My experience with Dorchester
Hi all,
I can relay my experiences so far with this company. I don't know how others are treated though I've heard things that aren't that kosher. I get emails from other authors relaying similar stories. I'm under no obligation to maintain silence for contractual reasons, therefore, I feel free to speak.
I had to beg for my advance...I finally got it four months 'after' Dorchester offered a contract. I didn't particularly think this was proper since I pulled my book 'immediately' off the market.
I got no tax information for payments made to me by Dorchester last year. I reported everything to the IRS anyhow; let Dorchester be responsible. My accountant is looking into whether any Federal law was violated (Again...I reported all my earnings despite having no forms from Dorchester).
For about five months, I haven't been able to get anyone to answer an email or a phone call, including my editor, Chris Keeslar.... Dunno <G>, maybe it's just me but this is pretty unprofessional behavior. If they're treating readers this way, I can understand the sad earnings...
I did get a mass mailing saying that my book along with others would be released as an ebook. Dorchester made some arrangement with some company for this to happen. E-book publishing is pretty 'live'. It's done in real time; not when the publisher can get around to it! If Dorchester can't or won't contact authors for months on end, how will they handle problems with ebook delivery - in real time - to real readers? (Assuming they take this same no-contact approach).
I got one other mass mailing saying that Dorchester had given a sum of money to a destitute authors organization on my behalf....I almost laughed myself off my office chair. Here I am...waiting for dough...waiting for any editorial contact...and a destitute author org (which was never been named along with the amt given) gets money donated on my behalf - from Dorchester. It's not that I resent the donation at all...I'm just sitting here wondering when 'I' can buy groceries <G>....the irony does not escape me...
I've had a revised manuscript on Chris's desk since October. It's a sequel to a book already out. I asked for someone to 'please' give me some response...got nothing. I pulled the book and gave it to someone else...someone who answers emails and phone calls. I think that's the 'least' an author should expect from a publishing company. And I mean the very least...
I was never in any argument or disagreement with any of the publishing staff at all. In fact, I can't get a hold of them even 'if' I wanted to argue. I have no idea why no one's answering an email or a phone call (since this past Fall). I can't personally do business with a non-existent entity which is what Dorchester has made of itself.
Finally, my contract said there'd be financial review 'sixty days after the release of the Work'....never happened....
So, these are just a few of my experiences....no more of this. I can get abused anywhere; I'm not gonna ask for it <G>.....things could always get better, but I see more professionalism elsewhere....
I don't normally post such goings-on in public, but I was referred over here by a writing org...I felt compelled to relay my experiences so someone would have better information than I got before signing with Dorchester....They're very friendly when they 'do' get around to making contact.....they just....disappear.....things sort of just fall by the way. Stuff like ohhhhh...authors and payment and income tax forms... manuscripts...revisions....'little' things like that.
Good luck all!!!
Candace Sams (aka C.S. Chatterly)
www.candacesams.com
www.cschatterly.com