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4/5/04 7:02:07 PM Opening "Chat Log 4/5/04"

HOST WPLC Sushi: Tonight we are hosting Mr. Clint Gaige, the publisher of Quiet Storm books
JsmnStrm: welcome, Mr Gaige
HOST WPLC Sushi: He is the publisher of our own member Michael/Werewolfsevn
Qtstormbooks: Hello...
Lightningbug1957: Welcome! Thanks for coming
HOST WPLC Sushi: It's a new and smallish company, with big things in store!
Qtstormbooks: Thanks for having me...
HOST WPLC Sushi: Welcome, Mr Gaige! :-)
JES No Time: Great to have you here
HOST WPLC Sushi: Do you have any prepared remarks for us, Mr. Gaige?
Qtstormbooks: I thought about that...but I prefer the give and take of questions and answers is always better...
HOST WPLC Sushi: okay, sounds good!
Qtstormbooks: I can tell you a bit about Quiet Storm...
HOST WPLC Sushi: Please do!
HOST WPLC Sushi: Later, we'll go into Protocol, and I'll line up the questions for you.
Qtstormbooks: We're a small press...we release 2-3 new titles per month. We've been in business now for 2 years.
Qtstormbooks: We work hard for our authors...
Qtstormbooks: We advertise our books...we have staff edtiors, artists, proofers and layout personnel
Qtstormbooks: most recently we added a television production department...that produces ads for our books for airing on local cable
Qtstormbooks: as well as recording studios for audio books and radio commercials...
Qtstormbooks: we also have a sizeable print advertising budget...
Qtstormbooks: My background is in the media...I have over 15 years of experience in radio, television and newspaper advertising
Qtstormbooks: which, is a bit unusual, but I also have a distinct love for books...
Qtstormbooks: which, is how this started.
HOST WPLC Sushi: Where are you located?
Qtstormbooks: Martinsburg, WV
HOST WPLC Sushi: Beautiful area
Qtstormbooks: Yes...my office looks out over a mountain...very nice.
HOST WPLC Sushi: all right, ready for questions?
Qtstormbooks: sure.
HOST WPLC Sushi: Please type a "?" or "!" and wait until I call you.
Midori159: ?
Werewolfsevn: !
Hillwithit: ?
HOST WPLC Sushi: All these strong, silent types around here. ;-)
HOST WPLC Sushi: Everyone remember to typw "ga" when you are done with your Q or A
HOST WPLC Sushi: Okay, Midori, go
Midori159: what kind of books does qstorm publish? ga
KTCopsey: ?
Qtstormbooks: We are primarily a mystery publisher...we do venture into the fantastic and fantasy a bit...but our primary focus is in the mystery genre ga
Lightningbug1957: ?
HOST WPLC Sushi: Michael, ga
Werewolfsevn: Clint mentioned the TV commercials- I got a look at a commercial they produced for "The Shadowlands"- and it is really, really good. ga
HOST WPLC Sushi: [can we see it?]
Jayde the Writer: ?
Qtstormbooks: Well, its on DVD...and designed for television viewing...its not really created for online viewing
HOST WPLC Sushi: Hill, go ahead
Hillwithit: Are you open to non-agented submissions, and if so, how should we query you?
Qtstormbooks: Yes...we have a page on the website that details submissions...quietstormpublishing.com
Qtstormbooks: I prefer a query...email is fine ga
Hillwithit: thanks! ga/
HOST WPLC Sushi: KT is next, I believe
KTCopsey: Agents do you just work with those you know or are you open to new agents, as well as unrepresented authors(this may have been covered by Hills question too) .ga
Qtstormbooks: I am open to good books...I don't care where they come from...
Qtstormbooks: No...we do not accept unsolicited manuscripts...query first...every query is read.
Qtstormbooks: ga
HOST WPLC Sushi: Bev, you're up!
Hillwithit: ?
Lightningbug1957: How long does it take you to respond to a query?
JsmnStrm: ?
Qtstormbooks: Good question...I try to answer quickly. I know its horrible to be waiting for an answer.
Qtstormbooks: I can say that the longer it takes to hear from us the better...if you get an immediate answer...then saying no was easy.
Lightningbug1957: ok, thanks
Qtstormbooks: ga
OnlineHost: “HOST WPLC Lyric” has entered the room.
