements, website taken down for questionable reasons and the evacuation of key personnel.
My last royalty came in April of this year and no statements since the fall of 2010. There are many other contractual breaches suffered by most of the AMP authors. If you check their websites and blogs, you’ll learn all about their grievances. Mine specifically are books being sold by AMP that are out of contract which equates to pirating. I cannot abide such a practice. Writing is not a hobby for me, I rely on my royalties to pay my bills.
I have ten books with AMP. I reclaimed my rights on them all October 8, 2011, but have yet to receive the official letter or email from the AMP owner Sandra Hicks. And it doesn’t look like it will come any time soon. Before I sent my email to Sandra, I removed all the AMP books from my website and contacted all third party vendors to remove those same books from their sites as they were being sold illegally. All but Fictionwise and Mobipockets were happy to comply.
Today Sandra Hicks posted on the AMP authors loop that we should check the site and if our books were removed we would receive the much needed rights reversal letter. I checked and found no one can buy my books, but the covers are still posted. This means I am still in limbo with ten books that took a great deal of energy to write, perfect and promote and unable to move forward with a professional publisher.
Thank you for reading my little story.
Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
That is terrible! I’m shocked and horrified at this behavior. I’m going to tweet this and maybe others will come, read your story and pass this info on. Good luck in your fight.
On October 16th, 2011 at 11:15 amSloane, I emailed you regarding what I did in a similar situation that worked for me. 😉
Hugs,
jan
On October 16th, 2011 at 11:40 amSloane, I’m so sorry. I knew you were with AMP and began to worry when I heard rumors, now they’ve been confirmed. I really hope you get the rights back, you’re a great writer. Don’t let this get you down. There are other publishers out there many whom are ethical and won’t do this crap.
On October 16th, 2011 at 11:46 amI am so sorry this has happened to many of my former AMP author friends. I am so glad I got out at the end of 2010 but I knew I could kiss any royalties I was owed goodbye and I am not talking pennies either.
HUGS to you and all the other AMP authors in limbo. I really hope Sandra finally has the decency to take down the site, repay her authors what they are owed and give you that reversion letter.
On October 16th, 2011 at 11:56 amSloane,
I admit I haven’t heard anything about AMP but I’ve been wondering why it was so quiet on the Sloane front.
What a nightmare. Hope it all works out for you soon.
On October 16th, 2011 at 12:33 pmThanks you, Melissa. I appreciate your help.:)
You’re right, Beth, and the bodies are mounting. What makes me sick is that this is the third time for me!!!!
Jan – I’m waiting with baited breath.:)
Aah, Marie, you should know how to make this old gal feel good. Thank you.
Raine, you were so right to get out when you did. I should have followed you. We’ve already been told we can either have our rights or wait for her to finally send out royalties. I doubt either will happen.
Thank you, Jenna, from your lips to….:)
On October 16th, 2011 at 12:43 pmBarb, you’re welcome and I’ll email you with that info.
On October 16th, 2011 at 2:06 pm