Friday Frenzy (with more Dorchester stuff)

So, yesterday we did this. Then I walked away from the internet long enough to spend some time with my loved ones, watch a movie, and read. When I logged back in this morning, I had over 500 emails, texts, voice mails, Tweets, and FB postings waiting for me. Obviously, it might take me a while to get back to you. Tomorrow, I’m helping Mary move. Sunday, I intend to write, because I haven’t had a chance to do that since the boycott started. On Monday, I spending time with my sons and writing some more. Meanwhile, here are a few things I thought deserved special attention:

1. Brett Savory of Chizine says “Dorchester still owes us nearly $3,000 in advertising fees! They keep fobbing us off and spinning excuses to delay payment.”

2. Author Vicki Steifel confirms “Dorchester has done exactly the same thing to me – no royalties… no statements… and illegally publishing my books in On-Demaned and eBook format.”

3. Author Sandra Ruttan says “When I received my last royalty statement,” (from Dorchester) “there were no recorded Ebook sales, although my books are available for Kindle and through other major Ebook outlets. Being curious about sales, I’d actually occasionally popped on, noted sales rankings, compared them to my other book… Long story short is, I know there were Ebook sales sold. But they haven’t been credited to my books.”

4. Jana DeLeon says “I had the EXACT same problem with Dorchester last year, and here’s how I solved it – publically out them for stealing because that’s exactly what this is.” In relation to Jana’s comment, Smart Bitches revealed last year that Dorchester was doing this to romance authors.

5. Jim PI (private investigator to the mid-list stars) has started a Boycott Dorchester Facebook page. He asks folks to post links to their Blog entries and news articles there.

6. A dear friend of mine, who is one of the stalwart veterans of this genre and who was getting screwed by publishers when I was still reading his stuff in high school detention, said some things to me yesterday that really rang true. I’m protecting his identity, but these two excerpts are so valid and important that I’m considering getting them tattooed on me. “As a holding action, Dorchester’s hide-the-salami ploy is admirable: Treat the authors like mushrooms (keep them in the dark and feed them a lot of shit), because every day – every minute – rights issues remain unresolved, unclear, or fogbound in bureaucratic if-come doublespeak, the company can rake a few more Paypal pennies for digital editions they probably don’t own…” and “People who blithely suggest that some-people-should-sue-other-people with no regard to bank or sanity have little idea of how soul-destroying Lawsuit Land can be, whether you’re in the right or not. It requires that you port your creative energy toward the battle, and before you know it, ALL of your waking time is swallowed. You go to sleep thinking about it. You wake up thinking about it. And in the end, if you prevail through the miles of mind-numbing paper, you’re faced against an enemy who will just throw up their hands and admit, Okay, we give. We’re broke. ‘Bye! Check your history. Pinnacle Books. After them, Zebra. To my certain knowledge the BEST that was achieved in those ignominious flameouts was reversion of rights – no bonuses, pending payments or grand prizes.

7. Kelli Owen, who blew Maelstrom readers away with her debut novel Six Days, announced pre-orders for her new novella yesterday. That got lost amidst everything else, so I’m pointing it out here. To reserve your copy or read more about it, CLICK HERE. Kelli is, in my opinion, one of the best of this new, up-coming generation of horror writers who make me feel old (along with Nate Southard, and I’m hearing good things about Lee Thompson, whose work I intend to check out soon).

8. The boycott got lots of press, most notably from Galleycat and Publisher’s Weekly. Thanks to them (and to Smart Bitches, as well, who I linked to above).

9. Alethea Kontis provides a sobering and well-reasoned alternative take to the boycott.

10. Lots of messages from lawyers and attorneys and people who know lawyers and attorneys. My own thought on that is to follow the advice of my mentor (see #6 above). But I would point out to those calling for a class action lawsuit that such an undertaking might be difficult, given that the authors, as a collective, are at different points. For example, Bryan Smith and I were lucky enough to get our rights back. J.F. Gonzalez, Craig Spector, Mary SanGiovanni, Wrath James White, and dozens of others have not been so lucky. Some people have been paid. Others haven’t. Some people have gotten royalty statements. Some haven’t. Some have gotten what they consider to be incorrect royalty statements. Some can’t get any sort of response at all. Some just want the reversion of their rights. Some want paid. See what I mean? It’s a cluster-fuck. But I do like the suggestions regarding the Attorney General…

22 thoughts on “Friday Frenzy (with more Dorchester stuff)

  1. Jemiah

    I have heard all manner of things in the last 24 hours – from the calmest and most conservative to wild-eyed, big-bottomed anarchy – and I’m still wondering how this will all shake out. One thing that’s pertinent, though, is that I have no new contract that stipulates any e-book rights to the first book, but they sure are releasing it in ebook editions. Hmmm! Funny that!

