Well, wow. Just... wow. For those not in the know, ChiZine Publications is a fairly well known independent Canadian publisher that has published weird, subtle, surreal, disturbing dark SF, fantasy since 2008.
Last week, ChiZine author author Ed Kurtz came forward with a grievance, claiming he has not been paid in full his due royalties from the independent publisher. Kurtz's complaint, as though finding a flaw in a dam, encouraged a floodgate of not only other writers, but employes, editors, and acquaintances to also come forward with their stories of mistreatment at the hands of the publisher.
The most striking commonality for me is that the grievances and stories are across the board - from not paying royalties, not paying staff, mistreating people, alienating people, and bullying people. One of these stories would be damning enough. Together, they're a maelstrom.
If you're interested, here's context - a reasonably cogent summary of the number of the people airing their stories from High Fever Books.
This week, U.S. horror author Brian Keene will be discussing the entire ChiZine debacle on his popular The Horror Show With Brian Keene, of which I am a follower. Needless to say, I'll be listening to this, however surreal it will be to hear an American podcast analyze a Canadian small speculative fic press' controversy.
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