For a complete accounting and timeline of Dorchester Publishing’s malfeasance, as well as links to other sources, click here.
After I reported earlier this week that Dorchester had closed its office and were still selling works to which they did not own the rights, Dorchester stated via their Facebook page that they were merely moving to a new office on Park Avenue. This turned out to be just another falsehood.
As reported by Locus and Publisher’s Marketplace, John Backe (founder of The Backe Group and owner of Dorchester) filed a notice of foreclosure on the company after failing to collect on an outstanding $3.4 million loan. His intent was to sell the company (including the Dorchester Media magazine division, the Dorchester Publishing book division, registered trademarks, related internet domain names, domestic and foreign copyrights, ISBN numbers, computer equipment, intellectual property, etc) as a single unit at public auction — including the hundreds of works for which copyright and Dorchester’s ownership is disputed. Since Backe is the owner and is also personally foreclosing against the company, all auction proceeds would go to him, rather than to authors and other creditors.
The auction took place at 2pm today. It was conducted by Burton Weston of the Garfunkel, Wild, Travis law firm located in Great Neck, NY. However, Dorchester’s plan to sell the company as a single unit was apparently unsuccessful. When I spoke with Burton Weston earlier this afternoon, he confirmed for me that only the Dorchester Media division was auctioned today. The Dorchester Publishing division was not, although he does expect it to be at a later date.
Let me bullet-point that for you: Dorchester still plans to auction the rights to books they do not legally own the rights to.
What follows is my opinion on what each and every author who have disputed their rights should now do. I am not a legal expert, nor do I play one on TV. This commentary is mine alone.
* If you are a creditor or freelancer who disputed rights ownership as part of Dorchester’s media or magazine division, you should probably find out who bought those rights at auction today. I’ve heard reports it was FAA Investors LLC or FAA Investments Inc, but I’ve been unable to verify that. I would suggest you contact the Garfunkel, Wild law firm, be very polite (because none of this is their fault and they have presumably acted in good faith), explain your situation, and ask for the contact information for the winning bidder. Garfunkel, Wild’s contact info is as follows:
Garfunkel, Wild, Travis
111 Great Neck Road
Great Neck, NY 11021
Phone: 516-393-2200
* If you are a novelist or author who disputed rights ownership as part of Dorchester’s Publishing division, follow these steps:
1. If Dorchester reverted your rights but are still publishing your books, or if they ignored your rights reversion request but violated your contract (non-payment, late-payment, sold editions they did not have the rights to produce or sell, etc.) the first thing you should do is make the law firm in charge of the auction — see above — aware of that dispute. You should do this in writing. You should list the title, ISBN, etc. of each work you own the copyright to. You should also include copies (not originals) of any verifying documentation (emails, phone logs, reversion letters, etc.) Let me stress again, the Garfunkel, Wild, Travis law firm aren’t the bad guys in this situation. They are acting on good faith on behalf of their client. If Dorchester hasn’t revealed these disputed rights to them, then it is your responsibility to do so.
2. You should immediately notify Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks, and any other online bookseller who is selling digital editions of your work, that they are selling unauthorized digital editions of your work for which you own the copyright to. Each of these retailers has different methods for disputing copyright or filing a DMCA, so read those methods carefully before filing your claim. Then file it. Demand that those digital editions be removed from the website and the files suppressed. It should be noted that there is very little that can be done about already existing paperback or trade paperback editions. So don’t walk into a B&N and flip out on the employees for selling copies of your books. They’ll be liquidated soon enough, but digital is forever. Act now and get them removed.
3. Author Scott Nicholson offers a suggestion for those who have the time and inclination to self-publish their work digitally via Kindle, Nook, etc. He suggests that you self-publish a competing digital edition of your work and undercut Dorchester’s price. I would personally suggest you follow through with #2 before doing this, however.
4. Remember former CEO John Prebich, current CEO Robert Anthony, owner John Backe, and all the other special little swine-headed snowflakes involved in this mess. Sooner or later, they will begin new ventures or land at new companies. You might consider not supporting those new ventures or businesses, and voicing your reasons why.
In the words of the immortal Hunter S. Thompson, “Selah…”
(NOTE: Check back for updates to this post as for information becomes available).
