And or With?

Lavinia · Aug 18, 2007

I am almost ready to send my manuscript to an agent and I have a technical question.

On the title page, where the author is sited, what is the difference between "and" and "with"?

My name
and
Other's name

My name
with
Other's name

I want to include my father as the "other's name" because technically he wrote a good portion of the book. The book has 2-3 letters he wrote during the war in each chapter. So I'm thinking that would be a "with." But I don't know. I've researched it but can't find a definitive answer.

Any advice?

Karen

KTC · Aug 18, 2007

I would say with

askeladd · Aug 18, 2007

I would concur with KTC; to me, "with" connotes something other than a 50-50 joint effort.

Lavinia · Aug 18, 2007

That's the way I was leaning so it's a good confirmation.

Thanks,

Karen

CatSlave · Aug 18, 2007

When I see Primary Author Name "with" Secondary Author Name, I assume the Primary Author verbally told the story to the Secondary Author, and the Secondary Author did the actual writing.

In other words, it's a ghostwritten story.

Memoirista · Aug 19, 2007

Three elements make it clear how "with" is to be read: as a star who makes cameo appearances in a movie is listed. The elements that make the case:

"A Daughter's Story"
Karen Fisher-Alaniz as author, with --- Fisher
The Back Cover/Back Matter/Acknowledgements

I don't think anyone who examines the book, or hears about it, will think that it was ghostwritten.

Memoirista · Aug 19, 2007

On afterthought

To be very very clear, I suppose you could say

By Karen Alaniz-Fisher
With additional material by ? Fisher

That clarifies credits for all sorts of concerns; a future book (did she really write her first book), a library cataloger (who is the real author), a publicist who books author tours (do we want Karen or dad), and similar people who don't have the book jacket or book reviews in front of them.

Lauri B · Aug 19, 2007

Author X with Y usually implies that Y wrote the book that Author X told him or her. If your dad wrote some of it, why not give him co-author credit? If he told you his story, it should read, By Dad with Daughter.

Lavinia · Aug 19, 2007

Well- now I'm more confused than ever. Maybe I'll stick to "and"...then there's no confusion. And he did write a good portion of the book, though he says he didn't. Oh boy...I'll have to think about this some more!

Karen

And or With?

Lavinia

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

askeladd

Polyglot

Lavinia

CatSlave

Mah tale iz draggin.

Memoirista

Memoirista

Memoirista

Memoirista

Lauri B

I Heart Mac

Lavinia