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| Posted By : Daniel - 1/30/2007 12:19 AM |
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Due to the recent resignation of David Pitchford from his position as CEO of Pitch-Black LLC and also due to mounting financial difficulties, Pitch-Black LLC will, reluctantly, cease all operations on February 1st 2007.
The company will be dissolved. No further publications will be forthcoming and all currently open projects including Lords of Swords 2, Lords of Justice, Magic and Mechanica, and pending novellas will be cancelled.
Flashing Swords E-zine will remain online but on hiatus. Submissions will not be accepted until further notice. All pending submissions including those previously accepted or under contract are deemed returned to the authors.
To our many friends, contributors, and supporters, we extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation and our regret for this unpleasant, but irrevocable decision.
We are proud of our record and of the authors and poets we've published and we look forward to seeing what the future of SF holds.
Daniel E. Blackston, Senior Editor
Pitch-Black LLC
www.pitchblackbooks.com
Daniel
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| Posted By : Dan Nelson - 1/30/2007 2:22 AM | | Me too. It has been fun. |
| Posted By : carnifexpress - 1/30/2007 7:18 AM | Wow... wow....
Daniel, drop me an e-mail or call me if you get a chance...
wow...
Armand Rosamilia
Visit Carnifex Press for more information!
Freehold short stories:
"Dew Scented" Stalking Shadows anthology
The Freehold site is now up!
|
| Posted By : Swashbuckler - 1/30/2007 10:52 AM | Very sad news. Good luck in your next endeavor, Daniel.
Steve Goble
Visit my web site for news on upcoming stories or visit my blog, Swords Against Boredom |
| Posted By : TRtheJ - 1/30/2007 12:56 PM | | Truly sad news.
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| Posted By : John Hocking - 1/30/2007 12:57 PM | | Jesus, my heart skipped a beat.
So sorry it came to this, Daniel.
LORDS OF SWORDS is still selling at Borders a year & a half after publication.
The competition we worried about back then isn't even on the shelves anymore.
Good luck with whatever you do next and drop me a line if there's anything I can do to help.
JCH |
| Posted By : FraserR - 1/30/2007 5:30 PM | Aw crap. I'm really sorry to hear about this.
---
Fraser Ronald
swordsedgepublishing.ca
swordsedge.ca |
| Posted By : James Enge - 1/30/2007 6:46 PM | Here's hoping a phoenix will rise from these ashes.
Good luck, Daniel.
James Enge
http://jamesenge.livejournal.com/
"Turn Up This Crooked Way" (selected by Rich Horton for his "Virtual Best" of 2005) in Black Gate 8
"Payment Deferred" in Black Gate 9
"A Covenant with Death" in Flashing Swords 6
"The Red Worm's Way" in Flashing Swords E-Zine Annual
"A Book of Silences" forthcoming in Black Gate 10 |
| Posted By : crystalwizard - 1/30/2007 7:38 PM | Man Daniel, isn't there anything we can do to help you restructure and keep going?
Never meddle in the affairs of a wizard unless you are soggy and hard to light!
Visit my art gallery on art wanted at
http://artwanted.com/crystalwizard
All my books in print:
http://sojourn.omnitech.net |
| Posted By : John M. Whalen - 1/30/2007 8:24 PM | Daniel,
A sad turn of events. Flashing Swords was one of the first e-zines to publish a story of mine and pay for it. I really have Howard Jones to thank for that, but ultimately thanks should go to you for providing the market. I'll miss it. I'm sure there are lessons to be learned here, but what they are it will take some time to figure out. Best of luck in your future poetic endeavors, Mr. Blackston. As Mehitable the Cat would say "Tojours gai! Always tojours gai! Wot the hell!"
John M. Whalen |
| Posted By : Dave Hardy - 1/30/2007 10:14 PM | Ouch! I'm very sorry to see PBP go. Here's hoping that something may be salvaged.
Best of luck.
