If the title of this blog leads you to believe that I will be discussing branding irons, a hot fire and cows you would be wrong.
Instead, I will be sharing an experience that I have dealt with over the past five years.
So, sit back and relax as I share a story that has not been enjoyable for me. Frustrating perhaps and disappointing for sure.
Dr. Seuss has always been my favorite poet. I love his loosely arranged rhymes and the whimsical style.
I often, especially on Facebook, try to produce a Dr. Seuss style rhyme and never quite accomplish it. It’s fun trying, however.
When family members celebrate a birthday, I try to make Dr. Seuss proud and send the family member a poem styled after him.
It has become a little expensive as I try to include a twenty- dollar bill with each poem! 🙂
During my writing years I attempted to do a children’s book in rhyme.
In fact, when I was the coordinator at the Bonanza Education Center, I shared the manuscript with the elementary students.
The manuscript was titled “Nature’s Rhyming Riddles” and five mystery animals were introduced to the readers with fact-filled rhymes.
As I read the manuscript to the children, I instructed them to raise their hands when they thought they knew each mystery animal.
It was a manuscript test run, and the children responded with enthusiasm. So much so that I began thinking about the possibilities of attempting publication of Nature’s Rhyming Riddles.
Then I made a serious mistake that I regret to this day. 🙁
As an author I often get phone calls from publishers inquiring if I have a manuscript in need of publication.
Of course, Nature’s Rhyming Riddles was saved on my computer at the time.
Then came that fatal call!
Pen House was the name of the publishers, and they were located in Wyoming.
We visited for a while and then I mentioned my manuscript, Nature’s Rhyming Riddles.
They were interested in seeing the manuscript so stupidly without checking them out on the internet I sent them the manuscript!
They of course loved the manuscript and offered to publish the book with Pen House.
I needed a publisher, so I agreed to have them publish my manuscript.
It started out very well. Pen House provided great marketing tools, and I was impressed and happy with their efforts.
I became a little concerned when my artist did not get her illustrations in the book in the style that she had requested.
The book went live right in the middle of the pandemic, so I was not able to go and market it like I had done with my previous books.
Instead, I marketed it completely on Facebook and was successful in selling at least ninety books on Amazon.
So, I was excited about the royalties I would be receiving. In fact, I called Pen House and enquired when I would be receiving the royalties.
Pen House responded that royalties would be sent out on a specific month.
The month came and went, and no royalties showed up in my mailbox!
Then my phone calls to Pen House were ignored and my emails went unanswered!
I received only a partial order of books that I had ordered.
And then the friendly Pen House voices that I had communicated with earlier were silent and have been silent since.
At last check Pen House is no longer in existence!
The question I have is, “Where are my royalties?”
Sadly, I have accepted the fact that they too are probably gone. 🙁
So, I am republishing Nature’s Rhyming Riddles with WestBow Press the publishing house that I currently have my first four children’s books published with.
Nature’s Rhyming Riddles has been ‘rebranded’.
I assumed by rebranding my original book would be replaced but that is not the case. Both of the books, Nature’s Rhyming Riddles, will still be available on Amazon.
However, the WestBow Press Nature’s Rhyming Riddles will show up first when a potential purchaser searches for it.
Otherwise, my two identical books will be competing against each other.
That is just weird!
The disappearance of Pen House has taught me a valuable lesson; one is never too old to make a mistake! 🙁
Until next time.
