I enjoyed how you phrased the agent thing; no worries there. You’re right about the contract — it’s void but I’ve also sent letters/emails to that effect, so I’m covered whatever the weather.

Do let me know re. agent-y stuff. Looks like I’m getting on the same ladder.

Er, yes, could’ve phrased the agent thing a bit better, but I’ll let you know whether I recommend it, if it works.

And on Jane’s comment and your response, I also took some advice and the gist was that, as your publisher clearly did not keep to their side of the contract, it would, by any reasonable legal view, be a void contract. Especially if you’ve then given notice and stated all the right things.

(Did I really say ‘Val Doonican’ jumpers…)

–Joe
All right fella — welcome aboard the good ship Matthew. And there I was thinking you were too hard for internets. If I say thanks one more time in this thread I’ll soon tip from highly sincere into disingenuous — so I won’t. But be assured you have them.

You’re right of course. Other reasons for not blogging this sooner included a lack of clarity on the situation, and a feeling that if I didn’t, I’d have nowhere to point friends I don’t see so often who don’t really know what’s going on (and presumably think they didn’t get an invite to the launch). Also, well, there were (are) possible legalities involved, and as I said up there someplace, I don’t want it to be an all-out war over here as I’m not given to refereeing.

I’m pretty whiney. You’re too kind is what it is.

Is being halfway into an agent something you can recommend? I’m still preparing the onslaught.

Cheerio, and godspeed with things your end.

No, you’re not a ‘coward’ for not blogging this earlier, you’re just a decent bloke who doesn’t want to have a go at someone and as one or more of your comment posters have said, if you find someone who likes your work enough to say they’re going to publish it, then you don’t want to s*it on them.

And you’re not a ‘whining fanny’ either. It’s gutting, pure and simple to be that close and not get the book out there. I’m no expert, but I would say:
1) Your book must be good enough to be published, or this particular publisher would not have wanted to publish it in the first place, whatever happened afterwards.
2) I can’t see any reason why you shouldn’t be transparent as you say and tell possible future publishers that you had a (now null and void) contract with a publisher who in these credit crunch times went to the wall. It shows them that someone else also rated the book which can’t be bad.
3) Agent? Yep, it’s what I’m half way into at the moment (or at least trying to be). If you can get one to listen to you, which isn’t easy. They’re the way to bigger publishers, but for the smaller presses, I would think you could still approach them direct.

Good luck with it, I’m waiting to read the book!
Joe

Best topics in copywriter for 2009-11-19…

Keep the faith.

–Richard
Your project sounds thoroughly mint. I reckon you’ll always find innovation where money’s tight, and it sounds like an awesome party if nothing else. Will definitely keep an eye on this over the next week or so; it sounds like you’ve got a good brain on you. Marketing’s the most important thing for any writer — self-pubbed or indie or otherwise — and though I write that marketing stuff all day, my business nouse is nil to middling.

For that reason and more, I wouldn’t ever self-publish. There’s a bit of a stigma, I guess, and so many poorly-edited books that need a good battering with a backspace key and a better, more commercial cover. I also think that what’s happened isn’t a reflection on independent publishing at all. Have a look at Snow Books, Salt et al — there’s a ton of incredible writing with good backing and clever, clever people getting it out there.

Course, if the book never got placed, I’d probably make it available to download for free. Seems to make a bit of sense for ten people to read it over none.

All the best for yours.

Five bands and five artists created original music and art around five themes of my novel; anger, desire, love, jealousy and madness. So i’ve produced a novel, art book and album, i’m having the launch with the bands playing, a seven day art exhibition and readings, i’ve also made a short film taking a monologue from the novel and turning it into a script.

This has cost about £5,000 which came from an arts council grant, and as much of a real effort it’s been holding down a job in marketing, working 9-6 every day, and editing the novel, working with the bands and artists and pulling it all together, i’d definitely do it again (and kinda plan to), and the experience has been extremely eye opening.

The novel and art book and album are all on sale on amazon and i’m looking into some shop sales with indies in and around london, so hopefully i’ll be able to sell a few as well, but most importantly, the cathartic experience from putting it all together has been mind blowing really.

Would you consider going down the self publishing route after what you’ve been through with an indie?

Emily

You’re also spot-on about the idea of not wanting to burn bridges. When I first signed, books were still being published. Even when stuff was going wonky, books were still coming out. And a good few writers seemed absolutely on board, which inspired confidence as much as, well, confusion.

Couple this with a lot of promises (and I believe the intentions weren’t altogether empty), and you’re left thinking everything will be all right. On several occasions I nearly bombed out. I also think a fear of it all falling through stopped swifter action — and I think the actions of a few aggressive people put others off speaking up.

That said, it’s difficult to know facts when so many different accounts went untold. For all I knew, I was alone with what was happening, but I did — and do — have links with some lovely folk in South Wales (as I believe you do; our paths have kind of crossed before), where a concerted effort was made to find out more. And similarly, farther from there, good friends were burned. But ultimately, a lot of us HAVE salvaged our rights — to our books and to a bit of closure.

I’m sorry for everybody involved, and while it might be too late, I’d like, somehow, to contact others caught up in it, and see if we can get answers. For Caroline’s charity, for certain authors’ royalty payments, and so on.

I’ve seen plenty of evidence that it’s a financial problem. I just haven’t seen much humility.