I Lost My Publisher
There are no words, and there are too many words, so I am attempting to fall somewhere in between. If I stray into convoluted or chaotic mazes of explanation, I apologize from what is left of my writer’s heart.
Due to the vast Internet we find ourselves gathered on today, you might have already heard. You might not have. Either way, you will now (and finally) hear it from me.
AEC Stellar Publishing, Inc. – my publisher and employer for two years – has closed the doors.
If I could explain, I would, but I cannot. We did not go bankrupt. We had wonderfully talented authors (whom I still believe in fully) and a humble team I admired. We simply lost an essential piece, and without our piece, we would’ve broken, so AEC came to end – as all great novels do.
I am currently seeking new representation, but I must apologize to all of you – to all of my cherish readers – who were anxiously anticipating future novels and poems and short stories. I’m also incredibly sorry if my upcoming posts are not as uplifting as they usually are, but I do promise I will strive to remain positive during this time.
I simply do not know what I will do.
In two months alone, I have lost my car, my job, my books, and soon, my place of living. I know I have not lost everything, but I feel entirely lost on where I am going, and perhaps, this is forcing me to take the adventure that will ultimately lead me to where I am supposed to be in life. That is my current hope anyway – but you are my courage, the confidence to cling onto a hopeful place at all.
You’ve been with me since September of 2012, before I even had AEC, and I am grateful to still have you. If there was an endless amount of space on this post, I would fill every centimeter with my love for you, but – for now – please know that I originally handwrote this, and I felt every word in my pen, and I felt it again when I typed it, and I felt it once more when I read it out loud, and what I felt was undying gratitude.
I am thankful I had the opportunity to share stories with the world, and I will never forget the readers and writers I’ve met along the way. I can only dream of ever meeting this surreal reality again – not as a future fantasy or a broken past – but as my writer life reborn.
Until then, I will cry, and smile, and laugh, and scream, and breathe another day in before the next. But I will never drop this pen.
I will write, and I will write until the end.
~SAT
P.S. If you want a copy of any of my novels, now is the time to get them. All of my novels will be unavailable as of January 31. Links below. I will be giving away PDFs of Death Before Daylight for free. Simply email me at shannonathompson@aol.com.
Also, if you could help me by sharing my Services and Donations pages, you are my angel. By working in publishing for seven years, I’ve used my knowledge to connect authors with readers for book reviews and interviews. I’ve also provided social media support, and my B.A. in English has supported my content edits and proofreads for authors and writers alike. If you would rather donate, you get a personalized picture of Bogart the cat!
Thank you for everything.
Links:
Minutes Before Sunset: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, Diesel, Sony, and Apple, Goodreads.
Seconds Before Sunrise: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads.
Take Me Tomorrow: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads.
Shannon A. Thompson 
I’m sorry you’ve had these losses. I know there is great writing ahead of you. Don’t give up.
Thank you for the encouragement! I won’t give up!
~SAT
I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through a hard time. I’m thinking of you and wishing you well.
Thank you for the well wishes! I appreciate it. 😀
~SAT
My heart goes out to you in your difficult time ♥
Sending you all the positive vibes the universe has to offer
May the door that’s closed be the opening to a new beginning.
Stay strong, let hope be your guide and faith be your light
When you turn around you’ll see a bright new shiny door
That offers you a new direction with more success
Than the one you left behind.
Thank you for your heartfelt message. ❤ I will keep my eyes open for that bright new shiny door, and I will thank you when I find it!
~SAT
I know you will find that shiny new door. You’re an inspiration to so many new young writers and always willing to help others. I believe in Karma – what goes around comes around – and you my dear will reap your rewards 10 fold.
Reblogged this on Phoenix Rainez.
Thank you for sharing!
~SAT
Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
Thank you for sharing!
~SAT
Terrible news, and the blow of losing support must hurt. But you’ve got a big fan base and a platform, and you are primed to self-publish pending a better arrangement. I hope you can get the rights to your books and make them available somehow.
Will write more privately… Working out as usual!
