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Original poster

Is my friends publisher being a bitch?

64 replies

KandiKane1 · 24/09/2024 18:49

I am a fairly experienced editor and self publisher (Amazon and Google). My friend has currently finished his first novel (he's Syrian, the book is in English), and his old university professor who is also a friend of their family has pretty much taken over with the publishing and editing of his work. For context this woman has no experience in the book world apart from having a PHD in literature (Arabic), which she teaches. She is planning to sell the book for £70 per copy and is talking about going to India as it will be "cheaper" to get it published there. I voiced my concerns to my friend that this was all abit weird and pointless as most of it can be done online now and published simultaneously in 70 countries. After discussing it, he was eager to have me on board as an extra editor and publisher (we explicitly stated to his professor we were not trying to replace her), and jointly drafted a nice letter asking for me to join the process. She completely flipped out, screaming to him that I was trying to take control, she didn't even want to talk things through she just blocked me completely. He tried talking to her and she said I "might" be able to help her in the future, which sounds to me like I'd be expected to be some token lackey. Am I being unreasonable for wanting to help my friend, or is she being a controlling and jealous B? I don't know if they've discussed money but I'd be willing to help him out for free, just to give him a start

OP posts:
BrigadierEtienneGerard · 25/09/2024 09:37

If it's an academic non-fiction work £70 is in the ball-park. Very few such books come in at under £60 as publishers know there's a very limited print run and most buyers will be academic libraries with a budget for new books.

RedheadedSoulStealer · 25/09/2024 09:33

This is so bizarre.

Unless he is picked up by a publisher willing to invest extensively in marketing etc, then he should be self publishing via Draft to Digital or straight to Amazon.

D2D will send him wide, you can also do Kindle Unlimited if you go Amazon exclusive for the ebook version.

£70 is outrageous and no one would pay that for anything other than academic text etc.

She had no clue and your friend is being silly to go along with her.

fruitbrewhaha · 25/09/2024 09:24

Just keep out of it.

TheCatterall · 25/09/2024 08:57

@KandiKane1 she sounds really out dated and clueless. I have had many business buddies and writer friends self publish and it’s all been done easily online and their books are either free in kindle unlimited or under £25 (business ones) and under £15 for fiction (the higher price being printed copy - under £10 for kindle version).

Good luck with your friend and her!

CraftyOP · 25/09/2024 08:47

You are trying to take control though aren't you, so I can see why she's not so happy about that. She'd have had things published as part of her PhD and academic career surely? So not exactly just someone off the street. You may have a valid argument but doesn't help discrediting her abilities. It's your friends decision and really it's unlikely to sell more than a handful of copies whatever the price

outdamnedspots · 25/09/2024 08:34

*I'd tell your friend, not if.

outdamnedspots · 24/09/2024 21:24

I'm a professional editor and proofreader, btw. Many of my self-publishing authors use Troubador, and they are v reliable.

But authors all have to do their own research!!

If tell your friend this then step right back. The PhD woman sounds bonkers.

outdamnedspots · 24/09/2024 21:19

Your friend is being a gullible idiot. All authors must do their own research to decide what options they want to take for their book - self publishing? Which editor? Which proofreader? POD? Which printer?

No novel will ever sell for £70.

It sounds like she has no clue what she's doing.

Your friend would probably be best going for a company that will hold his hand through the process like Troubador: troubador.co.uk/self-publishing

greenwoodentablelegs · 24/09/2024 20:10

Sounds mental and I would let them crack on without you.

Esp as you haven’t even read it, it might be / it probably is really bad.

harrumphh · 24/09/2024 20:06

I think having two people involved who have completely different approaches would confuse things massively, it will just be endless drama and stress, and for not even any money. He needs to pick you or her. He's lucky one person is doing it for free let alone two.

Tableclothpuffin · 24/09/2024 20:02

To me the main question is - do you really think you could make something of this book?

I spent a number of years in publishing and advice to friends fall into two categories. The friend is either:

  1. An accomplished writer, if they want to make money then what should they write and how should they go about it. Happy to provide advice on this.
  2. Wrote a book they wanted to write (usually a 'literary' book set in Berlin or something. Or could be a memoir). Friends like this I usually advise that the main achievement is writing the book that they wanted to.

