Call For Submissions/Manuscript Review From June-November

     While Mark McElligott has already begun promoting Random Thoughts From A Broken Mind before his impending book launch in June (radio appearances, a video shoot for Time Warner Cable and a promising invitation to host his own radio show), Doubt It Publishing is splitting focus to look for a promising writer to publish in 2012. 
     The submission period will run from June 1st to November 1st.  Doubt It Publishing is looking for a full length manuscript of fiction, non-fiction or poetry.  Genres include fiction, humor, horror, memoir, science fiction or suspense.  No romance or self-help, please.  If you're sending a poetry manuscript, please make sure that it's marketable material with previously published excerpts.  Doubt It focuses ONLY on authors who reside in the Buffalo area and surrounding suburbs.
     The final deadline for 2012 consideration is December 1st.  Please send a query, full manuscript (attachment) or sample chapter (attachment) to: bigwordsmailbag@yahoo.com.
     Mark's book was a refreshing and completely unexpected surprise.  I'm looking forward to seeing what other intriguing and exciting works Buffalo has to offer.  If you feel that your book has a 'wow' factor, please send it in.  If you're willing to actively promote your book, I'm willing to work around the clock to schedule dates and appearances.  Writing the book isn't the easy part, but promoting it isn't easier either.  Show me that you have the raw talent and the drive to put your book into the hands of a larger audience and Doubt It will publish, promote and stand behind your book and yours alone in 2012.
Sincerely,
Tom Waters
Publisher
Doubt It Publishing 

Spring Appearance Calendar For Mockery and Random Thoughts From A Broken Mind

While these appearances are far from final, here are the events we’re currently looking at for April through June.  When I add more dates, I’ll update this list.  Mark your calendars and get ready to laugh, folks!

Friday April 1st, 7 p.m. to midnight: Mockery Book Launch at Dee’s Firehouse, 4628 Broadway Ave., Depew 651-0711.  Reading and signing at 7 p.m. followed by a live performance by One Hot Minute (Red Hot Chili Peppers cover band) at 8 p.m.  First edition copies of Mockery by Tom Waters available for $15.

Saturday, April 16th, 7 p.m., Mockery Book Signing at Maryan’s, 4921 Broadway, Depew  683-0590.  Live musical performance by David Waters (Whiskey Suicide).

Tuesday, April 26th, 7:30 p.m.  Reading and Signing with author Tom Waters (Mockery) at the Lancaster Public Library, 5466 Broadway, Depew

Saturday, April 30th, 8 p.m. to midnight.  Tom’s Atomic Comic Giveaway! at Don’s Atomic Comics, 6354 Transit Rd., Depew 684-5981.  Buy a copy of Mockery by Tom Waters and get a free back issue.  Midnight madness discounts on graphic novels and collectibles.  Special Guests Josh Tonn (Costumed Crimefighter Comics, Stupid Funny Comics), Mark McElligott (Random Thoughts From A Broken Mind) and Kyle Kaczmarzcyk (The Red Eye, Pulp, Monster Matt’s Bad Jokes Volume I).

Saturday, May 7th, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Caz Coffee Café, 668 Abbott Rd., Buffalo 825-7806.  Reading and Signing with Tom Waters, author of the humor collection Mockery.

Thursday, May 19th, 7 p.m., Talking Leaves Books, 3158 Main St., Buffalo 837-8554.  Reading and Signing with Tom Waters, author of the humor collection Mockery.

Saturday, May 21st, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Mockery Book Reading and Signing at Stockman’s Tavern (9870 Transit Rd., Depew 688-9896) featuring Tom Waters with live music by musician Chris Squier.

Saturday, June 11th, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Caz Coffee Café, 668 Abbott Rd., Buffalo 825-7806. Reading and Signing with Mark McElligott, author of the humor collection Random Thoughts From A Broken Mind.