It definitely hurts! But I’ve already begun to feel the healing, especially after today. I will check my email soon! Thank you for your help.
~SAT
Shannon,
I just started following you yesturday. I believe things happen for a reason. I don’t know if this will help you or even make you feel better, but here it goes. I spent 20 years in the military in a career that physically and mentally beat me up and didn’t think I would make it the first year let alone 20. I was a teen mom and a few people told me I’d never make it in life or the military. The bad things that happen to us make the best stories because we feel them so acutely and we remember there vividness like technicolor. I wish you the best, hope it becomes a great journey.
Thank you for sharing your story! It definitely helps! This isn’t the toughest thing to happen to me, but the reminder of how we get through these times is always a priceless one. I appreciate you taking the time to remind me!
~SAT
Good luck, Shannon. I know you can find what you need. I hope you find something even greater than you’ve had.
Thank you, Jay Dee! I will keep looking and trying until I find where I need to be.
~SAT
I’m so sorry for all the hardships you have suffered recently Shannon. Keep your chin up though – things can only go up from here. Remember, you will never lose the gift of writing!
No one can take writing away. :] You are right. Thank you for your sweet reminder.
~SAT
That’s incredibly rough on top of everything else that you’ve had going on! But you’ve got some amazing talent as well as the ingenuity and determination to use it. Keep pressing on, knowing that so many of your readers appreciate you and are supporting you–whatever direction life may take you from here.
Thank you, Honya! I know I have you all, and having you all behind me has been my biggest strength over the past two weeks. I promise to move forward and bring good news once again!
~SAT
Keep your head high, your eyes bright, your mind focused and your hopes eternal, Shannon. It’s a tough time, yes. Please do not give in to the initial waves of despair and even panic. I got excised in the great newspaper industry contraction, laid off in January 2013 after just shy of 30 years in the same newsroom. Through reinvention with freelancing and blogging and perseverance, I’m working through it daily. The result is a changed life, a different man, but still a writer with curiosity and enthusiasm and the vehicles to share those talents with others.
Thank you for sharing how you’ve kept your head held high! Knowing how others have done so helps me believe in this journey even more. Writers have to stick together, right? It’s also nice to know we enjoy sticking together. :]
~SAT
That’s what we must do, Shannon. And it is fun. Last night author/blogger Kitt Crescendo and I went to dinner because we discovered she was visiting my city on other business. I’m blogging about how we got a kick out of talking writing and life tomorrow. My email is markbialczak@gmail.com. Feel free to reach out at any point as you put the pieces together.
Did your contract say anything about the rights to publish reverting to you if publisher closes doors? If you can figure out the status of those rights and make sure they are in your hands, you could have the books available again relatively quickly on your own. You are established as an author, don’t overlook the indie route (publishing yourself), especially now.
I’ve been told the rights will revert back to us on January 31, but I haven’t received anything in writing yet, and I’m not sure what day I can expect to receive anything in writing. I believe they will do it, but I am using this time to manage everything I can and concentrate on a new business plan (route) for the future. I am definitely considering self-publishing to keep them available, and I’ve even received a wonderful email from someone willing to help me through the process, so I’ll keep everyone updated when things settle down and solidify. For now, it’s all up in the air.
~SAT
Do you still retain the rights to your books and kindle books to continue to produce them elsewhere one day? I’m curious how that works. I am so sorry! Just bought “take me tomorrow”…it looks interesting. 🙂 Keep your imagination and fingers moving across the pages.
I get my rights back on January 31, but I haven’t received the contract in writing yet, nor do I know when I will, but I trust AEC will close out everything properly. I will have to wait for that before I can move onto a new plan, so I’m using this limbo time to adjust my business plan and goals for the future. I will keep trying though! I hope you enjoy Take Me Tomorrow as well. :]
~SAT
Don’t give up hope. I’m sure you’ll find another publisher that will be just as great, if not better than your previous publisher. Keep your head up, and do what you love the most. And you’ll have friends, family, and most importantly, fans cheering you on the entire way.
