tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post7196997871073657500..comments2023-11-29T04:14:24.973-08:00Comments on Simon Bestwick: Spectral PressSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10858899715313108981noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-25471041296861665562023-06-14T01:28:00.733-07:002023-06-14T01:28:00.733-07:00I appreciate your patience with me during difficul...I appreciate your patience with me during difficult times. It means a lot to me that you understand. Check out this profile <a href="https://participa.gencat.cat/profiles/hue-test/activity" rel="nofollow">Hue Test</a>. As a result, it provides valuable insight into a person's color discrimination abilities and helps determine their suitability for color-related jobs.James J Burkhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10974176738714076858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-28957475292933459482023-03-20T04:20:56.369-07:002023-03-20T04:20:56.369-07:00Your article was interesting and well-written. I a...Your article was interesting and well-written. I appreciate you making the subject engaging. This profile of <a href="https://www.polywork.com/cpstest_5second" rel="nofollow">5 Second CPS Test</a> is helpful. Anybody looking to enhance their mouse abilities should play this game.<br />Kristina Dunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00799894189629776395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-78905086613302855942017-11-12T06:58:06.570-08:002017-11-12T06:58:06.570-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.AshDevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13866462070360159258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-85178741833841363522016-10-26T11:01:54.558-07:002016-10-26T11:01:54.558-07:00Thanks Amy. I'm not sure what happened there, ...Thanks Amy. I'm not sure what happened there, but the whole Mangerghast site is now menswear mail order! If I find a working link to Greg's account I'll post it.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10858899715313108981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-17900233874112952082016-10-25T14:01:41.066-07:002016-10-25T14:01:41.066-07:00Just to let you know that the link for Greg James&...Just to let you know that the link for Greg James' account - http://www.manderghastpress.co.uk/?p=252 leads to a menswear mail order site.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08834552408942095433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-73396890001935989202016-02-06T04:46:35.278-08:002016-02-06T04:46:35.278-08:00I was checking my Paypal account and realised that...I was checking my Paypal account and realised that I had made the payment for the two installments for the Kneale book from my Paypal account. Will raise a dispute and see where it gets me.<br /><br />I listened to Brian Keene's podcast (which is incidentally very good and I am now a subscriber - so that's one good thing that has come out of this) and I'll admit that I had no idea that small publishers are in such a precarious state and seem to live hand to mouth.<br /><br />What is ironic us that SMJ was doing so many things very well and it's a shame that he didn;t focus as much on the commercials as he should have as the business model starts to look alarmingly like a Ponzi scheme.AshDevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13866462070360159258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-26521561334635146732016-02-03T04:17:04.266-08:002016-02-03T04:17:04.266-08:00Thanks for this explanation. I had paid in full fo...Thanks for this explanation. I had paid in full for the HB edition of the Kneale book and Im now just writing it off as there is zero chance of the money being refunded or the book being published.AshDevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13866462070360159258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-63240694709484794072016-02-03T02:15:18.665-08:002016-02-03T02:15:18.665-08:00Also - when I would periodically chase up progress...Also - when I would periodically chase up progress there always seemed to be a series of excuses - ill health/printers going bust - I should have seen the warning signs ages agoAshDevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13866462070360159258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-88267042333572478852016-02-02T22:53:21.786-08:002016-02-02T22:53:21.786-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.AshDevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13866462070360159258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-1157942937675804532016-01-28T10:43:34.248-08:002016-01-28T10:43:34.248-08:00Interesting read, Simon, ta. I've been so busy...Interesting read, Simon, ta. I've been so busy with work that I'd missed a lot of this... I'm actually still owed a h/b version of Darker Terrors, I wasn't aware it had been produced yet so have just sat back until now. Obviously, it's a drop in the ocean compared to others.Phil Lunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03259584224973209673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-64902307881083584942016-01-22T16:01:07.201-08:002016-01-22T16:01:07.201-08:00The reason why small press squabbles are so horrib...The reason why small press squabbles are so horribly vicious and ugly is because the stakes are so very, very small. Christopher Richard Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13674930229121343061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-16694574318755291172016-01-16T06:12:41.257-08:002016-01-16T06:12:41.257-08:00Thanks for the link to the podcast, Simon. We'...Thanks for the link to the podcast, Simon. We'll be discussing this more on next week's episode, as well.Keenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00247352977856345320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-24508333709404768892016-01-15T13:26:14.335-08:002016-01-15T13:26:14.335-08:00I think the way you have tried to perceive me (Gar...I think the way you have tried to perceive me (Gary Compton) is a joke. SMJ has completely made a mess of things, no one disagrees. I for that matter am proud of my failures and my successes. Remember, a man who do nothing never make any mistake!