Dave Hardy
Fire & Sword
Fire & Sword Blog |
| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 1/30/2007 10:52 PM | Daniel - damn! This is unbelievable. I'm really sorry, man. For all of us, too.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sir Lord Jason the Essential
Get Your Own Peculiar Aristocratic Title @ www.masquerademaskarts.com/memes/peculiartitle.php
~ Visit www.vondarkmoor.blogspot.com for reviews and commentary related to writing and reading. |
| Posted By : jhmcmullen - 1/30/2007 11:36 PM | Daniel--sorry to hear this. I watched Pitch Black with interest (I have LoS.). I had hoped Pitch Black would some day buy one of my tales, but such is not to be.
Good luck to you in the future. |
| Posted By : darkbow - 1/31/2007 2:35 AM | Oh, man. This just ruined my night. Sorry to hear about it.
www.tyjohnston.blogspot.com |
| Posted By : Captain Atlantis - 1/31/2007 7:37 AM | Hey Daniel,
Though a newcomer, I'd like to add that one of the reason's I was attracted to this forum was your very insightful posts about the industry. Best to you in whatever comes next. Also, I like your escape pod. Personalities and money, profit and loss, reputation and self esteem - a grueling trial by fire. If you can still love the language and want to write poetry, your center is holding. Good luck.
www.kiva.org - loans that change lives
www.edhumpal.com
www.hoboespresso.com |
| Posted By : C.Cevasco - 1/31/2007 12:15 PM | Daniel,
I'm so sorry to hear about this. Best of luck with whatever you do next.
Chris
Christopher M. Cevasco, Editor/Publisher
Paradox: The Magazine of Historical and Speculative Fiction
http://www.paradoxmag.com
Shocklines.com is carrying my Dark Heresy Chapbook. |
| Posted By : Daniel - 1/31/2007 2:44 PM | Thanks everyone! Your well-wishes are helping to make the transition much easier.
I am deeply grateful for your kind words and support.
Daniel
|
| Posted By : carnifexpress - 1/31/2007 2:56 PM | Daniel,
Ever think of taking your vast knowledge to a major house?
Armand Rosamilia
Visit Carnifex Press for more information!
Freehold short stories:
"Dew Scented" Stalking Shadows anthology
The Freehold site is now up!
|
| Posted By : SC Bryce - 1/31/2007 11:58 PM | Sorry to hear it. This is truly a sad time for us all.
SC Bryce
www.SCBryce.com |
| Posted By : Daniel - 2/1/2007 10:47 PM | Thanks everybody!
Daniel |
| Posted By : Daniel - 2/3/2007 1:34 AM | Daniel,
Ever think of taking your vast knowledge to a major house?
Armand Rosamilia
***
Well, when Carnifex becomes a major player I may just give you a ring! 
Seriously though, I'm grateful for all the support, well-wishes, and praise you (and so many others) have heaped upon me; also, for the support you've all shown for PB.
You are wonderfully creative and supportive people and I look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.
Daniel |
| Posted By : Daniel - 2/3/2007 1:51 AM | | Also my heartfelt thanks to all of you who posted condolences and farewell mesagses in the now-defunct Pitch-Black forum. Your kind words andcomments went very far in helping me get through a rough week.
Unfortunately, circumstances dictated that I ask Dave Felts to cancel the PB forum, although I had hoped to let it remain a while longer for folks to ask questions and make comments about PB or Lords of Justice or LoS and Sages.
This forum can be used for that purpose should the mood strike anyone and I am always available via PM's or emails for questions or comments.
Thanks again everyone for your kind support and enthusiasm. The energy, creativity, sales, and ideas you all provided helped enable Pitch-Black to produce two of the finest heroic fantasy anthos in reent memory. Many of you also contributed fiction or art or other tangible support to our endeavors and I will never forget the the support and friendship you have extended.
Daniel |
| Posted By : Daniel - 2/3/2007 1:54 AM | If you can still love the language and want to write poetry, your center is holding. Good luck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you, Captain!!! I like the way you think
Daniel |
| Posted By : Daniel - 2/3/2007 1:54 AM | Wow... wow....
Daniel, drop me an e-mail or call me if you get a chance...
***
Done.
I emailed you and PM-ed.
