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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
AceOfCups · 24/09/2024 18:51

Make sure he doesn’t sign away any rights to her

YaCannyKickYaGrannyInTheShin · 24/09/2024 18:56

Well if he's promised to pay her, it's unsurprising she's angry as it looks like you're muscling in and willing to do it for free.

Which is also being a lackey, is it not?

KandiKane1 · 24/09/2024 19:01

For my friend, I don't mind being a lackey and guiding him through the process. My quibble is if Mrs. PHDs intention was to use me as a lapdog just to keep my friend happy and look like the "good guy". For example if I said £70 was too high, would I be listened to and would there be a discussion about it, probably not with her attitude

OP posts:
SauviGone · 24/09/2024 19:01

I don't know if they've discussed money but I'd be willing to help him out for free

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

What's the difference?

KandiKane1 · 24/09/2024 19:06

SauviGone · 24/09/2024 19:01

I don't know if they've discussed money but I'd be willing to help him out for free

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

What's the difference?

My personal difference is, would I be part of the decision process like for pricing and advice, discussions with both her and my friend equally. Or would I be there as some sort of "email this publisher for me, dear"

OP posts:
Sethera · 24/09/2024 19:09

£70 a copy? I'd never pay that for a novel. Who are they expecting to buy it?

KandiKane1 · 24/09/2024 19:11

Sethera · 24/09/2024 19:09

£70 a copy? I'd never pay that for a novel. Who are they expecting to buy it?

My thoughts exactly, £20 is a stretch for most casual readers, for an unknown author and limited audience

OP posts:
YaCannyKickYaGrannyInTheShin · 24/09/2024 19:13

Leaving aside the ridiculous price

Why are you and this woman tripping over yourselves to help this man, to the point where you're accusing her of being a bitch (whilst making bitchy comments about her on here), and she's getting angry that you're muscling in.

He must be walking round thinking he's the cock of the North!

Just back off and leave them to it.

NoSquirrels · 24/09/2024 19:13

Is she his publisher - has he signed the rights to her, for payment or for free? Is there a contract setting out the details?

If so, then she calls the shots on all decisions.

If she’s just ‘assisting’ him to publish, then he should tell her he doesn’t want her assistance, as she clearly knows bog all about publishing.

£70 for a debut novel by an unknown name? Blimey.

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.

NoSquirrels · 24/09/2024 19:14

KandiKane1 · 24/09/2024 19:11

My thoughts exactly, £20 is a stretch for most casual readers, for an unknown author and limited audience

Edited

Even £20 is £10-£15 too much.

twentysevendresses · 24/09/2024 19:16

I can't get past the '£70 a copy' 😲😯

Is it written in dragons blood and printed in gold leaf?? 😬

Nothing of any use to add though...sorry!

Friendofdennis · 24/09/2024 19:16

Gosh I would stay out of it. Who on earth is going to buy a novel for £70 ? When it fails to sell he will have to rethink the whole thing won’t he

ThisOldThang · 24/09/2024 19:18

I thought all non-mainstream author books were printed to order these days?

Why waste money getting a whole batch printed when Amazon can just print a copy overnight?

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.

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!

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:
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.

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.

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.

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:
murmuration · 24/09/2024 19:27

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

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.

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.

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 19:43

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

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