Lightningbug1957: Hey Sry
HOST WPLC Lyric: Hi everyone, don't want to interrupt the speaker, but I'll stay as long as I can to help out
Qtstormbooks: If you are not sure what a query is...you need to do a lot more reading about this industry before you submit your manuscript anywhere.
Qtstormbooks: ga
JsmnStrm: howdy Sry.... Good to see you!
Cybertyger: ?
JsmnStrm: Hey Paul, who is up nextw/ questions?
HOST WPLC Lyric: until we know, Rick why not ask your question
Cybertyger: Do you accept, tolerate or not accept multiple submissions?
JsmnStrm: ?
HOST WPLC Sushi: Jayde is next
Jayde the Writer: What kind of circulation do books you publish see?
HOST WPLC Lyric: sushi is innundated with IM's from nonmembers so I'm getting the queue from him as we speak
HOST WPLC Sushi: [sorry, been IMing too much!]
Qtstormbooks: Okay...yes multiple submissions are fine...
Qtstormbooks: circulation? Well books aren't magazines...where do they get carried? That really depends...
Qtstormbooks: we're a small press...so, we fight for every venue we have, but it grows weekly.
Qtstormbooks: ga
Windswhisper43: ?
Jayde the Writer: I apologize. I didn't know what else to call it
HOST WPLC Lyric: Hill is next
Hillwithit: Are you more interested in a mystery series, or a stand-alone crime fiction novel? (Do you publish any series?) ga/
HOST WPLC Lyric: please be ready with your question
Qtstormbooks: Thats a tough question...as a reader? I am more interested in a stand alone crime fiction...HOWEVER, I don't make business decisions based on my personal tastes...
Qtstormbooks: you have to understand that a publishing list has a personality
HOST WPLC Lyric: (Jasmine please be ready with your question!)
Qtstormbooks: I want balance...so, if I have room for a crime...I want the crime...but, if I need a cozy to balance the list...then I would take the cozy...
Qtstormbooks: ga
JsmnStrm: What are some of the more common mistakes you see in your query letters? ga..
Hillwithit: ?
HOST WPLC Lyric: before we go ahead
HOST WPLC Lyric: would you please answer Jayde's question a bit more
Qtstormbooks: simple misspellings...this is one page you get to make an impression...failing to proof one page, gives a really bad impression...
HOST WPLC Lyric: about how many books do you publish?
HOST WPLC Lyric: sorry, after you answer Jas
Qtstormbooks: Lyric...about placement?
Qtstormbooks: we publish 2-3 new titles per month...
PHeeren: ?
HOST WPLC Lyric: yes, please finish answering Jas first
OnlineHost: “HillFlower1” has entered the room.
Qtstormbooks: the other problem I see in query letters is cockiness
Qtstormbooks: Guaranteeing anything is a really bad move...
JsmnStrm: Cockiness? really? How so?
HOST WPLC Sushi: [we've all seen Golden Words Syndrome on display here . . . ]
Qtstormbooks: I know this industry...I know how hard it is to sell books...to have an author guarantee that they can sell 5000 on their first novel shows me that they don't know this industry...they think its going to be easier than it is...
Qtstormbooks: I want to see someone who is willing to work at it...and doesn't mind fighting for sales...ga
JsmnStrm: thank you.
HOST WPLC Lyric: okay, back to Jayde's question, you said 2-3 titles a month?
Qtstormbooks: now, back to placement...
HOST WPLC Lyric: how many copies of each do you publish and where would we see them?
Qtstormbooks: yes, we release 2-3 titles per month...we're a small press...shelf space is not guaranteed...
HOST WPLC Lyric: could you explain what that means?
Qtstormbooks: we have our titles carried by a number of indie bookstores...
Qtstormbooks: sure...for a bookstore shelf space is a premium.
HOST WPLC Lyric: do you have sales people going to stores to promote each months books?
Qtstormbooks: It is the one real asset a bookstore has...they only have so much space compared with the 150,000 plus titles released last year...
Werewolfsevn: ?
HOST WPLC Lyric: can you tell us how many copies of each book you expect to publish on an intial run?
Qtstormbooks: no...we do most of our work with catalogs and working with chain buyers...and with good old fashioned contact at conventions where a small press can close 7-10 accounts all in one place...
OnlineHost: “KTCopsey” has left the room.