Bam! Another hit!
How many shots can these fuckers take before they go down for good?
I seriously feel for each and everyone that is being screwed over by this entire turn of events. Dorchester’s shady business over the years has really been nothing more than a slap in the face to all the wonderful authors who did right by them. They should really make good, and do right by them now, but I know it’s a long shot at this point.
Glad to see your on the case, though, and helping all the other folks screwed over by this. I really wish you guys have good luck with all these!
Thanks for this, darlin.
I know nothing of the legal aspect of this but could it be a possibility that the authors getting screwed in this band together and sue John Backe in a class action suit for the money he would get if he successfully sold the Dorchester Publishing arm of the company?
Special little swine-headed snowflakes? Too funny! Great writing. Seriously, thanks for this. I can almost get over the money owed to me (and being told this morning they were still moving to Park Avenue) and that they would call accounting about my money. BUT what I cannot get over is them coming on a writing loop and still soliciting manuscripts and giving a deadline schedule for a year in advance. And I cannot get over (yet) me emailing so many national media sources–hoping they would pressure Dorchester before this happened–and them ignoring the story. You are darn right! I will remember the names of all the Snowflakes in this mess and how they messed with me and all the new writers who had no clue about Dorchester’s history. And I will remember Brian and all the other authors, writers and agents who went public and tried to do something. Thanks again Brian!
I’ve a question about the ISBNs for sale. Would that be unused ISBNs, or the ISBNs on published books in their catalogue?
Would/could they sell the ISBNs of reverted books, even though hard copies can be sold used?
Rowena: Unused ISBN’s, I would imagine. They can be transferred.
Brian,
Thanks for your hard work with all of this and for bringing all of this out in the open to everyone. If it weren’t for you, none of us would get the details in such a precise manner. You rule.
I suppose I am one of the lucky ones to have retained rights to all my books. I just wish I would get paid. Thing that really pisses me off is all of the advances they held onto for my foreign editions that were supposed to go to me and never did. They ‘stole’ my advances.
What a shame…ten years ago it was an honor to be published with Leisure. They have fallen so far.
As a one-time Leisure author, I just want to thank you, Brian, for compiling and maintaining this valuable resource. Although I haven’t read through the entire timeline — I will do that ASAP — I do have one comment/question to pose on the current situation regarding the proposed “sale” of copyrights. Assuming DP/LB owns the copyrights to works-for-hire that they contracted and/or works that they purchased outright, they don’t actually own the copyrights to other books/works for which they only have contracts, correct? So in an auction or other sale of the DP/LB portion of the business, they could only transfer contractual rights and obligations, but not the actual copyrights, correct? And no, I don’t expect you to respond as an IP lawyer, which I’m not either, but I think this is a fine distinction that may need to be made and/or explored.
Thanks again; I will be following this closely. Swine-headed snowflakes is being kind.
Just a week or two ago I got a reply to my February letter in which I informed Dorchester that I was taking back the rights to my novel based on their contract violations and the fact that the paper and digital versions were both out of print. (This was a follow up to my January letter in which I asked for the reversion.) I wrote them myself because Dorch either ignored or refused to revert after my agent sent three requests over an 18 month period. I had also seen no royalty statements for 18 months.
According to the prior three royalty statements, the digital version had been selling either nil or almost nil units – which I know was not true because my Amazon Author Central data told a very different story, and the book was also on sale in many other places for which I have no access to sales data. It was also on sale on Scribd, with Dorchester as the seller and showed close to two hundred downloads. That page disappeared the day after my agent and I sent DMCAs to Scribd. (My e-mail to Dorchester asking for a list of the places authorized to sell the e-book went unanswered. The figures for my print books were also underreported on those earlier statements by at least the foreign sales to book stores and the national library in my territory that I can verify, and most likely by much more.)
To get back to that letter I received a week or two ago: Lo and behold, there was a royalty statement attached with figures that verified the succinct statement in the accompanying letter that the rights could not be returned to me because the digital book is still ‘in print’; it had (suddenly!) far outsold the $200 minimum required to keep it in print for the accounting period of said statement.
