I've asked before but sometime must come an answer

rlfulgham · Jun 20, 2005

[size=+0]Norman Mailer sent this endorsement to the publisher of my Civil War novel "The Hogs of Cold Harbor":[/size]

[size=+0]"This book is a discovery. It gave me so close a sense of what it was like to be a Confederate soldier in the Civil War that I began to think of my own army experience. Old fears, old excitements, even memories of my old equipment, and with it all, vivid as the sound of gunfire, came the smell of battle in the air of the book. I loved reading 'The Hogs of Cold Harbor". I was in the Civil War on the Southern side. This is no small education for a Northerner like me."[/size]
[size=+0](signed) Norman Mailer[/size]

[size=+0]The book was published by Whitmore Publishing, a POD outfit. Whitmore books are not returnable so my book is not in the bookstores. Nor is it listed by the online bookstores. When I told Mr. Mailer, he said, "Get the best mass market and hardback rights you can". I am lost with broken legs. Whitmore's email is [/size][size=+0][email protected][/size][size=+0] . The book is also endorsed by Ron Casteel, Chief of Staff, "Sons of Confederate Veterans".[/size]

Cathy C · Jun 21, 2005

So what's your question...?

Sheryl Nantus · Jun 21, 2005

well, the font's big enough for me to see...

I guess you're asking if we're going to all write to Whitmore to get you out of your contract or something?

definitely need a bit of clarification... and a smaller font, imo.

on standby...

aruna · Jun 21, 2005

Not sure what you are trying to say. Did you self-publish? do you still have the rights Mailer mentions? Are you thinking of sumbitting it to a mainstream publisher?

sgtsdaughter · Jun 21, 2005

Funny. I was unclear too. Thought that maybe this was an oddly construed sales pitch.

victoriastrauss · Jun 21, 2005

Richard, no matter how many times you post this information, you are not going to get a different answer. Whitmore is not a real publisher. Assuming your contract actually leaves you hardcover and mass market rights (which is not a safe assumption with a company like this--rotten contracts are typical), you are not going to be able to sell them on the strength of your book's performance with Whitmore. Nor on the strength of Mr. Mailer's quote. Author blurbs sell books to readers (maybe)--not to publishers.

I'm sorry to be so blunt. It's not that I'm unsympathetic--I know so many authors who've had devastating experiences like yours, and I feel terrible for all of them. But there's just no way around the truth: Whitmore is a waste. The best thing you could do would be to try and break your contract, and attempt to market the book again, to a legitimate publisher this time.

- Victoria

Sheryl Nantus · Jun 23, 2005

ow....

and yet, heartbreakingly true.

IWrite · Jun 23, 2005

The thing that makes it difficult to be too sympathetic toward Richard is that he is the perfect of example of someone who does the research, asks for advice - is given the facts - then ignores them.

He asked about Whitmore over at writers.net prior to signing and was told that they were not what he thought - yet he signed with them anyway.

This was after he "published" another book with PA. I believe he was advised to steer clear of them also, but ignored that advice as well.

Sheryl Nantus · Jun 23, 2005

IWrite said:
The thing that makes it difficult to be too sympathetic toward Richard is that he is the perfect of example of someone who does the research, asks for advice - is given the facts - then ignores them.

He asked about Whitmore over at writers.net prior to signing and was told that they were not what he thought - yet he signed with them anyway.

This was after he "published" another book with PA. I believe he was advised to steer clear of them also, but ignored that advice as well.

a good point - and a warning to those who think that they might be able to break through the sandtraps that are set by vanity presses to ensnare authors.

*shrug*

live and learn, unfortunately... take notes, newbies - the scammers are out there waiting for you and will use any excuse to grab you and your money and your book.

*sighs*

maestrowork · Jun 23, 2005

if you beat a dead horse one more time, maybe it will rise from death...

zornhau · Jun 24, 2005

Am I the only person who thinks of a kind of piercing when I see the initials "PA"?

Andrew Zack · Jun 27, 2005

rlfulgham said:
Norman Mailer sent this endorsement to the publisher of my Civil War novel "The Hogs of Cold Harbor":

"This book is a discovery. It gave me so close a sense of what it was like to be a Confederate soldier in the Civil War that I began to think of my own army experience. Old fears, old excitements, even memories of my old equipment, and with it all, vivid as the sound of gunfire, came the smell of battle in the air of the book. I loved reading 'The Hogs of Cold Harbor". I was in the Civil War on the Southern side. This is no small education for a Northerner like me."
(signed) Norman Mailer

The book was published by Whitmore Publishing, a POD outfit. Whitmore books are not returnable so my book is not in the bookstores. Nor is it listed by the online bookstores. When I told Mr. Mailer, he said, "Get the best mass market and hardback rights you can". I am lost with broken legs. Whitmore's email is [email protected] . The book is also endorsed by Ron Casteel, Chief of Staff, "Sons of Confederate Veterans".

Mr. Fulgham, it sounds like you need an attorney to review your agreement and see if you can get out of it, if that's truly your goal.

I've asked before but sometime must come an answer

rlfulgham

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Sheryl Nantus

Holding out for a Superhero...

aruna

On a wing and a prayer

sgtsdaughter

Nearing the end of an era

victoriastrauss

Writer Beware Goddess

Sheryl Nantus

Holding out for a Superhero...

IWrite

Sheryl Nantus

Holding out for a Superhero...

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

zornhau

Swordsman

Andrew Zack