Like my co-author Mia Bishop, I debated on writing this out. As I sit down to do this, I know two things: I’m not as bad off as a lot of authors who are dealing with this lawsuit between Ellora’s Cave and Dear Author and I can’t stay quiet anymore. In August of 2013 Mia Bishop, Phoebe Chase, and I all signed contracts for a book, each one of us would write one book in the series. We turned our finished manuscripts in consecutively, September, October, and November. I can’t speak for the other two because that is their story to tell. This is mine.
I submitted Twisted Redemption in November, as per the contract. In December I submitted a second book, which was accepted. (Black and White) I heard very little from my first editor, there was a lot of ‘I’ll be working on it soon’ and ‘we’re so over loaded’ and ‘I’ll try to get it done in the next couple weeks’ passed around. Then there was the confusion about the order of the series. Somehow my book (which was originally supposed to be 3rd) had been moved a head of the second book. I corrected this with that editor. My second book had yet to be touched. We received news of new editors in March of 2014 (so four months for Twisted Redemption, three for Black and White) and I was one of the people being switched over.
In late April, I heard from my new editor with a general, getting things together and I’ll get you a timeline soon e-mail. (five months TR, four months B&W). I received my edits early May, Phoebe received hers a few days after. That’s right, the order had gotten screwed up when given to the new editor. My edits went quickly and smoothly, and I thought that would be the end of my bumpy road. Things were finally moving. Then the book got released, as book two. My editor informed me that there had been someone who made the choice to go ahead and release it, since each book could be read as a stand-alone.  (Release date Redemption: July 18th Total time: Eight months. B&W, seven months.)
I e-mailed my editor on July 30th to see if I could get a timeline on Black and White, because I’m a planner, that’s what I do. I didn’t hear from her, so I sent a follow up e-main August 15th. (B&W 8 months). On August 18th, we got the letter from Ellora’s Cave. We all know the one, the one that was leaked to Dear Author about the out of house editors and cover artist being let go because downsizing needed to happen. At this point a little seed of panic settles into my stomach, but I wait.
The rumors start circling and my panic takes hold. After discussing with a few different people (who are not EC related) and the input of one EC author, I decided to ask for my rights back on Black and White. It hadn’t been edited yet, there was no sign of it being edited, so on August 20th, I sent a request to get my rights back. I heard back that same day with a form response saying it could be at least two weeks before they got back to me. So I expected to wait, but I heard back later that night with the same form response: that I could get my rights back or the company could publish with line edits and without my input and that it was up to the publisher.
Now I really am panicking. Why would they do that? I’m not a big money maker. I have ONE book with them. I just want my second one back so I can get it out to the people who keep asking for it.  So I wait.
I didn’t have to wait long, August 25th, I got the e-mail that said the rights were mine again. I’m one of the lucky ones. People are not getting their rights back now, even for unpublished and proposed books. I took a trip to a convention and the day I flew back was the day shit hit the fan. Dear Author posted their “The Curious Case of Ellora’s Cave.” I knew that I’d gotten out just in time.
So what does this all have to do with the lawsuit? That’s my story, here are my feelings…
When I signed for both books, I was beyond ecstatic because I finally had a publisher. It was where I wanted to be in my next step of my writing career. Now…now I just feel sad and defeated. I’ve done more for my book than a publisher had. And now this lawsuit. I read Dear Author’s post and though the facts stated in it scared me, I had heard many of the claims already in our author loop. The fact that EC decided to sue threw me for a loop. Why was a big company so worried about what a blogger had to say? A blogger who could back herself up with facts…unless they were trying to hide something ßsee that? That’s me being paranoid.
Most publishers have one or two negative articles written about them, some may have more, but not all of them are going around suing the bloggers. The thing is as authors we need bloggers, publishers shouldn’t be suing them, especially for well defended opinions. It’s gotten to the point where I no longer want to advertise for my EC book, it just sits there in the digital world collecting dust. I can’t really track my sales, so other than watching rankings on Amazon, I can’t tell if I’ve sold many. It’s October now, and I haven’t collected any royalties yet, but I can’t claim not paid yet, since I hear they are 3 months behind in paying monthly. (oh wait…let’s count those months July, August, September…so maybe next month?)
I shouldn’t be ashamed of being an EC author, but Jaid Black’s behavior is appalling, even if the suit held water, her behavior is uncalled for. Every time she opens her mouth she makes it worse. (should I state that it’s my opinion so I don’t get sued?) I think this lawsuit is ridiculous.

Before I wrote this, I wanted to hear a little bit more from both sides. The problem is, there’s not a whole lot of people standing behind EC. Be it because they are scared to speak out or because they are still on the fence. I don’t know. All I know is my story and that’s what I’m judging my feelings on. EC has left a bad taste in my mouth and now there’s nothing left to do but wait…
My heart goes out to all the authors who are suffering more from than I am. From now until this is over, I will only be sharing, supporting, and talking about my non-ec titles, which can be found on my home page.