I have diligently worked on a novel for more than four years with the hopes of having it massed produced and marketed to the world. I reviewed the self publishing sites and weighed the expensiveness of being a self published author. To my wildest dreams I happened upon information that directed me towards Household publishing that had just awarded a $50,000.00 contract to the sister of one of my co-workers after she attended a seminar in Atlanta. I of course contacted the company to get additional information concerning how I could put myself in a favorable situation. Being offered $50,000.00 to publish my book without upfront cost verses all the expense I would have to self publish seemed like a blessing straight from God.
I signed up for the next seminar which was to be held in Charlotte North Carolina on the 29th of October. My mother and I drove the four hours from Atlanta to Charlotte only to find out that the seminar had been cancelled to our surprise. I did not receive a call or email from the publishing company to indicate that the seminar was no longer going to take place. My mother was furious and I was disappointed. I was looking forward to the opportunity to get my manuscrip before the publisher with the hopes of winning that $50,000.00 contract. I placed a call to the publisher whose office was of course closed due to it being the weekend. I left a message and began the long four hour drive back to Atlanta.
On Thursday of the following week I receive a call from Marcus Oaks apologizing for the miscommunication. He offered to pay for my expenses and to review my manuscript anyway. My heart quicken at such an opportunity. I had heard how difficult it was to get publishers to view unsolited manuscripts and was greatful for such an event. I agreed to meet with him at his office and bring a manuscript. You would think that I would have noted that this company had problems by the way that they were so unprofessional in contacting me concerning the cancellation of the seminar. But of course, the hopes of fullfilling a life's dream propelled me forward.
I met with Marcus who thusly offered me a publishing contract partly out of guilt and mostly out of reading a wonderful story line played out within the pages of my manuscript. He walked me through what he called a "standard" publishing contract. He made a suggestion about it being my choice to get someone to look over it but assured me that it was standard with my best interest at heart. I signed on the dotted line December 8. We verbally discussed a timeline for the production of my novel in which he promoted a Spring release date. He offered to provide me with the name of an editor if I did not have anyone that could or would be able to perform the editorial services on my manuscript. I said that I had someone that currently was review my manuscript and making edits so things looked fine. I few weeks later we had another meeting which involved Marcus asking me how the editing was going. I said that my person still had the manuscript and was working on it. He proceeded to inform that timing is critical and that I may want to elicit the services of a professional editor that he would recommend I would only have to pay a fee of $990.00 instead of their normal editoral fee of $1500.00. I agreed to pay for the editorial services although my contract stated that the publisher would be responsible for editing.
The new year came and I worked for three weeks with the paid editor diligently with the belief that my book would be produced in March for an April release to the public. On January 27 I was told by Tarshia Stanley that my manuscrip had been sent over to the creative department for creation of the layout and that she would have it back in about three to four days. Three to four days went by and still not a word from my publish or editor. Two weeks go by and still nothing. I send an email to my publish inquiring about the layout as well as a cover. Marcus responds that he is talking with Carol in the creative department and will get back to me about the layout. He has someone name David to send me some cover design "ideas" that were horrible and nightmareish. I send Marcus another email and copy David and Tarshia with some examples of what I would like for a possible cover of my book. Tarshia and Marcus reply stating that a non-ethic cover would better suite my book to reach a wider audience. I agree with them and elicit the assistance of an outside company to do a last minute cover idea for me. I contract a graphic designer from a company entitled Convergenex that puts a cover for me within four hours. I email it over to Marcus and Tarshia that stated "Hi Marcus and Tarshia, I had an independent company draw up a proposed cover for me. Please take a look at his cover idea. He is willing to perform the task should you approve this design. If my opinion counts for much, I absolutely love this cover idea. I jumped right out at me when I saw it. He was referred to me by a friend. Thank you so much." on 2/10/06. His reply to me was
"Hi Latisha,
Thanks for the email. I will be speaking with Tarshia this afternoon. We will discuss your cover idea. I'm a little puzzled, what are you asking of HHP? Are you suggesting that your personal designer replace our staff personnel for the design of WWFU? Or would you like the proposed design be transferred to our design department? Please address your intentions.
