Last week marked the end of an on-going issue with one of my stories.
I sold “Powerless” to a small magazine that shall remain nameless. When the story was accepted, it was explained that they wanted the story for the March 2013 issue and would I be okay with the wait. I was because even though my pocket would have to wait to receive payment, my ego was more than satisfied.
However, March came and instead of publication and payment, I received an email stating that the original publication had been bought by another publisher and things were a little crazy. New contracts and publishing schedules would be forthcoming.
In May, the new contract request came and I fulfilled it.
And then I waited.
A couple of posts on their Facebook page kept us authors informed, sort of, but other than that…we were all left waiting all summer.
(I’m one of those writers that tires not to ever inquire about a submission or publication status. It makes me feel like an amateur and a nag. I know I’m well-within my rights, but well…that’s another post.)
Last week, I received a final email. According to the former employee writing the email, the new publisher had no timetable for publication and possibly no funds to pay the writers for their work. Kind of a problem since we’d all basically re-upped our contracts for another year.
The email informed us of everything they knew and left it up to us as to whether we wanted to stick it out or not. If we wanted out of our contracts, they advised us how to do it, since they didn’t have the authority to release our rights. The email closed by wishing us all well.
I thought about it for a few hours. Well, first I let my agitation die down and then I thought about it.
I could leave my story with the new publisher with the hope they’d get their shit together and publish my story before the contract expired and actually paid me.
Or I could take my ball and go home.
I decided on the latter.
I don’t want to deal with shady people if I don’t have to. And I consider this bit of roundabout I’ve been through this year to be a bit shady.
Besides, this story will fit nicely into my own anthology.
Silver lining.
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