Daniel |
| Posted By : Daniel - 2/3/2007 1:58 AM | Jesus, my heart skipped a beat.
So sorry it came to this, Daniel.
***
Don't be sorry! The books are worth every bit of the toil and labor and the experiences connected with PB will be uplifting to me for a good long time to come. Though I wish things would have ended differently, I've no regrets!!!
And I am eager to see what the future holds!
BTW, I'd like to thank you, John, for your wonderful creative skills and for your friendliness and support in the early days of PB and throughout our tenure.
You are a true gentleman and a gifted writer; it's been a pleasure working with you and I hope we will work together again in the future.
Daniel |
| Posted By : Daniel - 2/3/2007 2:00 AM | Very sad news. Good luck in your next endeavor, Daniel.
***
Thanks, Steve. Your support and your awesome writing skills have been and are still greatly valued by moi.
Hope to be reading more of your work and working wiht you at some later point.
Daniel |
| Posted By : Daniel - 2/3/2007 2:02 AM | Aw crap. I'm really sorry to hear about this.
***
Thanks, Fraser. You are a great friend and I appreciate your support, the reviews you offered, and your example with SE. I wish you all success with your future writing and editorial endeavors.
Daniel |
| Posted By : Daniel - 2/3/2007 2:06 AM | Flashing Swords was one of the first e-zines to publish a story of mine and pay for it. I really have Howard Jones to thank for that, but ultimately thanks should go to you for providing the market. I'll miss it.
***
Flashing Swords E-zine is presently on hiatus. I plan to revive it. The site will stay online and I will attempt to get a new issue out
at some point soon.
Flashing Swords E-zine no longer has any relation to Pitch-Black LLC; however, I remain editor-in-chief.
So, FS E-zine will be back!!! It may be a few months, but we'll put out a new issue and open for subs again.
Daniel |
| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 2/3/2007 8:08 PM | Great to hear, Daniel! Thanks for keeping faith and staying the course.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sir Lord Jason the Essential
Get Your Own Peculiar Aristocratic Title @ www.masquerademaskarts.com/memes/peculiartitle.php
~ Visit www.vondarkmoor.blogspot.com for reviews and commentary related to writing and reading. |
| Posted By : Jordan Lapp - 2/3/2007 8:13 PM | | This is fabulous news! S&S lives on!
J |
| Posted By : John M. Whalen - 2/3/2007 9:56 PM | | Excellent news! The flame that forged Flashing Swords burns on. |
| Posted By : Supr - 2/4/2007 12:28 PM | Daniel said...
So, FS E-zine will be back!!!
Well, I'm feeling much better than I've been reading the first post  |
| Posted By : TRtheJ - 2/4/2007 4:56 PM |
Daniel said...
Flashing Swords was one of the first e-zines to publish a story of mine and pay for it. I really have Howard Jones to thank for that, but ultimately thanks should go to you for providing the market. I'll miss it.
***
Flashing Swords E-zine is presently on hiatus. I plan to revive it. The site will stay online and I will attempt to get a new issue out
at some point soon.
Flashing Swords E-zine no longer has any relation to Pitch-Black LLC; however, I remain editor-in-chief.
So, FS E-zine will be back!!! It may be a few months, but we'll put out a new issue and open for subs again.
It's good to hear Flashing Swords will be back -- and that the site (as well as this forum, I take it) will remain online. |
| Posted By : Scott M. Sandridge - 2/5/2007 3:00 PM | | Sorry to hear what happened, Daniel, but I'm glad Flashing Swords will soon continue.
Which lich fell in the ditch? |
| Posted By : Colin Merritt - 3/9/2007 7:26 PM |
First post, and on a not so great topic. 
Bruce Durham's advertising his stories on a forum he moderates attracted me to Flashing Swords. I followed it as best I could and enjoyed it. Today I noticed the pitchblack.com links weren't working. I guess this is why.
I'm happy that Flashing Swords will live again. FS provided a valuable entry into the Fantasy/Sci Fi Market for new authors and gave Sword and Sorcery fans new fiction to enjoy.
Good luck! |
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