In the past, I have taken occasion to send an email to staff and creators of Pro Se Productions, essentially a ‘State of Pro Se’ message. Although this one will be shorter than the previous addresses of the same sort, it is probably the most important one I’ve made thus far, and therefore want to share this with our fans as well as all the hard working souls that make up Pro Se.
As I’ve stated before, the last two years plus have been a roller coaster for me personally, for my family, and as a result of that, for Pro Se. Not to dwell, but to explain, I began experiencing major health issues in late 2013, due first to diabetes and then to congestive heart failure. Through every bit of that, Pro Se has continued, sometimes more active than others, but still we have not only maintained, but we have grown and now, thanks to the perseverance, patience, and talent of those that are the real reason Pro Se exists, we are a well established publisher with a great future ahead.
Having said that, though, there are things that are behind, projects that have gotten derailed. That, as I’ve stated before, is fully my responsibility, regardless of the reason. Many writers have contributed works that, due to my absence, have yet to be published and should have been already. Some projects, most notably the Single Shot Signature Series, have lagged, in large part due to my illness, but also due to other factors. And although my health issues are not completely 100 percent over yet, I take this time to make the following statement:
As of May 17, 2016, Pro Se Productions will be moving forward aggressively with its continued mission to publish the best in Genre Fiction and New Pulp, as we have been able to do since opening our book publishing doors in 2011. What this means is that we will be tackling every project we have yet to complete as quickly as we can and with as much vigor and forward movement as possible. It also means we will be evaluating every single project, looking for what we can do to not only make it the best it can be, but also determining what must be done to get the works that have been waiting their turn for a long time put together and out the door.
I will be in touch with every single author with a work pending with Pro Se Productions and our active artists in the next several days. This will be a practice that I will continue on a regular basis of some sort. We are a company and we are a community within ourselves and yes, even a family to a degree. A family that I am honored to be a part of and one that I fully intend to take care of, and of utmost importance is moving what we have ready to publish along.
With that in mind, it must be said that, looking at our backlog, not every book can come out in the next week, month, or even year. What will be going on the next few days will establish a schedule, a plan, although flexible and fluid, for getting all the projects that we have on tap out as quickly as possible. And the creators and staff behind these works are definitely a part of this process, as it is their creativity, their imagination that we have been given charge of.
Notice, I have said ‘we’ frequently. There was a time where I was the ‘we’ behind Pro Se, but we passed the point long ago where that was possible. Even had I remained completely healthy, Pro Se has become a company so large with so much potential that no single person could expect to handle it. And thankfully, I have been fortunate enough to find people who have a passion, a fever for what Pro Se stands for, what the company produces to come in and, even with me kicking and screaming at times, help take Pro Se to another level. From Kristi King-Morgan in the often thankless, yet essential position of Director of Corporate Operations to the multiple editors working with Her, our interns, and of course, our fantastic creators, Pro Se Productions will be moving forward, no longer at a staggered pace affected by the health of the crazy guy behind the curtain, but at a steady trot, bringing You the best in Genre Fiction for many years to come.
Give us the next few days to tie up loose ends, to push every project from where it is, and to prepare for what is to come. Trust me, it’ll be worth all the waiting everyone has done.
And sincerely, Thank You all.
Tommy Hancock
Editor in Chief
Pro Se Productions
5/16/16