Qtstormbooks: we also aim at the library market...
HOST WPLC Lyric: then I'll pass this question to Wind, so please be ready
Windswhisper43: ty
Windswhisper43: do you show any interest any short pieces of work? ga
Qtstormbooks: We'd be really happy to move 1-2 thousand on a first time author...we'd like to hit 3-5 on our better known authors...
Qtstormbooks: ga
HOST WPLC Lyric: thank you, Wind, I see you've asked your question
Qtstormbooks: Define short pieces of work?
HOST WPLC Lyric: (Hill please be ready)
Qtstormbooks: Novellas? Short Story Collections?
Windswhisper43: meanining not is in novels...could be in childrens storys, yes
Windswhisper43: ga
Qtstormbooks: we are interested in the Young Adult and Intermediate markets...but not really looking for early readers...ga
Windswhisper43: ty
HOST WPLC Lyric: Hill ga
Hillwithit: I meant, as a publisher, does your company prefer getting a mystery series submitted, or do you prefer stand-alone mysteries? Do you publish any mystery series?
BrownDvs: ?
HOST WPLC Lyric: (Tom Pheeren please be ready to post when I type ga, then werewolf)
OnlineHost: “Windswhisper43” has left the room.
Qtstormbooks: I'm sorry...we like both. Stand alones have their place...but series books can be easier to sell.
Qtstormbooks: ga
Hillwithit: thanks ga/
HOST WPLC Lyric: Pheeren ga
Qtstormbooks: Oh...we do publish series titles...sorry.
Qtstormbooks: ga
PHeeren: what about picture books? I just finished one and my mom's read out the whole story to my nephews last month and they loved it sooooo much ga
HOST WPLC Lyric: Michael, please be ready, then Adam
Qtstormbooks: No...not really interested in picture books...congrats though...ga
Ruth Sil: ?
PHeeren: thanks
HOST WPLC Lyric: Michael, ga
Werewolfsevn: Just so everyone can get an idea of the books Quiet Storm puts out, could you tell everyone about just a few new releases coming out this year? ga
HillFlower1: I'm a short story novella writer.
HOST WPLC Lyric: I see the plug from one of the stallions in your stable, but ga anyway!
HOST WPLC Lyric: lol
JsmnStrm: ;-)
HOST WPLC Lyric: (Adam please be ready and then Ruth)
Qtstormbooks: Sure...well, lets see...Michael S. McGowan has a series (Hill) coming out this summer...starting with The Shadowlands...we also have Jack Bludis and Shadow of The Dahlia this spring. Lonnie Cruse Murder Beyond Metropolis
Qtstormbooks: Book Two in the Metropolis series...
Qtstormbooks: Mystery Author Donna Andrews is also editing a short story collection for us that has been out now for 2 months...
HOST WPLC Lyric: Adam, Please ga and post your question
Qtstormbooks: Tim Wohlforth's No Time To Mourn is coming out this month...
Qtstormbooks: lots of good stuff...ga
HillFlower1: Great! Sounds like a good series of work you have happening.
HOST WPLC Lyric: If you'd like to post your website address, please feel free, qtstorm
Qtstormbooks: www.quietstormpublishing.com
HOST WPLC Lyric: Ruth please be ready
Ruth Sil: Where do I find your website?
Qtstormbooks: ga
BrownDvs: What do you define as "intermediate"? ga
HillFlower1: Got to go lurk around the net a bit..bye bye
OnlineHost: “HillFlower1” has left the room.
OnlineHost: “PHeeren” has left the room.
Qtstormbooks: Intermediate is age range 8-12 ga
HOST WPLC Lyric: Ruth was that your question? if so, he answered it right above your question.
BrownDvs: ouch ga
Ruth Sil: yes
HOST WPLC Lyric: queue is open
Qtstormbooks: Ouch?
BrownDvs: Guess that puts me out in the street. heh heh no big. ga
Qtstormbooks: Ruth... www.quietstormpublishing.com
HOST WPLC Lyric: QT can you tell us more about how authors are paid?
Qtstormbooks: Sorry Brown....
HOST WPLC Lyric: Do you offer advances or just straight royalties?
JsmnStrm: Good question Sry
HOST WPLC Lyric: and are there any fees?
BrownDvs: No prob. Thanks for replying.
