Rich Johnston Better Look Out.
In this thread at Newsarama about Tom Beland's True Story Swear To God moving to Image, the man himself shows up after Josh Richardson from AiT (his former publisher) (who are publishing his books in trade paperback form for the next two years) posts the following, which was quickly edited down:
Tom's response:
I asked ol' Lar what he thought of Tom's interview, and he just sort of laughed. 'I don't know what Tom's talking about,' he said. 'All our books are available in book stores, and you know with ASTRONAUTS IN TROUBLE and SCURVY DOGS and DEMO and even this fall's upcoming THE BLACK DIAMOND that we do monthlies. But Tom never asked us if we wanted to do his monthly. Go figure, but that's what happens when you don't call Mimi back.'
So I asked him if we had anything official to say about this, and you could see him put on his press release hat. 'Of course we wish our pals at Image and Tom continued success with the book, and like the third stage of a Saturn rocket, we've helped boost him into the sky! And, of course, TSSTG trades (Volume One, CHANCES ARE... DEC022403; Volume Two, THIS ONE GOES TO ELEVEN MAR05 2503; and the strip collection, 100 STORIES, MAR042166) are and will be available from AiT for years to come!'
Tom's response:
In regards to Larry's quote where he said "Tell Tom that this is what happens when you don't call Mimi back." I'd also advise Larry that this is the feeling an artist/writer gets when you cannot contact the man who RUNS the publishing company because he screens his calls.(Thanks to Josh for the catch.)
Now, with regards to my books being in finer bookstores everywhere..? Well, I can't find them at Barnes & Noble, can't find them at Boarders, can't go down the street to my local bookstores who've tried to order them from Ingrahm and they keep saying they're out of stock and have been so for ages. Other stores who can find them keep saying it's slow to get.
I've contact both of you about this problem and I'm constantly told "what store did you talk to?" Then, when I say who they are, there's no response.
If I can FIND my books everywhere... what's the deal with my checks averaging $70 per fiscal quarter? I'm having trouble wrapping my head around that one.
Hey, I'll always be grateful for AiT making my first trades, as I've stated several times before. But when I have a full page ad on the back of my books, telling them how to get the trades, pricing and ordering codes... and stores STILL have a problem getting the books, I should have better answers. That's been the spot of my angst and my constant head banging against the wall. I never get that answer.
Just adding my two-cents. I was asked a question in an interview and I answered it. If Larry's going to give a quote, don't yank it out of the thread two nano-seconds later.
To everyone else, thanks for the support, I appreciate it. I'm going to talk with Image about the numbering system, I think you've made some great points on that.
New issue comes out in late July, then we go monthly in September!! See y'all then!
