Very proud to be a publisher, yes, thanks. (More proud of that than being a "cult icon.") I never got the chance to solicit anything through Diamond (I tried, but there was no interest), but the sales copy I wrote for the books I've published is still up on my web site, and anywhere else the books are available (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, et cetera). I think I've covered all of the important details, but I'll gladly make amendments if there's anything I've missed.


Your vested interest is to unload books and not have to eat them if they are defective, as is the case for *all* publishers who want to stay in business.


Let me tell a quick story, one I've mentioned here before -- I did a limited run of a set of three hardcover books (250 sets in all) signed and numbered, and sold in a slipcase. Because of the nature of the product, and the need to be able to distribute the books fairly (lower numbered volumes first, sold on a first-come, first served basis), I had the entire press run drop shipped to my house (rather than my fulfillment company). Good thing, too, because I discovered minor damage to the matte finish on the spines of the dust jackets of several of the books.

After discussing the issue with my print vendor, they supplied me with a new press run of dust jackets for all three books, so I could replace the defective ones where necessary, which I did. (I've mentioned this story before when people suggest that Marvel ought to print "variant" dust jackets for Masterworks that have gone out of print, because you never really know how difficult it is to properly apply a flat dust jacket without any creases or reference 'till you've tried.)

So no, I have a much greater interest in publishing products I can take pride in than in "unloading" defective books -- and I'm sure most other publishers, be they small (very small) operations like mine or significantly larger ones, operate under these same principles. If you're that jaded about the publishing business than A.) it's no wonder you've never gotten close enough to it to understand how it works, and B.) it's small wonder you pre-order anything.


Of course, and publishers already have a canned response for this. "If we don't get enough preorders, we won't publish, because preorders are how we gauge demand.


Meh. So they don't get enough pre-orders, and they don't publish. That advice was intended for a small, self-selected segment of the audience that seems more likely (or inevitably) to be disappointed than not. (Honestly, you've never struck me as someone who is particularly concerned with the well-being of comics publishers -- and we're all well aware of the high esteem in which you hold publishers! -- so that shouldn't be a cause for concern.)

And if it's "mealy-mouthed" not to descend to insults (that usually says more about the person doing the insulting, that the person insulted), well, then, I guess I'm proud to be mealy-mouthed, as well. Once again, you have revealed me for exactly who I are!

In The Back Of Beyond: My photography blog. Everything seen through the camera of my iPhone.