Update 8/31/23 Reopening after Acquisition
A spokesperson for Enduring Ventures just announced that their deal to buy Scribe Media, which was being discussed back in June re: a letter of intent, has closed. So, Scribe Media will be reopening or resuming under new Enduring Ventures ownership and leadership. Apparently, despite the messy situation the previous ownership left–including laying off the majority of Scribe’s workers, customer support silence, angry clients and contractors, and a couple lawsuits–Enduring Ventures somehow still closed the deal to purchase Scribe Media nonetheless. It’s going to be a long road ahead to turn around the business. It’s still not clear whether the new, reinvented Scribe Media will honor contracts signed with authors under the previous ownership.
Update 7/30/23: Scribe Media Lawsuit
It looks like there’s a lawsuit involving the former CEO of Scribe Media JeVon “JT” McCormick. He’s being sued for alleged securities fraud, specifically because he “fraudulently induced plaintiffs to invest over $6 million in the company by concealing its true financial condition,” the plaintiffs claim.
“McCormick went as far as to falsify Scribe’s financial records, his personal financial records, and emails to deceive potential investors into thinking that Scribe was a successful, attractive, and profitable business,” the lawsuit alleges.
This lawsuit, filed in July, joins the apparent class action lawsuit filed back in June 2023.
Update 6/25/23: Potential Scribe Media Buyer Appears
It’s been reported that a company called Enduring Ventures has signed a letter of intent to purchase Scribe Media assets and potentially run the company if the purchase is successful. A lot can happen between now and the purchase, which may or may not happen after due diligence is performed. Scribe authors and potential authors should weigh their options carefully.
The publishing industry was shocked to see the announcement that Scribe Media, a prestigious book writing service provider responsible for David Goggins’ bestseller, has decided to cease operations and layoff 90 employees. Known for their comprehensive support in helping authors write, publish, and market their books, Scribe Media’s shutdown leaves legions of aspiring and established authors searching for a suitable alternative. Enter MindStir Media – a professional and reliable book writing service with a proven track record of assisting authors in bringing their literary visions to life. In this blog post, we’ll explore who Scribe Media was, their decision to halt operations, and why MindStir Media is poised to fill the void left behind.
Scribe Media Layoffs, Shutdown & Class Action Lawsuit: An Overview and Their Decision to Close
Scribe Media was a prominent book writing service provider that specialized in guiding authors through the entire process of writing, publishing, and marketing their books. By offering services such as ghostwriting, editing, and cover design, Scribe Media helped countless authors achieve their literary dreams. However, the company recently made the difficult decision in May 2023 to cease operations and layoff 90 workers as per Austin Business Journal, leaving many authors in search of a new partner to help them navigate the complex world of book writing and publishing. Scribe Media also ran subsidiaries Lioncrest Publishing and Libra Press. Lioncrest was the publishing imprint that Scribe used to publish certain notable books for its clients, including David Goggins’ Can’t Hurt Me. Libra Press, a failed attempt at a traditional publishing imprint, only has two titles listed in its bookstore.
Many sources mention sudden lack of funding to be the main issue with Scribe Media. In other words, Scribe ran out of money. Multiple online forums tell the same story as to how this unfolded: Scribe Media hadn’t been profitable for years and just kept raising capital to try to dig itself out of a hole instead of cutting costs and coming up with a plan to become profitable. Its CEO has a history of running companies into the ground, as mentioned by several sources, and the constant raising of investments and capital for Scribe didn’t help the company at all in the end. The massively expensive new office, which reportedly cost about $100k per month, didn’t help matters. Scribe’s CEO resigned thereafter and the company’s second in command Meghan McCracken also left the company after seeing the writing on the wall.
Scribe did something awful to its employees: They laid them off without any severance whatsoever. Once recognized as an Inc. Best Workplaces company, Scribe turned on its employees who helped the company grow. The employees, no doubt feeling betrayed, went on to start a petition to try to force Scribe to pay them severance and other benefits. The ex employees also want a cut of the proceeds if a sale of the company and/or its assets takes place. It’s a very messy situation. Many freelancers are also owed payments according to various forums.
To make matters worse for Scribe Media, it looks like a class action lawsuit was filed against Scribe Media in June 2023 (“Cormier v. Scribe Media, LLC”). Alyssa Cormier, a former employee of Scribe Media, is listed as the plaintiff.
Now, forums like Reddit, Twitter, and Scribe Media LinkedIn have turned the situation into a PR nightmare for Scribe Media. The company has done a terrible job with crisis management, in many cases not responding to its clients at all, so those same clients are venting their frustrations on those forums for all to see. Freelancers are also taking to social media and forums to share how they haven’t been paid by Scribe for their work. The Scribe Media website is still operational and doesn’t mention any disruptions whatsoever, while Scribe’s headquarters listed on Google at 507 Calles St Suite #107, Austin, TX 78702 shows “permanently closed,” as of August 2023.