Qtstormbooks: Sure...we pay authors a royalty...I do not offer advances...I think they are one of the evils of this industry (mind you, I would take one if offered)...
Cyncity 1: ?
HOST WPLC Lyric: on average, can you tell us what the current payout is on a book?
JsmnStrm: How often do authors get royalties?
Qtstormbooks: There are NO fees...we are a publisher...I don't take a dime from authors except for the purchase of books...
HOST WPLC Lyric: and how do you do your accounting? annually or quarterly?
Qtstormbooks: thats really up to an author to tell you...I don't disclose financials. We pay quarterly royalty payments.
HOST WPLC Lyric: (sorry QT as host I have to ask the harder questions around here, it's part of the job)
Qtstormbooks: Thats fine...
Hillwithit: ?
HOST WPLC Lyric: Cyn, ga
Qtstormbooks: doesn't bother me at all...
Cyncity 1: Rooms like this offer a venue to get word out on authors....if we ask our local stores to carry your books, do they contact you? How does that work?/ga
Cybertyger: >
Cybertyger: ?
JsmnStrm: that's a good question too
HOST WPLC Lyric: (rick be ready)
HOST WPLC Lyric: ooops, Hill be ready first!
Qtstormbooks: Well...yeah, that helps :) If a bookstore were approached...they can order through Ingram, Baker and Taylor, or directly from us...with a purchase order and we bill them seperately...they don't even have to pay up front...
Qtstormbooks: And, before the question is asked...we do accept returns...no questions asked.
Qtstormbooks: ga
Cyncity 1: ?followup
HOST WPLC Lyric: ga cyn
Cyncity 1: just answered....<G>/ga
HOST WPLC Lyric: just ask your follow up btw
HOST WPLC Lyric: hill ga
Hillwithit: Not sure what you meant by this: <<<"..I don't take a dime from authors except for the purchase of books... ">>> ???
HOST WPLC Lyric: yes, are there promotional copies given to authors?
HOST WPLC Lyric: is that what you're after, Hill?
Qtstormbooks: I thought that might be confusing after I posted it...if authors wish to buy books from us either their own or others on our list...we give a discount to all of our authors to purchase anything on our list...
Hillwithit: Not sure, sorry, just dont' understand.
Hillwithit: Okay, thanks. ga/
HOST WPLC Lyric: and what about promotional books?
HOST WPLC Lyric: do authors get a set amount and do you send out to reviewers free of charge?
Qtstormbooks: Yes...we give the authors 5 ARC's and 1 finished copy...I know...thats less than I would like...however, thats a drawback to a small press...
JsmnStrm: ARC's?
Qtstormbooks: Of course we send out to reviewers free of charge...we send out about 50 review copies for every title...
HOST WPLC Lyric: qt, while we have many pros here, there are enough non pros, would you please define
Qtstormbooks: Advance Review Copy
Qtstormbooks: ga'
HOST WPLC Lyric: like for all those that IM'd me, indy is an independant bookstore, instead of a chain like borders
HOST WPLC Lyric: Rick ga
Cybertyger: Do your authors get a separate contract for audio books? Are some authors offered audio contracts but not all...How does that process work?
Qtstormbooks: sorry...its easy to get wrapped up in the linquistics of the industry...
Cyncity 1: ?
Qtstormbooks: We just started doing audio books...some will play out better in audio than others...and yes, there would be a separate contract for audio...
OnlineHost: “Genjii555” has entered the room.
Qtstormbooks: ga
HOST WPLC Lyric: qt can you tell us about other rights?
HOST WPLC Lyric: do you sell foreign and movie or does the author?
HOST WPLC Lyric: cyn be ready
Qtstormbooks: We do sell movie rights...we don't mess with foreign unless an author asks us to.
Qtstormbooks: ga
HOST WPLC Lyric: cyn ga
Cyncity 1: How long do you contract for a novel? When do rights return to the author?/ga
Qtstormbooks: Five years from release date...ga
HOST WPLC Lyric: can you tell us about how you promote your authors?
HOST WPLC Lyric: and develop them in your stable?
HOST WPLC Lyric: Last question is up for grabs
Qtstormbooks: Sure...we buy print ads...we run television spots on local cable (we also provide the spots to the author in the event they want to use them independant of our efforts, but NOT required)...
Hillwithit: ?
