Calling all Sports Publishing LLC authors

From today's Publisher's Weekly:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6593265.html?nid=2286&source=title&rid=

 

As have you, David.

You may want to check your facts like a good reporter before you open your mouth in public. Check back with your friend again. You're wrong.

Since offering that advice, times have changed. Moot point now.

Yeah, good luck with that.

To Friend of the Friendless: I've been as honest as I can be with authors. One day the ship is going down, the next day it's sailing the seas. Thus is the nature of a what SP has been through over the past six months. I tried to decide how best to proceed given the fact that the information I was being fed was changing on a weekly basis. I have no regrets, other than the fact that so many authors didn't get a fair shake in the end. And that's a big regret.

 

No regrets, other than Hiroshima -- and tons of wasted effort by the people who provide the product.

Right.

 

Too many publishers -- and too many writers, including me, when I started out -- feel as though the writer's lucky just to get a book published, and asking for anything beyond that honor is an ingrate's exercise. It's as though that romantic desire to slip your book on your shelf trumps every other good instinct.

I mean, if a newspaper editor came up to you and said, "I'd like you to write 100,000 words for us, and we'll pay you an advance of $5,000, which you may or may not earn out if you see it at all," you'd tell him to eat a dick. But a book publisher does the same thing, and it's like we've struck gold.

Again, I was guilty of the same lovesickness. This isn't a condemnation of anyone on this thread.

But here's what I know now: Writing a book is fucking hard. Getting it published might give you a nice little spark and a book you've written is the prettiest thing to look at it, but never forget that book publishing is a business, too. It's about selling a product and making money with it. Don't undersell your talent. Get an agent. Don't assume that a publisher is looking out for you. Don't take the first offer. Don't feel like they're doing you a favor. Always remember that if a publisher wants to publish your book, it's because they see a potential value in it, not because they're in it for the art. Make sure you see that same value in yourself.

Just because the words are printed on a different kind of paper with a different kind of cover, doesn't mean you should forget that they're words all the same, and that words are a writer's currency. It's how we communicate, but it's how we pay for the bumwad, too. Hell, even crack whores get some crack out of the deal.

GET PAID.

 

Jones, truer words were never written.

 

This has been an extremely informative thread and thanks to all the contributors.

I do have a question if anyone has the answer I would appreciate it. I write for Scout.com and a friend of mine recommended that I contact Sports Publishing LLC to attempt to get my first book published. I've tried to contact them for the past few weeks and now I'm aware why they have not returned my calls but am unable to talk to a live person when I call.

Since they are fairly close, or about to, go bankrupt could anyone else recommend some potential publishing houses for a first time sports book?

 

The company's Web site, sportspublishingllc.com, has also expired.

Edit: It's now working again. I tried accessing it earlier, and a message said it had "expired."

 

I was just interested if anybody has any new info about Sports Publishing and it's pending sale..I'm an author with a contract with them and would appreciate an update..

Thanks rob

 

From what I know, the company will either be sold or go bankrupt within the month. SPLLC has stopped publishing books completely. If you can't get ahold of anyone from SPLLC, it'd be in your best interest to find another house to publish your work.

 

I like the going after them for RICO violations.. interesting...

 

A couple of weeks ago, my friend who had no payments and his book in SP's hands caught a break. They told him they have no money to publish it. According to the guy who e-mailed him, there are about three employees left and the sale is pending, although I suspect it will be bankruptcy if the alleged buyers from Chicago that SP used to talk about don't get this carcass for almost nothing. My pal still has no money for his work but at least he can shop the book around. I'm sure he'll find a publisher. As for the rest of us, it's a holding pattern all the way, as in holding the bag.