Last week, I got an email from the publisher Unbound saying they’d gone into administration and my books would be cancelled. After all the support from you, seven years of my and many others’ work on all three, and a vol 2 design that is 99% finished, I’m pretty devastated. I was told a few weeks ago that the release for volume 2 was delayed by a year, I am now told it is cancelled. I’m sad and bewildered, trying to comprehend what has happened.
Here’s the email I got:
I am in dozens of conversations (I have had little sleep this week) trying to make sense of this and ensure it resolves fairly.
I want to find a way to publish the books, and I’m talking to many people. It’s utterly frustrating to have a project that is hours away from completion (and features some mind-bending artworks of exotic amazing warplanes like cancelled Swedish warplanes) to meet cancellation. The Hush-Kit writers, photographers, artists and interview subjects are rightfully proud of this book and we want to find a way to share it. If there is anything positive in this horrible situation, it’s that I might find a way to publish Hush-Kit’s superb books in a much faster manner.
Have you thought about talking to the folks at Osprey or Casemate about a co-publishing deal? I can make introductions for you if you’re interested.
Thanks Christian, that is certainly worth looking into, please do introduce us
A very bad news.
I hope your search for another publisher will be successful in the near term (also, but non only, because I already paid the Volume 2…), to allow you to complete this wonderful project. Or at least to publish the Volume 2 already finished.
Please, keep us all informed about any evolution of this sad story! I would miss so badly the last two books in this beautiful series!
Good luck and thank you a lot for your efforts.
Kind regards.
Pino
Thank you Pino, I appreciate your message very much
Its a bummer.
But don’t give up there must be other publishing businesses out there you can use…
Plus you have a loyal following!
Its a bummer.
But don’t give up there must be other publishing businesses out there you can use…
Plus you have a loyal following!
Thank you, I won’t give up – I appreciate your message very much.
i love my Hush kit vol 1 and would certainly buy vol 2 and 3 if they were to be published 😊
Ouch! That is sad and difficult news. I’m so sorry.
I love what you do, the stories you tell, and the connections you make. Please keep it up here and instagram, etc.
I look forward to you meeting this challenge with the same aplomb that gave the world the Spit, the Mossie, and the Vulcan. Because, to your point in this week’s story of the Spit, none of those marvels should ever have come to fruition.
And yet… they did.
Keeping the faith,
Dan
That’s a lovely message, thanks Dan.
Have you thought about Lulu publishing
Don’t be disheartened. Take this as an opportunity, an opportunity to reevaluate your content creation. There is a huge aviation community world wide all serving different niches of the aviation story. There is the possibility of you self publishing or even e publishing for example. There many aviation content creators putting out content on YouTube and web site based. Reach out to them to discuss your situation and what you can learn from them. It’s a small content creator community and I am sure many will be generous in their time to talk with you.  Best of luck in finding your solution and I look forward to hearing from you.
“Nil illegitami carborundum”, mate! We are all behind you 100%. Your book WILL be published, one way or another.
Best wishes from Australia.
Neil
This is a bummer, I was looking forward to Part II and III – have you considered joining forces with Steve Davies from 10 percent true who is about to get his Strike Eagle Book printed?
Take care and best of luck,
Tobias
Hi,
does that mean any orders made are cancelled and all payments lost?
Regards,
David
Hi David,
I’m trying to this information from Unbound.
Thanks,
HK
I wish you all the luck in the world, but typically bankruptcy proceedings only cough up a minor fraction of the money owed by the bankrupt firm.
Please keep us posted as events unfold.
Thank you, I will do my best keep you updated if I get more information
You may tell everyone that I / we still want it. “Print it and they will come?” Good luck!!!
This is a real shame. Was looking forward to the new book and my picture.
Hope you can get something sorted.
All tthe best.
Dominic
Thanks Dominic, I appreciate your message.
I’ve just got back into my unbound/boundless account and I can see my orders for Vol 2 & Vol 3 of the books, so from a buyer’s perspective the orders still exist and is recognised post take-over. Whether they will offer a refund or credit is uncertain, given Joe has been told decisively they are cancelled. So semi good news for buyers, less so for Joe.
Sad to hear, but to be honest unbound have been holding you back, the amount of time to publish their books was crazy long, and while your book (vol1) was excellently produced, the time it took has put off so many people committing, and it was painful to watch the commitment %ages on vol 3.
Having already ordered both vol 2+3, it’s not great news to hear, I doubt I’ll ever crowdfund a book again. However, when you do get around to finding a publisher, I’d be interested in completing my collection even if I’m paying twice for the privilege (shame you didn’t get twice the money though).
Hoping this works out for the best, and that you can find a publisher that can turn a book around in less than 3 years, you could’ve been on volume 8 by now with a decent publisher.
Lanasta in the Netherlands is a publisher specialised in Dutch and English books on planes and ships:
https://www.walburgpers.nl/nl/imprint/lanasta
Also two days ago I received from the Administrator the Proof of Debt form, for the payment I had made for book #2 in September 2023.
just seen my orders was cancelled on the 8th April. Do you know if we’ll receive a refund?
Hi Stephen
I’m chasing the administration company trying to work out exactly what’s going and will update when they reply. If you’ve paid with a credit card or Paypal you can try and get a refund, that may work. Will update when I get more information.
Very sad news, and I hope you find another publisher; I was looking forward to vol 2. Have you had any information on what’s happened to the pre-orders? I’m wondering whether I can do a chargeback, but I can’t remember which card I used to pre-order with!
Thanks Pete, I hope you work out which card you used and get a refund, I’m chasing the administration company trying to work out exactly what’s going and will update when they reply.
I have read that no refunds for Vol. 2 and 3 will be given. Truly bad news.
Does this mean backers of these volumes have lost their money? If these volumes do find a publisher, will backers get consideration (a copy without having to send money again)?
Hi David, did the administration company say that? I haven’t got a reply from them yet with my queries. I’m currently looking into trying to work out a rescue plan for vol 2 and will announce things when I have both information back from the administration company and have firmed up the plan.I will update when I know more.
https://www.printweek.com/content/news/unbound-pre-packs-but-bold-new-era-soured-by-doubts-over-crowdfunder-refunds/
I think also the Guardian mentioned no refunds will be given. The last part of the linked article quotes from author Tom Cox: “More shockingly, Unbound took the money of my loyal, trusting readers and now, in its new guise, has gone back on its word that the money would be refunded to those readers.”
Only by pure happenstance had I heard that Unbound went into bankruptcy–no email from them explaining their problems, just silence. Now all this happy talk of a “bold new era” and I’ve pretty much written off getting a refund.
I was really looking forward to Vol. 2 and 3. Volume 1 was brilliant. Hope things work out, but I’m disillusioned by this affair.
Thanks David,
It has been awful. I’ve been fighting hard to get Vol 2 out in another way, and I’m quietly hopeful. I don’t want to say to much until I actually know what I’m taking about. I really appreciate your words of support. If (fingers crossed) I do get things going again I will need to put a database of supporters together as Boundless have yet to give me one (I have requested it).
[…] author impacted by Ubound’s abrupt closure is in a different position. Some whose works were scheduled after March had their projects cancelled. Many of those who published before then are fighting to collect unpaid royalties and, in many […]