I always said I would write a tell-all book about my Peace Corps experience, but I wouldn’t want it to be anything my mom wouldn’t be able to read. Well, my mom doesn’t read blogs, so here goes!
And, for the past three years, I have had a children’s book under contract with a publisher in Maryland (http://www.writerslairbooks.com/) Now I know what guys mean when they talk about psyco ex-girlfiriends. Anyway, we just broke up.
My publisher and I signed a contract in summer ’05 to publish two children’s books. She actually found me through one of her high school friends and approached me to publish my books. Much madness ensued. Nothing went according to our legal Agreement, especially all of the promised promotions, attention to details (like having me work with the illustrator and see the fruits of his efforts, actually having a book at my first book signing at Book Expo America (BEA) in NY June 07).
Then, our existing contract (which was due to expire in August 08) was ’replaced’ by some crazy author’s playbook in the beginning of 2008. The publisher didn’t know, but another author had sent it to me months before the publisher shared it with me. Oddly, the playbook was dated the same time my book was due to release. Now I know what she was doing with her time.
If you want to see it, I am happy to send you a copy if you promise to never sign anything that looks like this! I’ll also send the original contract and the publisher’s goodbye letter. Heck, I’ll send you a copy of the book if you want to see it! That’s a whole ’nuther blog. Happily, I am free of this mess and able to take my first book which is very special to me and my family, and I can pursue other opportunities.
Just email me at mtalalay [at] gmail.com.
Here is a copy of just one of the emails this publisher sent to me. I included my letter first so you can see that I am no innocent. Her reply follows, in the exact wording, spelling and grammar errors not edited.
____________________________________________________
My letter (post my first book signing at BEA with no book)
Shana:
I have alot of things to discuss with you and I would like to schedule a meeting after you meet with Melinda. We have many of the same concerns and it is time to meet and face them all head on. This note will be brief for that reason.
Fortunately, through my magazine contacts, I also have a deeper knowledge of the book development process for children’s picture books. I might share some of those insights from major publishers with you. As we go along in this process, I check with more than 10 different contacts and, quite frankly, most of them are alarmed at the way things are going with Writer’s Lair. I am alarmed, too.
I am very concerned about my cover art. First of all, Maya writes with her nose and erases with her tail, so I am not sure what all of those flying crayons are about. And, the whole point of the story is that her pilot dad goes away, not that she flies off with him. We wouldn’t really have the same story if that were the case. Not sure why Maya is picking her nose, either. I feel completely left out of the illustration process and, per my contract, I am supposed to be intimately involved. It simply won’t work to tell me that you have done ‘extensive research’ because, unless I can see the fruits of your research, I honestly don’t trust that it has actually happened. I finally have to say that to you. After being accused of having a tantrum and not trusting you, I can say that things are not going the way we agreed and this must change.
It was very disappointing that I barely saw you on Friday at my book signing without a book. You waited in line for the Secret, but didn’t even see fit to stand with Melinda or me during our signings.
Sending your college intern is simply not good enough. And, to be honest, the first thing Cassie did was raise her voice to yell at Melinda and me for not calling her when we arrived. Despite our efforts to get her to tell us where SPECIFICALLY to meet (she kept saying ‘meet me at Javits’), we had to figure out where to go on our own, and she wasn’t even there for Melinda’s signing.
I will not tolerate being yelled at by your intern for any reason, let alone her poor planning. After 15 years in the tradeshow business, I can assure you that no one ever says ‘meet me at Javits’ because it is a circus. And, I can also say that I have no intention of doing more publicity unless there is a book to sign. It was simply embarassing to sign homemade bags.
Cassie even knew in advance that my illustrator is from New York and was coming to the show. Did it occur to you to put author and illustrator together?
The other author and I expected reasonable expenses to be paid per our contract. I must know in advance of a promotional event what the anticipated expenses will be. My contract states that you will pay pre-arranged expenses. This has to be detailed.
This could all be very different – collaborative, creative, and supportive. Instead, I feel completely out of the loop on my own book. I have tremendous contacts and resources which I want to apply to my own book’s success. But, I won’t even ask my own magazine editor to schedule a half-page in her book for me until the book is in my own hands because I have lost faith and trust.
Mary
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Her reply (not completely factual)
Good morning Mary,
Currently, I am out of town but felt the need to address your email.
Thank you for your thoughts and ideas about your cover. I will take
them under advisement.