Sunday, June 26th, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Doubt It Publishing presents a book reading by Mark McElligott (Random Thoughts From A Broke Mind) and Tom Waters (Mockery) at Rust Belt Books (202 Allen St., Buffalo, 885-9535).  Admission is free, signed first editions of both books available.

Mockery Soft Launch & Doubt It Publishing Blow Out!

Okay gang,
     Are you ready for the big secret? I hope you’re sitting down (and why wouldn’t you be if you were at your computer?).

Here it is:
-Mockery, my ninth new collection of ONLY funny rants is actually available for purchase RIGHT NOW!

The book launch doesn’t happen until April Fool’s Day (7 p.m. at Dee’s Firehouse in Depew with live band One Hot Minute). Even the local press hasn’t gotten a complimentary copy yet! And I’m going to sweeten the pot on top of all this:

-All of my lulu.com titles will be 10% off until April 1st INCLUDING Mockery.

Slapstick & Superego and Breathing Room Volume I & II AND Mockery are all available for 10% off the cover price. If you order ANY or ALL of these books any time between now and April 1st, you save money, AND you can pick up Mockery for less than what I’ll be charging throughout the launch. Think of it as a huge, wet kiss for all the years that all of you have helped me make money with your continued support doing what I love.
There are some great things in store in the next four months, so a) if you live out of town or b) if you want to save money or c) if you’d rather not make the bar appearances because you’re giving up fried food, having fun or guzzling hooch for Lent, now’s a great time to scoop up some great books. Mockery is going to retail at $15 (my lowest price on a humor collection in over 5 years). You can buy it now for $13.49. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

To buy Mockery this very instant, click here: http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/mockery/15050885

To visit the entire Doubt It Publishing Shop on lulu.com and save on my last three titles,
click here: http://stores.lulu.com/tomwaters

     No gimmicks, no hustle. Please rate high when you visit each individual book. Three years ago I decided to publish two little poetry books on my own because I assumed they wouldn’t make any money. They made a decent amount of money for me, so I branched out. Like e.e. cummings, Allen Ginsberg and a score of other writers, I decided to go into the publishing business. Help me to turn this publishing house into a legitimate one.
     Thank you so much. Mockery is a knockout collection and it’s unlike any rant book I’ve released to date. I designed the book to mimic a standup comedy act with light jokes and quick rabbit punches at the beginning, big belly laughs in the middle and a soft, fuzzy feeling at the end. The flow and pacing are better than anything I’ve done to date. I really hope you like it.
So what are you waiting for? BUY MY NEW GODDAMNED BOOK ALREADY!
Start your engines,
Tom ‘literary prostitute’ Waters

Doubt It Publishing Author Agreement

     This is an exciting time for Doubt It Publishing.  As a writer, editor and publisher, I'm on the cusp of launching our first book with 2010 Author Of The Year Mark McElligott with his incredibly funny manuscript for Random Thoughts From A Broken Mind.  While we are both on the cusp of launching his book this spring, it occured to me that Doubt It has no standard boiler plate contract, so I had to whip one up. 

     After two standard publishers, I tried to come up with a contract that leaned towards the rights of the author.  I didn't found this company to gouge creators, I founded it to expose and promote new talent.  While we transition from Mark's breakout book into 2012, I drafted a contract that was author friendly and nothing more.  Doubt It Publishing is a publishing house founded by a writer for writers.  That's it.  Sure, I'd like to make money, but not at the expense of someone who spent more time on their brain child than me.  This draft is subject to change, but it will never change at the expense of my future writers.  I promise. 

                Doubt It Publishing Author Agreement

1.)  Doubt It Publishing retains copyrights to the manuscript itself.  The author retains all film, merchandising and other rights to his own work.  Doubt It Publishing is willing to manage the artist's work on their behalf.  In any case where a book is optioned for another medium, Doubt It Publishing retains 15% of all royalties.  While the book rights remains the sole property of Doubt It Publishing, any and all other rights (merchandising, film options, etc.) are entirely within the author's domain.

