This was forwarded to me by one of the recipients. Let’s see . . . assholes, babies, money-losers, and lazy. Those are fine things to call your authors.
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: phierstarter@bluphier.com
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:36:00 +0000
Subject: Final Group Email
As you can tell from the subject, from here out I plan on ceasing with the group emails. I will send out an email each month concerning book sales and pay royalties accordingly. If you have relevant questions concerning your book, or marketing thereof, feel free to contact me.
Due to many of the emails I’ve received, I have to reiterate that I need you to limit your communications to relevant issues.
Me owing you money for editing. Relevant.
Your book not appearning on Amazon. Relevant.
Your book not selling to your expectations, yet you have only done one signing in 3 years. Irrelevant.
You wanting out of your contract once your book is in print. Not going to happen.
You needing contributor copies. Relevant.
Over the past year and a half our author base has nearly trippled. We’ve gotten some great authors and great people out of the deal. That being said, we’ve also gotten some assholes. I have no problem dealing with assholes I do it on a daily basis. However, many of you are older than me and have children of your own. I should not have to babysit adults. Especially when the adults are COSTING me money as opposed to making any.
Only two authors we currently have in print can say they responded to ads I placed in 2005 looking for new authors. Only one author can state they have sent a dime towards the publication of their own book. Everyone else, has asked me to spend my money to publish their books.
Some of you work your asses off and make decent book sells. Some of you think because you wrote a book the sells and money just automatically roll in. You feel that if the money is not rolling in, apparently I’ve done something wrong. The simple fact of the matter is, many of you are lazy.
Over the past several months I’ve come to the conclusion that some of you just can’t be helped. That being said, I still have valid contracts with you, I still have expended substantial funds towards your books, and we will continue or efforts. However, if you aren’t going to lift a finger to promote your own book so be it. Technically you’re in breach of your contracts, but I’ll just chalk it up as a loss.
For those of you who are trying, feel free to contact me and I’ll help in any way I can. Many of you have asked for copies on consignment and when the fees were available we have provided. I can’t think of anyone who has asked for money for marketing or had a valid idea we have refused. I will continue to do what I can to support you productive authors.
For you upcoming authors, think carefully about what you are doing with requesting us to publish your books. Once your book is in print we are in bed together, for better or worse.
MLBjr
For you upcoming authors, think carefully about what you are doing with requesting us to publish your books. Once your book is in print we are in bed together, for better or worse.
Actually, I agree. And I would even cite that as a reason to not do business with him.
“Everyone else, has asked me to spend my money to publish their books.”
Yeah, they did, because that’s what a traditional publisher DOES.
“Especially when the adults are COSTING me money as opposed to making any.”
Yeah, why bother investing in your authors, all they want to do is take your money. He’s unfucking real.
Yes, he is. I have two new posts up about him. I beat Rusty to the letter by a few hours. :p
And I have another one up about his proposed anthology.
Absolutely deplorable. What a horrible person.
(I’m Xposting this here, because it needs to be said…)
“Only one author can state they have sent a dime towards the publication of their own book. Everyone else, has asked me to spend my money to publish their books….Some of you think because you wrote a book the sells and money just automatically roll in. You feel that if the money is not rolling in, apparently I?ve done something wrong.”
WTF???
Um, yeah… That is actually how it’s supposed to work, you complete fucking imbecile. If you accept a PENNY from an author as upfront payment to “publish” a book, then guess what? YOU ARE NOT A PUBLISHER, DICKFACE!!! If I want to pay someone to publish my book, I’ll go down to Kinko’s and print off a few copies. Maybe then I can put the Kinko’s label on the spine and call them my “publisher,” while I’m at it.
Either the money flows to the author, or you are just a glorified version of CafePress. Deal with it.
It’s almost like he wants to be put on the P&E “AVOID” list. Oh, wait… he’s there already…
This guy’s an idiot.
I can’t believe what he just said. I really cannot.
And he expects people to doe business with him?
We can only hope that after the articles Rusty has posted that any future authors realize that they would be better off self-publishing through Lulu.com or CreateSpace.
Both those services will get you an ISBN, get you listed on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble and you will sell just as many copies as you would through Blue Fire without giving up the rights to your novel forever.
Not that I’m advocating Self Publishing, but anything would be better than dealing with this moron.
Last I heard, Blue Fire books aren’t even being sold through Horror Mall, right? You have to be pretty worthless as a publisher if you aren’t even honoring Horror Mall’s orders.
Ooops! Looks like someone isn’t up to being a real publisher.
Implosion in 5… 4… 3…
Someone should point out to this arsehole that it takes money to make money.
That’s a hoary old adage, but it is true. The publisher must put out the costs as a business risk, not on the backs of the authors.
It’s one of the ugliest situations I have seen in thirty years in the industry.
This man is a fraud. His attitude is that of a slave owner to his slaves.
Sorry, Mr. Bare Nudie, but authors have rights.
Another suggestion I would like to make is to spread this as far and wide as possible and cost post the letter.