I could not give up hope with all of the love and support shown to me today. I am blown away, and I appreciated you for commenting such uplifting words. Support is a powerful thing. I am tremendously grateful.
~SAT
You are most welcome.
Sorry to hear about what happened. I’m sure you’ll have your next book (and future ones) published (even if you go the indie route). Stay strong. 🙂
Thank you! I hope so! No matter what, I’ll stay strong and keep going. :]
~SAT
Sorry to hear about your troubles. Good luck with everything. If you need me to help you out my blog is always open. Just send me an email and let me know what you need. atothewr@gmail.com.
Thank you! I really appreciate that. :]
~SAT
I may be able to help you and your fellow authors. Please…if interested, contact me below.
I’m interested! Please email me at shannonathompson@aol.com.
~SAT
Hi Shannon! Your blog inspires me. I know things look down at the moment, but this writer at least still envies you (I hope constructively!). I look forward to having a publisher that then fails or otherwise disappoints me! The Universe is a mean brutal place built (even thermodynamically) by the lowest bidder. It will kick you when you are both down and up. This is its way of testing your worth. Go be even more worthy than you have been already.
Thank you for a reminder! It reminds me of something my father has said to me recently. He told me to think about how I would feel if I went and told my 16-year-old self where I went the past few years and what I have done. I am very happy that I got the chance to do the things I got to do. Now, I’ve got to find a way to do it again. :]
~SAT
Oh no! I’ll have to stock up on your books (that I’ve had on my “need to read” list) now, to tide me over. Because you will come through this, and quickly. I have no doubt that we’ll be hearing some great news from you.
A rough start to the year, I am sending good thoughts your way, and wishes for some wonderful surprises this year.
Hang in there.
You’re so very kind. Thank you for your support. I will be sure to announce if anything good happens. I’ll hang in until something does.
~SAT
So sorry to hear 😦 Definitely been a bad few months for you. Here’s to hoping the new year brings better things. I wish you the best.
Thank you! I’m hoping 2015 turns around for the better, and since I got the news in December, I’m trying to count this as 2014 vibes.
~SAT
Shannon, I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m fairly new to your blog but have enjoyed your work.
I’ve no idea if you and they would be a fit or not, but you may wish to check out http://www.cleanteenpublishing.com/. They’re a small publishing company that is very author-oriented. I haven’t published anything with them (need to get off my rear end and finish my novel), but I know two of the owners and they’re good people.
Good luck!
I really like them actually! I’ve heard many great things about their company, but I don’t think they accept already published work. On their page it states they will only publish the next book in the series that wasn’t published before, and I’m not sure that would make sense to have the third book out and nothing else out. Maybe I’ll try speaking to them anyway? Do you have an email I can talk to you about it?
~SAT
I am so sorry, Shannon. I will be thinking lots of positive thoughts that outstanding, amazing things are coming your way!
Thank you for the positive energy! It helps. :]
~SAT
Shannon, I am so sorry to hear this. I’ve just picked up Seconds before Sunrise and Take me Tomorrow; you put so much work into writing and promoting these stories and I feel I would be missing out if I didn’t get to read them. It has been inspiring to follow your journey thus far, and while I can’t imagine how you must feel right now, I know you will find a way to move forward onto even better things. You have such incredible grit and passion, and I wish you all the best.
Thank you for your kind support! I truly appreciate your words of encouragement. I will keep trying to move forward! I don’t want to let anyone down, and I don’t want to let myself down on following my dreams. I will keep you updated! :] Thank you for the well wishes. They will help.
~SAT
Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs.
I was complaining that 2014 was a very difficult year for me. I’m sorry it was so tough for you. I’m trying to teach myself that every problem or failure will probably lead to something better. I wish you the same!
I’m really sorry to read this news, Shannon. I wish you the best of luck in whatever path you choose to pursue next. Hopefully 2015 will be a strong year for you.
Shannon, I am so very sorry to hear this has happened. I ditto Nicholas C. Rossis.
Somehow, someway everything will work out. You are a talented author and a beautiful person.
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