Oh, Jeff: The book

Today sees the launch of a new concept for the Vocal community. A project to create a new, best-selling book, from a collection of works from some of the best Vocal creators. A collection of micro fiction stories and poems originally published for the 'Oh, Jeff...' challenge to write something inspired by the Roy Lichtenstein painting...

This challenge was possibly the most successful unofficial challenge to have been set for the Vocal poetry and fiction communities to date. With a total of 57 entries, everyone fed into the fun spirit of the competition. This success demonstrated the power of art to inspire creativity. 57 different ways of interpreting what appears, at first sight, to be a very simplistic image. That seven-word speech bubble ended up getting poor Jeff into all sorts of pickles. Not to mention the young woman whose phone call was the trigger point of all the wonderful stories and poems produced for the challenge.

What about the book?

So, here's the deal. If enough contributors agree I will be compiling a book of collected works from the challenge for publication. The theme of the book will be the Roy Lichtenstein painting Oh, Jeff... I love you, too... but... The book will consist of a selection of the stories, micro fictions and poems, that were submitted to the Oh, Jeff unofficial challenge.

If you submitted a work to this challenge, do you want it included in the book?

If you are happy for your work to be included in this book, please let me know in comments. If you have already agreed, please confirm that you are still happy, having read this piece. If you do not want to be included, please likewise let me know in comments. If you have any concerns and don't want to air them in public, please feel free to contact me privately, via facebook or email, address below. I hope to get at least one entry from each contributor in the book and will publish all of them if I can. I haven't yet estimated pagination.

If you did not submit a work to this challenge, but would like to be included in the collection to be published, don't worry, you will still get a chance to do so. Late entry submissions (we already have one) will be accepted for publication on the same terms as all other contributions. Simply write your story (checking the original challenge piece above first) and then post the link in comments here.

The book will be published in paperback and Kindle via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and/or via other media. I will do all the compiling editing and formatting (gonna regret offering to do this, I know...) and will write an introduction as general editor.

Will I, as a contributor, get paid?

Yes, if the book makes enough money... but I would suggest this is unlikely. Independent publications like this seldom do, unless they have substantial backing for marketing and distribution. But it's not about the money. The book will act as a showcase for our respective works and will give us something to take around to book fairs, show to friends and family, and otherwise provide promotional opportunities. For those whose work has yet to appear in print (if any), it will provide that exciting first publication opportunity. If, however, the book does become a commercial success, all profits will be shared among the authors. I reckon it needs to make at least UK £200 to be worth sending potentially 50 or more royalty payments.

Who owns the copyright?

Authors remain the copyright owners of their own work, which will be published under your licence, with your permission only. I will include appropriate notices along with a brief author biog and a link to your work (if required).

The editor

Ray Taylor (Vocal ID: Raymond. G. Taylor) will act as the general editor ('the editor') of the publication and will be identified in the publication as such. The editor will not be paid for their services.

The publisher

The work will be published under an imprint and/or by a company ('the Publisher') solely under the control of the editor. Details to be provided at a later date. The editor reserves the right to change imprint/publisher at any time. The editor will act on behalf of the publisher and will be the sole representative of the publisher at all times.

The editor may appoint others, if needed, to assist with the editing, formatting, publishing, marketing, distribution or other roles to support publication of the work.

Neither the editor, nor anyone assisting, shall be paid a fee for their services, other than the royalties set out within these terms.

Royalty and other payments to contributors

Any profit made after a deduction of all production, marketing promotion, and any other costs, shall be retained in a royalty fund. A distribution of royalty payments will be triggered if the fund exceeds a total of £5 per contributor. If this happens, payments will be made six months after the date of first publication. If this threshold has not been met within six months of publication, the funds will be retained for a further six months, and again for up to 24 months in total. Likewise if there are further sales and sufficient balance each 6 months after. As I say, this is all unlikely but you never know...

The Oh, Jeff challenge began with an art-shop window (see featured image) in the Crystal Palace district of South London. That Crystal Palace FC have just won the FA Cup can only be a good omen.

In the event that royalty fund meets the required total, or if the publisher decides, exceptionally, to make an early distribution, royalties will be divided as follows. Publisher will retain 20%. The balance will be divided equally between each contributor and paid as a Vocal tip, or other method as agreed. If any share remains unpaid for any reason it will be retained within the royalties fund.

The work will be published from the UK into the US and other markets available to Amazon or by whichever other distribution chanels used.

If you entered the challenge, please let me know if you agree generally to these details. If there are any changes, I will update them here so please come back from time to time to check. I will presume if I don't hear further that you agree to these changes too. I hope this is all okay, please let me know if not.

Please indicate whether or not you agree to me using your work in this way by commenting as usual.

If anyone wants to comment privately, my gmail.com address is raymond.g.taylor

Thanks to everyone who supported the challenge and have supported this project so far. If enough contributors agree, and I manage to get the book out, it should provide a nice boost to the year's creative activities. If we each do some promotion among our friends, family and social media contacts, it could well prove to be a success.

Ray