tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post4706150343177575753..comments2023-10-31T11:37:50.028-04:00Comments on on life & other inconveniences: Since The Edgars Are Steeped in Controversy…Sandra Ruttanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-53214565419111074622008-01-20T17:40:00.000-05:002008-01-20T17:40:00.000-05:00The decision of where to spend money is brutal. As...The decision of where to spend money is brutal. As I count down to release day I keep swinging wildly between thinking I should do (and spend more) and trying to hold onto sanity.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07967828178034612278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-10683482133722114712008-01-20T12:30:00.000-05:002008-01-20T12:30:00.000-05:00Well, I'm not keen about the fees. I see it as a ...Well, I'm not keen about the fees. I see it as a major deterrent to the small publishers in this county and magazines that are barely getting by as it is. <BR/><BR/>But that's my 2 cents.<BR/><BR/>And indeed, maybe some day, a book will win that isn't a cozy. It does happen in the best novel category, anyway, but in those cases it always seems to be a book published by a major publisher, the author having achieved international success - Peter Robinson, Rick Mofina.<BR/><BR/>The lack of realistic & gritty crime fiction set in this country remains a huge disappointment for me, but I am delighted you broke new ground with your work.Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-78034608255243245522008-01-20T12:21:00.000-05:002008-01-20T12:21:00.000-05:00Wow, Sandra, I always appreciate the mention of my...Wow, Sandra, I always appreciate the mention of my work, thanks.<BR/><BR/>One thing about the Arthur Ellis Awards, though, they will accept books from any publisher, even self-published and they accept stories from on-line only publications like Shred of Evidence and so on. As you say, they charge a fee for all this, but maybe it's a step in the right direction. It's all a process and I'm glad now that it's at least a public discussion.<BR/><BR/>Who knows, maybe someday there'll be a Canadian winner that's not a cozy.John McFetridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09442198820998606682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-40376056825581122008-01-20T08:51:00.000-05:002008-01-20T08:51:00.000-05:00Josephine, I don't think the Edgar, Dagger, etc. d...Josephine, I don't think the Edgar, Dagger, etc. do have entry fees, but I could be mistaken.<BR/><BR/>The Spinetingler winners will be announced at the end of the month. I'd hoped to have the physical awards in my hands in time for that, but I'm not sure if that will happen...Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-74384806608764065262008-01-20T08:39:00.000-05:002008-01-20T08:39:00.000-05:00Sandra, I had no idea these awards had these entry...Sandra, I had no idea these awards had these entry fees (don't know why I didn't consider that when every other contest seems to) plus all those copies - thanks for the heads up.<BR/><BR/>Speaking on contests, when-oh-when will the Spinetinger awards be announced?Josephine Damianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17952030380866201241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-55535098937445704682008-01-19T15:38:00.000-05:002008-01-19T15:38:00.000-05:00No. Not all publishers do. And for the record, t...No. Not all publishers do. <BR/><BR/>And for the record, the fact that there's now an entry fee is really going to deter entries, particularly in the short story category. Just a year ago the CWC raised costs for author members - an increase from $69 to $99 per year. The overwhelming bulk of that money seems to go to the website and Toronto-based events, which do me little good where I live. I knew as much about what was going on reading blogs as I did being a member.<BR/><BR/>Follow on the heels of that the entry fees for the Arthur Ellis, and the awards run the risk of being a showdown between every self published* person with enough money to go in there, while small presses that are already struggling will be faced with tough choices because they have to pay for every book they want to enter. (*She says, knowing not all self published books are bad, but still, this is a serious concern if the legit publishers have to make tough choices because they can't afford it.)<BR/><BR/>A common problem talked about here is the lack of marketing for Canadian books, because there's no money for it. If there's no money to market already, how do we expect small publishers to come up with more money to submit for awards? And what of the magazines? Same thing.<BR/><BR/>Since SC was published by a small US publisher a Canadian award doesn't mean much to them. But the simple reality is, with only so much money to go around, obviously even US publishers are going to submit for the awards with more profile instead of a regionalized one.Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-59509559828015739702008-01-19T15:26:00.000-05:002008-01-19T15:26:00.000-05:00Wouldn't your publisher submit the five copies, Sa...Wouldn't your publisher submit the five copies, Sandra? I'm sure they would have been interested in having the book nominated.<BR/>Although when my young-adult novella was published (albeit by a tiny Canadian publisher) getting any help with publicity or marketing was impossible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com