I've been involved with publishing in one way or another for the better part of 10 years, and one thing that I've always heard is complaints about publishers. On the upside, I've also heard a lot of raves about how wonderful some publishers are as well.

   Whether you're looking for a publisher to contract your baby to, edit for, or create covers for, you have to research the companies you're interested in. Talk to people that are involved with the company you're researching--authors, editors AND cover artists if possible.

   Buy a few books you're interested in, and look at the stories themselves objectively; the formatting, editing, and the covers. Can you see this company giving you what you want? Can you see handing your baby over into their keeping and releasing it to the general public? Are the books you've bought error-free and pleasing to the eye, as well as good, complete stories that transport you into their worlds?

   Talk to the authors that are involved in the companies that you're interested in, privately. The easiest way to do this, if you don't know them, is to join their Yahoo group, or post to their blog asking to have them email you privately because you're interested in one of their publishers and would like some information that isn't for the general public. If they email you and answer your general inquiries, ask them to pass on your email address to their editor and cover artist for company information as well.

   Here's an example of a problem I've had: I was contracted as both a cover artist and an editor to a publishing company for a few years, and without an explanation, I was removed from the business Yahoo groups. I've been waiting for an official letter from said company dissolving my artist and editing contracts, have been for almost 3 months now, and still have yet to see anything.

   There is an artist with that same company that has been with them since May of this year, and has yet to see a single statement of earnings or a royalty cheque for the covers she's created.

   Are either of these situations professional treatment?

   The moral of this story is, research, research, research. Talk to as many people as possible, then make your decision as to whether you want to be associated with a particular company/ies.

   I have been involved with Aspen Mountain Press since it was nothing more than an idea of the owner, and I've never been happier to be associated with a company more. AMP treats not only their authors with respect and caring,  they're there for them to offer help and/or advice if needed, they're also there for their staff. Its a rare thing to have a company that feels like family, but Sandy Hicks has managed it, with help from our authors and staff. We've grown over 500% since we opened, and the growth is steadily increasing. Aspen Mountain Press has a wonderful reputation in the publishing world, and we are always aiming towards not only keeping it, but making it better.

   Well, enough blogging  its time to get back to work. I'm doing final edits on a new book coming out by Lena Austin, and if you're interested in incredible characters, laugh out loud humor, and an adventure into the seven levels of Hell, you're gonna love it.