tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post4162082512052602153..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Harlequin Fail Part 2JA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71756583564308933172013-07-02T18:25:12.120-05:002013-07-02T18:25:12.120-05:00Hmmm! Judging from the complaint, they don't ...Hmmm! Judging from the complaint, they don't seem to have completely thought it through. Given that they pull down about $550,000,000 per year, they have the money to make a very bloody fight of it. They are supposed to control 85% of the market,correct? If that is the case, you might as well get someone with a lot of money on their side. It sounds as if they have run afoul of certain provisions of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, that means the Feds can be involved ... they have money ... Harlequin will settle.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13972392255292919516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-53906216377314530702013-02-16T16:05:25.179-06:002013-02-16T16:05:25.179-06:00I'm stunned by these revelations. I had planne...I'm stunned by these revelations. I had planned to participate in an open pitch at HQ in May but after reading this blog have asked that my name be removed from the list. There is no doubt in my mind that publishing with them would NOT be in my best interests. The book I had planned to pitch to them will be self-pubbed.<br /><br />Thank you, Joe and Ann :)<br /><br />Cheryl Gorman Cher Gormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16262847237025321765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-21242952927745828512012-07-26T11:49:35.987-05:002012-07-26T11:49:35.987-05:00"When Harlequin pays an author an advance, is..."When Harlequin pays an author an advance, isn't the author basically letting the book go?"<br /><br />Walter-- Harlequin contracts are royalty contracts, just like most other publishers offer. Once an author earns out the advance (which every one of my books has done in the first statement after it was released), that author keeps earning royalties for copies sold. The advance isn't a flat work-for-hire payment, it's an advance against royalties, just like most publishers offer.<br /><br />Harlequin's reversion clause is tough, but many authors have gotten their rights back, as Laura has. To date, I am not among them.Ann Voss Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15141783064748972033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-17782555847129746882012-07-26T11:25:10.752-05:002012-07-26T11:25:10.752-05:00Laura
Sorry if I missed it elsewhere, but as you&...Laura<br /><br />Sorry if I missed it elsewhere, but as you're traditional and a non-indie, where are your 11+ former HQ books published at now?David L. Shutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357694121376734716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-56948558729495176952012-07-26T09:56:37.785-05:002012-07-26T09:56:37.785-05:00I had a deal like this offered to me by a Hachette...I had a deal like this offered to me by a Hachette company for a relicense of one of my UK books in the US, it was 10% of net price (£2.25)received by the UK publisher at my end. That's £0.25 per book sold for me or 35 cents per book at today's exchange rates.<br /><br />I would have expected the book to sell at around $11.55 or thereabouts. You can extrapolate from there.<br /><br />When I tried to get them to tell me what the actual cover price would be, or where they stood on ebook rights (i.e. I'd keep them) it all went strangely quiet.<br /><br />I wonder what that could mean? ;)Frank Coleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04018783970029636432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25190122083868465802012-07-25T19:45:21.182-05:002012-07-25T19:45:21.182-05:00I don't know anything about the general market...I don't know anything about the general market lines, but at Christian fic conferences we're told not to expect one cent beyond the advance for a Love Inspired or LI Historical title. Apparently very few earn out. This doesn't mean I'm not 110% for the authors getting paid fairly when they DO earn out, or when HQ issues an e-book.<br /><br />50% of cover was equitable and fair. 3% in an e-book market is ridiculous. Plus, it was the way they did it that frosts me. I'm neither an accountant or a lawyer, but I can add, and those per-copy payments to the authors were just rubbish.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13100565897627429788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3401631093165564822012-07-25T19:32:52.905-05:002012-07-25T19:32:52.905-05:00Walter: "When Harlequin pays an author an adv...Walter: "When Harlequin pays an author an advance, isn't the author basically letting the book go? "<br /><br /><br />I signed for 11 books with Harlequin, 1988-1993, and have all rights back to all of those books. I also signed a fresh deal with Hq in 2003, and have all those rights back in full, too (though for unusual reasons, in that case).