On Silver Publishing and exhaustion...

An open letter to my friends… readers, authors, family...

posted 6 March 2013

After two weeks of wicked panic attacks, this morning I gave in and went to the doctor. I’ve been *signed off* from work for two weeks with stress and exhaustion.

Given my work is full time writing and given that I couldn’t go a day without writing, I think this will be a hard one to stop writing for two weeks. What I have done instead is to juggle my schedule so that I give myself free days between books to work on other projects, and so that if I am tired I can take a step back and watch daytime TV (ROFL). I have strong commitments to both Total E-Bound and eXtasy and I also want to get Sanctuary Seven to you guys. So these books – Sanctuary 7, Ellery 4, 5 & 6, Bounty Hunters 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6, Montana 1, 2 & 3 etc are my priority.

The books that will fall by the wayside unfortunately are the next Bodyguard book, How Much for the Whole Night & Zero Day which will all now move to the end of the year. Also, the bad news is that Sanctuary 7 will be delayed into July/August. I am not in the right headspace to write Dale/Joseph and I wanted S7 to be a big book with lots of different Sanctuary storylines. I will update my WIP page when I have the full facts of what will happen when.

I will of course, also be working with Amber Kell, and with Meredith Russell, on our respective series, and again I have allowed myself plenty of time to complete my chapters. Thank you to both of them for their endless support.

I sincerely apologise for the problems and the delays. You will never know how much it means to me when readers email and say they want ‘this book’ or ‘that character’ because they enjoyed the first in a series. I know some of you will be disappointed.

I was also advised to draw a line under the main thing that has caused the problems--how I am dealing, or not dealing with the issues at Silver Publishing.

I am not going to go into details. I will simply summarise.

I am asking for the rights back on all of my books that remain with Silver. As of today, I have only been paid up to April 2012 for Amazon which is my biggest market. I have seen little Amazon money for most of my Sanctuary series, Gallows Tree or Texas 3. I am very rarely receiving timely replies to my emails. 

My books with Silver include Texas 2, Texas 3, Deefur Dog, Gallows Tree, One Night, and others. I am not letting Silver off of a single penny they owe me, and I expect to get my rights to these titles in late April / early May as they are in serious breach of contract for all remaining titles.

This is me, washing my hands of Silver and attempting to focus instead on what is important for me to be able to write. I am waiting for my royalties to trickle in and my rights to come back to me. I will not waste my health on a company that in my opinion shows little respect to it’s authors.

Onwards and upwards.

Hugs to each and every one of you who have had my back, understood my stresses and held my hand throughout it all. You all rock... xxxxx

RJ... x

54 comments

  1. You just take your time and get your your health in order. I would rather wait for a good book from RJ Scott then be left with the decision to go home cause the books stopped. You take care of you. Your faithful friend.

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    1. Thank you Solaria, yes you are a very faithful friend... hugs you hard xxxxx

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  2. As one of your stalkers YOU are to follow doctors orders. We as lovers of your writing will wait for all your books to be written and published where YOU get the money. Just know I wish for the best for you and we need you happy and stress free to have exceptional books from you. Even when your two weeks are up you need to find a good way to stay healthy mentally and physically. Just know I love your work and I always say I cannot wait but I really can.

    Cinders

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    1. Cinders... that is so sweet to say... thank you so much... {{{HUGS}}} XXXXX

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  3. The best thing to do is to remove the bad things and move on. BTDT with a previous publisher, more than once unfortunately, one of which never did pay concise or full royalties. I had to write them off as lesson learned. I have also found the more negative bombarding me, the more stressed I become, the harder it is to concentrate and the quicker I am to kaboom. So, the doctors are tell you the truth. And honestly, I'm also a reader (Deefur Dog - the title alone killed me. ;) ) So, yeah, do what you need to for YOU. We'll be here. :)

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    1. Thank you Diana... I will try very hard to get back on track... and i will relax more... :) HUGS XXXXXX

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  4. Rj,

    First and foremost get yourself well. YOU and your family are MORE important than ANY book. Personally, I would rather you be well in mind and body - along with your family - even if you never write another word.

