• Home
  • My Poetry Book
  • My Novel
  • My Podcast
    • Speaking
    • Transcripts
    • Podcast Press Kit
    • Podcast Guests
    • Solo Seasons >
      • Constellations and Dreams Series
  • My Art
    • My Portfolio
    • Surface Pattern Designs >
      • Ladybug Hug
      • Blueberry Bramble
      • Key Lime
      • Strawberry Shortcake
    • My Art Scopes
  • Blog
  • Contact
Heather Randall

Living Under A Rock

1/12/2014

3 Comments

 
When I began building this site I already had an author website that was supplied via the publisher. I hated the site though. I didn't like the look and found the platform very limiting. 

I stopped by the old site the other day and realized it was shut down. Weird letters and coding filled the screen and all of my content was gone. I hopped over to the WinePress site to jump on their CoCaptain message system and notify them that there was a problem. 

Yup, I'd been living under a rock.

I just read the entire blog of Athena Dean. Athena was the acquisition's editor at WinePress who approved my book for their publishing service. 

When I contacted WinePress back in 2010 I had already shopped many POD publishers. This was my plan B after over a year spent trying to land a traditional publisher.

Before that, I had a "Christian agent" who took plenty of cash, but never did a thing. 

When I found WinePress I was skeptical from that earlier experience and did not want to be scammed again.

Yet, I had an urgency about publication, not because of my own ambition, but because of a true heart to reach people with my story's message. 

I didn't know anything going on behind the scenes with WinePress. Had I known what I know now, I would not have chosen them for my work. 

I cried and screamed at my computer screen as I read Athena's complete account. 

Not only have I not received royalties this year, I have not ever been notified that there was the slightest problem with WinePress.

Everything was going so well with them (I believed) that I even requested permission to advertise my business on their website, further aligning myself with a mess I knew nothing about. 

One of my most horrifying realizations was that Malcolm Fraser, a WinePress employee whom I had worked with, had been convicted of child rape. 

I was a victim of sexual abuse in my childhood and was raped at age 18. These are events in my life that I don't talk much about. They still hurt and I haven't sorted them out enough to help anyone with my baggage yet. I tackle these aspects of my past very abstractly through my writing, examining the reality that bad things happen, but God is biggger. I know His healing.  I've felt His strength equipping me to keep moving-- but I'm not all the way there yet. 

It breaks my heart that a child was hurt. I'm sick to think that one cent of my money may have funded him or his cult. 

I will be researching how to terminate my relationship with WinePress and further the production of When Chicks Hatch through another, more reputable publisher.

Please pray for the children, families, employees and authors effected by the actions of these individuals and the controversy produced by them. 

Forgive my ignorance. 
 
3 Comments
Cindy Scinto link
1/20/2014 04:50:25 am

You are not ignorant. You trusted these people like many others did. They are crafty at hiding the truth and distorting the facts. I have never encountered such evil people in my life. It was if I was dealing with satan himself. Bless you for posting here freely.

Reply
malcolm link
1/20/2014 05:07:55 am

Good post, you are very courageous.

Reply
g. S. Wilt
9/14/2020 08:15:50 am

Heather... I’m so sorry that happened to you.
Please know that a ‘legitimate’ Christian Lit Agent NEVER asks the writer/author for a penny. NEVER.
Find a REAL Lit Agent and sign a Contact before you sign a publish any other material.
*Know the *value* of your work!
Abba Father bless your efforts.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, . . ."  Colossians 3:23
  • Home
  • My Poetry Book
  • My Novel
  • My Podcast
    • Speaking
    • Transcripts
    • Podcast Press Kit
    • Podcast Guests
    • Solo Seasons >
      • Constellations and Dreams Series
  • My Art
    • My Portfolio
    • Surface Pattern Designs >
      • Ladybug Hug
      • Blueberry Bramble
      • Key Lime
      • Strawberry Shortcake
    • My Art Scopes
  • Blog
  • Contact