I am sorely tempted to follow the advice of Brian and Scott Nicholson, but have been warned that self-publishing the book without the required reversion of rights documentation from Dorchester would only muddy the waters legally at this point and that should be avoided at any cost. I WILL take steps 1 and 2 above, though, but I need to take something for my headache first…
Thank you Brian Keene and all the other authors who post about this. Were it not for you most of us would be in the dark about pretty much everything, wondering if we were, well, crazy.
@Mike Laimo: Your stolen advances and my missing royalties (and the rest) are probably helping to pay for those Park Avenue digs and heaven knows what else…
This isn’t the first time Leisure Books has gone bankrupt. It also happened in the early 1980s. My father, William Cooke, was one of their writers. The same deal happened then … writers including my father were owed significant money … the writers banded together in a class-action suit that was successful … but before anyone could benefit from it, Leisure was bankrupt and/or foreclosed against in a similar manner to today.
I’m not entirely sure of the rest of the story, but I think that Leisure was bought back by another company owned by the same person who had let it go bankrupt. Thus it started up as Dorchester, under essentially the same ownership, and continued to publish as Leisure, and was back in business to die another day. Don’t let this happen again. If Leisure rises again from the grave, it’s time to put a stake through its heart….
Man, the unmitigated gall of these fraudsters, lying up to the very end. It is so frustrating to see authors we care for so much hurt so so badly. It makes me feel sick, it really does.
I was just talking to a mutual acquaintance last weekend about how crazy it is that, not that long ago, we both aspired to someday be Leisure Books authors. Neither of us ever reached that milestone, and are naturally relieved to have ended up such a remarkable failure-cum-success on our hands.
Still, I have many friends, acquaintances, and idols who are/were Dorchester authors, and I am just furious about how badly they’ve perpetuated this bullshit. I’m thrilled that one of my friends has lawyered up, and I hope to hell something good comes from it, but Christ what a rude awakening for the junior authors as to how nasty this business can really be.
Brian, as I have posted before about Candy Thompson, sister of the late Dawn Thompson, Candy owns the rights to her sisters books, given to her outright just before her sisters death. I have at least three books showing payments made to Dawn nearly two years AFTER her death. Repeated requests for this, and other royalty statements only netted a “checking into the matter”. I handle Candy’s interest for her, and I have repeated asked for royalty statements, only to get about half. They have never complied with a copy for Dawn’s first book. Dawn never received advances for the many foreign sales, no royalties. Oddly, enough, we got letters of congrats for these sales, but never any advance or monies. They did the same with one book. Back last summer they sent a congrats we owe you $4300, but no check ever came…lol
February 1, 2012 I terminated rights to my three books, and on behalf of Candy, terminated the books of Dawn. I did this in regular mail and sent copies through email. Hannah and Sam both acknowledged receipt of this and said they would be dealing with the matter at the end of the month. End of the month has come and gone, and so has Dorch Media.
They have posted on facebook to contact LFolk @ Dorchester publishing.com with any questions. No emails are being answered.
Dear gang –
Here’s a curious question. If they auction off the publishing division, will another company buy up the rights to these stories? Would authors suddenly find themselves in a deal with a new publisher?
Just had an interesting conversation, in which it was suggested that a more moneyed company buying up the Leisure titles THEY ACTUALLY STILL OWN RIGHTS TO could result in a publishing upgrade for those authors caught up in the ride. Is this a legit possibility, or just a hilarious dream, like accidentally marrying a prince in a delightful romantic bullshit comedy?
Yer inquisitive pal,
Skipp
No–Loretta Folk (accounting) is not answering her emails–to me at least. Samantha Hazell told me yesterday she would call Folk.
I now have suspicions why all my emails to media outlets–about the Dorch debacle–went unanswered. I emailed CBS, NY Times–even Enquirer starting Feb. 28.
The owner of Dorchester is the former president of CBS Television.
As Brian suggested–let’s all remember the people at the top like Backe, Prebich and Anthony.
Backe owns so many corporations in NY, PA and FL. Some of them with Anthony.
No one can really track down who FAA Investments or FAA Investors are–even Publisher’s Lunch. Both those companies are both in Florida. We know Backe lives in FL. now and NJ at one time. Backe is also a pilot–so any company in Florida with FAA title…Well.
