My publisher...

I probably shouldn't post this here. But, I can't help myself. The reason I shouldn't is because the poor publicist who sent me this has nothing to do with policy.

I've removed her name.

"Hello Joseph,
I looked into the awards you had contacted me about. The IACP Cookbook
Award has a $100 entry fee. I am happy to supply you with the 5 books
necessary, but, unfortunately, award entry fees are not in the budget.
Let me know if you would like me to send you the review copies to submit
with your entry.

Also, the 2007 James Beard Foundation Awards entry forms will be
available in late October."

Now, these people have been cheap in the past, but it just seems to me this is going too far. I find this outrageous. They at least paid for the awards for my first book. They are constantly changing the rules on me.

This is Taylor Trade Publishing, a sub of Rowman & Littlefield.

If anyone agrees with me, here is the managing editor's email address. I can't alienate them any more than I already have apparently. And my agent will never attempt to sell them another book. It has been hell.

RRinehart@Rowman.com

Hot potato, huh?

I'm trying to figure out how to send an email, Chef, that would carry any weight. As a book lover and buyer, my loyalty is almost always with the author, as it is in this case.

But I'm not sure that sending the publisher a bitch letter on this kind of an issue would carry any weight at all -- in fact trying to put myself in the publisher's position, I might take it in a very negative way.

I'm shameless about bitching -- but not sure how to do so effectively on this issue.

Regards, Bob

I do understand. Thanks for responding, Bob. I am just fuming and wanted the publisher to know that people are aware that they treat their authors this way (I'm not the only one by a long shot.) I guess I was just hoping that few emails would wake him up to the fact any kind of award would increase sales. I think it has a shot since the reviews have all been very positive. I will end up having to send it in myself, I am sure.

I'll give it a shot, Chef. I like the tone of your letter, and think I can make it at least neutral, perhaps useful.

I'll post a copy here later tonight.

Regards, Bob

[Jenise]

Especially if they've done it before, you'd think they'd enter the books themselves. You think they'd have a program for entering all kinds of books for available awards in their genre--they stand to gain as much as the author does.

And if that's not the case there must be a lot I don't understand about the publishing business....

Chef, here's my missive:

Dear Sirs:

I understand that you are the publisher of Chef on Fire by Joseph Carey, an excellent book in my judgment. [I am posting a positive review on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and a number of cooking discussion websites, and will forward a copy to you in due course.]

I would urge that you enter this book in the various cook book award programs, including the IACP Cookbook Award and the James Beard Foundation Awards. As a publisher you may know of other programs, but these two awards are very important, even if the book is only a finalist.

It seems to me that applying for and paying for such awards should be the publisher's responsibility, and I urge you to do so for Chef Carey's excellent book.

With best regards,

Robert C. Ross
950 Dogwood Trail
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
robcurtross@hotmail.com

Thanks, Bob, you're a real prince among men.

You are welcome, Chef -- it's a very good book and deserves wide publicity. Let's hope the email does some good -- I'll post any reply here.

You are welcome, Chef -- it's a very good book and deserves wide publicity. Let's hope the email does some good -- I'll post any reply here.

Thanks again, Bob.

Judging by the number of views on this thread, in a relatively short period, given the title I gave it, I'd say there are a lot of people out there looking for publishers. Much disappointment must have followed when they discovered it was just me pissing and moaning.