Dealing With Publishing Companies...
Some True Horror Stories
Based on my experiences of having book deals with four major publishing companies... self publishing your book is a better option.A Game Of Hardball
In the early 1990s, I decided to write a book. At the time I thought you needed a publisher to help complete and distribute the book.I researched, contacted...and was totally ignored by more publishers than I can...or care to... remember.
Undeterred, I decided to publish it myself. My first book...How To Succeed In Your Home Business...was self published in 1993.
When Doubleday Limited purchased the rights to the second edition (book #2 for me), which included an option on my next book, I thought that I had it made as an author.
All I had to do was just crank out the books and enjoy a great lifestyle on the royalties.
This dream was reinforced when Doubleday exercised its option to publish my next book From Learning To Earning, which I was then writing (book #3).
(Technically, I am listed as co-author of this book, but in fact I wrote it , with some input from my co-author. But co-authoring a book is another story for another time.)
Ah...the joy of working with with one of the biggest publishing companies in the world!
The relationship with Doubleday turned sour when with minimal support from Doubleday people, I negotiated a bulk sale of a special version of the 2nd edition of the home business book.
As seems to be a standard practice for publishing companies, the publisher claimed its standard 90% of the sale proceeds...for doing little more than preparing the pricing for me and brokering the production.
After a short and intense game of hardball...which I initiated and won...I reactivated my research into publishing companies.
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Book #4
It turned out that McGraw Hill Ryerson, one of McGraw Hill's group of
publishing companies, was launching a new series of books and
welcomed my ideas about a possible book.
The editorial board loved my idea for a networking book.
This led to another book deal...another $4500 advance...and after 6-8 months' worth of work...book #4.
Unfortunately the book-buying public did not like the book as much as the editorial board had.
The last time I checked, the book...Networking Is More Than Doing Lunch...sold fewer than 1500 copies.
According to the standard agreement of publishing companies, I owe McGraw Hill Ryerson, a couple of thousand dollars for the unrecovered portion of my advance.
Happily the publishing company is not requesting reimbursement.
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Dummies & Idiots
Ever the optimist, when the publisher of the popular Dummies® series of books asked me to prepare a Canadian small business Dummies® book, I jumped at the opportunity.
Finally my chance for fame and wealth...every one knew how successful the Dummies® line of books had been...how could I miss?
Once more into book writing mode: another book deal...another $4500 advance...and another 6-8 months' worth of work preparing book #6.
(Book #5 was a self-published marketing book...More Business For Your Business ...that sold more than 50,000 copies. This book generated significant revenue as well as a sponsored cross-country speaking tour. But once again, that's another story for another time.)
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As I was nearing completion of
the Dummies®
book, Prentice Hall Canada invited me to prepare a Canadian version
of The
Complete Idiot's Guide®
To Buying and Selling A Business.
This invitation triggered much discussion, deliberation and legal consultations over whether or not my preparing an Idiot's Guide® was a breach of my agreement to prepare the Dummies® book.
Eventually the consensus...even from the lawyers!!...was that my preparing the planned Idiot's Guide® was not a violation of my agreement to prepare the Dummies® book.
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Once again...yet another book deal with a $4500 advance for book #7.
Unfortunately the publishers of the Dummies® books were not part of the consensus opinion.
When they learned about my plan to prepare an Idiot's Guide®, they were very very upset.
In fact they were so upset that after an initial round of ranting and raving, they threatened legal action against me, Prentice Hall Canada and anyone else who may have had anything to do with my agreeing to prepare the Idiot's Guide®.
It seems that publishing companies can be very territorial about “their” authors.
To strengthen my position for another looming game of hardball, I completed the manuscript for the Dummies® small business book.
When I hand delivered the finished manuscript to the publisher's office, I told the receptionist that I was no dummy...the manuscript was finished about a month before it was due.
She laughed while signing the receipt for the manuscript. I wanted her to remember receiving the book...just in case the publisher thought the receipt was phony.
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In my agreements with publishing companies...including the one for the Dummies® publisher, once the finished manuscript was delivered, the publisher had 21 days to formally accept the manuscript by written acceptance.
If however, the manuscript was not accepted in that period, the publisher lost its right to publish the book.
The Dummies® people must have been so enraged at my working on an Idiot's Guide® that they failed to formally accept my manuscript.
The ranting, raving and threats continued.
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On
the 23rd
day after delivering the manuscript to the Dummies® publisher, I
offered it to the Idiot's Guide®
publisher, with a full explanation of what had happened. My offer was accepted several days later.
As a result, book #6 which was conceived as a Dummies® book was born as The Complete Idiot's Guide® To Small Business For Canadians.
After a token attempt to continue its ranting and raving, the threats from the Dummies® publisher soon ended and my life as an author returned to normal.
Like book numbers 2,3,4 & 7, this book did not sell as well as expected. It was backlisted...pulled from active distribution...about 6 months after launch.
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Been There, Done That
Certainly many authors have enjoyed and continue to enjoy profitable relationships with publishing companies. Unfortunately that has not been my experience.If you would like to have your book published by one of the major publishing companies...by all means go for it. You have my blessings and best wishes.
In terms of my dealings with major publishing companies...I've been there, done that and given away the leftover books.
Based on my experience, if you want to publish a book, your best option is to do it yourself.
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