Plague Invasion, the anthology I put together last year, using works sent to me from all around the world, as well as my own country of Australia, has been given back to me by the publisher I gave it to, unpublished, and instead of being sad or upset, I am happy!
I spoke with Michael Bollen, from Wakefield Press today, and while he said it was a good anthology, he would not be able to have it ready to be launched in July, for the Gawler and Adelaide Plains Festival of Words (Recovery). In the face of these crazy Covid times, the publishing would is running hot, with many people writing books, and wanting to be published.
So I am both sad the anthology won’t be published by Wakefield Press, but happy to have this ‘baby’ back in my hands, to self publish book myself! It’s been a while since I looked at what I’d said about the terms for publishing this anthology, so I’m going to have to go back and look at it all. I’ll be sending out a form to all of the people whose work I’ve accepted, which will happen I expect, in late March.
So if April comes around, and I haven’t emailed you an author agreement form please contact me on my email address, kittycordo@gmail.com
This doesn’t feel like a rejection to me, it feels like getting my child back, after they’ve been away on a holiday! I have enough pieces for this Anthology to be a fine book as it is right now, so won’t be accepting any new works for Plague Invasion. But if this is a successful endeavour, there may well be a new anthology once this one is launched, sold, loved, and admired!
I have never done such a large project, and while I am thrilled with how this book will likely look, it’s still a very new thing for me, but I saw the time for this anthology was now, and many people wanted to be involved in such a project. The Covid issue has twists and turns, good, and bad, and this process of getting the anthology has been a bit like that too.
But the anthology will happen, and will be launched at the Festival in 2021, and I am so glad. Now, to get onto the artist for the front cover again, and see what he comes up with!
Carolyn Cordon - Creative 
I think this is a positive turn, and that coming as someone working on her own Anthology! I’m not sure whether to seek a publisher for my project, or go straight down the self-publishing route. I don’t think I would want to wait around for decisions from publishers!
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When the work is published by a publisher, they know all about the marketing side of things, and have people there who specialise in such things.
But I eager to learn more about these things!
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it’s both sad and glad news, Carolyn; either way I know you will make sure the anthology will be published and if that is part of a Gawler Festival all the better 🙂
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Thanks John.knowing Michael Bollen would probably have published the collection because it was a good book, and he’s sorry he’s so snowed under with books they’re publishing, and couldn’t get to work on this book for ages, well that’s good to know.
I’m looking forward to getting on with it now, I have works still to do!
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Rejection always stings, but there is something freeing in suddenly realizing that the fate of a certain work lies once more in your hands! What an exciting time (:
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Yes, that’s how it feels for me, for sure!
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