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Dear Lee

Dear Lee,

I hate my publisher. They expect me to participate in the promotion and marketing of my first book—a memoir. I did agree to some things, like a book trailer and a some advance reviews copies, which I PAID for but they’ve been late on everything. Their excuse for not giving me my stuff is they do not to begin marketing too far in advance of the release of the book. That’s ridiculous. I’ve contacted some of the Internet watchdogs and they are going to help me take this publisher down. They’ve been trying to get this publisher for years. They advised me to contact their State Attorney General’s office and file a complaint which I did, now I need others to rally around the flagpole. Will you help rid the world of this scam?

Up with Authors
Dear Up,

I checked out your title on your publisher’s website. Nice cover. Sounds interesting even if you aren’t famous. The book is available through many sources and the ancillary rights are actively represented. The publisher gave me a sneak preview of your book trailer which was very entertaining.
Now the question I have is why do publishers even bother with new writers? That being said: Get a grip. If it is more important that you “take down” your own publisher, then it is to “build up” your work, then you are not really serious about being an author. You’re a wannabe. When you found out the amount of work, time, effort and yes, money that goes into launching your title you folded like a overloaded card-table. Here’s an idea, follow the Internet voices all the way to trial, your trial. Unless you can firmly prove your accusations against the publisher are true, you are in serious trouble. The publisher just may “rally” its authors against you because damage the publisher, you damage the titles, and damage the authors. I don’t suspect that you and your publisher can kiss and make-up? That would be far sweeter than the battle you are in for, not to mention the self-inflicted damage to your own title. I hope you don’t expect the Internet watchdogs will help you get published because they won’t. They have their own agenda and it isn’t helping new authors. Once publishers learn what you’re up to, they won’t touch you with a flagpole. In fact, in another twenty years you can brag on some blog site how persistent you’ve been about not getting published, then proceed to give advice to new writers on how to get published. You are now an official scam-busted. My sympathies to your publisher.