Laura J. Underwood, author of Dragon’s Tongue (Meisha Merlin, 2006) asks that we publish the following letter:
As many of you know, Meisha Merlin closed its doors before Wandering Lark, book 2 of “The Demon-Bound” duology could see print. This left many readers in a lurch. Since that time, I have been trying to find a publisher, but the New York publishers are all saying that my “sales numbers” are not good enough to make it worth their time—in spite of my knowing from the royalty statements I received that nearly 75% of the print run of 4000 copies sold. Plus, they insist that publishing the second book in a duology is just not worth their time.
Nobody in the big houses wants to start an author’s career with the second book of a duology.
I have considered long and hard how to solve this problem. I even thought of either serializing the novel on the web or setting it up through Lulu.com. The problem with the former is the fact that fiction on the web is easily pirated. With the later—well I would have to purchase a distribution package—something I am not in the position to pay for at the moment—pay for someone to copyedit the book, pay for cover art, and many other expenses I am just not in the position to do at the moment. Also, getting distribution with Lulu.com is no guarantee that one will actually get the book into stores, libraries, etc.
Recently, I had a long discussion with my editor at Yard Dog Press concerning the dilemma I have faced with finding a publisher for Wandering Lark. The problem with the book is that it is much larger than any book Yard Dog Press has ever published, which means it is going to cost them a pretty penny for the upfront set up and print run. Also, with the printer they use, they would have to charge just under $25.00 for the trade edition alone just to cover costs and pay royalties, cover artist’s costs, etc.
Being a small press, this is not something they can easily afford.
However, the editor knows that I have had so many fans writing me asking about the books, and approaching me at various conventions, and has made me an offer. If I can get a list of 100 folks willing to prepay half the cost of the coverprice of the book up front, and then promise to pay the other half when the book is published, they will print a run of copies of Wandering Lark. This means probably approximately $12.50 up front per fan paid to Yard Dog Press. This would help them to defray the cost, and guarantee that anyone who truly wants to read it will get a copy.
So I need a list that I can give my publisher. Your name, mailing address, and e-mail address can be e-mailed to me at keltora at sff dot net or keltora at yahoo dot com. Your information will not be sold to anyone or shared with anyone beyond Yard Dog Press.
I will not be taking the money. The money will go directly to the publisher so they can print the books. Nor am I asking you to pay anything to my publisher at this time. I just need a list of people who are willing to front money so Wandering Lark can see print.
Please let me know by 15 November if you are really interested in paying half the cost up front to get a copy of the book.
And thank you all in advance…
—Laura J. Underwood