The missing anthology sighted....possibly.....

[j_cheney]

Press Release from Galaxy Press (published here in the Biloxi/Gulfport SunHerald) now claims WOTF 24 will be available in stores in......March...ish.

Comments

[wistling.livejournal.com]

I hope to see it on the shelves soon!

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

It would be nice to get contributor copies ;o)

[wistling.livejournal.com]

And a signing blitz! Stephen K. and I did our Ontario tour together.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Well, there is a con in Tulsa in April, so perhpas there. ;o)

[chris-s-owens.livejournal.com]

I'll believe it when I see it...

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Well, there has been a precedent of 'not hitting the predicted date' this year, hasn't there?

[displacedtexan.livejournal.com]

What a bunch of yutzs.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Patience....

[displacedtexan.livejournal.com]

btw - wasn't sure about the plural of yutz. "Yutzs" looks funny.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Well, how does one make plurals in Yiddish?

[displacedtexan.livejournal.com]

Hopefully someone will chime in 'cause I'm too lazy to look it up.

[displacedtexan.livejournal.com]

I think "yutzes" looks better. Yeah. Galaxy Press = Yutzes.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Writers of the Future Volume 24 (Galaxy Press, 2008) features the works of all winners and is due in bookstores this March.

Ah, the ol' 2008 imprint printed in 2009 trick. (grin)

So... why the Biloxi-Gulfport paper?

Dr. Phil

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

This was apparently a GP press release, so it was probably sent to all the papers, Biloxi probably just decided to run it, whereas others might not... ::shrugs::

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

I was just wondering if there was a WOTF-XXV winner in the area. Sort of sensitizing the media, so to speak. (grin)

Dr. Phil

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Or just a slow news day...

[stephenstanley.livejournal.com]

When I contacted Joni last week, at KD's prompting, I snarkily asked how not having the anthology in bookstores was affecting the contest. Being Joni, she merely responded that it "...was going to the printer in two weeks." Since the printer needs two-three weeks for printing and other finishing (embossing the covers) and binding, a March release would be correct. However, if this "going to the printer in two weeks" is "WotF time" let's hope it's not late March... BTW, I _AM_ from Missouri...

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Well, she told me back in December that it was "going to the printers soon" (sent me a card that said that).

I would be a lot more sanguine about this if they would simply communicate with the authors and illustrators directly, or post something on the forum when there's a delay.

We're all from Missouri, metaphorically, now...

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Last weekend at ConFusion in Troy MI (near Detroit), Al Bogdan, Jim C. Hines and myself gave a panel on WOTF -- and I think we were reasonably sanguine (and upfront) about the problem. You still are a winner. You still get the money. And the event. And (eventually) the book. People in the industry will still see these things.

Now, if WOTF doesn't get their act together and they start slipping every year, then there will be real problems for the future -- the pros might stop coming. However, I am still convinced that the system is merely overwhelmed from the LRH Pulps release, which is a one-time thing, and not any systemic fault. Still, I'd really appreciate some sort of apology. Or perhaps a marketing deal to bundle XXIV with sales of XXV as part of the big 25th anniversary celebration in order to raise sales numbers and distribution.

Anyone who wants to adopt my idea and run with it -- go right ahead.

Dr. Phil

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

from the press release....
....because it gives instant worldwide recognition....

I'd have to say the ball was dropped there. I go places all the time and no one recognizes me. ;o)

As for an apology, since they haven't bothered to communicate with the authors and illustrators at all about this problem, I doubt any other communication is forthcoming.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

I think that an apology does no good until Books In Hand And In Stores. Suppose they'd apologized profusely for missing the early September ship date. And the October date. Etc. You'd be even more unsatisfied now. IMHO.

Dr. Phil

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I didn't suggest that they should have apologized for missing the earlier dates. I would simply have liked to be informed. A nice e-mail that said something like:

Due to internal funding problems, we regret to inform you that we won't be making the September 8, October, November, January, March ship date we originally proposed. Please excuse our lag, and we will get back to you as soon as the books are released. Thanks for your patience. Sincerely, GP.

Honestly, I don't expect any sort of apology (or other communication of any sort) ever.

[gabriel-writes.livejournal.com]

March?

Does that mean it is going to go in like a lion and out like a lamb, perhaps?

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Ooh, not going to touch that!

[ruralwriter.livejournal.com]

Gah!

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

My thought, exactly ;o)

[aliettedb.livejournal.com]

:-(
Hope it ceases to go missing soon.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

The bad thing is that this is the fifth? date they've claimed, so it's a bit hard to believe this one either...

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

I will believe it when...

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Me, too