To the Attention of Robert Anthony, President, Dorchester Publishing
Dear Mr. Anthony,
This is an Open Letter on behalf of the Horror Writers Association. We have been made aware of numerous claims by our members and other authors that reflect poorly upon Dorchester’s business practices. This is particularly the case with the Leisure imprint. On behalf of our members, I write to remind you that Dorchester/Leisure has been removed from our Approved Publisher List. New Dorchester/Leisure authors cannot use their relationship with your organization as status credits for our Membership categories; nor are your titles published after January 1, 2011, eligible for Bram Stoker Award consideration.
We request that you pay all HWA members who are owed royalties by Leisure/Dorchester no later than April 30, 2011. We also request an immediate assurance that Dorchester will fulfill all your contractual obligations to all HWA members published prior to March 31, 2011; that you provide a full and accurate accounting of royalties due as per your contracts with each HWA member; and that you will pay all future royalties in full and on time.
We also request Dorchester audit your catalog and that of your Associates to determine that no fiction is offered for sale in electronic format in breach of authors’ copyright or other rights, and that Dorchester compensate HWA members for any electronic copies of their work that have already been sold in breach of their rights, no later than April 30, 2011.
We request that Dorchester provide immediate active assistance to all HWA members wishing to revert rights where that reversion is consistent with Dorchester’s existing policies and/or contractual obligations.
Leisure/Dorchester should also cease and desist from publishing any material written by HWA members where that member has requested Leisure to do so within your mutual contractual obligations, and in any format—printed or electronic.
Should Dorchester complete these requests and show ongoing good faith toward all authors, including HWA members, HWA will reconsider Dorchester’s status.
Rocky Wood
President HWA (in accordance with Resolution of the HWA Board)
Funny that you post this on April Fool’s Day…
The sad thing is Dorchester isn’t going to care, they’ll probably throw it in the trash. Assholes!
That’s kinda like inviting Dorchester and HWA over for dinner and wondering which one is gonna screw your kid first
It’s a nice gesture from the HWA. That being said . . . I know you’ve had your troubles with the HWA too, so I don’t know how much I trust them or expect them to do the right thing, either.
This is a step in the right direction, though.