Is my friends publisher being a bitch?

[KandiKane1]

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

*I'd tell your friend, not if.

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

@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!

Just keep out of it.

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.

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.

Well the book is very sadly going to end up pulped and no one will buy it. It’s amateur hour. I’d say to him that if he gets rid of her, you’ll help him, otherwise good luck.
don’t get involved in this nonsense.

Why doesn't he send it out on submission and try and find an agent? That is the old-fashioned pre-internet way.* Not sending it to India and charging 70 quid a pop. He will end up with a lot of nice pulp.

(*Edited to add - and the modern way also!)

I would back off but I would have an uneasy feeling your friend is being exploited. I suspect the book is unsaleable and unreadable, and at some point he will be giving someone money.

Yes. Is she treating it as an academic publication, somehow? Possibly with (her own?) commentary, notes etc? There are circumstances where a memoir could be treated that way, though it wouldn't be expected to sell much and her publishing choices still sound a bit odd. But it would explain her attitude.

Nobody is going to buy it for £70.

The whole things sounds a bit of a mess. How come you self-published rather than sought an agent?

It's a fiction spy book, something like James Bond I believe

I personally self publish because it's easier, I can have a massive audience with a few clicks

Just a fictional spy type novel, as far as I'm aware she wouldn't be using it for her academic career, but who knows

These are my feelings exactly, she's acting like a saint and his family are quite well off, which she knows

I don't think he's thought any of it through to be honest, and she's just taken over