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1. so back when the #Chizine shitshow happened last year, I never spoke about it on Twitter because I wasn't as active here. now that they're back, l got some shit to say on behalf of my fiance #EdKurtz who got royally fucked by them and by folks he considered friends.
2. Ed's most successful book was the one put out by Chizine, THE RIB FROM WHICH I REMAKE THE WORLD (which, shameless promo: will be available again next month from Open Road Media). he received a small advance in 2016 when the book came out. it took another three years
3. sorry, two years, before he saw any royalty payments. he never received royalties for sales in 2016 because supposedly there weren't that many sales.
yeah, okay. RIB had huge buzz and plenty of folks on social media were showing off their copies.
yeah, okay. RIB had huge buzz and plenty of folks on social media were showing off their copies.
4. flash forward to 2018. we had some financial issues (I was being laid off) and Ed had received some royalties, not all he was due. he had repeatedly asked for his annual statement and was told it would be coming, there was always one excuse or another. and then...
5. we attend Necon out in Rhode Island. Ed found B (of B&S) in the courtyard and asked him yet again about the royalties, explained I was missing my job, and that our kitty was sick. he was told, "things are tough for everyone right now." around this time, RIB was set...
6. to be translated into Russian. things were SO TOUGH for everyone, yet not that long after Necon B&S went on a three week trip starting in Vegas and through half of Europe.
so tough indeed.
and it took Ed another year to see the advance from the Russian sale.
so tough indeed.
and it took Ed another year to see the advance from the Russian sale.
7. I just asked Ed and he says his first royalty payment didn't come until September 2018, so forgive my error up there. I'm fucking salty and full of rage issues right now.
ANYWAY.
also, before I forget, at that same Necon, S was heard loudly complaining at their dealer table
ANYWAY.
also, before I forget, at that same Necon, S was heard loudly complaining at their dealer table
8. about authors who bitch and moan about wanting their statements (that according to their contract should have been received in January) and wanting their royalties. also, during a lunch at the same event, she referred to a lot of authors who complained about not getting paid
9. as cunts.
charming, huh?
Ed starts talking to other Chizine authors, finds out other folks have not received payment or statements when they were supposed to.
flash forward to October 2018, night before the Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Fest.
charming, huh?
Ed starts talking to other Chizine authors, finds out other folks have not received payment or statements when they were supposed to.
flash forward to October 2018, night before the Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Fest.
10. we were at a get together, and the subject came up. there's a handful of folks who are also CZP authors. Brian Keene is also there. we talk to Keene about this, and he offers to talk about on his show, but he wants three people who are willing to talk, anonymously or not.
11. no one would do it.
the suggestion was brought up to talk to the HWA and see what they could do. Ed became a member, otherwise nothing could be done by them. he put then in contact with other authors who were dealing with the same issues. a letter was sent to Chizine.
the suggestion was brought up to talk to the HWA and see what they could do. Ed became a member, otherwise nothing could be done by them. he put then in contact with other authors who were dealing with the same issues. a letter was sent to Chizine.
12. it wasn't until later that Ed leaned that he was the ONLY author named in that letter.
but you know what?
suddenly, Ed and several other authors received statements and payments.
you know how many folks thanked Ed for that?
ONE.
but you know what?
suddenly, Ed and several other authors received statements and payments.
you know how many folks thanked Ed for that?
ONE.
13. I mean, I know some of those other authors have day jobs, so maybe the royalties don't mean as much to them. it does for Ed - he writes and freelances for a living.
PAY. THE. FUCKING. AUTHOR.
(oh I ain't done yet)
PAY. THE. FUCKING. AUTHOR.
(oh I ain't done yet)
14. StokerCon 2018: we have dinner with a bunch of folks and get to talking to someone in particular, who says that CZP has been in the whisper network for years.
FUCKING YEARS.
there were always excuses: they were between accountants, they were using a new software, etc.
FUCKING YEARS.
there were always excuses: they were between accountants, they were using a new software, etc.
15. eventually they stopped responding to Ed's emails.
in the meantime, he stopped getting invites to submit to anthologies. when we first moved in together, he was getting so many I couldn't keep track of them.
anyway, let's flash forward again to Necon 2019.
in the meantime, he stopped getting invites to submit to anthologies. when we first moved in together, he was getting so many I couldn't keep track of them.
anyway, let's flash forward again to Necon 2019.
16. B&S were there and gave him the cold shoulder. Ed was polite, held the door open for them. no acknowledgment of his existence. the Friday night mass author signing party, they set up a big table across from us and oops! they forgot to put Ed's book out there. how convenient.
17. several CZP authors seemed to go out of their way to avoid Ed. a couple talked to him. Ed was so hurt by this snubbing that he said he's never going to another convention again. he felt betrayed by these people he considered to be his "friends."
18. when he moved to New England, he thought it was going to be so great to hang out with all these folks he knew (and sometimes met) from social media. in the end, he got a fuckload of disappointment. to an extent, I feel responsible (though i know I shouldn't).
19. before he cancelled his Patreon account, he mentioned a "sleazy Canadian publisher" that had fucked him over hard. he deleted that post, but word got out.
then the shit hit the fan.
the day it happened, our lives were hell. I couldn't concentrate at work. he deleted his fb
then the shit hit the fan.
the day it happened, our lives were hell. I couldn't concentrate at work. he deleted his fb
20. there were the usual folks who said, "well they've always been good to me" or "but they post all those funny memes." or they just didn't want to speak up because they were afraid of wrecking their friendship with their publisher.
21. and then a ton of folks came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and bullying, even trying to break up someone's marriage.
are those the kind of fucking people you want to be fucking friends with??
are those the kind of fucking people you want to be fucking friends with??
22. Ed left social media for about a week. I put a statement from him on my fb page (I also made him revise it several times). the outpouring of support made me cry. he truly believed he was done in this business, because who was going to want to publish him.
23. and for a long time, he didn't write. he feels betrayed by so many people in this "community." I've suppressed a lot of my rage about it. there are friendships that have suffered irreparably because of this, and that hurts so fucking much.
24. but you know what?
Ed is doing so much better now. he's completely quit social media (due to an unrelated issue) and his mental health is great. he's close to finishing his second novel this year. he would like to eventually write another horror novel.
Ed is doing so much better now. he's completely quit social media (due to an unrelated issue) and his mental health is great. he's close to finishing his second novel this year. he would like to eventually write another horror novel.
25. but he and I have severe trust issues now with the "community." and it hurts to say that, because there are a lot of good folks out there.
26. shit, I hope this is the last tweet.
listen: if you don't understand your publishing contract, have a lawyer look at it. make sure you're not getting fucked over. don't get blinded by the prospect of a book with your name on it and a pretty cover.
listen: if you don't understand your publishing contract, have a lawyer look at it. make sure you're not getting fucked over. don't get blinded by the prospect of a book with your name on it and a pretty cover.
27. okay for real, this is the last one.
you are a creative soul, and if someone wants to pay you for your words or art or music, make sure you get the compensation you deserve in a timely manner according to your contract.
#paythefuckingauthor
you are a creative soul, and if someone wants to pay you for your words or art or music, make sure you get the compensation you deserve in a timely manner according to your contract.
#paythefuckingauthor