2.) The author has final decision on cover artwork, interior design and publicity posters.  Any additional expenses incurred for revisions lay solely with the author of the book.

3.)  15% of all book sale royalties (online, in-store and otherwise) belong to Doubt It Publishing.  As a publisher, marketing entity and publicist, 15% is due upon initial book launch and throughout the life of the book.  Any copies ordered through Doubt It Publishing will charge a 15% commission at time of order or upon receipt.  Doubt It Publishing will charge a flat 'at-cost' rate for all books ordered including the 15% commission.  This rate will not change regardless of distributor discounts on bulk orders.   

4.)  The author agrees to work with Doubt It Publishing for a calculated publicity campaign to promote said work including in-store promotions, radio appearances, signings and other events.

5.)  Any and all print, online or radio interviews must be condoned through Doubt It Publishing.  All media promotion needs to be approved through the publisher first.

6.)  Appearance fees, bookings or reading costs will be split evenly between the author and publisher.  As publisher and author, this is a tax deductible necessity.

7.)  Any and all complimentary copies for media review will be covered by the author.  Media book submissions, radio giveaways and any other promotional copies of the book are at the discretion and expense of the author.  Doubt It will never insist on promotional expenses for an author, but in the case of media reviews, radio promotions, etc., the author will pay for the cost of any and all books and deduct these books from their taxes at the end of each calendar year. 

8.)  Doubt It Publishing will make any and all accommodations to make a profit for each selected author and expose their work to a larger audience on a regional level. 

9.)  The author agrees to be available for readings, signings and media appearances with reasonable notice determined by both parties.

10.)  Any and all graphic design costs, promotional poster designs and interior layout design costs will be split evenly between Doubt It Publishing and the Author. 

Mark McElligott's Random Thoughts From A Broken Mind Is Now Online

Even though Mark's debut book is still a few months away, a web site has been set up to showcase his work while he airs his thoughts and opinions online.  Please feel free to sample a few rants from Random Thoughts From A Broken Mind by clicking over to:
http://www.randomthoughtsbrokenmind.blogspot.com/
Every new essay and every conversation I have with Mark confirms my first impression that he's an incredibly funny and talented human being.  Few people have made me laugh as hard as he has, and while my own writing has skewed towards universal foibles that everyone can relate to, Mark takes a decisive and individualistic turn with his work by focusing on what he knows best: himself.  McElligott's writing is perverse, obscure, offensive at times and hilarious all of the time.  I can only describe his writing as the best combination of Woody Allen and Steve Martin on paper with a Buffalo spin.  His book is incredible and his base of fans (even before the book has launched) is legion.  I truly look forward to sharing his work with the rest of you and seeing his talents blossom even further.  Please visit the site to confirm all of these bold proclamations.
Stay tuned for more publication dates and promotion announcements soon,
Tom Waters
Editor, Publisher & Staff Writer,
Doubt It Publishing

2011: Veni, Vedi, Veci ('I came, I saw, I conquered')

Happy New Year everybody!

            2011 is going to be an incredibly busy year for myself and Doubt It Publishing.  I'm not even sure where to begin, but I guess we'll proceed chronologically.

            The deadline for Doubt It Publishing's Author Of The Year has come and gone and it's time to make the announcement.  I'm proud to let you all know that I've chosen Mark McElligott's Random Thoughts From A Broken Mind for publication this year.  It's an uproariously funny collection of hilarious, 'out there' rants that made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions.  His sense of humor is a blend of Woody Allen, Dave Attell and Steve Martin.  He's goofy, perverse and tremendously talented and we're both looking forward to showcasing his work to a much larger audience this spring!    

            I've got a full slate of new bar assignments for the Buffalo News Gusto that I'll be knocking out at a rate of one bar per week.  After reviewing The Dog House in Alden, I was saddened to discover that they closed until further notice before I had time to do the write up.  My condolences to the owners as well as the staff there for the unfortunate incident that led to their shutting down.  I had a wonderful time when I went and there was a roofing accident a week later that led to their demise. 

