PUBLISHING RIGHTS RETURNED TO ME

Last July, Doug Addison was saying that there had been chains and contracts holding people back from many areas of their lives. Most people did not realise it. They had gotten used to operating within the limits placed upon them. God is removing the chains, the contracts and disarming the attacks against us.

He saw the angel with the contracts take them off to a blazing altar in the distance. The contracts and agreements that have held you back in the past were burned up in the fire of the Lord. As this was going on, new freedom was being released in the spirit. People's eyes were suddenly opening to things that happened long ago, things that needed to be broken off. As the new freedom came, they began to rejoice and worship God.

This was quite interesting as in Mar 2018, I received the letter from Charisma House confirming that the publishing rights for 'Beauty out of Ashes' were returned to me. It felt like God was removing the publishing contract and agreement. Though I was very sad when I had to buy back the remaining stocks of my books in Dec 2017, I knew that somehow this could be a contract that would hold me back in future. I just don't know it now. So I should rejoice and worship God because I have just been set free! It was a significant thing.

Recently I was thinking about this publishing issue. I realised that some sites are still selling my books while stocks last. And Creation House is still in operation. I also read some not so good review about this publishing house. So I decided to clarify with the staff.  He replied promptly to tell me they are closing down the co-publishing arm of the company, which is Creation House. But there are still outstanding contracts with some authors. When I went into the Charisma House website, I discovered that they no longer take in unsolicited manuscripts. The author has to go through a literary agent.

Suddenly the Lord made it clear to me why the contract was not to my benefit. I didn't know all these back in 2012. I was elated to be getting a publishing contract. Whether it was vanity publishing or not I didn't care. So long as I felt the price was reasonable I was okay to go with Creation House. Of course I was a little disappointed when I saw that it wasn't Charisma House. But it was fine as I had to start somewhere. I also trusted that the Lord was guiding my steps. The entire process with Creation House was very pleasant.

I didn't see it as a ripoff from the company by making me pay for the publishing cost. At least I got back 100 books. I spent more than $8000 for the co publishing and recently buying back my rights. I sold only 100 books at most which barely covered the cost. But then I felt it wasn't money lost to me. I saw it as an investment. Now I am more savvy when it comes to publishing as I know there are other cheaper options.

Besides the royalty was quite low and it didn't make sense that for ebooks, the royalty was 50%. Shouldn't it be at little or no cost to the publishing company? The Lord showed me that by buying back my books and my rights, I could actually earn more than just the royalties. So at least I could recoup some of the investment. I can sell my books at $10 and retain all of the proceeds. 

In future if I wanted to sell this as an ebook I could do so on another platform since I have the rights. It made sense for me to own the rights since I believe I paid for the majority of the publishing cost. In future if God made me famous as an author, I could go with another publishing house to reprint my first book. Hence I saw how all things work for my good.

I didn't see it back then. I thought God was shutting down the door to my writing ministry. I was so sad and cried as I thought the enemy finally succeeded in taking down this book. Besides the sales were not good so maybe that was why the company dropped my book. But even so, I realised that it was tough for an author to be noticed with a few books. An author had to keep on producing quality works. Marketing does help but only to a certain extent. Besides maybe the timing wasn't right back then.

Now I see how the old things had to die to make way for the new. Whatever it was, I choose to believe I was led by the Lord to go with Creation House. Yet God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change his mind. Even after so many years, He still holds true to His promise. Though it seemed like my book died a natural death with the closing down of Creation House, all this was a part of God's plan. God can resurrect this book.

Anyway all these belonged to the past season which is dying. Doug Addison said this is a time of the Book of Your Purpose being opened, but the old season must be allowed to die and fall away. I shall put all these behind and be expectant for the new thing God is doing in my life. And I trust God to restore double for the trouble. Even the money spent on publishing can be recouped. I would not agonise over the money spent because God can always give me the provision. I take it as sowing a seed into His kingdom which I will get a harvest one day. Soon. Now is the time for repayment. And it's not just the money but double honour for the shame I suffered.