    This’ll be an interesting weekend, that’s for sure. Thanks, Brian, for all your work and your steely-eyed determinism. For authors (read: “suckers”) like me, who have never had any other publishing experience, and have no agent, and no dedicated editor, and no money, this has been a well-needed wakeup call.

    Reply
  2. Lee Thompson

    Definitely a huge cluster fuck. It’s like reading a huge comic book where some evil entity is raping my heroes.

    No fun. It’s great to see everyone stepping up to the plate and telling Dorchester to get bent, just a shame the authors had to endure so much static when they delivered. Starving sucks ass. Starving because you were cheated infuriating.

    And thanks a bunch for the mention, Brian. I think I just wet my pants a little. :)

    Lee

    Reply
  3. Erik Williams

    Well on board with this. I know too many damn good writers getting screwed by these guys. Thankfully, I almost but didn’t quite make it to the final round of publishing with them. My book would have been “released” this summer. Ha.

    And Lee is a rock star in the making. Can’t recommend him enough.

    Reply
  4. Gail Hart

    I’m a lawyer (though not specializing in intellectual property), and I have to say that sadly, I agree with your take on filing a lawsuit. At the end of the day, even if you totally kicked their patooties in court, there just isn’t any money to collect from them. It’s galling to see them get away with such flagrant behavior, though.

    Reply
  5. Monica

    So what’s the solution? Do professional authors start working with SFWA, HWA, RWA, etc. to impress upon them the importance of potentially unionizing? There’s the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and, of course, several screenwriter groups; are we getting to the point where you either a) have an agent that handles all this stuff or b) you’re SOL?

    Reply
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  9. Michael Kingswood

    Just read of your troubles. That really sucks. From the sound of it, these guys are in blatant violation of copyright law.

    But here’s the thing: even if don’t have the cash to sue, you really don’t have to sit back and take it. File a complaint with the FTC. If everyone who’s getting screwed does it, they’ll investigate quick as hell, and shut that nonsense down. That’s why the FTC exists.

    Just a thought.

    Good luck!

    Reply
  10. Jeff

    I’ll co-sign that Lawsuit land is a shit place to reside in. It takes literally years to get everything ironed out, whether it makes it to trial or not.

    I would definitely consider filing criminal charges against Dorchester. If I make a bootleg copy of Dead Sea and distribute it, I am distributing intellectual property owned by Brian Keene. I have infringed on your copyright, and am breaking the law. I can be arrested for that. It seems to me that Dorchester is trying to be cute with you guys by playing who stole the cookie from the cookie jar( who me? Couldn’t be!)…try playing that cutsy sh!t with the USAO or AGO.

    I would also consider going to the media. An everyman getting screwed by Big Business expose would be the end of Dorchester. It’ll be hard to re-print or e-print your property when the company has tanked and their assests are frozen.

    Whatever you do, do something. If you don’t, it’s going to burrow into your mind like a friggin’ earwig. There’s no need to have a grumbly black cloud hanging over your head.

    Reply
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  12. gregg loomis

    Brian actually requested I post a somewhat reduced version of an email I sent him a couple of days ago.

    I am a Dorchester writer. The company will (hopefully) publsh my 6th novel in May, my 7th in October.

    Like most Doirchester writers I read about, the company owed me a fair amount of money when the annoucement came down they were going all digital and that my long time editor, Don D’Auria was gone. Forty plus years of litigating business disputes told me bankruptcy was imminent.

    My first reaction was to go picket 200 Madison ave; my next tio sue the bastards. Then I relaized neither was going to get me paid, So, I went to NY and spent an hour with John Prebich, the then CEO, the day after a meeting of creditors. The company owed me portions of two advances plus a fair amount of royalties

    John told me to be patient and I’d get paid (how many times in 40+ years had I heard that?), that writers remaining “loyal” would be taken care of.

