184 Comments
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Christie Fisher's avatar

Congratulations...now we just need a re-release..."Tom's Version"

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Fi Cooper's avatar

Congratulations! How is it living in a book warehouse?

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thanks Fi. Our bungalow now smells strongly of new books, instead of slightly of old books. And there's very little room to dance.

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Linda Fairchild's avatar

I just cleared out "old inventory" from Windgate Press. Any chance that we can talk? My sales model is not about "inventory". Thus spake The Cat.

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John K's avatar

Having the rights to your books must put you in a pretty good position. Best wishes with your choice of publisher. I strongly suspect it’s going to all work out as your books are amazing and more people need to know about them and enjoy them.

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Tom Cox's avatar

Very kind of you to say this, John.

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Linda Fairchild's avatar

Grant of Rights is key.

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Terri Jensen's avatar

This is great news, Tom, congratulations! I recently finished Ring the Hill. So so good.

I love the déjà-vu feeling that comes with having read an excerpt or backstory from one of your books on Substack and then coming across the story in full context in the book…it adds a kind of familiarity that is really fun to experience! I know it will be the same with EWSY and I look forward to its publication.

I wanted to comment, too, on the substantial quality of these paperbacks…they are so pleasing to hold and read. May they all find good homes!

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thank you, Terri. Yes, that was a reason I felt positive about working with Unbound before everything went wrong: the feel and look of the books was so lovely. Even better during the early days, when they put endpapers on the first edition hardbacks of Yokel, RTH and HTW.

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Jon Kiphart's avatar

I just tried logging into my account at Unbound and it just kicks back with 'Wrong Password', though I'm positive what I'm using is correct. They offer no 'Reset Password' option when this happens, so it sure looks like they're locking the doors, turning off the lights, and making off with our money.

Too bad there's no digital option for a 'torches and pitchforks' assault on their office.

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Janet's avatar

I managed to access my account yesterday. I’ve taken screenshots of my 2 outstanding pledges/orders…

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Suze's avatar

What a surprise. A company that offered you the best opportunity to publish your work turns out to be completely worthless and leaves you feeling bereft. You might as well have gone through Amazon. At least you would have known you were being conned.

So sorry for you, Tom. It’s a tough world out there 🥺

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Chantal's avatar

Wow, Tom. What a hassle that must've been but what an utterly cool thing to do. My guess is that many authors will not have done this (which is understandable), in the hopes that 'ensuring continuity for authors' isn't a complete lie. I really hope it isn't, but I must say that tiny sentence infuriated me because authors who've not been paid for almost a year can hardly be called 'continuity'. Also, I'll never understand why administration processes need to be so opaque, so convoluted. As recently as March 7, they lied about it, and a few days later the notice was up. As recently as March 14, they kept posting almost daily on social media (but not about the situation of course, and no answering questions). I have no sent an e-mail to wonderful Charles, Allister and the complete board of the 'restructuring' company to ask them if they might not contemplate being that one company in their branch of industry to understand that you CAN actually do your job but also still have open, clear and polite communication.

Meanwhile, I'll need to come up with an excuse to buy more Tom Cox books - I already have almost all of them in duplicate. ;-)

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Stacy Merrick's avatar

Congratulations, Tom! That's great to hear and what a huge step in the right direction. I'll be happily awaiting the publishing of EWSY and may all those boxes of your other wonderful books find good homes! (I know they will.)

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thanks Stacy!

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Catherine Archer-Wills's avatar

Congratulations, and strength to your arm (although your arms are probably quite a bit stronger anyway after shifting all those boxes). It's sickening when your trust is betrayed, and takes courage to take things into your own hands. I wish you every success going forward.

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June Girvin's avatar

I'm so pleased that things are working out for you. Although I'd be even more pleased if those b******s paid you what they owe.

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thanks June. Me too!

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Steve Haddon's avatar

GOOD NEWS: You've got the rights to your books back - and lots of books!

NOT SO GOOD: When a company goes out of business, and the "people in charge" set up a new company doing exactly the same thing. Their creditors, (including you), are left in the lurch and will almost certainly not get paid - and the "people in charge" walk away with no liabilities. No, it's not illegal - that's how Limited companies work in the UK - but it is very unfair.

ADVICE: Make sure the publisher(s) you are considering are solvent. You can - for free - check the state of a company's finances on Gov.uk. Can't remember the actual URL, but Google will get you there. And... I'm sure there are many bad things about Amazon/KDP, but there's one thing for sure: they're not going broke. I'd be interested to know why you didn't go that route.

FINALLY: Love your books and Substack. Hopefully, now this is all out of the way, it will free your mind to concentrate on what really matters: writing. Good luck.

P.S. [Yeah, had to do a P.S.] I really enjoyed your brief foray into politics a few posts back. I'm a US politics nerd and, IMHO, you nailed it. Give us some more. :-)

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Joan Sindall's avatar

Yay!!! Wonderful news - and Prof. Cardigan looks relaxed, as always. What a dear face. 💪🏼🐈

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Linda Louise “Tosca” Hueston's avatar

Professor Cardigan. :))))

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Fatarae's avatar

Congratulations!

So happy for you!

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thank you!

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Charleen's avatar

I couldn’t be more happy for you. Is it crazy if I want notebook in every color?? I have the blue and love it. 💙💙💙

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thanks Charleen. Not crazy at all! A perfectly natural desire.

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Camilla Maltas's avatar

Thank goodness you have your books back, Tom! Good luck with getting them all out to new homes.

To anyone pondering purchasing them: DO IT! They are all wonderful :D

And good luck with your new publisher! I'm really looking forward to reading EWSY when it comes out. I'm sure it will be just as excellent as all the rest <3

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thanks so much, Camilla!

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