skyelar
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Posts: 51
Joined: December 2011
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Post by skyelar on Jan 24, 2014 16:02:41 GMT -5
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marcel
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Posts: 138
Joined: January 2012
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Post by marcel on Jan 24, 2014 17:29:33 GMT -5
I've been following that thread too. I belong to a writers group and one of our members is currently trying to get away from CB. She's been locked in a contract with them for almost 4 years now, due to them taking a full year to release her ebook.
They haven't done any promotion, and there weren't any sales for a couple of years. It's only thanks to another publisher that has promoted some of my friend's other titles, that she now has a readership, and the book with Champagne, is finally starting to sell because of it. But that's not all. Champagne has threatened her with legal action if she joins the AW forum and tells about her experiences.
She forwarded me all the correspondence with CB, and if she gives me the okay, I will share it on the AW thread. My friend is also puzzled as to why some CB authors have been released from their contracts, and others, like herself, have not. This would seem to be somewhat unfair behaviour on the part of CB.
I'll keep you posted. Have a great weekend everyone.
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Post by jacklawson on Jan 24, 2014 18:21:43 GMT -5
If I were a publisher I sure wouldn't do my best to alienate my authors. When you do a search on Champagne Books, the AW thread is the second site to pop up. This will scare away writers who are thinking on submitting to Champagne. Once a publisher gets a bad name on the internet they're pretty well finished. The lesson to be learned here: if an author is dissatisfied and wants to terminate his contract, let him.
You'll notice that the 'nice' publishers, such as Double Dragon Books have always done this. As a result, you won't find a bad word about them on writers forums. So it makes perfect sense to be 'nice.'
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avery
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Posts: 132
Joined: June 2011
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Post by avery on Jan 25, 2014 0:23:07 GMT -5
Thanks for the heads up on this one guys. I was going to submit to CB, now I'll pass. I don't need that kinda grief.
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Post by butterscotch on Jan 25, 2014 14:27:31 GMT -5
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vixon
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Posts: 37
Joined: February 2012
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Post by vixon on Jan 25, 2014 20:28:05 GMT -5
Ellen, as far as i know, is a failed writer. Writers don't necessarily make very good publishers.
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Post by butterscotch on Jan 25, 2014 20:31:59 GMT -5
In any kind of business you have to be super diplomatic. If you start losing your temper and making threats to folks, it's curtains.. They don't react well to that kinda treatment at all.They'll take their business elsewhere. How many writers have left CB recently? Quite a few I'd say by the Facebook forums. If Ellen was treating them right, that wouldn't be happening. If a writer wants out, don't try to hang onto him. It doesn't work well for anybody.
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Post by Christie Bremmer on Jan 26, 2014 1:51:49 GMT -5
I just heard about another CB author who got her rights back. She signed the contract in 2012. So it seems Ellen is not even-handed. Marcel's friend has had a book with CB for almost 4 years and she can't get her rights back. She needs to see a lawyer.
I've no problem with a publisher refusing to give rights back, providing the same rule applies to all their authors. I don't know what the heck's going on at CB, but whatever it is, it needs to be changed.
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luvbooks
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Posts: 26
Joined: May 2011
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Post by luvbooks on Jan 26, 2014 14:40:44 GMT -5
You can bet it's the books that are selling that Ellen is hanging onto. She is decidedly unprofessional.
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oracle
Member
Posts: 48
Joined: July 2012
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Post by oracle on Jan 26, 2014 15:08:10 GMT -5
The address on the champagne contracts is a box number in Calgary. However, the phone number is listed in Red Lodge, Montana. Which, of course, is right over the border from Alberta.
Box 35069, 4604 37 St. SW, Calgary, AB T3E7C7 Telephone number: 406-445-0585
Not sure what's going on. I'll keep digging around for more info. I am, BTW, another unhappy CB author wanting to get out. We're forming a group on Facebook, with a view to bringing a class action lawsuit against Ellen. I'll post the details later. I'll also telephone business licenses in Calgary and Red Lodge to see if she's got a business license. If she's not licensed she's in trouble.
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luvbooks
Member
Posts: 26
Joined: May 2011
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Post by luvbooks on Jan 26, 2014 15:19:46 GMT -5
The address on the champagne contracts is a box number in Calgary. However, the phone number is listed in Red Lodge, Montana. Which, of course, is right over the border from Alberta. Box 35069, 4604 37 St. SW, Calgary, AB T3E7C7 Telephone number: 406-445-0585 Not sure what's going on. I'll keep digging around for more info. I am, BTW, another unhappy CB author wanting to get out. We're forming a group on Facebook, with a view to bringing a class action lawsuit against Ellen. I'll post the details later. I'll also telephone business licenses in Calgary and Red Lodge to see if she's got a business license. If she's not licensed she's in trouble. Good work Oracle. It looks as if Ellen has covered her tracks well. I'm doing an electronic search of court records to see if anything pops up.
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dervish
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Posts: 60
Joined: July 2011
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Post by dervish on Jan 26, 2014 15:59:38 GMT -5
By what other CB authors say, it seems Ellen isn't around much of the time. On one of the author groups, she said she lived in High River, which was flooded badly last year. I think CB is one of those 'publishers' started up by a discontented author, who does not have the professional manner nor expertise to pull it off. Just sayin. But this latest debacle kinda bears that out. Ellen's had lots of warning signals along the way that her authors were unhappy. But instead of trying to address their grievances she's gone missing for weeks at a time, and when she returned, (finally) instead of trying to smooth down ruffled feathers, she's ignored legitimate concerns and threatened legal action! ;D ;D ;D The current anger, frustration and discontent would have never escalated to this point, if she'd handled the situation correctly. Instead of which she acted like a real b!!!h. Meanwhile, where IS Ellen? She doesn't appear to be managing the store at all. And for her to pop in and threaten legal action is the very worst thing she could do at this point. She needs to clean house in the worst possible way. There's been too much neglect for too long. You can't run a successful publishing house on a part time basis. And that's what Ellen has tried to do -- and failed -- at CB.
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oracle
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Posts: 48
Joined: July 2012
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Post by oracle on Jan 26, 2014 16:10:34 GMT -5
Some of the CB authors have filed an online complaint with the BBB. This will pop up along with the AW thread and this one, if anybody does a search on Champagne Books. Way to go guys. I'm going to call Calgary City Hall tomorrow and see if she has a business license. If not, I'll report her. Revenue Canada should be copied in on this as well. If anyone can think of anything else we should be doing please fire away. This is war, Ellen. You've had it all your own way for far too long.
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rennie
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Posts: 50
Joined: June 2011
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Post by rennie on Jan 27, 2014 0:24:08 GMT -5
I feel sorry for the CB authors, locked in like that to a deadend publisher for 4 years.
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avery
Member
Posts: 132
Joined: June 2011
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Post by avery on Jan 27, 2014 14:46:09 GMT -5
I do too, Rennie. By all reports, Ellen is a nasty individual. Check out what her authors have to say about her on Facebook.
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