For a company once at the top of the publishing world, Scribe Media has recently shown entrepreneurs and business owners exactly what you should not do when running a company. If you’re running a company, no matter how big or small, take notes and make sure that you don’t replicate these mistakes that led to Scribe’s demise.
MindStir Media: A Suitable Alternative for Book Writing Services
Scribe Media operated as a brand for only around 5 years (prior to this, they were called Book In A Box and their offerings were substantially different from Scribe’s). About half of businesses fail after the 5 year mark. Will Scribe Media try to reinvent itself for a third time after an acquisition? As alluded to earlier, there’s talk of a potential buyer of their “assets.” With all the disarray at Scribe, authors should be very wary in dealing with Scribe.
MindStir Media, on the other hand, has been in business since 2009 (nearly 15 years!) as, you guessed it, MindStir Media. This sort of consistency and reliability is important and rare in publishing. So, as authors search for a worthy and stable replacement for Scribe Media, MindStir Media emerges as an obvious top contender. With a wide range of book writing services tailored to suit the needs of first-time authors, indie publishers, and established authors alike, MindStir Media offers a comprehensive and personalized approach to book writing and publishing. And MindStir is notably partnered with Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington, a renowned entrepreneur responsible for over $6 billion in sales, as well as Mariel Hemingway, the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway. Furthermore, MindStir Media just landed on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America!
Services Offered by MindStir Media
MindStir Media provides various book writing services designed to elevate an author’s work and streamline the publishing process. These services include:
- Ghostwriting & Book Incubator: For those who need assistance in crafting their manuscripts, MindStir Media offers professional ghostwriting and book writing incubator services, ensuring that your book is well-written and engaging. Ghostwriting is completely done-for-you, while the incubator program is more of a collaboration with the author.
- Editing: To guarantee a polished final product, MindStir Media provides expert editing services, refining your manuscript to meet industry standards. MindStir uses track changes in Microsoft Word to highlight each change made and the author can accept or reject each individual change. Overall, the author has final say over her book.
- Book Cover Design: Recognizing the importance of an eye-catching cover, MindStir Media’s skilled designers create stunning book covers that capture the essence of your story and entice readers. All of MindStir’s cover designs are “custom,” not template-based.
- Book Layout: MindStir has a team of professional formatters who will make your book’s interior look professional. As with the cover designs, MindStir only offers custom book layouts, so each layout is different and matches the cover of each book produced.
- Distribution: MindStir’s books are distributed to around 40k booksellers, wholesalers and retailers in over 190 countries, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and Powells.
- Marketing & PR: Ongoing book marketing and PR can help your book find success. To that end, MindStir Media provides a wide array of marketing options including celebrity endorsements from Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington or Mariel Hemingway, social media marketing and management, Amazon Ads, book trailers, press releases, Amazon reviews and more. MindStir can even get you covered by NBC, CBS and FOX.
Success Stories and Testimonials for MindStir Media
MindStir Media has helped numerous authors achieve success with their books. A couple examples of successful titles they’ve played a part in include Hemingway’s Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead and Change Short & Simple by Chris Masiello. Both are #1 Amazon Bestsellers. MindStir has published over 100 bestsellers and 65 award-winners. These accomplishments, along with countless positive testimonials from clients, as well as celebrities such as Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington and Mariel Hemingway, underscore MindStir’s dedication to professionalism and excellence in the realm of book writing services.
MindStir Media Catering to Different Types of Authors
Whether you’re a first-time author, an indie publisher, or an established author, MindStir Media has tailored solutions to meet your unique needs. Their comprehensive suite of services ensures that every aspect of your book’s creation, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, is handled with care and expertise. By partnering with MindStir Media, you’ll gain access to invaluable resources and support, allowing you to focus on what truly matters – telling your story.
Unlike Scribe Media, MindStir Media doesn’t just focus on non-fiction. MindStir offers publishing, distribution and marketing offerings for fiction authors as well.
Conclusion
While the closure of Scribe Media may be disheartening for many authors, the rise of MindStir Media offers a beacon of hope for those seeking professional and reliable book writing services. With a proven track record of success for nearly 15 years and a commitment to providing personalized support for authors at every stage of their journey, MindStir Media is poised to become the go-to choice for authors in need of book writing, publishing and marketing assistance.
If you’re searching for a partner to help you navigate the complex world of book writing and publishing, consider MindStir Media as your guide. With their comprehensive services, skilled team, and dedication to excellence, you’ll be well on your way to achieving literary success.