What a Mess!

By on January 15, 2017 in Uncategorized

My first book was published back in 2009, and it seems like eons ago. Things were bright then, the industry relatively new and full of promise. 2016 has worn me down with the absolute idiocy and greed that has characterized the year. For the first time, my dream of being a published author is seeming more like a nightmare. There are many, many others in the same boat right now, some having been robbed far worse than I. Between Ellora’s Cave and All Romance Ebooks, not to mention pirate sites, I am questioning whether to continue writing at all.

If my creations are simply being used to pad other people’s pockets, then it seems foolish to give them my work.

And yet, I have had so many good people over the years that have encouraged me and told me how much they enjoyed my stories. That is the silver lining in this whole thing, but, right now, the feeling of disbelief and betrayal is overwhelming everything else. We, as authors, along with the honest publishers, trusted these people. Put our creations in their hands with the belief of basic decency and morals.

And this is what we get back…

Completely discouraged.

JC

 

 28 Responses to “What a Mess!”

  1. Erin says:

    Hey J.C,

    I don’t know what all is happening. But I love your work. I’m always excited to see a new one out. I usually mark my calendar and buy it the second it becomes available! I’ve re-read all of them many times and they are still some of my favorites. I’m not sure what’s happening with your publishers and everything, but I’m very sorry to hear you sound so discouraged and unhappy. As a reader, I of course hope you continue to write. That being said, I can understand why you might need a break. I’m sure it’s hard to feel inspired to write, when you feel that your work is being undervalued and mistreated. So all I can do is offer my small voice amidst the chaos, I value you and your talent! Do what feels right for yourself. I’m sorry 2016 has been hard. 2016 has been the worst year in a long time for me as well, and I’ve had to face a lot of loss and change. It has sucked royally, but I keep telling myself that 2017 is going to start my healing process. Much love and appreciation to you. Keep your chin up, you are valued and important. “Perhaps we just need little reminders from time to time that we are already dignified, deserving, and worthy.” – JKZ

    • jcowens says:

      Hello Erin! As a long time and loyal fan, I am always thankful for that little voice of yours. I am sorry to hear that 2016 walloped you as well. I hope that 2017 can bring healing to us both. I love your ending lines. I think I will print that off, keep it close during the hard times. Thank you for sticking with me through thick and thin. Marking your calendar! Wow! That is a compliment of high order. I hope I can live up to it in the future.
      I have kept away from the computer, trying to get some perspective on this whole thing. I usually don’t allow comments on any part of my blog, after several nasty instances, and I don’t remember leaving it open this time either, but when I noticed, I was supremely thankful I had. In fact, I might leave it open from now on. Such support and so much kindness that I would never have known about. We are never given more than we can survive. Harsh but true. So many lessons learned through this whole thing, some bad, but some immensely uplifting. Screw the bad guys! I will take the uplifting and count myself fortunate! Sending huge hugs your way. Hope you are doing better through this first month and a half of 2017. : )
      Take Care
      J.C.

  2. Maryste says:

    I’m so sorry to hear you say that !!! I truly love your books and I hope you won’t give up on writing.
    Now that you’ve got quite a lot of readers, can’t you maybe publish your ebooks on your own ?
    I say that, but I don’t know if it’s realist in your situation.
    Whatever you chose to do, I thank you for the great pleasure you gave me through your books !
    Good luck with all your projects!
    Oh, and a Happy new year of course !! Hope it’s gonna be better than 2016 !!
    Regards,

    Maryste

    • jcowens says:

      Hello Maryste! I am so glad you have enjoyed the stories. It always gives me a warm fuzzy boost when I read that someone found pleasure in my works. I have thought about self publishing at times, but there is so much that a publisher does, that I am not quite confident in giving a polished, worthy story to my readers on my own. I find editing very hard (I am so impatient!), and it helps to have someone outside give it a go over. They are far more likely to pick up inconsistencies than I am. Sometimes you get so caught up in the plot that you lose perspective. I might know what I am trying to portray, but sometimes it may not be clear to a reader. Love my editors. Great people that make me look good!
      Thanks again, and hugs : )
      Take Care
      J.C.

  3. Devonnie says:

    JC,

    Of many authors I read your books are inspiring and have that something Extra that draws me back to reading them time and again. I can only count on one hand the number of living Authors whose books dram me that deeply into their world. Things may seem bleak and hard right now. I as a reader was blind sided with ARe’s closing, it was so sudden and with very little to no warning of it coming. I can only imagine what further ramifications it has had on the authors working through them. Please do not give up on your writing though. You have a rare gift and talent for it. I long and look forward to everyone of your releases so much. I know right now things seem bleak but keep writing and making new worlds to inspire and transport readers into. We readers are there waiting for you, and always remember when a door closes someone opens a window.