Firstly, the tone of your email is inappropriate and suggests disrespect. I would never email you or
speak with you in such a manner and I would expect the same consideration.
Had you made an inquiry you would have discovered that BEA was provided with the correct information. Many times BEA will modify information according to the space in their program booklet.
Ours was not the only information BEA printed in error. Therefore, the
error was not on my part or on the part of my intern (by definition an
intern is an advanced student or graduate, therefore the modifier
“college” is redundant—when in doubt just use “Cassie”). (Editor’s note – actually, there are many types of interns. What I should have said was “lackey” or “bitch”)
I am not sure how candid your industry professional contacts were with you, but your
expectations are those of an author who has already sold a million
copies of a single title and has done that more than once. (Editor’s note – actually, all of my industry contacts said it is unheard of for a new, unknown author to go to a book signing without a book. It’s the celebs and established authors who can pull that off for the sheer audience curiosity factor).
The best selling authors of my acquaintance have often mentioned to myself and
my art director the lack of say in cover design and the promotional
fees that come out of their own pocket. (editor’s note – again, not the case according to my research)
If you have some doubts to
the market viability of these authors some of them are L.A. Banks,
Jack Ketchum, and Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Regarding the illustration
process: there seems to be a further misunderstanding about our roles
in the publication process. I am your publisher, not your vendor.
Illustration of your book is under my domain and the team I have
working for your book have advanced degrees and years of experience.
You seems to be taking my willingness to include your ideas and
thoughts as a obligation to do so. Quite frankly from your emails it
is quite clear that you do not understand illustration nor design or
the marketing that will make these things work. So, no, there will be
no meeting between you and the illustrator. (editor’s note – previous emails stated I would meet the illustrator and work with him. Our legal Agreement stated I would review and approve all illustrations and copy changes).
Have no doubt, the quality of this book is paramount. There is a huge
investment on my part and I will put out nothing less than the best.
As to your paragraph discussing the validity of my company’s research
and credentials—it is rude, misinformed, and I will not dignify it.
While this is a business arrangement, we are not partners, please do
more extensive research about the publishing industry.
During the
entire trip, I was busy meeting with executives in regards to authors,
potential partnerships, and more distribution outlets. (Editor’s note: Publisher was in the line to get a signed copy of The Secret – I saw her there during my signing).
My goal at BEA
was to ensure the best possible chances for all WLB releases and that
is what I spent the trip doing. It is not your right to question my
whereabouts.
Cassie was there with you to take care of all of your
needs. If you are having a conflict with Cassie let me know, and I
MAY assign someone else to you.
If Cassie did indeed yell at you I will speak to her about that.
However, you were told to call Cassie when you arrived at the Javits
Center and this was not done. (Editor’s note – I called her when I arrived. She was MIA, phone to voicemail, and came late to other author’s signing which was two hours prior to mine).
Please make sure that you are
fulfilling all of our requirements. We do not come up with them
arbitrarily. The corporate accountant will address your issues with
reimbursement. Again, your comments display your lack of knowledge of
the publishing industry.
Publication dates are often pushed back, and
books are often reprinted or delayed.
If you decide you will not show
up for signings I will hire a storyteller, a man in a dog suit, or
anyone else I deem necessary to promote your book. (Editor’s note – contractually, she may not do this)
Most times, I do
not discuss promotional efforts until they are set in stone. But,
just to give you an idea, Build-A-Bear is interested in doing a series
of Author Breakfasts and events with Maya’s Secret and, if this is a
success then they will consider creating a Maya doll. (editor’s note – this is utter bullshit)
With your extensive industry contacts I am nonplused at why you chose
a smaller publishing company. (Editor’s note – I hadn’t ever queried anyone about my book. I shared it with some friends and it landed on this publisher’s table. Days later, I was offered a contract for two books).
But I can tell you that none of the
major publishing companies would accept this type of behavior from an
unproven author.
Again, I want to impress upon you that your email
was condescending, ill informed, and arrogant; displayed a complete
lack of knowledge of the literary publishing industry.
I do not expect that we will need to go through this again. In addition, please discontinue “cc-ing” whomever you’ve been, unless they have some bearing on the matter. It is
unprofessional. (Editor’s note: I cced my attorney on everything. Go fuck yourself)
I think Maya’s Secret is going to be a fantastic book. I have not
been happy with the delays however, there are now under control. I
look forward to a fantastic relationship with you. (Editor’s note – again, bullshit)
Sincerely,
Shana Yarborough
CEO
The Writer’s Lair Books
