Young Writers Society

BAD NEWS:
Today, my publisher dropped me because of my age! Can you believe it???!!! They loved my novel and had my manuscript in the process of publication, then when they discovered that I'm 17, they dropped me and my book. I'm sooo livid right now!!!

There are countless authors out there who are teens, tweens, and even children! I just do not understand why they dropped me because of my age, especially after my mother agreed to co-sign the contract!

Don't think this was the right place to post this but that sucks. Are you sure they dropped you because of your age? If they did then you shouldn't just let that pass. Its age discrimination, and I agree, there have been writer's younger than you. So that doesn't make sense. I wish you all the luck and I hope you find justice. (sorry for the lame-ness of that last sentence)

~Angel

Hmmm I'm not sure if this is the right place but at the same time I'm not sure where it would go! Oh, I'll just move it to writer's corner, I suppose.

What did they say in the rejection letter? It doesn't seem too ridiculous, since there are some laws on contracting minors and so forth...what publishing company was it, out of curiousity?

That's not fair


Get over there and bitchslap them until they get you published

That really sucks. And it may be illegal; start looking at your options.

Do you have an agent? Or they pick you up directly? And next time you speak to the pub, point out Eragon. (not comparing you, but geez, THAT got published).

~Annie

That's not fair I mean, it's hard to make contracts with teens due to all the laws around it, but after they accepted the manuscript.

And next time you speak to the pub, point out Eragon. (not comparing you, but geez, THAT got published).

Actually, it was self-published originally. When the publisher saw it, they hated it, but it was selling well.

Anything to make money, eh?

UPDATE:

My agent just got the president of a smaller publishing company which is based out of Kansas to take my manuscript. Their youngest three authors are ages 8,9, and 17, and the president wants a hard copy of manuscript immediately. I'm mailing it out first thing tomorrow.

Even though this publisher is smaller than the one I had, they allow the author to be more involved, pay generous royalties, and distribute both to online stores and in brick-and-mortar retailers.

Smaller is better than nothing at all...

Angel of Death wrote:Don't think this was the right place to post this but that sucks. Are you sure they dropped you because of your age? If they did then you shouldn't just let that pass. Its age discrimination, and I agree, there have been writer's younger than you. So that doesn't make sense. I wish you all the luck and I hope you find justice. (sorry for the lame-ness of that last sentence)

~Angel

I'm sure. They emailed me and said they couldn't hold anyone to a contract who was under age 18, regardless of whether or not a parent co-signed.

Suzanne wrote:Hmmm I'm not sure if this is the right place but at the same time I'm not sure where it would go! Oh, I'll just move it to writer's corner, I suppose.

What did they say in the rejection letter? It doesn't seem too ridiculous, since there are some laws on contracting minors and so forth...what publishing company was it, out of curiousity?

It was PublishAmerica. I know they have tons and tons of horrible reviews, but I know someone who got 2 books published by them and he was extremely happy with them.

Now I'm with AAPC through Ethan Ellenberg Agency.

Ah, Publish America?

They're not trust worthy anyway. I'm sorry to hear you got sucked into their vortex of lies! I'd rather be rejected by them anyway. You said "horrible reviews" but in truth it means they're a dirty company. Well, in some respects. Sure, you can get books published through them, but they probably won't be bought by anyone, no matter how good.


Good luck next time!

Ethan Ellenberg agency wanted to sign a contract with PublishAmerica? That doesn't make sense...the agency has a good reputation and I don't see how they, of all people, would be tricked into getting one of their authors with such a suspicious publisher.

You need to talk to your agent about that, pronto...

Well, at least you have your agent and an actualy publishing company. PublishAmerica...hehe...be very glad they rejected you. They would have taken your money and not sold your book anyway.

I'm glad you're with a better group.

Yup, I agree with everyone here.

Has the website died or something? Every time I try to get onto it says connection failed

But ye, all is good. Be sure to do some research on this group before you commit, however. I have suspicions on this agent of yours.

Oh...your agent actually signed you you PublishAmerica?

Get out of this. Now.