kinzel: (Default)
kinzel ([personal profile] kinzel) wrote2007-04-23 07:49 pm
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MEISHA MERLIN 1996 -2007

Dear Friends of Liad and all the ships at sea --

the unsigned note below can be found on the Meisha Merlin website, if you happen to run a browser that plays nice with that inelegant rotating news thingy.

* * * * * *

LATEST NEWS:

Dear Fans,

I am sorry to say that due to major distribution problems Meisha
Merlin Publishing, Inc. will be closing their doors in May 2007. Both
Kevin and I along with the entire staff here at Meisha Merlin want to
thank all our fans, customers, authors, & artist for your support
over the past eleven years. We are sorry to have to do this, but
events beyond our control have forced us to make this decision.


ATTN: For those of you who have purchased The Virginia Edition. The
Robert A. & Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust has worked out an agreement
to continue publishing The Virginia Edition. You can expect a letter
from them within the very near future & volume seven will be arriving
to you in late May or early June.


* * * * * *


Most of you knew this or suspected...

[identity profile] oneminutemonkey.livejournal.com 2007-04-23 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I truly am sorry to hear this, as Meisha Merlin has allowed me to keep up with some wonderful writers, especially John Morrissey (the Kedrigern Chronicles), Jody Lynn Nye (Mythology 101), Robert Aspirin (the MYTH books), and of course the Liaden series.

I, like others, had heard rumors and/or suspected, but it's a real shame to see any publisher close their doors. I really hope their authors can find new homes.

[identity profile] jonquil.livejournal.com 2007-04-24 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
I feared that. I am sorry for your financial and professional loss; I am sorry for a press that brought me much pleasure.

Smaller Publishing Houses

(Anonymous) 2007-04-24 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
I often hear authors speak at Vroman's in Pasadena, a successful independent bookstore. I, too, fear for the career of any author's future in the "must be on the top 10 list in Week one or two" mentality of the large houses. That is why I think Fledgling is so important. If we, the fans, can help drive the engine, maybe we can help the mid list or small list author survive. Sigh...

Kelly
TC, CA

[identity profile] jelazakazone.livejournal.com 2007-04-24 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
Aw man. That is terribly sad:(

[identity profile] gryphonlsb.livejournal.com 2007-04-24 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Oh no

Thats horrible

[identity profile] finnien.livejournal.com 2007-04-24 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
That's sad, for both the books I loved to read that they published, the authors I respect who published them, and for the people who ran it. I never met a person or a book associated with Meisha Merlin that I didn't like. 'Damn shame' doesn't quite do it justice, but that's all I can come up with at the moment. =(

[identity profile] green-knight.livejournal.com 2007-04-24 09:10 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry to hear that, particularly as it sounds that it's not the quality of the books or the interest of the readers that are to blame for this failure :-(

I hope the Liaden Universe finds a good new home.