I am a freelance writer, and I have not been able to collect payment for two of my articles which were published by Texas Family Magazine (located in Sugar Land). The publisher, Jesse Santiago, will not answer emails or phone calls. The amount of money I am waiting for (which is many months past due) is $910. These are for:
$350 for an article for the Jan- Feb issue
$560 for an article for the March- April issue
I invoiced Santiago for these articles when I turned them in to the editor (at the agreed-upon pay rate). Contrary to the industry standard, Santiago only pays for articles upon publication, not on acceptance. However, even if he is paying on publication, the standard is to pay within 1-2 weeks of publication. My "Cooking with wine" article was published 4 months ago, the second article has been published for two months.
Additionally, Texas Family owes me $560 for a third article for the May/June/ July issue. This issue, I understand, is going to press anytime, or maybe already has. I am concerned about getting paid for this article too.
The magazine's other freelance writers are awaiting past-due payment for articles too. Editor Caroline Shearer has talked to Santiago on the writers' behalf, trying to convince him to pay us. She has not been successful.
Texas Family is still going on and "doing business"—working on new issues, etc., and are paying full-time staff. Yet they are not paying their freelancerswho truly are the "bread and butter" of their publication.
I want to be paid for all three articles (amounting to $1470), but at this point I would be content to be paid the $910 for the first two articlesAT LEAST FOR NOW. But I still want the $560 payment for the third article by the end of July.
Signed,
Rebecca
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