<br /><br />These days, with digital rights in play and publishers clinging to rights so hard their knuckles bleed, it depends on how the market evolves, what court cases arise and how they play out, and also how negotiations change. Writers at all houses are now walking away from bad terms, because there are other options available to them for earnings from their work. The more that writers walk away from bad terms, the more it -may- evolve that even a house like Harlequin winds up realizing it had to negotiate terms with writers rather than just present egregious "take it or leave it" contracts.Laura Resnicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-74947501889159041752012-07-25T19:26:53.221-05:002012-07-25T19:26:53.221-05:00"Most of the Harlequin authors I know do not ..."Most of the Harlequin authors I know do not remotely fit the cliched stereotype we see repeated over and over - daffy women penning purple prose for hobby income. "<br /><br /><br />As you say! I wrote 11 romances for Harlequin under their Silhouette imprints (under the pseudonym Laura Leone). <br /><br />I was then and am still a full-time, self-supporting writer. I have lived in multiple countries, have crossed the African continent overland, and have worked in Jerusalem as a journalist. I have a cum laude bachelor's and am ABD on my master's degree. I am published in sf/f and non-fiction as well as in romance. <br /><br />And most of my Harlequin-writing friends, of which I have many, are as far from that familiar and dismissive stereotype as I am, or much farther.Laura Resnicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-26793744942440496532012-07-25T17:20:35.919-05:002012-07-25T17:20:35.919-05:00When Harlequin pays an author an advance, isn'...When Harlequin pays an author an advance, isn't the author basically letting the book go?Walter Knighthttp://www.waltknight.yolasite.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-59205539286725678282012-07-25T05:37:50.052-05:002012-07-25T05:37:50.052-05:00@"Anonymous: Current and longtime Harl. autho...@"Anonymous: Current and longtime Harl. author." Thanks for saying dont boycott the line, see the authors as accomplished professionals they are, and dont buy into the bs that the lead dogs in the law suit are outliers for they are supported by many H authors. <br /><br />nice to hear from another from the front line. Ann too has been most generous in being as you are: very clear, concise and professional about how to help. <br /><br />Thanks. Will do.Archangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358062143743621676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58472947892956572792012-07-24T21:50:38.417-05:002012-07-24T21:50:38.417-05:00I am a current and long-time Harlequin author and ...I am a current and long-time Harlequin author and would like to make a couple of points, submitting anonymously for obvious reasons.<br /><br />1) Although we may not be saying much publicly, there are A LOT of Harlequin authors fully standing behind the named authors in this action, so any attempts by Harlequin/Torstar management to suggest that the named authors are merely disgruntled outliers is false.<br /><br />2) Please, readers, don't boycott the product in a misguided attempt to support the authors' case. Keep buying! Buy more! Discover for yourselves that the corporation's attempt to treat us as easily replaceable piece-workers is as misguided as its assertion of "surprise" at the suit.<br /><br />3) Most of the Harlequin authors I know do not remotely fit the cliched stereotype we see repeated over and over - daffy women penning purple prose for hobby income. We are, as a group, highly motivated and savvy career authors, sometimes the sole or major bread-winner in a family, often with previous (or sometimes concurrent) careers as lawyers, doctors, military officers, accountants, teachers, etc. This class action suit simply would never have reached this point if we had fit the cliche.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-67522414686672510652012-07-24T15:29:22.679-05:002012-07-24T15:29:22.679-05:00"If you read her books, you'd ask her to ..."If you read her books, you'd ask her to marry you. She's a fabulous writer."<br /><br />I agree. Just finished "Pushed Too Far"--it's a terrific read.<br /><br />--JoshuaJoshua Simcoxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-26965697963830279332012-07-24T13:20:10.609-05:002012-07-24T13:20:10.609-05:00If I wasn't married, I'd totally ask Ann V...<i>If I wasn't married, I'd totally ask Ann Voss Peterson on a date.<br /><br />If you read her books, you'd ask her to marry you. She's a fabulous writer.</i><br /><br />There's a great story here...I know, I'll call it <i>The Blog of Hearts</i>.<br /><br />Now, where can I find a publisher...?T Ludlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04135962676990122827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-20472652236587873202012-07-24T12:53:58.976-05:002012-07-24T12:53:58.976-05:00I'm flattered, you guys, but get back to work....I'm flattered, you guys, but get back to work.Ann Voss Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15141783064748972033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-70834097279616434482012-07-24T01:07:08.683-05:002012-07-24T01:07:08.683-05:00If I wasn't married, I'd totally ask Ann V...<i>If I wasn't married, I'd totally ask Ann Voss Peterson on a date.</i><br /><br />If you read her books, you'd ask her to marry you. She's a fabulous writer.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58408266083511079962012-07-23T23:27:16.458-05:002012-07-23T23:27:16.458-05:00@joshua simcox wrote: "If I wasn't marrie...