    Well, what was my downside? If I moved to another publisher (assuming I could, far from a certainty) I’d never see another dime. If I filed suit, the comopany probabily would “take the chapters”.

    Two months later, a sizable check arrived for the sale of French rights. Then, the outstanding advances got paid. By this time, Prebich had joined D’Auria in literary oblivion. Next, a check for part of the roylaties came in, followed by another. My new editor, Chirs Keeslar, though certainly not the person making those decisions, assures me the balance will be paid and I believe him. Nothing restores confidence like a check that clears the bank.

    OK, what’s the point of all this? Unlike Brian (who by all means is entitled to his opinion and to take such action as he deems appropriate), I say boycotting Dorchester or taking any othe action adverse to the company isn’t going to get back (or futurture royalties paid. Has Dorchester managed to piss off a lot of of us writers? You bet! Pissed off or not, is it in our interest for the company to survive, even prosper? You bet! Is being poissed off going to get anyone paid? Go figure.

    Just a few thoughts.

    Reply
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  15. Bobhby Wilson

    Iwould like to say that I am a Huge fan of all things horror.Keene is great as is Lee Thompson(just read his debute novel).I had been buying Leisure Horror for at least 20 years the last few by auto. drafts on my account and in Feb. the drafts and the books stopped.No one bothered to let me know what was going on.Thankfully I have been buying from the Horror Mall operated by Shane Staley and Larry Roberts where I bought Lee’s book and some of Brian’s.They have treated me well as a reader and I think some of you Leisure Authors ought to contact them and see about hooking up with these great guys.I am through with Leisur and Dorchester and hope you guys prevail.Good Luck and if any of you need to sell an autographed book e-mail me or let me know where to buy. Thanks Bobby Wilson

    Reply
  16. liv cervantes

    I am a huge fan of Brian Keene. I came across this site by accident after buying “City of the Dead” in paperback. In the book was an ad for Leisure Horror Book Club, and it said by joining you get four free books plus free books for trying it out and no payment obligations. It included a website and I was curious to know more about this book club when i stumbled across this.
    From what I’ve read, and I am sad to hear this news so late, I found to be slightly nauseating to say the least.
    Writers work tirelessly to produce such magic with their words for us readers to escape this world and should not have to go through such nonsense when it is THEIR creativity and imagination that helped secure Dickchester Publishing and as the result to have been unrewarded is a slap a slap in the face( eg. Jemiah’s case- I am so sorry by the way).
    I’m not anyone special, just a bookworm and huge fan of many writers of fictional novels. I am a person who treasures her books as old friends. But I will not support any company that doesn’t support the authors. I strongly feel that rights should be returned to the rightful owners along with royalties, (not that what I say matters as I know that this is more complicated than I know).
    I just got a Sylvania Tablet for Christmas and have a Kindle and Kobo app on my cell and tablet, my question is,
    How do I know if the authors support these websites when purchasing ebooks?
    Maybe sticking with a good old fashioned hardback/paperback is the best bet?

    And also, I would like to know more about how this villains vs. HEROES story ends. I really hope you guys and gals rip them a new one, GIVE ‘EM HELL!!!!!!!!!!
    I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR YOU AUTHORS WHO HAVE FED MY( ZOMBIE-LOVIN’) BRAIN WITH IMAGINATION AND ENTERTAINMENT OF ALL SORTS THAT EVEN MY DREAMS BECOME FILLED WITH STORIES. PLEASE DON’T STOP WRITING THOSE PAGE TURNERS FOR YOUR READERS AND DON’T ALLOW THIS FIASCO TO DISCOURAGE YOU FROM WHAT YOU DO.
    TO SOME OF US READERS, YOU GUYS ARE THE HEROES THAT HELP GIVE US ESCAPE FROM OUR CRAPPY LIVES.
    THANK YOU!
    - OLIVIA
    THANKS for introducing me to some new authors. I look forward to reading more of lee thompson and others posted.
    I look forward to exploring the stories of new authors. Stay up!

    Reply
  17. Brian

    “How do I know if the authors support these websites when purchasing ebooks?”

    If it’s published by Dorchester, we probably don’t. (Publisher info is usually listed in book description)

    Reply
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