Special Edition Cancelled · 5:05pm Dec 19th, 2019
Hi everyone!
I hope you've been doing well. As a brief update, the hiatus is still going on, even though I've been writing two Jinglemas fics. Not sure if they'll ever get properly posted on my account, but at least rest assured I'm still writing!
Now, for the sad news.
The Special Edition version of The Enchanted Library printed book has officially been cancelled due to personal reservations and strong ideological disagreements with some of the people involved (transphobic remarks, as well as feeling I and my friends were disrespected, among other things). I don't want to go into details, but as disappointed as I know/think many of you may be, please know this is a choice I'm 100% confident in. Enchanted Library is perhaps one of the most important and meaningful stories I've ever written, if not THE most important, and I don't want to do anything with it unless my heart is 100% in it every step of the way. I would not want to do anything that would contradict the themes and ideals expressed in the story itself.
However, the Standard Edition by Ponyfeather Publishing is still on track and good to go and will be available hopefully soon! It definitely won't have brand new interior artwork (except for maybe a few chapter artworks I want to update) but I can 100% sure say absolutely everyone involved in the project loves EL in some shape or form. This is a passion project, as EL itself was, in every way, and will be just as awesome as any other edition.
Thank you all for your understanding and for your support,
Mono
You made the right choice.
You're absolutely right. For something that close to your heart, you have to be completely on board, and if the environment behind it wasn't right for you, then you absolutely should get out.
Never tolerate transphobia.
Good show, Mono!
Wow that's unfortunate though completely understandable. Do you know yet if the cover will still have new artwork?
Absolutely 100% understand. You definitely made a good choice, looking forward to the PFP!
5171880
The PFP edition (three volumes, one per act) will have new cover art for each.
5171893 Er, what does "PFP" mean, exactly?
Just curious.
Hey, man, you do what you think is right. From a fellow writer, I know how important and personal your art is, and no one should take that from you.
5171896
Sorry! It's short for Ponyfeather Publishing, the ponyfic publishing house I run. I published Mono's first book and we're working on TEL now.
5171900 Okay, thanks!
I'll be checking it out sometime today!
And that's cool!
I've been thinking about getting a physical copy of my own story made once I get it finished, but I'll need to know the final page-count; etc.; before I can, to determine the final cost of it.
Don't feel confident enough to do more than that, though, tbh.
Just want to have a physical hard-copy of it, and it's possible (planned to happen) sequel for myself.
Gotta finish Book 1 before I can start on Book 2, don'tcha know?
That was definitely the correct choice.
I agree with this decision.
Ugh, such phobias are still as present as ever? -/-
Hey, you do what you think is right. If it's this close to your heart, you have to be on board with everything. Sounds like you made the right choice in getting out of there TBH.
You'll have my support for whatever you choose to do, Mono.
That doesn't sound very professional. Guess cancelling is the better option.
5171934
i.imgur.com/88P0Zyu.png
Sorry you had that experience, but I'm very much looking forward to the PFP edition of EL!
In other news, I just got my copy of Mono-logues yesterday, and I can confirm it is a great book to curl up with in a comfy chair next to a fire!
I also just got my copy of Mono-logues last Saturday, and to say it was a comfort for things that occurred this week would be not giving it enough justice. I can't wait to get the Enchanted Library from PFP!
I was excited for the Special Edition, but honestly only because it was your work and I figured I'd have the spare money. You did the right thing, though, and I am equally excited for the PFP version, because it's still your story, and I will always love TEL no matter the edition!
I support you all the way Mono. No place for toxicity in our lives.
5171929
You're a female horse
You did the right thing, Mono and I support you completely. Your art is writing and TEL is a wonderful work of art.
I wonder who's the ass who went thru and down voted alot of the comments supporting your choice was..also why must there be hate we should love and tolerate
I support your decision! Will definitely pick up a copy once it's finished from PFP!
Take care, Mono.
o7
A very understandable choice (though, something of a surprise from my outside perspective as I had no idea pony publishing could reveal transphobia and such; especially in a non-trans story). I’ll be glad to have any edition of EL regardless.
It's unfortunately pretty rampant.
But I've been assured there's zero issues about such things in the community! /s
It's rather telling when most of the comments here that have dislikes have the same number of dislikes. How are your days going, dislikers? Ours are going well. Merry Christmas!
A shame things had to happen that way, but I'm glad the normal edition is happening just as planned. Stick to your guns and bow to no-one.
5171940
This is beautiful.
As disappointed as I confess I am, I will support you, Mono.
That sucks. I'm sorry. :(
And by "that" I most emphatically mean both parts of your announcement, as well as the situation where — being confronted with it — you had to choose which sacrifice to make based on someone else's problems. I wish we lived in a better world where you didn't have to.
Still, I'm glad you're sticking to your guns.
Oh joy, transphobia? Really? Great :/
Well, I'm grateful you aren't tolerating stuff like that. I'm saddened a fandom based on a show that promotes tolerance and diversity has transphobes in it though. Hate should have no place in our fandom.
As someone who is trans...
Thank you. It means a lot.
Ugh that’s super bummer town, to get rared up to work with someone then find out they aren’t who you wanna work with. On the bright side your work is brilliant and doesn’t need to bend in order shine!
Good decision.
Should I redo the poll and select Standard version?
5173015
There's no need; the standard edition will be happening regardless.
I'll assume going in that this person's transphobic remarks and disrespect to you and your friends were incidents of actual malintent and not simply flippant remarks or accidental discourtesy. More so, I'll assume the neither you nor your friends were an instigating party in this person's actions. With that said and even being none too fond of homosexuality in general, I'll say you made the right choice.
Originally, when I started writing this comment, I was going to write a response expressing my confusion and disappointment for your decision to cancel the special edition of TEL and the incidents that led to it. As I was writing it, though, I ended up thinking about your reasoning, and I realized I'd have done the exact same thing in your position, and although some elements of the decision still confuse me, such as the exact details behind this person's alleged mistreatment of you and your friends, they're ultimately irrelevant as if someone I was working with blatantly and knowingly disrespected something I was wholly passionate about, I'd have dropped them like a hot stone.
All that said, I won't lie and say I'm not disappointed in your decision still. I've never read so much as a single word of The Enchanted Library, but it's been in my Read Later bookshelf for ages now, and I've itched to read it, but never found the time, so when you posted and said you were coming out with not just a physical copy of the book but a special edition, I couldn't click on the link fast enough. I'd told myself that this would be my first experience with the book. I knew the story was great already, but the chance to be able to read it for the first time in a physical form was just too good to pass up. Hence, you can imagine my disappointment when those hopes fell through. Yes, I know I can still get the standard edition—and trust me, I plan to— but doing so knowing what I could've had in its place is still regretful.
To placate this, whilst I'd never ask someone to work with another who'd treat them poorly, I can't help but ask why you can't get another person to help release a special edition? Is it just because finding someone to do so is an ordeal itself, or has your experience with this last group soured you to the idea of creating an alternate edition?
P.S: In case my comment is misleading, I just want to say that I recognize that this isn't truly that big a deal and that your dignity is worth far more than any extra pretty book cover. In truth, what disappointment I feel from this would barely register as anything more than a mild let down on any other day.
I support your reasoning (though this announcement came out forever ago, sorry, just found it), and I really look forward to buying a standard edition copy when it comes out! ♡