    Happy New year to you and yours may this year be inspiring and uplifting!

    Devonnie

    • jcowens says:

      Hello Devonnie! Happy New Year to you too, though a bit late. You are so right about the door closing and a window opening. It has happened often in my life, it is just bit hard sometimes to see past the shadows into the sunlight that is waiting at the other end. I hope you did not lose too many books off of ARE. I was on vacation and lost all of them. I will not be so foolish again, everything is going to be downloaded, even if it is a pain! I am very pleased that you enjoy the worlds. I probably should do more sequels, it would certainly be much easier, but there is always a new world asking to be created, so off I go! No will power to resist at all…
      You are right. The poor authors that worked through ARE will receive nothing. They had tried to get me to write for them, and I almost considered it at the time. Now, I am beyond thankful I did not. I send heartfelt hugs to anyone who was caught up in that.
      Thanks again for your encouragement! : )
      Take Care and hugs
      J.C.

  4. Sarah says:

    Jc,
    I absolutely love your books and look forward to each new one coming out. I am sorry to hear that 2016 has been such a discouraging and unhappy year for you. For me you are one of the best authors out there and I have read your books many times.
    I hope things start to look up for you, you have many readers out there who love you and your work. Don’t let the publisher’s destroy your spirit.
    Hope you have a better 2017.
    Thanks for all that you create.
    Sarah

    • jcowens says:

      Hello Sarah! Your comments were lovely, especially about the publishers destroying my spirit. I think I might print that out and hang it over my computer! I am so happy that you re-read my stories. That is the greatest compliment that anyone can give an author and it always perks me up when someone tells me that. Makes me think that I must have done something right! Have a great 2017!
      Thanks again and hugs. : )
      Take Care
      J.C.

  5. Dagmar says:

    I love your books and bought all of them. Please don’t stop writing. I’m visiting your site a few times per month to see whether you have something new. If you decide on publishing yourself I will gladly buy them directly from you. As I produce and sell my own goods as well I can understand how it feels like to be cheated out of your money when a company you work with closes down. All your work and time goes down the gutter. Stay strong and keep going. Please.

    • jcowens says:

      Hello Dagmar! Sounds like you know the ups and downs of home based business, sometimes profitable and sometimes a disaster. If we could just stay in the middle somewhere. ; ) I am sorry to hear that you underwent a similar experience, and hope that things have improved since. I just want to step over this chasm and get on with life! (Writer’s drama there…)
      Thanks again, and hugs.
      Take Care
      J.C.

  6. Jana says:

    My sister is a writer so I understand what you mean. She self publishes through amazon now. I am sorry to hear that you are discouraged. Your books have always been my go to books when I need to escape. I hope you choose to keep writing cause you have a gift. Take care and know that you have loyal readers out there that love what you do.

    Thanks
    Jana

    • jcowens says:

      Hello Jana! I love that my stories can help you escape. Above everything else, that is what I love in a book, when you look up and have to orient yourself back into the real world! Thank you for such a wonderful compliment!
      Take Care and hugs
      J.C.

  7. Rebekah says:

    So sorry that has happened to you. I love your books and they are an auto buy for me every time. I hope you find a publisher who is honest and you get every penny that you’ve earned.

    • jcowens says:

      Hello Rebekah! I hope I continue to give you stories that live up to your confidence in me. That is always a worry of mine. I know what I like to read, and what quality I enjoy, so I want my readers to have the same.
      Most publishers are honest and straightforward. I worked with Loose Id to begin with, they gave me my first chance and I appreciate that more than I can say. Then, through a friend, I found Etopia, and they have been more than supportive of my efforts. All those publishers also have lost money in this mess. There are many authors and publishers trying to sort though what has happened. I know I lost money, I don’t even want to know how much, but there are many others who hurt worse, and I have to remember that.
      Thanks again, and hugs.
      Take Care
      J.C.

  8. Klára says:

    I also love your books. They bring me joy. Please don’t give up on writting. You’re very talented author.

    • jcowens says:

      Hello Klara! Thank you for taking the time to encourage me. I am so glad you enjoy the stories I write. And to say they bring you joy, that was an added bonus that made my day!
      Thanks again, and hugs. : )
      Take Care
      J.C.

  9. Bogusia says:

    I love your books! I have read all of them and I’ve re-read all of them many times. I’m visiting your site a few times per month to see whether you have any update. I will stay with you as one of my favourite Authors. Please don’t stop writing! I’m looking forward to reading your new books. 2016 for many people in the world has been the worst year ever, for me as well…Finally, 2017 is here and we can put 2016 in the rear view mirror. I hope you continue to write. I wish you all the best for 2017!

