To recap...after making a number of rather controversial statements about my involvement, which were not accurate, there were several emails exchanged which resulted finally in my agreeing to give Mongoose a second chance. The main concerns were that a) information given to the fans should be accurate, b) the books should be canonical, and c) the level of writing on the books had to be consistent with what's gone before. To be fair they said they would work within the guidelines they were given.
I made it very clear that I did not want any money off the deal, no fees for myself, the purpose was to ensure the quality of the books.
The manuscripts came in on the books currently in progress, and unfortunately the level of writing is at very best amateurish, on a level somewhat below what one would find on the average fan-fiction website. In some cases the manuscripts had net handles not even actual names, they were unprofessionally put together and edited, and the writing is just not there. This is not the sort of thing that can be easily corrected with just some notes or asking for re-dos. They haven't done much publishing in the area of fiction previous to this time, and my feeling is that as well-intentioned as they might be, they don't really have the chops when it comes to fiction. And their statements on their website are again somewhat overstating the situation and not being entirely accurate in the projects and processes being announced.
So having given a second chance to this process, and again as well intentioned as they may be, my sense is that this is going to be a case of diminishing returns. Fiction is a far more subjective field than putting together reference books, and you really have to trust the tastes and perspective of your editorial staff, which for me, subjectively, isn't here. So I've stepped back and said I really can't be a part of this process because I can't endorse something if I don't think the quality is going to be there. So it's between them and WB at this point.
JMS
I made it very clear that I did not want any money off the deal, no fees for myself, the purpose was to ensure the quality of the books.
The manuscripts came in on the books currently in progress, and unfortunately the level of writing is at very best amateurish, on a level somewhat below what one would find on the average fan-fiction website. In some cases the manuscripts had net handles not even actual names, they were unprofessionally put together and edited, and the writing is just not there. This is not the sort of thing that can be easily corrected with just some notes or asking for re-dos. They haven't done much publishing in the area of fiction previous to this time, and my feeling is that as well-intentioned as they might be, they don't really have the chops when it comes to fiction. And their statements on their website are again somewhat overstating the situation and not being entirely accurate in the projects and processes being announced.
So having given a second chance to this process, and again as well intentioned as they may be, my sense is that this is going to be a case of diminishing returns. Fiction is a far more subjective field than putting together reference books, and you really have to trust the tastes and perspective of your editorial staff, which for me, subjectively, isn't here. So I've stepped back and said I really can't be a part of this process because I can't endorse something if I don't think the quality is going to be there. So it's between them and WB at this point.
JMS
