To expect more than this......

[DaisyDeptford]

My first book was published by a major publisher here in the UK, fulfilling one of my lifelong ambitions. Anyway, I know several others who've been published by the same publishing house. There are quite big differences between the way I've been treated and the way these authors are treated. For example, when I had my book launch party I politely enquired as to whether the publisher offered any assistance with that and they said no, they offered nothing. And yet 2 of my peers published by them had their book launch parties organized and paid for by the publisher. The editors at the publishing house are also constantly Tweeting about the other authors and promoting them on Facebook etc. Not me. The other authors are taken out to lunch by their editors and by the publicist assigned to their book(s). I just got a 30 minute meeting/interrogation in the office to discuss marketing plans, with not even an offer of a cup of tea. Last week the publisher had a huge glamorous party to celebrate the launch of a new department. I was not invited. Everyone else I know published by them (and people who aren't even published by them) WERE invited. And these other authors aren't bigger sellers than me or necessarily more established. The only differences between me and them is the colour of our skin (I'm a minority, everyone else is white) and I'm slightly unusual in that I'm from a very working-class background (most people in publishing tend to be middle class). I'm starting to feel really hurt and discouraged. I'd sort of understand it if my book had been a big failure or whatever, but it seems even weirder given my book has been pretty successful, yet I'm treated like a step-child....

I can't believe they would have invested money in publishing your book if they thought you were not going to be successful. Maybe the other authors have their book launch parties paid for them because they have been published before. What is your book about? Fact or fiction?

Sorry you're feeling down about it. What does your agent say? Might help to get some perspective as this feels a wee bit paranoid/like you might be misconstruing business things as being personal. The marketing effort is bound to differ for each title and surely not all the authors were invited to the party? Not nice to feel left out, and publishing can be elitist and cliquey, but it's a big leap to assume it's skin colour related. There could be all kinds of reasons they focus on other authors/titles, even if you see your work as equally deserving.

This could also be part n parcel of being with a bigger house. You might get more attention with a smaller press.

Hi, thanks for your replies. Pinkdelight, it's not really a matter of me seeing my work as equally deserving it's that publishing is meant to be a business not a clique. My book sold well. Some of the authors whose books did not sell well are getting the preferential treatment, being invited to all the parties etc, whereas I feel snubbed. For example, a couple of their other authors got reviewed in the Guardian or other newspapers and the editor and publicists etc immediately post links to the reviews on Twitter, Facebook etc and constantly post nice things about the authors. My book got positive reviews in those very same papers and the editors and other staff just completely and utterly seem to ignore my reviews. No one in their team has actually EVER posted anything about me on Twitter or Facebook. It's reached a point where I'm thinking "what did I do wrong?" but it's not as if I've ever been rude or unfriendly to anyone there.

I agree - the marketing effort will vary by title. Publishers do put more effort behind books they think will sell more. The fact that they gave more support to authors who haven't sold as well might just be because they wrongly predicted which ones would do best!

If you're not happy, I'd talk to them and find out more. They have an interest in your book succeeding, just as you do.

Why aren't you addressing this with them? It's a business deal, and you have every right to expect the same treatment as everyone else. Why not arrange a meeting to discuss why you aren't being given the same advantages?

Often if your face fits, you get better treatment in all walks of life. I think the colour of the face is irrelevant to whether it fits or not.

It's great that you got reviewed. That's the really important thing. Don't know how much difference the PR people tweeting about it will make, but (from my own experience) I guess you're sitting there scouring the net and noticing the others getting more attention. If it's really getting to you, then why not tweet them the link to your good reviews. It'd be a bit weird of them to ignore it then, and if they did, you could ask why without seeming unreasonable. I don't think at all that you should be wondering what you did wrong. It shouldn't be cliquey, but of course it is. People who need an income can rarely get a foothold in publishing so the pool of those who succeed is pretty small and of course they do favours for friends, provided it also makes good business sense. It's the same throughout the arts. But it's also fair to say that writers often feel on the outside and that's no bad thing so try not to take it personally. Just focus on the instances that you feel are detrimental to marketing your book and do as much as you can to turn things around. If you don't like being pushy, get your agent to raise the issues - that's what they're paid for.

It sounds strange all right Daisy. How did you first get picked up by the publisher - do you have an agent? Were you in negotiations with any other publishers?

Also, just wondering if it's possible some of the other authors who are being more intensively promoted already have multi-book contracts - so the publisher is investing more in them because they have to build up their profile and brand, having already committed to future books, even if the first ones were not as successful as yours in some cases?

They do sound very unsupportive and I don't know if would be wise or not, but in your position I'd be inclined to try and have a meeting to clear the air sooner rather than later with the director of publicity - presuming they will just say the budget only stretches so far etc, but the thing is this window after publication and the good reviews you have already achieved (congrats by the way!) is the time you have to make the most of to promote the book and your name. At least you would also get an idea of whether they would be upset at all if you decided to jump ship for your next book - are you thinking of doing that, if they don't sharpen up?

From what you have said I can understand your frustration Daisy. An extremely frank discussion is required. Keep a note of your meetings and then reassess. Hopefully some action will be taken. If your book has sold well you may get taken on by a different publisher.

Just found this - remembered reading it way back. Doesn't address your particular concerns but might make you feel better about the 'mysterious process'.

www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2006/nov/10/post3

The problem is that this stuff is all quite intangible. It's not like they've failed to do something they are contracted to do - like actually print my book, send it to the bookshops etc. Without question there is a fairly marked difference between the way I am being treated and the way other authors are being treated. Clearly if I was comparing myself to the way the likes of Jackie Collins and Stephanie Meyer are treated I'd have a clear understanding of WHY! They are multi-million selling authors and I'm a decent-selling debut author. But I'm noticing huge differences between the way other poorly-selling authors (debut or otherwise) are treated compared with the way I'm treated. I'm a fairly robust person emotionally and I am good at looking on the bright side. But I really am being treated differently here and it's getting upsetting. I've worked my butt off promoting this book, I'm friendly and helpful towards their staff and yet it's as if I'm a leper or something.

That's a great article, Pinkdelight. Thanks for sharing it!

You obviously have a fair bit of "evidence" to suggest that others have been treated differently. Could you arrange a meeting and lay your cards on the table? Ask them what their reasoning is for each point.

Why haven't you (or your agent?) asked them?
When you're reviewed, did you call the publishers and get them to twitter it? When you did the launch party, did you get their input, get them to advertise it (twitter or whatever)?
I've no idea how publishing works, but for most businesses you need to be pretty pro-active about pushing your "product" to your colleagues. It could be that your peers are better at hassling the publishers than you are (no slight on them or you intended!), or that they have better agents.

Or it could be a racial /class issue.
I think the only way things will improve if you make some noise about it.

Often if your face fits, you get better treatment in all walks of life. I think the colour of the face is irrelevant to whether it fits or not.
Agree with this completely Scholes

I'd like to say I agree with you Scholes and MsKittyFane but it bothers me that almost all of the other 'ethnic minority' professionals in publishing I know complain of similar treatment. They can't all just be over-sensitive or have a chip on their shoulder. Actually now that I'm thinking about this at least a few of the relatively few people I know in the industry who come from working-class backgrounds have reported similar experiences.

I don't think it is overt racism or classism but a sense of people who run the industry feeling more comfortable with and thus being more accepting of their 'own'.

Great post Bumperella. I suppose for all I know the authors who get all the attention are constantly reminding the publisher to promote them

Do you have an agent? Could the issue lie with his/her being insufficiently pushy on your behalf?

Lemonaid, yes I do have an agent. Possibly he is not being pushy enough....