Thursday, September 24, 2009

Whoa!

This may only be of interest to me, cuz I'm in the magazine "biz," but I thought I'd share.

So, okay. For the past few months I have been exchanging emails with the editor-in-chief of Quilter's Home magazine, and that person was not, in fact, Mark Lipinski. Truth be told, other than his initial email to me after I sent him my first article, I have had no direct communication with him whatsoever. First, his managing editor, the lovely and kind Jake Finch, and I were doing the email/phone thang, and then there was nothing for several weeks. Then I sent Jake a "What's up" email and she dropped the little bomb that Quilter's Home had been "acquired" by New Track Media and she had been canned. A week or two later, I got email from the new editor-in-chief, Jan Magee, late of Quilter's Newsletter. Mark now had some new title, but I was given the impression that the mag was still pretty much his baby.

Now, Jan and I had been trying to get my contract for the second article, which is supposed to appear in December, squared away, and apparently my mail wasn't getting through, so I sent another copy to her via Priority Mail a couple weeks ago. Early this week, I sent her an email to ask if she had received it, and received a reply from some new person saying that Jan was no longer EIC at Quilter's Home, and that Mark would be handling everything from now on.

Mark posted this on his personal blog yesterday:

As of yesterday, I have resigned from my position with New Track Media and am no longer connected with Quilter’s Home magazine in any way. I am also discontinuing any involvement with Quilt Out Loud, QNNtv.com, and Quilter’s Club of America.


God knows what will become of the magazine now (though they really should give me a call) without that crazy dude at the helm. I'm betting it may just die away at this point, but one never knows. But I know the world will be a sadder place without a quilting magazine that regularly features a middle aged gay man and his dog on the cover of every issue.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

thanks for the info on Mark - I've been wondering what's up, he hasn't been his usual exuberant self the past couple of days.
Thea M

Joyce said...

It's amazing what goes on behind the scenes that we readers know nothing about. I agree that the magazine will probably fade away or become unrecognizable. Too bad.

kathy n said...

That sucks. I don't usually read quilting magazines, but he was so attitudinal that I really enjoyed it.

Dawn's Daily Journal said...

WHAT????!!!! I just subscribed to his magazine and love it!!! It's quirky and different and and and OMG!! I also just paid to subscribe to the videos!!! AUGH!!!! dI am going over to read his blog right now.
hugs,
dawn

Anonymous said...

That stinks...every time you find something that you really love, be it food , drug , shoes...someone steps in to screw it up and take it off the market !!
Is there no justis ?!

Tambo said...

hmmm...odd. It's a sad day, sad indeed. If they call you, let me know and I'll renew my subscription!

Rick said...

DAMN, I just sent in my renewal this morning. Luckily, I had spend my money on fabric and had to mark the "bill me later" box. Guess who won't get paid. I'm a straight guy learning this stuff for the lasat 4 years and am more stupid now that when I started. This guy made me laugh. I have subscribed to several mags in the past but his was the only one I ever renewed. Well, someone is always wanting to piss in my Cheerios.

Linda said...

I am sooo upset to hear this! This is one of the magazines I really looked forward to reading each month. I will really miss Mark - so much! I don't quilt, but love to read about quilts. And his magazine was so different!

Linda in VA

Dawn said...

Guess what. I've nominated you for a Kreativ Blogger Award on one of my blogs. Pop over there and have a look when you get a chance if you'd like. www.wordsogold.blogspot.com

Dawn
www.subversivestitch.blogspot.com

Library Gal Quilts said...

Oh, I love Mark and this makes me so very sad. What is up. It must be something big and bad...ugh. I feel for him whatever it is. I heart Mark Lipinski no matter and have enjoyed the heck out of his outrageous and funny ways...he'll surface again I do hope! Pam in Chico

Brenda said...

Boo hoo hoo! And I just re-upped my subscription! Drat!

Gene Black said...

Yeah, I am wondering if it will be worth keeping the subscription. But I did see your article!