            At the end of this month (on Thursday, January 27th at 6 p.m.), The Big Words I Know By Heart Radio Hour will be recording live on location by hosting a free concert with 2010 Buffalo Music Award winners for Best Rock Duo Of The Year Busted Stuff at Dee's Firehouse on 4628 Broadway Ave. in Depew.  If you're free, we'd love to see you at this event!  Dave and Cynthia are great people and they're incredibly talented, so I look forward to hearing them play again.  They're also launching a debut CD of original music around the same time frame, so hopefully they'll have copies on hand to sell.

            As far as my autobiography goes, the first draft is finished.  Icarus On The Mend: Memoirs Of A Manic Depressive clocks in at a hefty 430 pages (so far) and if the book gets any larger upon revision, I may have to split it into two volumes from a cost standpoint.  I'd prefer not to charge more than $30 for the book in a soft cover format, so that could be the direction I take when the book is released in either 2012 or 2013.   The book is unlike anything I've written before, and while I've been guarding the manuscript for its explosive content and the cacophony of sensational revelations within, I'll be auctioning off the second draft this spring.  The current bid is at $50.  If you want to read the book before it comes out, feel free to email me with a bid before spring.

            In February, I'll be interviewing artist/writer Dylan Horrocks (Hicksville), who hails all the way from New Zealand.  This will be a studio show for The Big Words I Know By Heart Radio Hour.  His breakout book was just republished this previous summer from Fantagraphics press and it's one of the best graphic novels I've ever read.  Don will be co-hosting with me.

            By April, my ninth collection (Mockery) will launch online and in stores.  It's a 130 page collection of nothing but finely tuned rants and the book is layered like a stand up comedy act.  This is the first book where I've worked diligently on the pacing of the humor throughout the book and the effect on readers should be noticeably different and vastly improved.  It'll retail for $14.99 and while I never say never, this may be my final essay collection.  Eve Barbour (of Eve Barbour Designs) will be working on the cover layout and interior and Ryan Miller took the cover photo (a black and white picture of me laughing at a little girl who dropped her ice cream cone).  I've started working on a fiction novel which I'm not prepared to discuss in any capacity yet as the work is still fresh. 

            I'm not sure what the back half of 2011 will hold for me, Doubt It Publishing, Mark McElligot and The Big Words I Know By Heart Radio Hour, but I'm certainly looking forward to it.  This is going to be a great year and I look forward to taking the journey with all of you.  As always, stay tuned to the web sites for more details as they emerge.  To sum everything up, get ready to laugh.  A lot. 

Sincerely,

Tom Waters

Final Deadline For Full Length Manuscript Submissions is January 1st, 2011

            We're about two weeks away from the final deadline for manuscript submissions for the 2011 Doubt It Publishing Author Of The Year.  I'll be reviewing submissions throughout January and should come to a final decision on which author I'll be working with by February 1st, 2011.  I'm looking for poetry (full length, no chapbooks), fiction, nonfiction or humor.    

            Again, please submit all works with your genre in the subject heading of the email, a query letter and an attachment of your feature length work to: bigwordsmailbag@yahoo.com.  I don’t charge any reading fees and I don't offer any 'editorial services', but I will be picking the best manuscript for a 2011 publication date as well as a promotional book tour.  There are a few early front runners who show promise, but I wouldn't rule out an eleventh hour upset or a surprise wunderkind.

            I'll be partnering with a new or existing Buffalo author and splitting the up-front production costs for the interior layout and design, which are minimal.  I've got multiple graphic designers who are chomping at the bit to showcase their work for the next Doubt It Publishing publication.  Once the  book is formatted and proof read, we'll release it in the fall and planning a publicity plan that works best for the material presented.  Doubt It will retain 15% of the royalties while the winning author will keep 85%.  We'll set the price on the paperback and/or hardcover.        

Good luck and keep writing!

Tom Waters

Doubt It Publishing