We’ve been asked by a friend as far afield as Texas how often Dickens, or Conan Doyle, serialized their stories, and we’re afraid we don’t know. Bi-monthly, perhaps, but it’s probably on Wikepedia. But frequency of Dragon Posts depend a lot on you, the reader, and your own hunger for story, and desire to engage directly. As indeed does Phoenix Ark, to build a new, defiant publisher, in the face of much of the pulp thrown out, in the name of culture, story or adventure. We swallow so much of it, because publishers pay for space and knock out competition. As for dragons coming everyone’s way, and your thoughts on a story, you have to be in it to win it, so do join in
Category Archives: Publishing
Dragons in Dens and joining the story
Those who know the Brit tv addiction Dragon’s Den, and interested in the baby Phoenix, will be delighted to know that another investor hopped on board today. He was convinced that conventional publishers are shooting themselves in the foot, by their aggression and over control, that drives out the talent in the end. That stories too, one day, will come from the source. Bravo!
Talking of dragons, come and join Phoenix Ark for a brand new adventure, free. If Charles Dickens or Conan Doyle could create stories, as they lived their lives, and hoped to grip the reader as they were serialised, so we hope to as well. Click on DRAGON POST, in the pages on the top right, or if you are just on this page, click Pheonix Ark Blog right at the top, and be the first to join a story, as it unfolds! It is raw, largely unedited, was written and posted immediately, and as a kind of storytelling Masterclass, will only be changed as later bits of the story fall into place. Please send in your approval, horror, worries or suggestions for where you want it to go, although the author can promise nothing about what he finds out on the fiery journey. Or try the link
Filed under Publishing, The Phoenix Story
Blogging, publishing, advertising or selling out?
What’s the difference between a blog and ‘real publishing’? Some friends say they’d rather suck lemons than read blogs, and wonder why so many people think their lives, or their words, so interesting or important. After having my voice so distorted, I’m rather on the side of freedom of speech, as a very first principle, and the best blogs are actually like books, or little self publishing satelites. Then comes any confusion here between a private blog, and a new publishing website. You assume any publisher bringing out books is effectively plugging its own choices, although Phoenix Ark have not yet started trading, but the reason for a blog/website is not only expense, but a publisher led by its artist and creatives, founded for and with respect for authors. So too an attempt to kick start a debate, or certainly a conversation among readers, writers, independent publishers, even the giants, about freedom, books, quality and the market place. Phoenix Ark hope as many as possible will join, young and old, corporate or independent. In time the founder’s ‘blogging’ voice will drop away, and let all our books and authors speak for themselves, but there’s a vital debate to be had. Is the world publishing too much, is quality coming to the front, how are writers protected in a cut-throat and often cynical environment, and does the little guy, or the little publisher, have a chance inside the machine, with booksellers, reps and distributors, to reach its readers and survive commericially? The books and stories are what count, vitally, but perhaps only time will tell if Phoenixes go up in flames, although those mythical beasts, in the best sense, always have the especially persistent and magical talent of rising from the ashes and spreading their wings!
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Filed under Publishing
No Longer The Lonely Phoenix!
Thank you. Nearly a 100 visits yesterday, which ideally, after a few weeks, would make 700 a week, 35,000 a year, just on current standing.Who knows what we can achieve? After dreaming a publisher into life in London and Uist, that speaks from the heart and for a community of writers, maybe you should tell us how we can make a publishing website come alive, but emails of support from readers have been hugely inspiring.
Filed under Publishing, The Phoenix Story
Could Shakespeare Spell?!
When pedants, with respect to careful editors of course, jump on my writing head over some sometimes wonky spelling, my immediate reposte is ‘look at Shakespeare’s spelling’. But then of course, with language in such transition, both aurally and in terms of spelling – I remember some schooltime something about ‘the great vowel shift’- perhaps that space before and beyond the OED was vital to a poet. Perhaps it’s something about the Science/’God’ debate too, today’s fracturing and specialisation of consciousness even, that means the return of a mind and voice like that, a psyche like that, is impossible. There is something about the Shakespearian imagination that itself generates language, through story and feeling, which is why we’ve quoted him in The Poet’s Sweatshop. Do forgive us for blog mistakes, it will be properly edited too, but the voice comes first.
