What fun to discover £7,000 of book royalties, due today, aren't actually going to be paid. Not today. Maybe not ever.
So now it's time for yet another round of "What Do I Tell My Mortgage Provider?", and a quick game of "How Do I Feed My Dog?"
Fuck you, publishing. What a turd of a profession.
So now it's time for yet another round of "What Do I Tell My Mortgage Provider?", and a quick game of "How Do I Feed My Dog?"
Fuck you, publishing. What a turd of a profession.
Comments
"Yes, I know he's a tyrant, a monster, a maniac and the rest but, gentlemen, he once shot a publisher."
What's their excuse?
(I'm assuming buying your books is not going to help short term?)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapter_9,_Title_11,_United_States_Code
Unbound (my original publisher) went into administration in March, owing me about £8k.
Boundless (basically the same managers) "bought" Unbound for almost nothing, including all its stock of books and publishing rights.
Boundless then sent promises to pay what Unbound owed.
Both payments were due today. Neither turned up
So ...
And ANOTHER £7,000 fails to appear.
I was due to be paid at 9am today. They told me I wouldn't be paid at 8am.
I'm just really fucking angry. It's not just me. It's 100s of authors. Years of work.
Inept or dishonest. You decide.
For lots of people it is simply their entire business model. It is legal theft.
So much of this ilk goes on when one business *goes under* and an identical one with the same managers pops up.
Scumbags.
Is it possible to put a clause in a contract that, when payments are not made for sales, no matter why, rights revert to the author?
That would seem like it really should be mandated...
https://bsky.app/profile/benapplegate.com/post/3lqfc3rxibc26
The whole purpose of its existence is to extract "wealth".
The only reason it's not called theft is because the rich and landed class depend on it.
As a concept we are still in the dark ages using it.
Sorry if I missed that.
Am so sorry, Russ. 🫶🏻
B*stards.
Surely that is illegal in some way?
They seem to be behaving like a rogue trader… 🤔 Surely Trading Standards, HMRC and others might have something to say?
I realise it wouldn’t be a quick fix, but it’d give it higher profile; and shame them in the process! 😒
@bylinetimes.bsky.social
@bylinesnetwork.co.uk
You know... Since America hates unions (again)... Y'all should just do what you used to do
Which was burn the factory or the boss' house down. If y'all can't have nice things, they shouldn't either.
Revolution and change require labour. Not just a shooting or 2
I've stopped watching news because I just cannot wrap my head around it. I read it, to stay informed, but that's all my heart can handle. So many people and so much harm. 😞
Y'all need a change of pace.
Protest.. the kind that gets change.. takes time. And prep work. The Winnipeg general strike of 1919 was only successful bc we still also grew our own food
6 weeks it took of no one working
But that requires community! You can't protest alone.
Ppl need to start forming tenant unions and relearning how to victory garden.
Bc even without a revolution... A depression is definitely looming
And that's to our detriment... It keeps us from sharing grievances and rallying together
The only way to change grandma's mind about things, is to educate her at the dinner table or family gathering.
Become a shit disturber.
Consulted w lovely author whose fab book was never supported by publisher. Huge potential. They sit on it yet don't support it.
Still they refuse to let him buy back his rights despite 10+yrs of no-promo! Grr.
I reality in a civilized world we all have people who he answer to, who can control us, who can upset our apple cart.
I'm an artist, a jewelry maker and a novelist. Still working that straight job.
Mostly due to piracy. When your book is pirated BEFORE it even hits the virtual shelves? /bye
Amazon is not sending out money for its sales? I mean, I hate Bezos for other reasons but this is awful, too.
*I could be wrong. I'm not fluent in Latin. It's just a hobby.
Same question to @johnfinnemore.bsky.social
I feel you.
Temu was great, they took it down right away . But there are dozens in languages that I don’t even know what they are. It has completely gotten away from me.
I’m scared to make anything because it’s just going to stolen.😟
Eat the fucking rich.
But one of the lawyers told me it doesn’t matter if you have a copyrighted, they will still steal it because Amazon is that big and they have that many lawyers on retainer.
Fuck amazon. I cancelled my account in January and haven't used the bastards since.
Makes me feel very violent
🤮
It's weird how folks begrudge artists.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robin-debowler-478272207_a-citocrat-of-the-highest-order-alan-bates-activity-7296503749827592192-z8ev?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADSKzxwB4PgJJCXPWos_zCcNXAo7CaO0sqw
Is a payment provider responsible for downstream payments to the recipients suppliers. It responded 'no'.
then I asked this.
but if a payment provider is facilitating a fraudulent organisation ?.
Response: in next message.
✅ If they knew or should have known about the fraud and didn’t act, that’s different—legal action can be taken.
group litigation or collective redress action
gathering the names and participation agreement from the 100 other victims, approach a solicitor who specialises in the subject. If the company is pot less it may be pointless
Also, would it help to order his books at the library? Do authors get paid for library books?
What’s going on?
Another thread about the same issue
What’s the excuse of the publisher?
When one company takes over another - no matter the condition of the company being taken over - the new owner is responsible for all outstanding debts of the defunct company.
contracts that if royalties go unpaid then the ownership of the work immediately reverts to the author?
My simplified view would be that if one side is in breach, the other can do what they like!
Bonkers.
Wrongful trading v fraudulent trading
https://www.companyrescue.co.uk/guides-knowledge/guides/wrongful-trading-and-fraudulent-trading-explained-3742/
https://www.filmsnest.com/movie/solo-leveling-reawakening
Zero morals, zero integrity and off the hard work of others.
Thatcher and Tory avarice destroyed so much.
The destruction of decency and honesty, for the pursuit of self over society.
Solidarity Russ. ✊
I wish you my best, and hope you can stay afloat long enough to neverrhave to worry about anything of the sort ever again.
2) Conventional legal arrangement seem different.
3) Others have also been impacted. Find out who.
4) Recommend getting a lawyer involved that prosecutes like cases.
5) Next time, obtain legal advise before signing a contract.
writers pour their souls into their work and still struggle to make ends meet. vultures like this publisher are the vilest of the vile.
I just emailed Ms. Sharma and told her what I've heard online and that I had been looking for a publisher but it seemed as if Unbound was not the way for me to go.
Have you ever considered self-publishing?
Unbound is actually *still in administration*--the liquidation hasn't completed yet.
Also they may not have sent you a document they were legally fucking required to.
https://bsky.app/profile/courtneymilan.com/post/3lqkk6hsqwk2o