Random thoughts...

[Sock Monkey]

Hey there! Had someone ping me to chime in (and a reference to Coleridge poems are always a good way to summon me!)-- the cancellation of certain trade contracts was exclusively due to issues in acquisition. Far too many more projects were taken on than we can support. I will credit it to miscommunication or simple overenthusiasm for the product, but we can only produce a certain number of books before they begin drowning each other out and everyone loses. Releases get buried, promotion fails, editing errors start to gather up, and we simply don't have that many people-hours to devote to it. We were at nearly three times that threshold for 2024. A bunch of projects had to get cut. Good projects, too. It wasn't about the quality. Which projects stayed and went was largely decided by which are locked into third party deals (for example, Feb 1st has a release with three other companies involved, etc). If we didn't cut a bunch and get our line back on course, the authors would have lost money and a book, and we would have lost some money.

This way, while they are disappointed, they keep everything. We still lose some money (due to paid advances and design work) but far less so, and we maintain the integrity of the product that does release.

The trade line editors changed, but it wasn't a "changing of the guard" effect. It was a "look under the hood at the schedule and scream" situation. The cut projects would have been inevitable either way. The contracts were sadly doomed on issuance



As for the forum itself, I've not heard anything relating to discontinuation or any issues along those lines! I just don't have time to properly engage here beyond occasional posts in the Product Update thread. I hope with Lisa Lebel joining the crew to help the trade line, things will balance out a little more and we can get back to being more interactive/responsive

Hi, Dan! Thank you for posting this clarification as to both the situation regarding the paperback line and the forum. Like others, I was a little dismayed and/or concerned when I heard about the contract cancellations, especially since that was the one line that seemed to, at least from a customer's perspective, be progressing well through publication. The limited edition end of things have been at a trickle and I think that hearing news about the paperback line raised even more concerns. While cancellation decisions are surely disappointing for both you guys and the authors involved, I'm hoping this right the ship a bit and leads to continued success. For all the negative comments sometimes posted on the internet, I truly believe that most folks want Cemetery Dance to thrive.

As for the forum, I'm glad to hear that it isn't going anywhere. I also want to echo all the sentiments posted over the weekend that this truly is a wonderful little corner of the internet. Frankly, I avoid all social media and this is the only place that I post. The community may be small, but it's awfully welcoming and I'd hate for the forum and the community to disappear. If the choice is ever made to shutter the forum, I hope that advance notice would be given so we could hopefully figure out a solution to keep this community afloat elsewhere.

Anyways, thanks again for popping in and shedding some light on the situation!

[DanFranklin]

Hey there! Had someone ping me to chime in (and a reference to Coleridge poems are always a good way to summon me!)-- the cancellation of certain trade contracts was exclusively due to issues in acquisition. Far too many more projects were taken on than we can support. I will credit it to miscommunication or simple overenthusiasm for the product, but we can only produce a certain number of books before they begin drowning each other out and everyone loses. Releases get buried, promotion fails, editing errors start to gather up, and we simply don't have that many people-hours to devote to it. We were at nearly three times that threshold for 2024. A bunch of projects had to get cut. Good projects, too. It wasn't about the quality. Which projects stayed and went was largely decided by which are locked into third party deals (for example, Feb 1st has a release with three other companies involved, etc). If we didn't cut a bunch and get our line back on course, the authors would have lost money and a book, and we would have lost some money.

This way, while they are disappointed, they keep everything. We still lose some money (due to paid advances and design work) but far less so, and we maintain the integrity of the product that does release.

The trade line editors changed, but it wasn't a "changing of the guard" effect. It was a "look under the hood at the schedule and scream" situation. The cut projects would have been inevitable either way. The contracts were sadly doomed on issuance



As for the forum itself, I've not heard anything relating to discontinuation or any issues along those lines! I just don't have time to properly engage here beyond occasional posts in the Product Update thread. I hope with Lisa Lebel joining the crew to help the trade line, things will balance out a little more and we can get back to being more interactive/responsive

[Ben Staad]

Seems like jeffingoff and you should talk.