    Take time for you - take up knitting, ceramics, embroidery, or even fingerpainting... whatever...

    Just be well,

    Frank
    Indianapolis, IN, USA

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    1. Hi Frank... I'll see what I can get up to... rofl... and I can't stop writing... :) XXXXXXXXXX

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  5. {{{HUGS}}} you! Take care of yourself, hon, and *REST*!

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    1. I will CQ... I will rest whilst writing... rofl :)

      OK OK OK... I give in... i'll rest okay... XXXXXX

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  6. they say that everyone should take a vacation from their position at work at least once every few years. now is your time. i wont say that you should agree to what they say, and not write. because as someone who read's all the time, i know it's not something i'd be able to give up, even if i was told to. it's something you love doing to much to just completely back off. so, i'll mention something of the same route. instead of writing as much as you normally would, sit back and catch up on that series of Amber Kell's (or whomevers :)) that you've been wanting to finish. it might not be as for-filling as writing something of your own.. but it might help take 'the edge off'. and who knows, it could spark up some new ideas. :)

    and as a fan, i have to agree with what the above people have said. your health comes more important then waiting for the next book to come out. the more the time passes, the more anticipation it brings for the actual release. your faithful readers understand that.

    so, sit back.. relax and enjoy some quiet time. i hope your feeling better soon!

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    1. Thank you Denise... I want to catch up on my reading BIG TIME...

      HUGS XXXXXXX

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  7. *big squishes* Take care of yourself. xxx

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    1. Thank you Lexi... {{{HUGS}}} RJ XXXXXX

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  8. As a HUGE fan of your works, I have to agree with everyone. Please take time for yourself and get better. If your books are delayed, so be it. As much as I love and look forward to them, it's far more important to be happy and healthy.Take care!

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    1. Awww, Jase, I always love your support... thank you so much... HUGS RJ XXXXXX

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  9. We love your books and are more than willing to wait for them. You need to take care of yourself first and foremost! Love you!!

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    1. Awww, thank you so much Laurie... hugs you hard... RJ XXXX

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  10. I can only mirror what everyone else has said, RJ. We love your books, but your health comes first. Hey! Maybe it will give me some time to catch up with some of the older ones. In any case, sending you peace, healing, and love!

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    1. Hugs you Lena... thank you, RJXXXXXXX

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  11. The most important thing to do now is to take care of your health and wellbeing - all your readers do know that and want you to be better - and then - and only then - your 'boys' will want to get out again …. let them sleep for a while …. and get well soon! Looking forward to a happy RJ Scott book….. take care!

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    1. Hi, thank you so much... hugs you, RJ XXX

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  12. Your heath comes first let all your stories wait until your better listen to all your fans they're saying the same thing

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    1. Hi Gary... I am listening to you all, and I love how supportive you have all been... HUGS Rj xxx

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  13. Look and all the warmth and sunshine from friends and readers alike, and it's not yet summer. Enjoy the sunshine, we'll still be here when the stories are ready.
    Take Care

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    1. awww... I love this analogy... hugs you hard, RJ XXXX

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  14. Health and family are always more important than anything else :-). As you can see from all these posts we will all support your decision and will still be huge fans regardless when the books come out

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    1. Thank you Lisa... these messages all mean so much... Hugs RJ XXX

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  15. In mainstream publishing it's not unusual to have 6mths to a year in between books! Good books are worth waiting for. Take care of yourself and take the time you need to get your health back on track and keep it there. (hugs)

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    1. Hey Aniko... thank you so much... I'm trying hard... HUGS XXXX

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  16. Your heath comes first let all your stories wait until your better listen to all your fans they're saying the same thing

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    1. I will listen... and I love you all... HUGS XXXXX

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  17. Thank you for letting us know there is a problem with Silver. I haven't purchased all the books I want and now I'll wait until I know you'll be paid. I love your stories and as long as no one tells my husband how much I spend on your books, I'll buy them all. ;-) Seriously, though, you have to take care of yourself. You rock!

