E-Reads has learned that at a specially convened board meeting of the Romance Writers of America, the organization reaffirmed its stand against allocating conference space to publishers promulgating subsidized, vanity or similar self-publication programs.

After a controversy erupted last fall about granting permission for conference space to a publisher that had recently announced formation of a self-publication venture for romance authors, RWA formed a task force to evaluate the emerging publication landscape, review definitions and recommend options. These options are limited by the organization’s non-profit charter, which some officers feared might be compromised by permitting subsidy publishers a seat at the table.

Fiduciary obligations notwithstanding, there were strong moral grounds for RWA’s opposition, some of it bordering on outrage. Those sentiments were supported by the Mystery Writers of America and the Science Fiction Writers of America.

Though the task force and RWA board deliberated diligently and judiciously they were under some pressure to clarify their position in view of the impending annual conference taking place in Nashville in July, where the publisher in question and possibly others in the self-publication field need to know their status. Also, it was incumbent on the board to clarify whether self-published books qualified for RWA’s prestigious Rita awards.

The task force modified or expanded some definitions but RWA’s fundamental position is unchanged.

Michelle Monkou, the organization’s president, announced its findings thus:”RWA will extend invitations to a wide pool of publishers. Invitees may only represent their non-subsidy/non-vanity publishing programs (imprints, divisions, or lines) at RWA’s conference. Space for spotlights, workshops, and booksignings will be allocated to lines, imprints, or divisions that best meet the requirements for ‘Qualifying Markets’. This new process of evaluation will likely increase opportunities for small presses and e-presses that previously have been excluded.

“The potentially broader array of publishing companies present at RWA’s national conference in no way signals a change in our mission or core values. RWA has no intent to tell publishers how to conduct their business, but as a professional writers’ association, RWA stands firmly against any attempts to directly solicit RWA members to pursue vanity/subsidy publishing or other author-financed forms of publication. Members can be assured that publishers and agents allowed to participate at our national conference will have met this criterion.”

It is notable that the name of the publisher that started the fracas was not specified in Ms. Monkou’s memo (you can refresh your memory here), but we hope that the underlying message is that the parties have reached an accommodation that will enable the Nashville conference to proceed without distraction.

Richard Curtis