Before proceeding to the final two major delays that scuttled my story's chance at being released before the 10/1/12 email, let's back up for a moment, for there are other emails which support my conclusion that Epoc Enuma, Part 1 could, and indeed, would have been published at least three months before October 1, 2012 had not these ridiculous delays been encountered.
In "100 Meters From Shore, Part 2a," I referenced a string of emails between May 8, 2012 and August 6, 2012. Two of those were given. The others are of exchanges between myself and PWP's principal administrative assistant at the time. I will quote those exchanges now and then comment on their meaning and application to my fundamental conclusion.
Let's start with a succession of emails between myself and the administrative assistant for Passionate Writer Publishing. I have included this succession starting from the June 13th email. Its string dates back to emails started June 1, 2012.
FROM: omitted@passionatewriterpublishing.com
TO: Lal Wynstrom
(name omitted)
Client Services
www.passionatewriterpublishing.com
--- wynstromword@(omitted) wrote:
From: Lal Wynstrom <>
To: "<omitted@passionatewriterpublishing.com>" <omitted@passionatewriterpublishing.com>
Subject: Re: Update
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2012 07:15:47 -0600
On Jun 6, 2012, at 7:54 AM, <omitted@passionatewriterpublishing.com> wrote:
FROM: (omitted)@passionatewriterpublishing.com
TO: Lal Wynstrom
Hello Cedric,
Now read carefully and note what was said. "The status shows processing. This means they're actually working on your manuscript and you're no longer waiting."
Also pay careful attention to the date: Saturday, JULY 14, 2012.
Thus, according to this email, between June 13th and July 14th (or on the day of July 14th if we are to read it literally) my manuscript was now actually being worked on by the formatting department. Also remember that formatting is the last major stage before publication. So no further barriers to my story's release would have existed once I had received the formatting, proofread it, made any necessary corrections to formatting oversights, and returned it to the formatting lead within the specified time given.
But Let's Look Deeper
Was my manuscript actually being worked on in July in preparation for a late August release at any time between June 13 and the approach of August? Had the formatting team begun to format my story by even the middle or end of July? I'll let the PWP formatting lead answer that question in their own words.
FROM: (omitted)@passionatewriterpublishing.com
TO: wynstromword@(omitted)
Hello,
In "100 Meters From Shore, Part 2a," I referenced a string of emails between May 8, 2012 and August 6, 2012. Two of those were given. The others are of exchanges between myself and PWP's principal administrative assistant at the time. I will quote those exchanges now and then comment on their meaning and application to my fundamental conclusion.
Let's start with a succession of emails between myself and the administrative assistant for Passionate Writer Publishing. I have included this succession starting from the June 13th email. Its string dates back to emails started June 1, 2012.
**********
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
8:51 AM
Hello Cedric,
I had to email formatting for an update. There is one manuscript ahead of yours. In order to allow time for you to review the proof the official release date will be pushed out until late Aug. This isn't to say it won't be complete and ready to go prior to.
I had to email formatting for an update. There is one manuscript ahead of yours. In order to allow time for you to review the proof the official release date will be pushed out until late Aug. This isn't to say it won't be complete and ready to go prior to.
(name omitted)
Client Services
www.passionatewriterpublishing.com
--- wynstromword@(omitted) wrote:
From: Lal Wynstrom <>
To: "<omitted@passionatewriterpublishing.com>" <omitted@passionatewriterpublishing.com>
Subject: Re: Update
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2012 07:15:47 -0600
Hi (omitted),
Just a followup on the update question sent last week.
On Jun 6, 2012, at 7:54 AM, <omitted@passionatewriterpublishing.com> wrote:
Cedric,
We are undergoing a bit of reorganization to streamline the process. I'll have an answer for you by next week.
If you weren't included on the email back in Feb we were affected by the Tornadoes that swept through Indiana. Thus we've been playing catch up.
