My first novel, ‘The Impossible President,’ was published by Regency publisher in Nigeria, I invited the wife of the former Vice President then, Mrs Titi Atiku, and some governors’ wives and they came. It was a very big book launch and I made some cool money, sales was good, I sold out of my first print run! However, that was in Nigeria. When I decided to finally call the UK home, I got pregnant with my second child… she gently slipped into the world with no fuss, she is a quiet pleasant girl.
My daughter gave no fuss which gave me ample time to hone my craft, so I began work on the ‘The Feet Of Darkness’ and got in contact with Author House to see what they’ll do to help. I had a nasty experience with them! I wasn’t the only author, I think there were others like me who were fleeced off their hard-earned cash and hung to dry. Author House agreed to publish the novel and despite the fact that it was a first draft, unedited, they rushed me to complete it, they promised it would be edited! It was part of my publishing package. I did and sent it off and when the novel came out, I wasn’t happy with the result and I blamed myself for my gullibility. Things moved on rapidly and I licked my wounds to concentrate on something else but the novel stayed on my mind.
Two years later, I finished work on another novel, ‘Cydonia, Rise Of the Fallen’ (Arrow Gate would release it by summer) but ‘The Feet Of Darkness,’ sat comfortably on my shelf! Finally, I decided to re-edit and sent it off to various publishers before Arrow Gate snapped it up.
Good news? Yes, you can imagine my dismay when Amazon now placed it beside the kindle edition and the problem is, I don’t like the first edition, if I had my way I would remove it from amazon, I tried to but Author House claimed they can’t help me. To make things worse, I don’t get a dime when they sell the first edition of the paperback, the money probably goes to Author House (I’d cancelled my contract with Author House by the way)
This was the cover of the first edition, though it looked okay but mistakes abound in it! Well, I’m glad I got that off my chest, I can’t wait for the new paperback edition…
Much love friends!
🙂
Seyi Sandra David 
There’s so much these printing houses don’t tell hopeful authors. I’m sorry that you had a bad experience – hopefully the next chapters of your publishing adventure will be beautiful and successful!! 🙂
You’re right! The experience taught me a lasting lesson! Thank you for your kind words, I truly appreciate it!!
Much love. 🙂
Oh! I hate when I hear stories like that. Thank goodness you got away from them. I almost got myself into a similar deal with another notoriously bad publisher. I hope you have a much less bumpy ride in the future! Well said.
Thanks for your kind words ionia, Author House contacted me today to say they’ve removed the old edition from Amazon, so I’m quiet pleased with that though I’ve not verified it yet! You’re lucky you escaped from the ‘notorious’ publisher, I’m happy for you and I appreciate your kindness!
Much love. 🙂
So sorry you had to go through all that
Thanks dear, it’s in the past now, I just don’t want readers to buy the old edition! Thanks for your visit!
🙂
You are succeeding as a writer and that’s really all that’s important. Onward!
I appreciate your comment Sandra, you’re right, the future looks more brighter than the success and hurts of the past!
Much love. 🙂
Eesh! Good to know about situations like these…
I’m sorry for your troubles but I admire your attitude looking forward! May your next publishing experience be better!
Thank you for your kind words Julie, I’m happy I found a more humane publisher in Arrow Gate, they’re hands on and we work together seamlessly! I appreciate your visit!
🙂
Oh, how frustrating for you. You certainly need fortitude if you want to get published and make some money out of it! Good luck for your next venture.
Thank you dear friend, I have another publisher now and Author House contacted me today that they’ve removed the old edition! I’m grateful for your visit!
Blessings. 🙂
Glad to hear!
Do you realise that that if Mrs Titi Atiku married Bishop Desmond Tutu, she would be Titi Tutu hehe
That’s a good one Alastair, never thought of it before!
🙂 🙂
😀 I do have my uses occasionally 😉
You’re a gem and you know it!!!
🙂 🙂
what a terrible experience. but I am glad this is behind you now and you are publishing more novels. Congratulations. 🙂
Thank you dear friend for your kindness and friendship!