Filed under Poetry, Publishing, The Phoenix Story
Indies and Indians
Should Independent publishers, especially wanting to step out of their niche boxes, link up again to try and compete with giants, and create the intelligent muscle to find and back startling authors, cut their overheads and make some real noise? Is that a well tested pipe dream in an industry shuddering over mass competition in digital markets? Very nice to hear from a talented Independent in London on our logo though, who I’ll name and champion if they wink at Phoenix:
“I would say the top left as well, notably because it would stand complete on a spine. Checking Firebird’s logo, it does not seem so close as to cause confusion or accusations of plagiarism.
If it is reminiscent of anything, I would say it has some fascist connotation. But then not all who quote Nietzsche are fascists, of course..!”
We’ve tried to reply in the Logo question, but are currently enormously busy!
Filed under Publishing, The Phoenix Story
PHOENIX ARK PRESS RELEASE
BEST SELLING FANTASY AUTHOR TURNS HIS BACK ON CORPORATE PUBLISHERS: Phoenix Ark MD and established author David Clement-Davies says “It’s time the true value of story, grounded in the protection and nurturing of talented writers, is brought to the forefront in publishing once again. In my experience publishers are too political, hide their strategies far too much from their authors, and follow quick sales, above building talent and finding quality. Publishing is fracturing everywhere, and though keeping an eye on outlets, publishers need to return to the authority of the word, and of the author. Essentially to get right back to basics, with a smaller scale vision that cares both about people, and the tremendous power of story.” Phoenix Ark are building their strategy in the public eye, and creating a talented community in London, who can also agent for each other.
Filed under Childrens Books, Publishing, The Phoenix Story, Young Adult
The Story of a Publisher
For those who’ve watched the first steps of a young publisher, perhaps you’ve shared some of the story already. But it’s time to concentrate on the books and authors alone, and the work produced. That’s all a reading public are really interested in, and can be expected to be, perhaps; the value, entertainment or meaning of those. I’ve protected the privacy of the individuals at Abrams and Amulet, though completely unprotected myself by them, while saying loudly what I think of them. Now it’s time to get on with those stories, with just as much love, passion, and sometimes indignation, so please watch this space, and come along with a storyteller’s publisher, built by and for writers and artists. DCD
Filed under Publishing, The Phoenix Story
Authors and publishers – heroes or villains?
“The modern hero…cannot, indeed must not, wait for his community to caste off that slough of pride, fear, rationalized avarice, and sanctified misunderstanding. ‘Live’ Nietsche says, ‘as though the day were here.’ It is not society that is to guide and save the creative hero, but precisely the reverse. And so every one of us shares the supreme ordeal – carries the cross of the redeemer – not in the bright moments of his tribes great victories, but in the silences of his personal despair.”
Joseph Campbell – The Hero with a Thousand Faces, quoted in an epigraph to Scream of the White Bears
Do we all think ourselves so heroic in those tribal victories, of wars and strong arming, of mutual fear and aggression, let alone human contempt, the protection of our jobs and pockets of power, or is there something else that unites the world again? Perhaps it just means reaching out in the dark.
Filed under Publishing, The Phoenix Story
Your View
“Scream of the White Bears may not reach America for a long time, but we’ve waited this long, so we can hold out longer. Animal fiction is a severely overlooked type of storytelling currently, and associated with exclusively children’s reading. There’s nothing wrong with youthful appeal, only that cross appeal becomes ruled out when people view it in an exclusive light. The animals involved are really mirrors into our own behavior and into our innermost struggles. Through the eyes of these creatures we can look at human nature in any number of ways. A prime example of the introspection offered is displayed by the pact made in The Sight. Larka, Kar and Fell all experience struggles facing responsibility, internal battles and acceptance of the challenges presented in the world around them. Through their unique relationships and conflicts, they express what it is to be human. Essentially, with a pact, they are one unit. Watching their resolution unfold over the course of these books has been a heartbreaking, liberating and wonderful experience. Truthfully these books are more meaningful than the frivolous and forgettable fare that publishing companies send into the mainstream these days, in the name of quick cash. Quite simply, they hit close to heart, these books are ‘real’.
Writers or non writers, may none of us ever be forced to lose our voices. Full speed ahead Phoenix Ark.” Fennec
Filed under Childrens Books, Publishing, The Phoenix Story, Young Adult
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