Qtstormbooks: We also run audio ads for radio (also provided to author)...we try to do as much as we can...but its important to realize that a small press can only do so much...
Qtstormbooks: ga
HOST WPLC Lyric: (okay, Hill be ready with the last question
HOST WPLC Lyric: hill ga
Jayde the Writer: juuuuuuuuuu
Hillwithit: Not sure I understood about distribution - bottom line, if you published a mystery novel by one of us, could we then see it in Borders or Barnes & Ignoble? ga/
Jayde the Writer: sorry, kitten on keyboard
Cybertyger: or Amazon
HOST WPLC Lyric: lol was wondering, Jayde
JsmnStrm: i hate it when that happens, Jayde.... :)
Qtstormbooks: Its possible...the chain bookstores are tough to crack sometimes...amazon is absolute...one of the reasons we started the television commericals
Qtstormbooks: is that it gives us a certain leverage when I can contact Borders and promise them space in the ad in exchange for shelf space...
HOST WPLC Sushi: meow
Ruth Sil: ?
Qtstormbooks: its called co-op advertising in the industry...
Qtstormbooks: we promise to support the stores that support us in exchange for shelf space...which has been working...
Qtstormbooks: ga
HOST WPLC Lyric: well, that was the last question. I want to thank Qtstorm for coming, and answering our questions. It was very illuminating!
Cybertyger: Thanks for coming!
Qtstormbooks: thanks for having me...
Werewolfsevn: Thank you.
Midori159: thanks for coming
Cyncity 1: Interesting!
Lightningbug1957: We appreciate your comments
Qtstormbooks: I hope I answered everyones questions
Hillwithit: Thanks very much!!
Jayde the Writer: Thank you
HOST WPLC Sushi: thanks! :-)
JsmnStrm: Thank you for a very educational chat...........
JES No Time: Yes, been a fast hour
HOST WPLC Lyric: :::::APPLAUSE::::::
Hillwithit: Thanks Mr. Gaige!
Ruth Sil: Thanks
Midori159: really fast!
Hillwithit: ()()()()()
Qtstormbooks: Thank you...wow...applause...
JsmnStrm: <---- Knows I won't be "guarenteeing" anything in a query!
Qtstormbooks: Jsmn...important to note that different publishers have different pet peeves...
JsmnStrm: ;-)
Hillwithit: (stomping of feet, whistling - we always suck up to publishers - but you have been very helpful and forthcoming!)
JES No Time: LOL
JsmnStrm: well, still, that's awfully cocky...
Qtstormbooks: LOL
Midori159: lol hill
HOST WPLC Lyric: Clint, if you'd like to write up anything to further answer some of the questions here, we'd love to pass it on to our membership
JES No Time: Yeah, I was figuring my first book would go 500,000
BrownDvs: Depends on what you mean by...cocky, Jas.
HOST WPLC Lyric: it's so hard to answer some of these things on the spot.
HOST WPLC Lyric: so feel free
JsmnStrm: Behave over there Adam......................................
JsmnStrm: :::aiming blaster::::::::::::::::;
Qtstormbooks: Lyric...let me see what I can come up with...
HOST WPLC Lyric: and in return, we could co-opt and have you promote your monthly lineup?
HOST WPLC Lyric: lol
HOST WPLC Lyric: in the same email, of course! lol
JsmnStrm: hahahahahaha
Qtstormbooks: You all have been great...
BrownDvs: lol Jas, sorry
Werewolfsevn: :)
JsmnStrm: You're not either, Adam... ;)
Cybertyger: Good night, all.
BrownDvs: heh heh
OnlineHost: “Cybertyger” has left the room.
HOST WPLC Lyric: Goodnight everyone
Lightningbug1957: Time for night night over here
JsmnStrm: Yeah, thanks for coming... And thank you to Michael for inviting him!
HOST WPLC Lyric: see you next week
HOST WPLC Lyric: bye!
Lightningbug1957: See you all next week
Lightningbug1957: Great to see you again, Sry
JES No Time: Night Sry, great having you back.
HOST WPLC Sushi: anyone interested in our group, please email me
Qtstormbooks: nite all...
Werewolfsevn: Night
OnlineHost: “JsmnStrm” has left the room.
JES No Time: Night all.
Midori159: that was fun

4/5/04 8:07:38 PM Closing "Chat Log 4/5/04"

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