Hello, friends! Welcome to the end of July. I hope you’ve been enjoying your summer with some good books and a glass or two of wine. It’s been a while, I know, and we have a lot to catch up on. Not a lot of it is good news, unfortunately.
For those of you who haven’t heard—and I’m sure most of you have—Less Than Three Press is shutting their doors at the end of July and wishing their shocked and heartbroken associates a fond farewell. It came as a surprise to many of us (most of us?). There was no lead-up, no payment problems, no external indications that things were going sideways. I had, in fact, just been offered a contract for a new novel with them a month or so ago, with another one well on its way to landing at their door. This kind of surprise can be both a good thing and a bad thing, as far as I see it. On the positive side, a quick, clean retreat leaves no enemies. On the other side of things, a person can’t brace for a blow that they don’t see coming.
Regardless, LT3 has to do what’s right for LT3’s founders, so it is what it is; done is done and gone is gone, and here we are sitting around wondering what to do now. That’s a daunting position to be in, as I’ve chosen to work solely with Less Than Three Press. That means, in one fell swoop, this entire collection is going to disappear. And that means starting over. Completely and one hundred percent over. Those of you who are close to me know that there’s been an awful lot of starting over in my life these past few years and… I mean, I’ll get there. But, ugh. It’s been exhausting and here we go again. (Whine, whine, whine, I know!)
So, while I’ve been meaning to post something here about LT3’s departure and how it’s going to affect me, to be honest, I don’t really know what to tell everyone. I won’t drag out ancient sayings about eating hamburger after steak (as an animal lover and a veggie I don’t think my tofu substitutions will ring with any clarity if I try), but the point behind the adage is that it’s going to be hard to find a company that will ever give me the range of freedom, level of support, or personal respect that LT3 did. Their professionalism with payments, dedication to both customers and associates, support of culture, and respect to diversity is almost unheard of in today’s marketplace, even in this genre.
That being said, I do have a brand-new book that needs a home, and its little baby brother coming up along behind him. Even orphans need love, and I’d hate to see these two not get a fair start. I am researching, and considering, and trying to make decisions, and I promise you this: You all will be the first to know once I come to any conclusions.
For the time being, please feel free to drop a comment below or email me at a.freedom.henley@gmail.com if you have any questions, need some assistance, have the absolute need to tell me about a specific publisher that I super-need to look at right away, or really, really, really just have to have one of my stories that is no longer available. I am always willing to help out a friend. 😀
I look forward to our next chat when I can tell you something a little more definitive.
All my love, AF Henley ❤
AF Henley 
This is awful! Won’t you eventually get the rights to your books, or are they just…gone? I hope not! I’ve been a fan for many years! I will be thinking of you and hoping your find a new ‘home.
Thank you so much! Your kindness is, and has always been, an absolute pleasure. ❤ ❤ ❤
As for my books, yes, LT3 has been absolutely fantastic about rights reversion. Honestly, they've proven themselves to be fantastic even with this whole process. Just another reason that I hate to see them go. 😦
Because of that, I still officially own the books, they just aren't available anywhere. I will definitely keep an eye out for a new home for them, though. 😀
I heard about the press going under 😦 that suxs I miss you
Thanks, I miss you too! ❤ Hopefully there are bigger and better things to come.
If only I had the money, expertise, fortitude, and money to set up my own publishing company. Sadly I do not.
Great to hear you’re still looking for a decent replacement and hopeful for many more adventures. I hope for the absolute best for you. Keep being awesome.
My own publishing house is still a dream of mine. One day it will be a thing. 😀
Regardless, thank you for your support and kindness. As always, it’s a pleasure. YOU keep being awesome! ❤
This is so sad, my friend. Crossing all my fingers for you that there is a publisher out there that will really respect and appreciate not only your beautiful work but also you as the author and the wonderful person you are.
It is also my greatest hope that all the amazing novels you have written so far will continue to reach the hearts of many more readers, buddy. Wishing you all the best and all the good things in the world. Please let me know whenever I can help you.
All my strength, good vibes, and hopes for a bright future for your awesome work past, present, and future, buddy.
❤️
Thank you, buddy. I will always be grateful that LT3 allowed us to keep our cover art. Because now nobody can take your beautiful work away from me. 😀 ❤
And I can not imagine it to be in more caring and better hands, buddy. 😃❤️