(name omitted)
Client Services
www.passionatewriterpublishing.com
--- wynstromword@(omitted) wrote:From: Lal Wynstrom <>To: "omitted@passionatewriterpublishing.com" <omitted@passionatewriterpublishing.com>Subject: Fwd: UpdateDate: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 16:35:05 -0600From: Lal Wynstrom <>
Date: June 1, 2012 5:13:49 PM MDT
To: Passionate Writer Publishing <omitted@passionatewriterpublishing.com>
Subject: UpdateHi (omitted),
Ced Crawley, Shroud of Shadows writer here. Recalling that you informed me that all stories currently up for publication would be out by July this year, I'm just writing to get an update on where I am in the line.
Looking forward to hearing from you and splendid day!
**********
One of the first things to note in this exchange is that there is no denial of my statement that: "you informed me that all stories currently up for publication would be out by July this year." This statement is significant because it shows that PWP's original plan - or of their administration department's understanding of the plan at least - was to have every manuscript then under publication released by July 2012.
My manuscript fell under that plan, and this further supports my contention that 10/1/12 was unnecessary and should have never applied to me, period.
However, note from the June 13th email that the July plan had been scrapped and substituted for a late August 2012 release, "in order to allow time for you to review the proof," because, "there is one manuscript ahead of yours."
Fine, there's one manuscript ahead of mine. But now include the statement of this email from PWP administration.
**********
Saturday, July 14, 2012
9:34 PM
Hello Cedric,
You should be hearing from formatting soon. The status shows processing. This means they're actually working on your manuscript and you're no longer waiting.
The author copies go out once the title is released.
(name omitted)
Client Services
www.passionatewriterpublishing.com
**********
Now read carefully and note what was said. "The status shows processing. This means they're actually working on your manuscript and you're no longer waiting."
Also pay careful attention to the date: Saturday, JULY 14, 2012.
Thus, according to this email, between June 13th and July 14th (or on the day of July 14th if we are to read it literally) my manuscript was now actually being worked on by the formatting department. Also remember that formatting is the last major stage before publication. So no further barriers to my story's release would have existed once I had received the formatting, proofread it, made any necessary corrections to formatting oversights, and returned it to the formatting lead within the specified time given.
But Let's Look Deeper
Was my manuscript actually being worked on in July in preparation for a late August release at any time between June 13 and the approach of August? Had the formatting team begun to format my story by even the middle or end of July? I'll let the PWP formatting lead answer that question in their own words.
**********
Monday, August 6, 2012
7:25 AM
Hello,
This is an update to let you know I'm now on your manuscript. I had two very long ones before yours so it put me about a week behind.
(name omitted)
Team Lead
Formatting
Passionate Writer Publishing
**********
Huh?!?! I thought my manuscript was already being worked on for more than three weeks prior to this email!
Obviously not!
"OK, fine," I thought to myself then. All these delays, lack of communication, run-around trying to get straight answers. But I was still on course to get my story out. "I can still work with this company," I thought then, even though plenty, PLENNNTY warning signs were on the wall. I was also thinking that maybe this was just the way publishing companies work - they take their time, get behind, have issues, but in the end fulfill the obligations they contracted for with an author.
They fulfill their obligations and stated aim to work with a writer to get their dreams accomplished - a published book.
What a pipedream that turned out to be! But that is a conclusion for the final entry in this series, and I get ahead of myself.
But hang on! The worst is yet to come.
In order to allow you time to consider and absorb this addendum to part 2a, we'll end it here and save the final two injustices (insults?) for part 2c.
Until then...
To the upward reach of man.
Wow! This must have been disheartening. From the e-mails, I would have thought ok, not the best of communicators, unproffesional in fact. But still, thought from e-mails, they had plans to go ahead with the publication of novel. I think you had a lucky escape by braking from them. Again, well written and an intresting read. Coconut -girl.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about all this is that, yes, there at least *appeared* to be, even with all this nonsense going on, an effort to publish the story.
DeleteBut, to me at least, *something* was going on, something I can't prove without inside access to company emails and meetings.
And as I discussed with a lawyer at the time, without such access - what the law calls "discovery" - all this is speculation.
Still, this speculation is strong given the overwhelming evidence that supports it. And quite honestly, I've actually held back some of my harsher conclusions for the final bits of this blog.
We're going to get into those in the last miles of this odyssey.