Check the FL newspapers online. The Backe Group (which if one goes to the state department of corporations) is withdrawn in at least one state–is involved with big real estate deals in Florida.
Backe just gave a U in FL a million. Anthony’s name is also related to a $19 mil real estate deal that somehow the Backe Group mortgaged back to itself.
The real estate is by an airport (FAA?) and presumably has something to do with Backe and Anthony’s other company–Innovations Projects and/ or I-Hub Farms–that is linked to a university and energy development. Most all of Backe’s corporations are LLC (Limited Liability Corporation.)
I can’t tell–speculation–but it looks like some companies may be dummy corps. No proof. Speculation–that indirectly that Backe (or one of his officers) might have indirectly foreclosed on himself and then auctioned his own company back to another company he owns or has some interest in.
Backe has also been a general partner in a NY-based investment group that invests in communications properties.
Due to Backe’s position in so many companies and former ties to CBS and all the huge donations–I now understand why my numerous emails to major media have went unanswered.
These people are obviously going to rise again–and since I cannot get major media in the USA to check into all this–I wonder if media outside the USA is interested? It would take along time to track all the web of business deals and corporations. But I am convinced that the people behind Dorchester have plenty of money to pay their creditors–they just don’t want to.
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Screwed Author — that seems to be common practice for them. I’d contact the lawyer Brian listed. Keep a paper trail.
Like Ed Kurtz who commented above, I too once aspired to be a Leisure author. There seemed to be so much appeal considering the long list of talented authors whose books were (and unfortunately still are) published by them. Thankfully I dodged that bullet, although it pains me to see such bright talented writers being screwed out of their hard-earned and rightfully-deserved money.
I must say how typical this seems these days, considering the goings on in this country and around the world. The old refrain of the 1960s still rings true: the rich get richer; the poor get poorer. Such corporate greed sickens me.
I’m curious how Jack Ketchum would weigh in on all of this. Considering the problems he had with Ballantine Books in the early ’80s and Warner Books in the late ’80s, I can’t imagine he would be comfortable with what’s happening. His latest novel was published as a trade paperback by Dorchester just last year, and most of his novels are available in paperback under the Leisure Books imprint. Although it appears his electronic editions are all released through Macabre Ink and his first editions are usually published by Cemetery Dance.
Also, considering the unfair treatment that Candy Thompson has received after her sister’s passing, I would be curious to know if Richard Laymon’s widow Ann is receiving royalties for all of his posthumous Leisure publications.
The fact that this story hasn’t made a bigger splash in the media surprises me. What Dorchester is doing is the definition of fraud.
Depending on how those books were published, and through what venue, I found Amazon to be very compliant (within 24 hours) of removing trade paperbacks that were being published by another publisher without rights or authorization. I believe the email is just legal @ amazon.com. I sent a PDF of my contract and explained the situation. The book/page was down quite quickly. Most booksellers should act in the same way even with physical copies, because they don’t want to be selling “stolen” merchandise as it were. Good luck to everyone involved!
Every time I see another post about Dorchester, I run to church and light another candle thanking God I never signed that contract. I remember coming to you at Horrorfind feeling like I was going to jump off a building because everything had collapsed as I was getting my “dream deal”. You, along with other vets like Jack Ketchum told me I was one of the lucky ones and that the book would be picked up elsewhere if Don liked it. You were right. I’m just sorry so many folks have to be dragged through this shit.
I know someone that works for CBS News. I’m getting in touch with her on your behalf. Maybe she can suggest something or pass this upstairs.
I’m glad you’ve stuck to your guns and held those bastards’ feet to the fire all this time. I’m just sorry that it’ll probably never resolve itself to your, or any other affected author’s liking. I’m not surprised it went to shit after Don left, though. I long suspected he was the only person with any integrity over there.
Brian in case you missed the FB post they claim their new offices are
Dorchester Publishing and Dorchester Media
105 East 34th Street, Box 175
New York, New York 10016
Notice the address of the UPS store
The UPS Store #5958
105 E 34TH ST
NEW YORK, NY 10016
So the new offices of Dorchester is a PO BOX in a UPS STORE. I Google Earth and located the store and yeppers…that what it is. The say their phones are now working, only how do you have phones in a PO BOX?
