Eternal Embrace Update

I’ve rewritten this post about 5 times now because I’m not exactly sure how I want to break this news. Of course, I’m sure part of the problem is that I don’t really want to break this news…mainly because unless I don’t already like someone – I’m not the biggest fan of disappointing anyone. And, well…I happen to adore my readers, and I’m fairly certain no matter how much I explain why this news is good for me…it will still leave some of you disappointed. So let me apologize now for any inconvenience or disappointment you might experience because of this post. I’m sorry. I really, really am. No one I know gets more freaked out by change than I do, and this is definitely one of those moments where I’m freaked out enough for all of us.

So what do I need to tell you? Eternal Embrace will not release on Halloween as anticipated. The reasoning is slightly involved, but here’s the press release that went out Monday (9/26/11) that got the ball rolling:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Trident Launches E-Book Services for Authors

Clients to Receive Unprecedented Ability to Manage Content

NEW YORK, NY – September 26, 2011 – Trident Media Group, one of the world's leading literary agencies, today announced that it is launching a new e-book initiative, Trident E-Book Operations. This division will create, manage and implement innovative e-book strategies for its authors, including the distribution of a variety of e-books directly to a large number of e-tailers in North America and internationally. Authors will have more flexibility than ever before, as well as new potential domestic and foreign revenue streams.

Robert Gottlieb, Chairman of Trident, said "Trident has been a leader in innovative approaches in the representation of its authors, including in the international markets with its "hot list", at the international book fairs and in new audio licensing. We will continue to manage all facets of our clients' businesses by the extension of our services into the ever-changing e-book publishing business around the world. Trident Media Group will devise strategies to maximize value for its authors in the new and complex e-book publishing field. Trident will not become a publisher, but will instead continue in its new e-book operations to have itself aligned with its clients whose interests we serve as an agent and manager."

Trident's clients will be provided with a comprehensive suite of services – ranging from digital conversion, digital jacket design, to marketing and social media consultation – from some of the most highly sought after professionals in the industry, and have advantageous relationships in all areas applicable to e-books, including copy-editing, marketing and cover design. Trident and its authors will have the ability to quickly change their ebook programs in anticipation of the rapidly evolving worldwide e-book marketplace.

Trident Media Group's E-Book Operations will include out-of-print, backlist, new frontlist and original titles, special short-form nonfiction and fiction works by its prize-winning authors, enhanced e-books and new formats as the market develops, print-on-demand options, and new business relationships with traditional and non-traditional publishers. Trident will strategize with its authors regarding digital pricing, foreign sales and translations. Trident will also continue to handle sales reporting and royalty payments for all available digital editions. E-Book Operations services will become part of Trident's general commission structure for all of the agency's services.

Chairman of Trident Media Group, Robert Gottlieb, will oversee the E-Book Operations department with CEO Dan Strone, Executive VP John Silbersack, and business advisor Lew Korman. Trident has also appointed Lyuba DiFalco and Nicole Robson to the new positions of Co-Directors, EBook Operations.

About Trident Media Group:

Trident Media Group (TMG) is a prominent literary agency located in New York City. TMG represents over 700 bestselling and emerging authors in a range of genres of fiction and nonfiction, many of whom have appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List and have won major awards and prizes, including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the P.E.N. Faulkner Award, the P.E.N. Hemingway Award, The Booker Prize, and the L.A. Times Book Award among others. TMG is one of the world’s leading, largest and most diversified literary agencies. For six consecutive years, TMG has ranked number one for sales according to publishersmarketplace.com in North America. TMG is the only US agency to be in the top 10 in both UK fiction and UK non-fiction.

I got a personal e-mail from my agent, Robert Gottlieb, shortly before the press release went out on Monday morning. I had heard rumblings for the last couple of months about a possible new program coming from Trident, but I didn’t know any specifics until Monday. At first, I was excited. For me, this would be an awesome opportunity to spend more time writing and less time being a “publisher” – which is something I’ve been frustrated with recently. Then, after an hour or so…I got a little pissed. This info would have been really helpful say…mid-August…when I announced the official release date for Eternal Embrace. Because if I’d had this info then, I would have never set a release date for EE. But then I realized I can’t really blame Robert or Trident for not saying anything specific until all the deals were done, because I probably would’ve been more angry had I made plans to put EE into a program like this, then all of a sudden heard word that it was cancelled and I was back to doing everything myself. ;) And now…now I’m just scared and excited and worried and nervous and freaking out because I feel like every time I think I have things under control, something totally unexpected happens and makes me feel like I’m starting all over again.

I’ve talked my options to death with Chad (my hubby) and my Mom. And my decision to postpone the release of Eternal Embrace so I can take advantage of Trident’s new program is based on a simple concept…I don’t want to miss out. If I end my contract with Robert and strike out totally on my own again, I don’t want to look back in 6 months and see how well Trident’s program is doing, and then think to myself…wow…I could’ve been a part of that. Of course, if I take EE through this program and things don’t go as well as they have with ES and EH, then I can walk away knowing I gave it a shot and am better on my own. But there’s only one way to find out how things are going to go, and I’d rather err on the side of probability at this point. It’s more likely that Trident’s new program will be a success than not, especially considering the rapid pace at which the publishing industry is changing.

I’ll hopefully be having a conversation next week with Robert where we can hammer out all of the details and get Eternal Embrace added to Trident’s release schedule. And, as always, as soon as I have more info about a release date you’ll all be the first to know. I can’t imagine the date will be pushed back too much, a few months at most – but I don’t want to promise anything until I know for sure. I’m hoping that when I talk to Robert he’ll be able to give me some kind of rough estimate on how long the new process will take from finished manuscript to release date. That way, I can do everything in my power to avoid ever having to move a release date again.

In the interim, I’m going add When Worlds Collide back into my writing schedule, so I can keep that story going for everyone while we wait. Again, I’m really sorry about all this. I’m just trying to do what I think is best for my career, my family, the books, and for you guys. Just the notion of having more time to write because Trident is handling the business side of things makes me really, really happy. It also makes my goal of releasing 5 books a year instead of 2, that much more reachable. :)

If you have any questions, feel free to comment or drop me an e-mail.

Have a good one!