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    1. Well I wont tell him... promise... rofl... hugs you hard, RJ XXXX

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  18. Your health and peace of mind is what's most important. Rest, watch television and maybe read for fun. All your dear fans will still be here no matter what!
    Yvette

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    1. I am blown away by the support Yvette... Hugs you hard... RJ XXXX

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  19. Take care of yourself! That's the most important thing!

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    1. Thank you Marsha... i will... Hugs RJ XXXX

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  20. You take care of YOU first. I'll wait for however long it takes for any one of your books!

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    1. Hi Marla... thank you so much... Hugs hard... RJ XXXX

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  21. Guess what? Rest means REST! Yup, here I am, your worst nightmare, following you and readying the peng, not to mention the E of D. Take care of YOU, please? Hugs you tight (but not tight enough to hurt, I promise...)

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    1. I am trying... I promise... and NO! Not the EOD or the Peng!... ROFL... Hugs hard G

      RJ XXXX

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  22. Hello R.J.
    I'm re-reading your Texas series at the moment and must tell you again how much I love that series. Your health is of utmost importance so rest and know we're thinking of you.

    *Hugs*
    Vona

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    1. Hey Vona... thank you {{{HUGS}}} and re-reading Texas, thank you ...

      HUGS XXXXXXX

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  23. Big hugs - I love your books and I'm sorry you're having to deal with so much stress. Best wishes to you.

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    1. Thank you so much for saying that hun... Hugs RJ XXXX

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  24. take good care of yourself that is the most important thing right now
    you are a fabulous writer and your fans will wait for your books
    So focus on yourself for now
    x Dani

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    1. Aww, thank you Dani... I am trying... :) XXXX

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  25. I am a bit late here but I want to echo what many others have stated, you and your health are the most important thing, from what I have seen of your postings, I sense you would not want to put out books you feel aren't 100% what you want them to be, so if that means they are later than you originally hoped, then so be it. I can totally understand why the crap with Silver has caused so much grief since you write full time and depend on receiving the royalties due to you, stay strong!!

    Take care of yourself!!

    xx Lin

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    1. Aww, thank you so much Lin... your comment is much appreciated... Hugs you hard.. xxxx

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  26. Hope you feel better soon!
    I hope you are able to rectify the whole situation with Silver, maybe then things will be less stressful for you. It really angers me...as a reader...that Silver would do this to any of their authors! Blah to them.....and good for you for not letting them off the hook with the bs.
    Take care of yourself
    Hugs and smiles
    b

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    1. Well, I'm trying to get every penny that is mine... I just can't see it happening... sighs... thank you for the lovely comment, and the hugs and smiles....

      Hugs back

      RJ XXXX

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    2. Just a quickie to let you know of a problem. I have just completed The Carpenter and The Actor, published by Total E-bound and at the end is an excerpt from Back Home and stated to be released 7th June 2013. As I read it, I realised I had read his book before and wondered errrrmmmm....WTF?????....so I started checking things out, found this blog section on the problems you had been experiencing with the previous publisher.

      The problem, is that Total are not stating it is a previously released book and on the web site I buy from, All Romance, they are also not stating that it is a previously released book...normally you do see a notation to that effect on the web page of the relevant books.

      It's only by accident I read the excerpt as, with several very specific authors that I enjoy, I tend to buy without reading any excerpts or checking out the blurb...aka you're so bloody good that I tend to buy everything you put out. I know there are probably many readers who do exactly the same thing that I do, buy sight unseen, and they would be a tad bit annoyed expending money for a book already in their collection.

      Any hoooo, buck passed, I'd normally tell All Romance any problems, as I have done so for too many years, but I figure this is a publishing blooper and needs to come from Total so all online stores are covered with the "previously published" notice.


      with all the problems with pirating, it is hard enough to make a buck without tackling a dodgy publisher for your hard earned royalties. Hope it works out, money ain't everything but it's up there with oxygen to survive on this planet....
      cheers
      Liz

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    3. I am so sorry Liz... I sent your comments onto TEB... please email me rj@rjscott.co.uk... RJ XXXXX

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