@joshua simcox wrote: "If I wasn't married, I'd totally ask Ann Voss Peterson on a date."<br /><br />You have excellent taste JS, but/and seeing her lovely self and great gifts, I have a feeling you'd have to stand in line... a really really long line. (smile)<br /><br />drcpeArchangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358062143743621676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-40619101533224436282012-07-23T22:39:53.917-05:002012-07-23T22:39:53.917-05:00If I wasn't married, I'd totally ask Ann V...If I wasn't married, I'd totally ask Ann Voss Peterson on a date.<br /><br />--JoshuaJoshua Simcoxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-35839277911494804192012-07-23T21:54:40.202-05:002012-07-23T21:54:40.202-05:00"Re the lawsuit: people who are named plainti..."Re the lawsuit: people who are named plaintiffs can't say much in these situations."<br /><br />Yep. I know that at least one named plaintiff has been specifically advised by the attorney not to comment at all on the case. I'm assuming (though I haven't asked) that all -three- named plaintiffs have advised this. And this is, as far as I know, SOP for a lawsuit in play that's being handled intelligently and responsibly.Laura Resnicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-74713620840957441622012-07-23T20:59:15.944-05:002012-07-23T20:59:15.944-05:00drcpe--
Thanks. But there isn't a recipe to w...drcpe--<br /><br />Thanks. But there isn't a recipe to write the books (formula), just restrictions. Lots of them. And I think that's mainly what Laura was talking about.<br /><br />And I also think you're exactly right that some editors were more willing to let their authors take risks than others.<br /><br />I also have to say that the risks I took didn't always pay off, not for me nor for my editors. In fact I'm not sure that any of the risks I took actually benefited my sales or my Harlequin career. But I was very fortunate to have editors who weren't afraid to let me take those risks (that kind of stuff impacts their careers too, you know). And as a result, I'm proud of the books I wrote, and for me personally, that's the most important achievement.<br /><br />Re the lawsuit: people who are named plaintiffs can't say much in these situations. Even members of the class wouldn't be wise to say too much I am a member of the class, among many others. These three authors are not alone in this complaint.<br /><br />Joe says he's working on his Cliff's Notes version, so look for that.Ann Voss Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15141783064748972033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-13899272975631499432012-07-23T19:59:52.240-05:002012-07-23T19:59:52.240-05:00"If Harlequin is fair in paying its authors 9..."If Harlequin is fair in paying its authors 91% less than the rest of the industry, it should pay its executives accordingly."<br /><br />I love that line ending your column.Julie Kramerhttp://www.juliekramerbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-17850391021673443832012-07-23T19:36:43.638-05:002012-07-23T19:36:43.638-05:00Brownies? Did you say brownies!
Hmmm... Yes. Brow...Brownies? Did you say brownies!<br /><br />Hmmm... Yes. Brownies could make it right.Laura Resnicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-67676744463727850332012-07-23T19:19:50.111-05:002012-07-23T19:19:50.111-05:00@ Laura:
LOL, I'll have to send brownies then...@ Laura:<br /><br />LOL, I'll have to send brownies then.David L. Shutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357694121376734716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-38630885457418383252012-07-23T19:06:41.019-05:002012-07-23T19:06:41.019-05:00@ann voss peterson
thank you for this realistic, ...@ann voss peterson<br /><br />thank you for this realistic, and clear info. I'm glad to hear from a very accomplished author close in with many years exp. at H, and at present. I hope someday we can hear also from the plaintiffs in first person too. Maybe not until suit is over however, just to hold the container lid tight. <br /><br />"Quoting myself here, because I want to point out that the lawsuit is actually much more complicated than this nutshell. :) I am not a lawyer, and I don't understand many of the complexities. But all of it is laid out at the website http://www.harlequinlawsuit.com/<br />The complaint itself is there, as well as a FAQs page and information about the law firms handling it."<br /><br />I had one question given 'formulae' assertions... couldnt it be that some editors rode others more tightly than other authors. Perhaps the editor's trust in the writer would have something to do with who was held to some 'formula' or not?<br /><br />thanks<br />drcpeArchangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358062143743621676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-42389549347950447352012-07-23T16:47:00.292-05:002012-07-23T16:47:00.292-05:00You can never make it right. NEVER!You can never make it right. NEVER!Laura Resnicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88054919678048037992012-07-23T15:31:27.591-05:002012-07-23T15:31:27.591-05:00Laura
Sorry, I'm apologizing to you again, ye...Laura<br /><br />Sorry, I'm apologizing to you again, yes I did see your name, and Lee Child's, mentioned after reading further.David L. Shutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357694121376734716noreply@blogger.com