The Ways of Publishers

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13, 25 September 1912, Page 61

The Ways of Publishers

A NEW ZEALAND AUTHORESS

SWINDLED.

Again and again there comes from New Zealand either a letter asking fol advice as to the wisest disposal of literary or artistic work, or a cry that such advice is so difficult to get. with London regarded -as the market of the world, and New Zealand thousands of miles distant from that market. No one but an author can realise what agony it is, after having garnered one’s thoughts into precious manuscript, io trust that fragile bunch of leaves, not only to the cold medium of the post, but to the careless eye of an editor and the much more callous one of his office boy, who may or may not return it, as the case may be. Byron's well-known quip, “Now, Barnb has was a publisher," is recalled by a recent experience that came under my notice. Two and a half years ago a young New Zealand writer anxious to dispose of a book to which she had given much time and care answered a pub lisher’s advertisement which stated (and still does) that an old-established firm was open to consider MSS of all kinds (preferably by young authors) with a view to early publication. She was invited to submit her manuscript and did

so, with the result that, a few days later, a letter arrived accepting it and praising it as being “most original,” and saying that the publisher in question "could make a great success of it because it covered new ground and was different from anything he had read.” According to the correspondence, the book was to be brought out within nine months, and an agreement was entered into whereby the New Zealander under took to pay the publisher £35 towards the cost of producing a thousand copies Not until very much later was it dis covered that in the signed agreement the promise as to the month of publics tion was not mentioned. It was under stood that the author was relieved of anything after the stipulated sum was paid down (this sum, by the way, varies it turns out, with the victim). The pub lished price being 3/, the publisher was to take half and the writer half as royalty. Half-yearly accounts were to be rendered. It was also understood thatthe publisher should pay- for advertisements. And details as to the number of copies to be sent out for review, as travellers’ samples, etc., made the. docu ment seem, to inexperienced eyes, very professional and promising of success. After many months of requests, proofs of part of the book were delivered, but in such a shocking state as to be quite unreadable. This is mentioned because it is a carefully thought out part of the dodge. Another proof was asked for, and the publisher instantly sprang a demand that this should be paid for. Then ensued months of waiting. Letters were left unanswered, and calls evaded if possible. And so the time went by. only punctuated with promises, from 1(109 till Last December. Then it was promised that the book should be ready for the public directly after Christinas. And now, in August, the unfortunate writer has, by the aid of her solicitor, got her own MS. back. It is in a filthy condition (that, of course, is to be expected); she is much more than £35 out of pocket, and the book is till unsold. Cases exposed by “Truth” show exactly the same method of procedure, though the money obtained has been in some cases more than in the New Zealander’s. One writer, on reading first-class reviews of his book in the papers and seeing it described as one of this publisher’s notable successes, demanded to see liis accounts, and found tha't fifteen copies were entered as sold, so that as a reward for all his work and for £4O cash paid down lie obtained 22/6!

It will be urged that it is of no use criticising these cases if a remedy is not; suggested, and, since the object is towarn other New Zealand writers, your representative has been to some trouble to investigate the best methods for dis jiosing of literary work in London. First of all—it need hardly be urged after the above experience—very careful inquiries should be made as to the reputation of a publisher before anything of any value _is submitted to his keeping. Here arises, of course, a great difficulty for writers in New Zealand when publishers are in England, and unless a young aspirant has a friend here who would see the matter through for him, it would be wise to work through some thoroughly reliable agent (there are a few!) with, if he can afford the fee (a guinea a year for English members, probably less for those abroad), the Incorporated Society of Authors as a background to safeguard the author as to the agent. Having investigated in full the case of the young New Zealander in question, and learned of the unthought-of ways in which she was taken in, your corre spondent betook herself to a London editor to find what chance manuscripts by a young unknown writer have of recognition sent in in the ordinary way in London. The answer was almost as depressing as it could lie. “Extremely little, unless the work shows more than ordinary ability. As even on a small magazine fifty manuscripts are often received in a week, it is evident that, on a larger one where that number is doubled, very scant attention is liestowed on new and unproved writers.” “An introduction might make matters a little human, certainly,” met- a query as to that idea.

Riven n thoroughly reliable agent, and with some initial knowledge on the part of the author as to the value of his description of work short stories of good average merit will in England bring the beginner always n guinea a thou sand words from a good Press agency, for instance. It is always to the advantage of the agent to dispose of his client's goods al aa high a price as possible. Whatever course is decided on, it is, however, very evident that great care should lie its preliminary.