I’ll post it up on my blog when I get a minute. Not that there’s a lot of traffic on it but every little bit helps.
I just posted it to my LJ as well.
Yes, Raingods, every little bit helps. If each person passes it along, it will get so far and wide that Bare Nudie will not be able to deal with it.
Mike – Blu Phier was on the not recommended list. I believe they fell off that when Enck was bending over backwards to make that company work (albeit clumsily, I have to admit he did try).
Wasn’t the Help anthology put out with the cooperation of Blu Phier? I know it’s selling from Lulu, but I recall Blu Phier being mentioned early on.
They were investigating blu phier, but it’s now just there. Neither recommended nor NOT recommended. The fact that he has it up that he is paying advances may have swayed them to his side for the moment.
The important thing is to keep getting the truth out.
I totally agree, Janrae – I’ve just re-posted the letter on my blog. I’m going to track links to add to it, as well.
That man has an unbelievable sense of his own worth… :-/
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again but I’m grateful that there’s a place like the rusty nail and others that keep track of these charlatans. I mention TRN mainly because it was the first place that I learned about some of these people.
Those who who view TRN as a place for snark only and think it’s hateful don’t understand its reason for being.
Well I was trying to be eloquent but it’s hard when I’m late for a meeting.
Made the point perfectly.
Also, we do a fine line in gibberish with side orders of personal nonsense (geek trophies, biscuits, monster movies, etc) 😉
What. A. Jerk.
Wow, just, wow.
If you are trying to become a respected, reputable, professional small press, this is the wrong way to go about it, in every possible way. I’m shaking my head and in appalled disbelief.
Well, I believe it. Of course I do. I just don’t want to think on it too much, or I’ll get rip snorting annoyed and it’ll spiral into pissed off territory.
Jodi,
Eric was working on the Help anthology the same time he was with Blu Phier, but the company had nothing to do with the anthology.
that’s a relief to know, Adam.
What is it with this recent phenomenon of using the word “sell” when what is meant is “sale?” People, don’t get your writing advice off the PublishAmerica messageboards!
I think Bernoudy spells phonetically. Remember, the guy’s from Louisiana. Just a guess . . .
Urg.
This made my head hurt. I might not know much about the publishing industry (rather, nothing really) but even I know in order to make cash, you have to spend it as well. Or so the old saying goes. *shrugs*
This guy is an absolute… no, I don’t think there are any words to describe the stupidity this idiot has.
On another note while out for lunch the other day I heard people in the table next to me talking about a book they knew someone had worked on taken on by Publish America. All I could say was “DON’T DO IT!”
Apparently they did and are now all “WTF?” over their dealings with them. They had to get advice from their lawyer and everything.
I felt saddened, yet wanted to laugh at them for not obviously doing the research needed. I wanted to say “It’s all right there, on the net. Use it.” I know it’s easy to get suckered and all – hell, I probably would be too if I was new to writing – but with places like Rusty and so on out there, I’m glad I know a little more than the average joe. Thanks guys for the edumacation 😀
*end randomness*
I was always a compulsive researcher. That’s probably why I never got suckered.
But way too many people are not.
OH MY GOD. WAY TO FAIL, BERNOUDY.
Also, who would want to be “in bed” with this freakazoid? EW EW EW EW EW EW.
And they’re not, as mentioned, on the P&E “Not Recommended” list, although they absolutely should be. As I understand it, a bunch of the authors lobbied Dave to take them off the “Not Recommended” list after Bernoudy changed the horrible contract to a slightly less horrible one, and Dave did.
I lost count of the number of typos in that email. This guy’s a publisher?
EREC linked to this entry. It’s the second time Ms. Veinglory has linked to this blog; both links involve entries regarding Blu Phi’er.
It’s gratifying to know that not everyone who occasionally stops by gets distracted by the shits and giggles, when there is real news about a “publisher” flame-out to report. I believe I owe the folks at EREC a sidebar link.
I’ve also been getting a lot of referrals recently from the forum board at HWA. Not being a member, I can’t read the entries that contain the links. It doesn’t really matter, but I do get curious.
The overall anger level at the fact that these people exist would be far worse if we could not poke and laugh.
The grammatical mistakes in this email alone would be enough to convince me to not publish with this person.
I get those HWA referrals too, Russ. Wish I was a fly on the wall.
Soon. Real soon.
I recently received referrals from a link to Rusty on Erastes at Livejournal. Word is spreading. Though I have an LJ account, I seldom use it for anything but reading my friends page or commenting on stupid_free or sf_drama.
I’ve no idea who Erastes is. It doesn’t matter, as long as the word about Blu Phi’er spreads. Word of keyboard is even more powerful than word of mouth, as long as the person posting has credibility.
Exactly so, Rusty. This kind of behavior cannot be allowed to continue unopposed.
This is absolutely terrible. This guy has no idea. It offends me that some legitimate publishers are busting their balls (or genitalia according to gender/phylum) to make the small press thing work, and then he’s just treating his writers like this.
But with a name like Blu Phi’er, what did people expect?