    • jcowens says:

      Hello Bogusia! You have been a loyal fan for a long time, and have gotten me through times of doubt before. Thank you for sticking by me for so long. I am sorry to hear that 2016 was hard on you, and I hope that things will improve for you. I am sending my own wishes to you for 2017. May it be kinder to us all.
      Sending many hugs your way. : )
      Take Care
      J.C.

  10. Tami says:

    Please, please, please do not give up on writing!! I absolutely adore your books! You have a very creative mind and an awesome writing style. I have reread many times over, every book I own from you. I check back a few times a month to see the progress on your upcoming page, and wait with mounting anticipation to see if your finished and what you will be working on next. I think i would be devastated to not get to know any more of your characters and worlds you create, not to mention this genre would suffer a blow without you in it. I know I’m being selfish by thinking about what I would lose but I just cant help it, i truly love your books, i would grieve. Now that I got my selfishness out of the way. I’m so so sorry about how things have been going for you, I don’t know anything about book publishing but I can imagine how I would feel. I wish I could offer you more then words to comfort and console you. But please know there are people out here that respect you and your wonderful work and support you to the fullest. I hope you have a way better year this year and that this setback doesn’t keep you from what I think you were born to do.
    Sincerely,
    Tami

    • jcowens says:

      Hello Tami! Your heartfelt, beautiful comment made me cry, just a little. Writers, especially of ebooks, by the nature of the profession, do their work in a bit of vacuum. We agonize over each release, wondering if we have done well enough for our readers, made the book worthwhile and enjoyable. Quite often, we only see negative responses, as it seems that negative people are far more vocal. But this experience has shown me quite the opposite. I did not see my work having any value at all, (I am terribly self critical!) and to have so many people respond so kindly has been a revelation of sorts. From this, I am beginning to take a more positive attitude, both about the future, and about my own writing. There will always be those who do not like my stories, and that is ok, because I have other people who do.
      Thanks again, and hugs.
      Take Care
      J.C.

      • Tami says:

        If my words helped or encouraged you in any way, then I will be so very thankful that I wrote them and always be grateful to all the other people who commented and showed you nothing but love and support. I’m glad you have picked yourself up and dusted yourself off and have come out stronger for it.

  11. Jennifer says:

    I’m sorry that you and so many other authors were hurt by ARE’s closing. I hope that this next year is an improvement for you, and am glad that Etopia seems to be working well for you. I own all of your books, and reread them often. I always look forward to your new releases, and hope that you have many in the future. Please accept my best wishes for an improved year!

    • jcowens says:

      Hello Jennifer! I think there are a lot of discouraged authors out there right now, not to mention discouraged readers. I hope that this might lead to better things, with people at the helm that actually want authors to succeed and readers to take pleasure in a good, well edited book. I am glad you have enjoyed all the stories, as I enjoy sharing them with you. I just have to pick myself up, brush myself off and walk into a new day!
      Thanks again, and hugs. : )
      Take Care
      J.C.

  12. shine says:

    please please please carry on writing. your stories are remarkable, always unique there is no other writer oout there who can match your imagination/inspirtion or that fact that you have taken the mm books to a new level. you have loads of followers and we will always buy your books -SO DON’T GIVE UP.

    • jcowens says:

      Hello Shine! Thank you so very much for your kindness in sending a comment my way. Sorry it has taken so long to replay to everyone. I stayed away from the computer as much as possible. Just needed a break to consider things and as all good writers do, brood. Always leads to new plot lines.. Anyway, your words are greatly appreciated. I never take peoples support for granted, it is always a beautiful surprise!
      Thanks again, and hugs : )
      Take Care
      J.C.

  13. Tasha says:

    I will like to say no matter what path you take your stories are a blessing and a pleasure to my life and I hope you will continue to share your beautiful gift of writing beautiful fulfilling enjoyable pleasurable male to male romance stories with your fans of the world in this difficult time of your life. I hope you can find whatever it may be to give you what you need to persevere through this moment and period of your life. It is always a pleasure to buy your romances.

    • jcowens says:

      Thank you so much, Tasha. The fact that you took time out of your day to encourage me, means a great deal to me. I am finding strength in beautiful comments, like yours, and hope it will inspire me to write.
      Thanks, and hugs : )
      Take Care
      J.C.

  14. K. Tuttle says:

    I don’t often comment much anymore on blogs and forums; I usually lose track of any conversations that get started, then feel guilty for doing so. But I just wanted to let you know how much your stories are appreciated by me. The first story of yours that I read was Wings, and I read it twice in a row before searching out all of your other titles. Periodically, I search Amazon for any new titles by you and buy them immediately as I find them. I’m glad that you’ve decided to continue to share your talent with all of us that love your stories. They aren’t easy or shallow in their emotional impact, and I wouldn’t expect any less. Thank you very much.