If your friend is in the category of having written a book that they wanted to write (rather than a commercial audience) then I would steer clear.

Original poster
KandiKane1 · 24/09/2024 19:53

I've explained about how publishing usually works now with Amazon, Google, print on demand books, e-book, audio books etc, reaching over half the world in one click. I think she's planning to do it the old fashioned, pre internet way

OP posts:
Original poster
KandiKane1 · 24/09/2024 19:50

Supersimkin7 · 24/09/2024 19:43

Say No. it’s a shit show. You haven’t even read it.

Not allowed to read it, she's told him to show nobody but her, incase it gets leaked or stolen 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
KandiKane1 · 24/09/2024 19:49

From what he's told me, he agreed that she could do it when she offered, I'm guessing because he didn't have a clue himself. He says she's not interested in any money, I think the "contract" was verbal. I believe his main issue is that she's known him longer than me and their families are quite close as they are both Syrian nationals

OP posts:
Supersimkin7 · 24/09/2024 19:43

Say No. it’s a shit show. You haven’t even read it.

Original poster
KandiKane1 · 24/09/2024 19:40

YaCannyKickYaGrannyInTheShin · 24/09/2024 19:24

Do you not think it interesting that he didn't approach you in the first place? Given you're already an experienced editor and self publisher.

Yes, strange.

Show quote history

I didn't know about his novel until fairly recently as we've been friends for around 6 months. I wasn't too bothered about her helping him until he told me her strange ideas. He was the one who asked me to help initially, I didn't offer

OP posts:
Supersimkin7 · 24/09/2024 19:40

Does PHD woman mean printed or published first in India?

Either way, she’s saying some very odd things.

Pricing is a decision you make at the end of the book making process when you’re checking up on your market that you already know very, very well.

£70 isn’t viable for a text only book unless it’s a legal manual or course compulsory doorstep. I don’t think I needed my decades in publishing to know that 😀

She hasn’t any experience and you have.

Get out, stay out. When you see a copy, I spose you could offer to help with the marketing which is the difficult bit for one man bands.

murmuration · 24/09/2024 19:27

WTF. She’s either delusional or scamming him. I hope he hasn’t paid her any money?

Original poster
KandiKane1 · 24/09/2024 19:24

I admit she's annoyed me haha. My friend has mental health issues and stresses easily, so I was just trying to be a nice person. As for her, I don't know what her motives are and I worry he's going to be taken advantage of (he's very trusting, especially with her being a family friend). Even more so now as her attitude to let someone else into the team has been so poorly received

OP posts:
YaCannyKickYaGrannyInTheShin · 24/09/2024 19:24

SauviGone · 24/09/2024 19:14

Do you not think it interesting that he didn't approach you in the first place? Given you're already an experienced editor and self publisher.

It sounds to me a bit like he's approached this woman, she's already given him a lot of her time and advice, they've had it all planned out and now you've gegged in on it, to the point of "jointly drafting a letter".

He's either a really dim and pathetic wet lettuce, or he's played a blinder and has two women fighting over who is going to do the most work for him for free.

Do you not think it interesting that he didn't approach you in the first place? Given you're already an experienced editor and self publisher.

Yes, strange.

Didimum · 24/09/2024 19:24

At the end of the day it’s his book and he can do what he wants with it. I’ll admit it’s an odd direction for self-publishing, but self-publishing can look like anything you want it to.

Leeds2 · 24/09/2024 19:21

Just back away quietly.

If you can find a way to phrase it politely, tell your friend that you will be willing to help him when the first attempt has failed.

Do not get involved in any joint enterprises.

Original poster
KandiKane1 · 24/09/2024 19:19

This comment made me smile, unfortunately it's in a genre that has thousands of similar books, all competing against each other

OP posts:
Blackberriesandcobwebs · 24/09/2024 19:19

£70 for a unknown author is ridiculous! Trade book prices are obvious from going into anybookshop or discounted online seller. Sounds like a vanity publishing project!

LLamddra · 24/09/2024 19:18

As someone who does a role which is not quite the same but similar - NEVER work for free for friends. Not ever.