Over the last couple of months I've made an interesting and somewhat scary finding. Reversions can be both easy and difficult to achieve.
It's also fair to say not all Publishers are equal. Some treat you like a cash cow and others appreciate our work. This makes the ones who behave badly stand out clearly as only in it for the $$.
If you're a follower of my books, you'll notice that over the last 12 months there have been a lot of ups and downs with my titles.
The Plan, initially released with Beachwalk Press reverted to me in a very easy and painless fashion. In fact so easy and painless, that it promptly was updated and relaunched. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!
Tomorrow's Promise also reverted without issues. Mind you, it's not yet been relaunched because I haven't yet finished the re-editing process. The publisher actually reverted it without my requesting it. Worked well and I was able to get everything cleared away quickly.
In July, I began the process of reverting some other titles from another publisher to find that there was a clause, one I had missed in the read through and had signed to digitally... which automatically renewed my contractual period if I didn't contact them before 90 days ahead of contract end date.
To be sure you've read that properly, let me say this:
It's also fair to say not all Publishers are equal. Some treat you like a cash cow and others appreciate our work. This makes the ones who behave badly stand out clearly as only in it for the $$.
If you're a follower of my books, you'll notice that over the last 12 months there have been a lot of ups and downs with my titles.
The Plan, initially released with Beachwalk Press reverted to me in a very easy and painless fashion. In fact so easy and painless, that it promptly was updated and relaunched. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!
Tomorrow's Promise also reverted without issues. Mind you, it's not yet been relaunched because I haven't yet finished the re-editing process. The publisher actually reverted it without my requesting it. Worked well and I was able to get everything cleared away quickly.
In July, I began the process of reverting some other titles from another publisher to find that there was a clause, one I had missed in the read through and had signed to digitally... which automatically renewed my contractual period if I didn't contact them before 90 days ahead of contract end date.
To be sure you've read that properly, let me say this:
I must contact them (the Publisher) in excess of 90 days prior to the expiry of the contract and formally request the reversion of my rights otherwise it (the contract) automatically renews.
So, because I'd discovered some of the books had JUST renewed, I made a point at that time of asking for the books to revert AS SOON as the reversion dates came around.
The first book reverted easily in December, once we had the information process set up. I received the reversion letter the day before, though I had a notation and had been preparing to contact them. This week, knowing I have another book due to revert on the 28th February, I contacted them, as it seems wise to "remind" them. It seems they now needed to know that I'd contacted them prior to the 90 days otherwise too bad how sad.
Red Flag people's. Red Flag to a bull.
See, they told me they'd noted that I'd asked.
They said it would revert automatically, but dealing with them hasn't been plain sailing. When they changed things and "supposedly contacted all authors" about changes, I didn't receive that email.
They retrenched staff and supposedly contacted all authors, and again I say nope. Not me. Again.
I'm a little bit distrusting these days of the house.
Why? I have books languishing that are not selling, that have no hope of being supported unless you're one of their uber big sellers. The last book, the final in a series where the first two are available in print from Amazon and The Book Depository didn't even get distributed to those companies which means there is no hope they could achieve anything in terms of paperback sales. (Could this be lies, damn lies and statistics in paperback?)
You can only get this book from me or the publisher. (The only reason you can get it from me, is because I bought a supply of them.)
The first book reverted easily in December, once we had the information process set up. I received the reversion letter the day before, though I had a notation and had been preparing to contact them. This week, knowing I have another book due to revert on the 28th February, I contacted them, as it seems wise to "remind" them. It seems they now needed to know that I'd contacted them prior to the 90 days otherwise too bad how sad.
Red Flag people's. Red Flag to a bull.
See, they told me they'd noted that I'd asked.
They said it would revert automatically, but dealing with them hasn't been plain sailing. When they changed things and "supposedly contacted all authors" about changes, I didn't receive that email.
They retrenched staff and supposedly contacted all authors, and again I say nope. Not me. Again.
I'm a little bit distrusting these days of the house.
Why? I have books languishing that are not selling, that have no hope of being supported unless you're one of their uber big sellers. The last book, the final in a series where the first two are available in print from Amazon and The Book Depository didn't even get distributed to those companies which means there is no hope they could achieve anything in terms of paperback sales. (Could this be lies, damn lies and statistics in paperback?)
You can only get this book from me or the publisher. (The only reason you can get it from me, is because I bought a supply of them.)
But wait! There's more! (I feel like I should be offering a set of steak knives now...)
I can "buy" my rights back... for a novel I can pay £250 per book and they will release the rights. This does not include access to the edited files, where for the princely sum of a further £250 per book I can use the currently edited version. So to be clear, we are talking £500 per book for the reversion and the use of the edited book. In AUD that's about $1000 each book. I have 4 still outstanding. That doesn't take into account the 3 novellas I have either.
The majority of these books revert between 2018 and 2019 and are, I believe, a direct response by the company who purchased the publisher wanting to make big $$ for something they showed no interest in, and undertook NO marketing for.
I have been led to believe that this money is to be paid to the editor. Except, the books have never made these kinds of $$ with this house - so it's disingenuous to say it's to pay the editors what they would lose in earnings.
Now, I've taken great pains NOT to say which house. And I won't be pasting bits of the contract cause, you know, there's constraints on that, but I am furious and hurt and disappointed and so much more.
The majority of these books revert between 2018 and 2019 and are, I believe, a direct response by the company who purchased the publisher wanting to make big $$ for something they showed no interest in, and undertook NO marketing for.
I have been led to believe that this money is to be paid to the editor. Except, the books have never made these kinds of $$ with this house - so it's disingenuous to say it's to pay the editors what they would lose in earnings.
Now, I've taken great pains NOT to say which house. And I won't be pasting bits of the contract cause, you know, there's constraints on that, but I am furious and hurt and disappointed and so much more.
You're probably wondering then, why did I post this blog?
Once, when I was a young and naive author, I wanted to believe that a contract offer meant I had a house to work with. (Not working against me, their author.) One that wanted to form a relationship based on mutual trust and respect. I've learned differently. Not everyone enters into a contract with authors with this in mind.
If you're offered a contract...
If you're offered a contract...
- Read it.
- Check it.
- Look at the reversion clauses.
- Ask about buy outs and cost to use files.
- Make sure if your contract reverts to go to a big publisher, they aren't hitting you for another payment (yes this little beauty is in the contract too.)
- Most of all, protect yourself.
Not all publishers are interested in your personal situation, your rights and their responsibilities to you.
For me from this point onwards? I have one publisher I will stay with and will continue on my Self Publishing journey. I will protect myself and my interests.
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