To contemplate being a bit of a diva and stamp my feet a bit WRT publishers?

[SolidGoldBrass]

It's all a bit alarming but I am quite cross TBH. The situation is that publisher A 'commissioned' me to write a book, which I did. Initially, publisher A was making all sorts of encouraging noises bout the new imprint etc, but they haven't done much with the other titles they put out (or rather, sneaked out as ebooks without even letting the authors know so they could promote themselves). Though the book has been written and copy-edited and they have designed a cover for it, I still haven't had a contract and nothing has been signed.

Publisher B has commissioned another book from me, and Publisher B is lovely, enthusiastic, organised etc. So I was having a whine to B about how tiresome A is being, and Publisher B would actually be quite happy to have the book given that A doesn't seem to give a flying fuck.

So AIBU to tell A to fuck off, I'm taking my toys home and not playing with them any more? Or should I do a 'more in sorrow than in anger' email and see if they offer me more sweeties?

[claig]

Well done, Solid, good luck with the books

[Corygal]

Well done mate. Thing is, contracts in-house move straight from the commissioning editor (ie someone like me) to the slave/workie (oneself in earlier times). So you can be royally ignored/screwed by accident, and unless you tell yer editor, they won't know.

Make sure you get paid. Ring up editor the day it is late and say the roof needs mending.

Be brave - it's the only way in publishing.

If you want me to read your contract I will, just to check. PM me if you want.

Use this experience - tell B you really want them to get first refusal on your next book.

[MinnieBar]

Ooh, glad it's finally happening! You helped me immensely with my niche book last year .

Sod publisher A in the future (unless, of course, they do a massive promotion of the list and offer you more money for the next one).

[SolidGoldBrass]

Thanks everyone for all the help and advice. Am feeling quite excited now and determined to be ever so proactive about promoting the book myself (as I doubt they will do very much off their own initiative)...