As many of you know, Eclectic Bard Books recently celebrated our 2nd anniversary, and in high style I might add, as we ran twenty hours of authors and booksy games and chatter. Two years ago when the house was founded if we had been told that this would be us in two scarce years, I daresay we would have laughed out loud at the notion. I know this is not where we thought we would be in such a short window. But, like things have a way of doing, we have evolved into something more than what we began. It is surreal.
I am sincerely proud of our roster, and the diversity it represents. The notion that we are living up to our namesake is incredible. I cannot fathom that we would do it any other way and I am thankful that during the recent growth spout we took, we did not lose sight of why we began.
Eclectic Bard Books was founded to create a place for authors not just to be able to write, but to be able to write what they are passionate about without having to conform or try  to fit someone else’s mold. Yes, we do go through the editing processes and reviews like everyone else, but any changes that come forth are because the author decided it was a better way to tell the story, not of obligation, and not because the designated editor changed the author’s work. We feel incredibly strongly about creative rights, and wrongs.
That all said, we are still young, and growing. We will have, as we do right now, expansion pains as we try to adapt and adjust to more faces at the table. There is no ‘kiddie’ table here, everyone has a seat with the grownups. The fact that half of our roster at this moment are brand new or yet to debut authors is EXCITING to us. Situationally, it is abundant with issues unique to new authors and young authors, but we are up to the challenge. One day, we hope that the name Eclectic Bard Books will become synonymous with quality new authors and debut books you want to read.
For now, Thank you for finding us and following along. As I started, after two short, quick years we are astride the road much farther along that we could have imaged and it is because readers, other authors, and industry professionals have embraced what we are trying to do. We will continue to do our best to bring good books to the table and reach out to share new authors with readers everywhere we go. It is our mission.
When we began, we sloganned with ‘Your writing world – No excuses.’ This may need to evolve some too as we reach a wider audience, to something more like Our writing world for your reading – No excuses. (just off the cuff o’course) The picture is incomplete without the readers. I think as we embark on our next year (aside from the books on sale that I hope you saw) this will become one of my quests to find a way to recognize our readers as well.
We begin, we dream, we become. Thanks for being along for the ride.
Aedan