The Importance of Being an Informed Author

I am reposting a guest blog I did recently because I think the information could be valuable.  Please let me know what you think.
Blog Post:  On Being an Informed Author
I haven't been publishing long, but what I have learnedabout the publishing game recently, well, I could write a book.  I've beenscammed, duped, taken advantage of, however you want to say it.  And allbecause I trusted.  My blind faith is partly to blame for my current woes. Let me explain.
I had published my first book, Spellbound, with anincredibly professional and truly wonderful house called Astraea Press. As an illustration of my satisfaction with them, I have published one more,Ghostly, and have another coming in January, Everspell, the sequel toSpellbound.  I am more than happy with them and had no reason to look foranother publisher.
Except one:  they don't publish horror.  And I hada new manuscript I wanted out there, The Detention Demon, a middle gradehorror story I was, and still am, especially fond of.  So I did my duediligence online and found a new house that took horror submissions.
I was thrilled when Aspen Mountain Press accepted me andoffered me a contract.  I was a bit taken aback that it was for sevenyears.  My works with Astraea Press are all for three years.  But Ididn't question it.  And besides, as soon as I was accepted, thingswhipped into motion.
They had an author site I was registered for, where I couldtrack the progress of my publication.  Several dozen books were alreadylisted there, I could see when I signed up.  I was immediately contactedby staff about my editor and artist assignments and given a release date ofOctober 3, 2011.  It seemed so professional and together, I was impressed. That ended quickly.
Shortly after I was accepted, current staff walked out dueto an inability to work with the publisher, Sandra Hicks.  I wouldlater learn that this was the same personnel responsible for the quickassignments, the release date, and the organized and methodical way I wasaccepted into the house.  At this point, the house collapsed. Actually, it imploded.  It wasn't gradual.  The only thing gradualwas my dawning realization that I totally picked the wrong horse.
As of this writing, 42 authors including myself, have theirbooks stuck at the non-operating house.  The publisher, Sandra Hicks,refuses to release us, or communicate at all regarding returning the rights toour books.  Mine never even published.  Others were published, rightsexpired, and she continues to collect money for their sales.  Authors havetaken to their OWN websites and begged the public NOT to purchase theirbooks.  it is a catastrophic mess and we authors are the victims in themiddle of it all.
I'm writing this blog in hopes that future authors will beforewarned.  Although I truly believe there was no way to foresee this,other situations are not so difficult to see through.  I implore everywriter to READ every line of that contract you've just been offered.  Ifyou don't like the terms, even one small thing about it, DON'T SIGN IT. My contract with Aspen Mtn. Press stipulated we could request our rights backif the company failed to operate by sending a certified letter.  Great,except she refuses to accept them.  Look for any loophole you think favorsthe publisher and not you, and lobby for it's change.  If they want you,they'll change it.
Or do what I did.  I have submitted my new speculativefiction work to a new house, formed by the incredible staff that left AMP, MusaPublishing.  For everything wrong at AMP, Musa is doing everythingright.  Clear, concise contracts, terms that favor the author, and aboveall, transparent accounting of sales of books.  There is no reason everyauthor shouldn't be demanding these anyway.
The bottom line is, you need to be aware of what you aresigning.  Don't be in such a hurry to see your words immortalized that yousettle.  Never settle.  Your work, your words, your craft isimportant enough to you that you have sacrificed for it.  Don't sellyourself short. 
Lastly, if you have been wronged, make sure you tell theworld.  You have a voice, you're a writer for crying out loud....put thattalent to work.  Avail yourself of every social network out there andexpose those with no integrity without reservation.  We authorstrapped at AMP are doing that for you now....I hope you never have to do it forme.
Write, publish, and BE INFORMED.
Samantha Combs