I like this community . . . $15/month to have a cloud hosted version of vBulletin with fairly limited traffic. Or $180 and I self-host it.

 

[jeffingoff]

You need to add a JeffWord forum to your growing biblio-enterprise.

I'd love to.

[TacomaDiver]

The signed Cemetery Dance magazines, for lack of a better phrase, pissed me off.

The fact that they're being given away as contests items, not to those of who paid for subscriptions years ago, and who receive two issues every decade at best, was just frustrating. I get the prize angle, but the flat out NO from Rich on-line about subscribers even having a chance was upsetting.

I like this forum - I prefer to it the "other" one of a darker tower nature because of the drama and entitlement and attitudes with SO MANY of those members.

Never knew that this was Dan and Brian's project - knowing that does give me worry about this forum's longevity.

[RonClinton]

That would be a heartbreak. Like you I often lurk and I love seeing the reviews, acquisitions, home libraries, and occasional motorcycles. I miss the people who no longer post like Brian861 (or is that just his DT handle? the world is moving on). There aren't many places that feel like home anymore.

You need to add a JeffWord forum to your growing biblio-enterprise.

[RonClinton]

Much like everyone else, I would hate to see the forum go away. I may not always post daily, but I usually stop by at some point, even if it's just to creep. If CD does ever decide to get rid of the forum, I hope that they at least give a head's-up beforehand as I'd be completely bummed to show up and see that it's vanished.

That’s what happened with The Horror Drive-In back a good number of years back, and it wasn’t a cool move (though the owner had grumbled about doing it for years). Just one day…gone, without advance notice.

[jeffingoff]

Much like everyone else, I would hate to see the forum go away. I may not always post daily, but I usually stop by at some point, even if it's just to creep. If CD does ever decide to get rid of the forum, I hope that they at least give a head's-up beforehand as I'd be completely bummed to show up and see that it's vanished.

That would be a heartbreak. Like you I often lurk and I love seeing the reviews, acquisitions, home libraries, and occasional motorcycles. I miss the people who no longer post like Brian861 (or is that just his DT handle? the world is moving on). There aren't many places that feel like home anymore.

[sholloman81]

Much like everyone else, I would hate to see the forum go away. I may not always post daily, but I usually stop by at some point, even if it's just to creep. If CD does ever decide to get rid of the forum, I hope that they at least give a head's-up beforehand as I'd be completely bummed to show up and see that it's vanished.

[Ben Staad]

It's never late to join this awesome little group.

Damn, sounds like I showed up a bit late to the party...

 

[Dave1442397]

We are the crew on the Ancient Mariner's ship.

As long as it's not the Titanic or the Mary Celeste

[jeffingoff]

Add to that the fact that this entire forum was a labor of love from Dan Hocker who is no longer with CD. He and Brian kept it running with Mindy and Richard choosing to stay clear of it. Their decision is not an issue for me but once Mr. Hocker and Brian departed Dan Franklin and Kevin Lucia came in here and occasionally responding to questions. More often than not questions on here sit without a response. I believe this site was never desired or supported by Mr. Chizmar and once Dan and Brian left it has felt like a rudderless ship. Just my opinion, with no facts to back it up, but I am actually surprised it is still up.

We are the crew on the Ancient Mariner's ship.

[Boggle Champion]

Damn, sounds like I showed up a bit late to the party...

[Dave1442397]

Yeah, forum traffic has dropped off a lot over the years.

As for the book contracts being cancelled, one reason, according to an FB poster, was that too many contracts had been signed.
The lead time to publish everything would have left authors with rights tied up and books remaining unpublished, and we know what CD's lead times are like!

Another positive is seeing that the SK-signed CD magazines will be given away, not, as I expected, sold for four-figure sums.

I haven't cancelled any orders yet. I'm still hopeful that we'll see The Stand and Pet Semetary.

[Ben Staad]

Everyone pretty much summed up my thoughts on the topic. I hope it sticks around and we keep this little community going but I wouldn't 100% be surprised if it just isn't accessible one day.