<br /><br />I step in to help and get targeted. Why actually I bother is beyond me. Ooh yes I remember, helping a mate who fucked up and help some fellow authors, and customers get their money back. Bad me!<br /><br />I seem to remember some of your posts calling the Tories. I paraphrase. "A bunch of bigoted cunts looking after their own, taking peoples livelihoods away and leaving people vulnerable."<br /><br />Terrible thing to do. Those Tories are so without emotion. All they think about is themselves! Well this Tory is trying to help someone you held in such high esteem you thought he was worthy of publishing your books. Yes he has made mistakes, massive ones so what happened to the we're all comrades thing you support with so much vigour. He has said he will put right the mistakes!<br /><br />There is no doubt Spectral authors have been messed about and not been paid, no contracts, paperwork or records.<br /><br />I have had nothing to do with that. Just trying to help. In the emotion of being attacked myself I lost it a couple of times - so what, I am human!<br /><br />Because I have said I will help SMJ, I will not step back from that!<br /><br />Despite your link to TBP's accounts which I have answered on Theresa Derwin's page. The press has had a magnificent 31st Jan 2015 to date accounting period. Ask some of the authors who have had 4 figure quarterly sums.<br /><br />I only blocked Cate because of you. No disrespect but I wasn't interested in reading what you had to say.<br /><br />Anyway, I wish you well and look forward to meeting you at Fantasycon. I will even buy you a pint. <br /><br />Regards Gary.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15229953455027893911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-34259342521249842602016-01-15T13:02:49.209-08:002016-01-15T13:02:49.209-08:00I've been trying to follow developments on Fac...I've been trying to follow developments on Facebook, but it's not been easy, so thank you for posting a rundown of what's happened here. I signed up for a Spectral Press chapbook subscription in July 2014. I have received one chapbook. I pre-ordered six books; I received one, received a refund for another last week, and I am now trying to get my money back for the other four. <br /><br />I did as instructed on the Facebook page - I sent an email to Gary Compton. Five days passed and I heard nothing. I sent another email. I received a response to that one, it says: <br /><br />'First of all. I didnt make this problem or is it my responsibility to redress it. I am trying to help as Simon's. Spectral as it was, has run out of money. Tickety Boo press has agreed to take over a few titles and donate the profits to Simon's debts.<br /><br />Please raise a claim with Paypal or if no good, send your claim into spectral@ticketyboopress.co.uk'<br /><br />Paypal won't refund my money; I paid for the pre-orders a long time ago. So, I have done as Gary Compton asked. I have sent the exact same email to him at the Ticketyboo email address. But given what I've read online, I don't think I'm going to get very far.<br /><br />I truly feel for the writers who haven't been paid for their work. It's not as if it's a profession that pays terribly well in the first place for the most part. The exchanges have truly shocked me. I sincerely hope that all involved get something of what they're owed. It's a terrible business.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-50280369961475825912016-01-15T08:06:08.791-08:002016-01-15T08:06:08.791-08:00It is also worth noting that both GC and another d...It is also worth noting that both GC and another director who I assume is his wife resigned in February, probably for legal reasons due to his bankrupcy. TBP is now in his daughters name only so anyone thinking of signing with them needs to check very carefully that the contract is legally binding. It is worrying that GC has publically stated having a meeting with the other directors to discuss how to help the situation when there is only one director.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616126531069842970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-83380117192900658722016-01-15T08:06:02.214-08:002016-01-15T08:06:02.214-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616126531069842970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652470563521952606.post-42498396910744625172016-01-15T06:19:20.648-08:002016-01-15T06:19:20.648-08:00Wow - that has certainly rebalanced my understandi...Wow - that has certainly rebalanced my understanding of the situation, which had largely been based on SMJ's Facebook page.<br /><br />In 2013 I told SMJ to invoice my company £100 for 'consultancy' as a response to the unexpected tax crisis. I'm afraid that at this point I can't bring myself to support the GoFundMe campaign, which seems to be asking for money largely from those people who have already lost money, and which seems to show that lessons haven't been learned (like why wasn't Spectral operated as a limited company, with an accountant to help out?).<br /><br />I do hope that that everyone gets out of this in one piece, and have great sympathy for SMJ as a fellow small business owner - but no-one should be accused of driving someone towards suicide for simply asking for a contract to be honoured.Simon Applebyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00666547186198628685noreply@blogger.com