Amber Quill Press--Building the Future
By Barbara Clark and Josephine Piraneo
On October 1, 2002, a new epublisher, Amber Quill Press, LLC, opened its cyber doors only three months after a small group of authors and editors idly speculated about the dream of starting a new epublishing company.
As award-winning author, Charlotte Boyett-Compo said, "In a business that can be cruel and heartless, where scam artists prey on the naive and hopeful, where dreams are shattered with the arrival of a form letter saying, "Thanks, but no thanks", a group of authors and editors--each with their own share of shattered dreams and broken promises--came together for the benefit of one another.
Best-selling authors in their own right, talented editors, well-respected graphic artists, and knowledgeable technicians, they knew their own self worth. Having left their former epublisher, they were offered myriad opportunities to contract with well-respected epublishing houses, but instead chose a route that would bond them together in a strong, cohesive unit.
Each of them brought to the table diverse talents, a strong determination to succeed, and an iron-hard desire to help one another create a publishing house where authors are treated fairly, professionally and truthfully.
Thus was born Amber Quill Press.
Organizing the company and setting all the essential functions in place grew at an astonishing pace. Problems were hashed out logically and thoroughly. Each member of the staff felt free to give his or her opinion. When differences in solutions arose, people listened.
When the inevitable problems of setting up an epublisher threatened to stop progress, one of the staff would take the extra time to find a solution. Or, in some cases, a person who had just joined the company would be the one who had the exact necessary knowledge and skills.
Author, Karin Story said, "I love that when the going gets tough, we all can feel comfortable openly venting our concerns and opinions, and then as a group we buckle down and come up with solutions. Do you know how rare that is?? I'm so incredibly proud and honored to be a part of this company."
Marketing Coordinator and Managing Editor, EJ Gilmer added, "I heartily echo Karin's sentiments on this. Instead of every question a person asks disintegrating into I agree/I disagree discussions that go nowhere, this group puts their brain power to finding a solution."
In other words, as author Catherine Snodgrass stated, "We find solutions, we don't make excuses. That's the way real business is done. We are all professionals. And it also helps that we truly care not only about this company, but about each other. We are a tight-knit collaboration of people, even though some of us have never met. I am in awe of the Powers that brought us together and continue to guide us as we stumble along."
In fact, the cohesiveness of the group is what makes this company so unique. One Senior Staff member said, "We have been through the crucible, but the fire made us stronger and more determined to do it the right way."
When you visit the web site, http://amberquill.com, and read the excerpts and reviews, the high quality of the writing becomes apparent. For example, if you total the outstanding reviews, and the Finalist positions and Awards earned by the twelve launch books, you have:
- 4 Star reviews ~ 13
- 4.5 Star reviews ~ 10
- 5 Star reviews ~ 15
- Finalist ~ 13
- Awards ~ 7 including SimeGen Reviewer's Choice awards, the Gold Medal Award for an "instant classic," the Orange Rose Award, and others. All told, these twelve books represent fifty-eight commendations for excellence in writing.
In the succeeding months, the books offered for sale will continue to reflect the same high quality.
A look at the online catalogue, http://amberquill.com/catalogue.html, will show the wide range of genre and cross-genre books at Amber Quill Press, which includes a growing selection of nonfiction. In addition, the company offers free short stories to download, and free wallpaper for your computer screen.
At Amber Quill, books are offered in print and in several download formats--.html, .pdf, .lit.
Another indication of the reputation for quality earned by the staff and authors is shown by the response of reviewers. Where most publishers have to work hard to gain the interest of review sites, queries by JennaKay Francis, Customer Service Director/ Distribution Manager, have been met with quick and warm responses. In fact, AQP is in the unique position of having reviewers come to Ms. Francis. Beth Anderson, author, expressed it this way, "You know, Jenna, this news about review sites is *really* astonishing, and it says an awful lot about the people in this publishing house. You usually have to scrounge and beg for reviews, and to have them agree to do all of ours is nothing short of MAGIC."
What does the future hold? Judging by early sales, pre-orders, a publishing schedule already filled into 2004, and the expertise of a guru Marketing Consultant, AQP is a company looking ahead to a bright future.
The Mission Statement sums up the ideas, ideals, and drive for perfection which influences every facet of the company:
At Amber Quill Press, LLC, our mission is twofold and simple . . .
1) To provide quality books for our devoted readers.2) To aggressively market those books to the public.
The best we have to offer will truly be The Gold Standard in Publishing.
--Copyright (c) 2002, Barbara Clark and Josephine Piraneo
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