Much love. 🙂
“… if I had my way I would remove it from amazon, I tried to but Author House claimed they can’t help me.”
Can’t … or *won’t*? Clearly their fathers and mothers never bothered to get married. 😛
That’s just perfect!!!! I could never have imagined that!!!
Cheers! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Such an experience is not the best for a writer, especially as it has to do with debut novel. With many publishers nowadays, one can only pray to make the right move. I’m happy you’ve put that behind you. Good luck with the ones ahead, sis.
Thank you Uzoma, my trepidation was born out of anxiety I guess, I didn’t want readers to buy the old edition, but I’m glad it’s over now because my former publisher finally contacted me today!
I appreciate your kind comment and visit!
Cheers! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this. I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be. Keep doing what you do and don’t let them rob you of another great book by driving you to distraction.
Thank you so much for your kind comment, I wrote this specifically so people can differentiate between the two editions! I don’t want anyone to buy the first edition because some already have, and as a writer, I owe it to my readers to release great books, books I can buy to read even if I was not the one who wrote it!
Thank you for taking time to read through and comment!
Blessings. 🙂
That is really frustrating. I think similar things happen to a lot of writers, but that surely doesn’t make you feel any better! So glad you are moving on from here!
Yes I am! Thank you so much for your friendship and love for a fellow writer!
Blessings. 🙂
This is to encourage you to keep doing what you know how to do best. I must say you are a good writer. The sky is ur limit nd the LORD is ur strength. We are proud of u.
Wow! Thank you for your kind comment ma, your kindness gladdens my heart! God bless you and I appreciate your visit. My love to the family!
Much love. 🙂
So proud of you Seyi! I’m glad having a a peron like you as a blog friend 🙂
Cheers!
Sounds like a terrible experience, but I am glad you kept the faith, your writing is to good not to get the recognition it deserves.
Thank you for your kind words dear friend, It was one of the dangers of the profession! I appreciate the compliment!
Much love. 🙂
Serves them that they have to take the version with loads of errors in it. But not a good thing, recognition-wise. And not nice of me to say—I still have someone holding some of my content that was improved later on…
You’ve said it the way it is! Serves them right, but in the same vein, I want to release books with little or no mistakes! Someone contacted me from Author House that they’ve removed the book from Amazon, so I’m quiet pleased with that. Thank you for your visit, hope you’ll stop by again!
Cheers. 🙂
I might say something a little different about the persistence of the original edition. I think sometimes it is best to let the first one be….ie let them do it. The fact they have done this means that they think it is good. It is always traumatic to look back on previously published work – but you may find down the road a bit that in fact there are qualities in it where you see faults now. My advice – let it be, and go on and write the new ones…..learning the lesson from the one that is out there already. These are only my thoughts – and one last that I learnt too, and it seems you also are facing – never let the mss out of your hands till you are happy with it!
Thank you for your comment, there is great wisdom in it too! The second edition (kindle version) was released by a new publisher and the paperback would be out within days. I’ve truly moved on, I have two new novels coming out this year. And I echo your words, ‘never let the manuscript out of your hands till you’re happy with it.’ That summed it up for me!!!
Your comment is timely and truly appreciated!
Much love. 🙂
Hi Seyi,first l hope the paper back will be very successful and profitable.I am really glad to have a friend blogger who is a novelist.Congratulation on the new baby.Thank you So much for liking my post ( Earthly Glorification) Blessings and regards.jalal
Thank you so much for the kind words Jalal, I’m profoundly grateful! I’ll be an ardent follower of your blog! Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings.
I am so glad the publisher removed your book. Now you are truely free to do what you want, what you are doing. I can relate to having a bad publisher. I too had one and like you I am glad to say I got out. Congrats on following your dream and doing it so well. You should be so pleased with yourself!
I am Brenda, I’m glad you’ve moved on too! It took a lot of persistence and determination to let go of such a bad experience, it’s akin to betrayal. Thank you so much for your kind comment, I truly appreciate it!
Thanks for the post. Learnt my lesson.
You’re welcome, you can never be too careful!
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Cheers! 🙂