The Change in Publishing

Now that I'm an official Rose in The Wild Rose Press Garden, I've been thinking more about how publishing has changed and continues to change.

First I have to say that I am impressed with the professionalism of this publisher and the fact that the editors go out of their way to assist their writers. I don't feel like a small cog in a large wheel. I've been made to feel welcomed and important.

That's one of the differences I've personally noted. I was told by my TWRP editor that if I hadn't heard anything from her in 2 months, to email her. I hadn't heard, so I emailed her and with a few days, they had accepted my novella. What a difference from the Berkley editor who requested my paranormal mystery manuscript and forgot about me and it, even ignoring two emails after a year.

Now I'm wondering if the "new" publishing houses: TWRP, Ellora's Cave, etc - the ones that start with pdf versions of a book and then go to print - are the wave of the future. Small, independent publishers that don't have to worry about immediate distribution, returns from bookstores, etc. These publishers seem to concentrate on Romance; however, that is the largest market.

If this is the beginning of a New Era in Publishing, I'm thrilled to be a part of it.
I've tried the "New York House" too many times and have heard nothing from editors who I met at conferences and who requested a partial or even a full manuscript. That's not only rude but poor business practices. Would I still want Elizabeth Peacock and the Body on Abby Road to be a Berkley book? Oh, course. Do I think that will ever happen? Doubful.

In the meantime, I will write for and submit to TWRP and EC.
My time is valuable and I can't wait years for an editor's rejection - or acceptance.