My first book was published by a major publishing house, 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....