Full Circle Moment with Scribe Media

[Originally posted on LinkedIn, in May 2024]

Full circle moment with Scribe Media this week: at 9pm on Monday evening, I sent the Scribe team a 100,000 word manuscript on behalf of an author.

I was introduced via email to this author last May and I was SUPER excited to work with them—the author has a stunning story and a national platform. But by the time the author responded to my email, my Scribe Media account had been shut down: I had been laid off hours before by JeVon McCormick, along with most of the Scribe team.

The author found me here—on LinkedIn—and we managed to set up a phone call. After quickly establishing a strong connection based on our shared Christian faith, the author decided to terminate their contract with Scribe, citing a total loss of trust. We forged ahead in working together as I set up my own LLC and have spent the past ten months constructing a manuscript sharing the author’s jaw-dropping story.

Six months into the process, we began shopping around for a publisher to help the author bring the book to print. We had several great interviews with different publishers, including—surprisingly—the new Scribe team. Scribe’s new CEO Eric Jorgenson didn’t shy away from acknowledging the company’s baggage, but also didn’t hold back in expressing enthusiasm about its new iteration. He was convincing, compelling, well spoken, and humble. Veteran team member Ellie Cole provided a superlative level of care and help to the author, and Jordan Grenadier Murphy put together some impressive marketing ideas. Compared to the other companies, they were able to do more for a lower price and at an accelerated timeline.

With reassurance that “new Scribe” was still producing books with the same look, feel, and quality as “old Scribe,” the author ultimately decided to risk partnering with them again. Already, Emmy Koziak—heading up the author’s book team— has indicated it was a good bet: she’s graciously prodded, sent reminders, and provided clear to-do lists, which is exactly what I would hope for in a project manager.

So: cheers to coming full circle, and cheers to new beginnings. 😊 It’s fitting that the manuscript we’ve written contains themes of forgiveness, starting over, and rising from the ashes. What a strange and wonderful thing to experience that with a company.

Hoping you nail this one, Scribe Media! I’ll be cheering you on and celebrating when you do.