We all know stories about these kinds of publishers,
don’t we? I certainly found out more about them after writing theses posts.
don’t we? I certainly found out more about them after writing theses posts.
Personally, I’ve noticed some pretty shoddy work put out by small pubs, badly edited, poor covers and little or no support for the authors in the way of promotion. When a person sees that behavior up front, it makes you wonder what goes on behind the scenes. Like what kind of royalty calculations are being used? Whether or not the author is getting their proper percentage of monies earned by their books?
A lady wrote to me recently with a horrific story
about her experiences. Along with other authors, she hadn’t received any monies
since September from her small publisher. Her twenty-one books are being held
ransom and the owners refuse to discuss this state of affairs with her because
they won’t admit to there being a problem.
about her experiences. Along with other authors, she hadn’t received any monies
since September from her small publisher. Her twenty-one books are being held
ransom and the owners refuse to discuss this state of affairs with her because
they won’t admit to there being a problem.
All she wants is the rights back for her work. According
to her contract, they must acquiesce. But they won’t!
to her contract, they must acquiesce. But they won’t!
Think about it!
Twenty-one freakin’ books they are controlling without
her consent. Letters and demands from lawyers have done nothing to save the
situation. Pleading and threats haven’t worked. Even taking on a media blitz to
expose their treachery and rotten business practices hasn’t moved them to do
the right thing. Can she afford to sue? Can anyone? Can she afford not to?
her consent. Letters and demands from lawyers have done nothing to save the
situation. Pleading and threats haven’t worked. Even taking on a media blitz to
expose their treachery and rotten business practices hasn’t moved them to do
the right thing. Can she afford to sue? Can anyone? Can she afford not to?
I feel sad for her and I’d hate to think anyone
reading this post would ever let themselves get into a similar fix. Remember
when I said “Do your Homework”? This is the perfect example of why it’s so
important.
reading this post would ever let themselves get into a similar fix. Remember
when I said “Do your Homework”? This is the perfect example of why it’s so
important.
If
anyone else has stories they’d like to share with us about their experiences, please
e-mail me at mimibarbour@ hotmail.com and I’ll be glad to have you as a guest.
anyone else has stories they’d like to share with us about their experiences, please
e-mail me at mimibarbour@ hotmail.com and I’ll be glad to have you as a guest.
There should be a group to head up public boycotts of these pubs to apply economic pressure so it's no longer worth holding onto rights.
Something should be done to help those who are stuck, that's for sure. This poor author told me she had even tried a media blitz against her publisher, thinking they'd want her to stop and would give her back her books but they did nothing. I sure do feel for her…I know I'd be devasted!!
Behold the power of social media. Time for her to get the word out via Twitter, Facebook, + Google, and more.
Even the biggest, most powerful corporations cannot stand up to public humiliation and scrutiny.
Well said Marc!!