Thanks,
Marcus" on that very same day. I did not get a response so I sent another email asking if he had received my email. His reponse was that he would not like to just go with one cover idea and that I have not given his design department enough time to generate anything. Now keep in mind that I received an email from Marcus on the week of the 3rd of February directed to David to have a 1st draft to him by the 7th and a final draft to him on the 11th of February. I started my inquiries about the cover on the 9th of February. I also inquire about selling price discussions only to find out that Marcus and Tarshia had decided on a price of the book without involving me in the discussion as per the contract that I signed.
I send another email to Marcus per his request after a tell phone discuss between the contracted designer I hired, Marcus and myself that stated "Marcus, please review and let me know if you need anything additional. I attempted to explain to Shawn what you needed but he said that he probably would need to talk with you, the printer or someone in graphics. I have copied him in on this email as well. So feel free to converse with him at your leisure." Marcus sends me another email which states "Hi Latisha, I placed a call to your cover designer and have not received a return call. If you would like, you can follow-up with him. The sooner we can iron out the details the sooner we can get proofs.
Thanks, Marcus." My contractor spoke with Marcus by phone on the 13th and Marcus put him into to contact with HHP's designer David. David informed my contractor that he had not heard anything form Marcus pertaining to the cover since the last email that he sent over to me with the cover illustrations. David also stated that Marcus had not mentioned to him anything about doing a back cover or anything further for that matter. David also commented that he had only a short dealing with Marcus as he was the one to design Marcus cover for his book which is currently the only publishment for HHP. David also said that he could not provide my contract person with much information and directed us to speak with Marcus again. I placed a call to Marcus with my contractor on the line. Marcus became irate by my line of questioning and refused to have anymore dealings with my contractor. I asked about developing the back cover only to have him tell me that he would have to send the front cover, once finished and approved, to David. I informed him that David had already stated that he did not need the front cover in order to complete the back. Marcus then stated that he would only deal directly with me and would appreciate it if I did not put anymore pressure on him. He also stated that he would need my contractor to sign a disclaimer for the cover illustration and that he would email one over to my contractor after our conversation. I inquired about the layout again and informed him that I wanted to use the cover that I sent to him and did not need to see anything further. My contractor and I were stunned to say the least. I hung up the phone only to receive another phone call from Marcus shortly there after in which he stated that he was disappointed in me and that at this point if I wanted to end the relationship that he did not see a reason why that could not happen. It this point he had not incurred any expenses and it would be a feasible decision. I informed him that I was not looking to end the contract but was not going to let him produce my work in an unfavorable light. He had originally informed me that he would have my novel printed and in his warehouse inventory by March the 6th, once it was in his inventory he would begin marketing, and release to the general public by April. I inquired about this verbal schedule that we had spoken about on so many other occassions only to have him side step the issue. Marcus then sent the following email later that night "Hi Shaun,
I have decided to allow you to complete the cover process which you have started on Latisha Bridges' book When A Woman's Fed Up. Please contact our printer at 1-800-621-2556 and ask for Michael. He will give you all the specs for the book cover and jacket. As I was trying to communicate with you and Latisha earlier, the process is premature in that we don't have a layout as of yet. The layout will give us the exact number of pages so that we can determine the width of the spine. Most printers can use a standard formula for this, however RJ doesn't, and I rather have the exact. The book's trim size will be 6x9 soft cover and 6x9 hardcover with a wraparound jacket for flaps. The printer will determine the exact length on the jacket and give you the length on the bleeds as well as the resolution usually 400 dpi or higher for this one. I will forward you a byline for Latisha, the barcode information, price, category and the book review for WWFU. You would need to submit a proof to me before any submission to printer of the covers. It's late and I will send you an attachment of the items on tomorrow morning along with any disclaimers we would need for you to sign. Latisha would have to provide us with proof that she has purchased any images that will be used in conjunction with the cover. Thanks, Marcus." The "Shaun" that he refers to is my contractor Shawn Jones with Convergenex.
As you can see, this situation has become extremely taxing. I have gone back and forth about what to do. There is a claus within my contract giving me the option to terminate with a written 90 day notice verses Marcus's statement to end during a conversation. It is my hopes that I will be able to save some other unsuspecting aspiring author from going through the nightmare of signing with a monster of a publisher. I know that this experience has been an eye-opener for me business wise.
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