Dorothy: I would imagine they’re using an answering service. Many mail drops also provide that service as well.
Nancy, I am sure that is the “virtual” office. Mail drop, a voice mail.
The ONLY honorable thing for Dorchester to do it not sell the rights to books they no longer own because of all the contract violations, it to simply return ALL RIGHT to ALL Authors with a deepest apology.
I won’t hold my breath.
Thanks Garrett! I appreciate you for even thinking about contacting your friend at CBS.
I had a chuckle reading the copy of the March 9 letter (posted by Kristin Nelson) of Nelson Literary Agency–concerning Dorch attempting to sell. I guess a Park Avenue move announcement was premature. This is so Keystone Cops. I can’t imagine any reputable publisher wanting to deal with these clowns and buy out Dorch–even though I am sure there are some really good works still at Dorch. Robert Anthony’s announcement that Dorch was now a”virtual business” was a touch funny. In my mind they’ve been a virtual business for years. According to legal paperwork they have to sell Dorch fairly fast–so I’m semi-predicting that if no one comes foward, a dummy company might step up to make the purchase. I’ll let you all take a stab at all the jokes about dummies and dummy companies.
OK–we’ve established Dorch is at a UPS box. The Dorchester plot thickens. I just saw a press release at the True Writers loop. Dorch Media now apparently has not sold to FAA. Well–it did. BUT now they are saying it sold to True Renditions LLC. They are solicting manuscripts again for True Story and True Confessions. I took to heart Brian’s warning that Dorch would rise up in a different form. Sorta like zombies or the anti-Christ? True Renditions LLC filed with the NY State Department of Corporations. No owner listed. Hmm. A True Renditions legal notice was published-on Feb. 21–before the SUPPOSED sale to FAA. So Dorch Publishing is at UPS. And now the newly risen Dorch Media (True Renditions) is located at 177 Sands St. Suite 2 J Brooklyn, 11201. Manuscripts are to be sent to the UPS address though. OK–drum roll again. 177 Sands St. according to Property Shark is owned by the NY Housing Authority. That address is a housing project in one of the worst neighborhoods. I see NO suite numbers listed–only apartment numbers and numbers do seem to go: Apt. 2-E, etc. So that would put this address in a housing project on the second floor. This is like Green Acres: From Park Avenue to the projects. Surely CBS or anyone with an enquiring mind would find this interesting.
Well, there has been question about CBS turning a blind eye because of Backe former association.
I called the UPS Store and confirmed – YES, Dorchester has a box in the UPS Store. The clerk I spoke with quickly confirmed yes, Dorchester Publishing has a box in their store.
Brian, can you email me? I have some information I wish to pass to you, but not post online yet.
@Author: WTF? WTF?
There’s a comment upthread about the owner of Dorchester being the former president of CBS? Does the absence of media interest fall into place now?
Guys, we need legal assistance, and we need it fast. This entire scenario gets more bizarre – insane – by the minute. I couldn’t invent this shit.
Text of email received from Dorch this morning:
The Garfunkel, Wild, Travis Law firm and OEM Capital Corp. forwarded me your letter of reversion dated March 10, 2012. I’ve noted your request for the rights to your title. Per our protocol, once we receive your request it enters the reversion review process, as reversions are not a unilateral decision. Dorchester is currently in negotiations of a sale. I’ve attached an announcement from our C.E.O. about new developments in the company. When I spoke to the agency brokering the sale of Dorchester, I was informed that there are quality companies bidding for Dorchester, and once they close that deal there will be an auction held 3 weeks after that. After the auction, the buyer has 30 days to speak and negotiate with authors before closing. The new buyers will negotiate directly with the author and agent about arrears. Any author that still wants to revert, can, at that time. I’ll keep you posted with any more updates I receive.
Best,
Samantha Hazell
Contract & Rights Assistant
Production Assistant
Dorchester Publishing
105 East 34th Street, Box 175
New York, NY 10016
Deborah: Sure. Drop me a line at briankeene at live dot com. Probably won’t be able to get to email until this weekend, though.
I’ve contacted every media outlet I can think of–starting Feb. 28. It took me awhile to realize who Backe was and about all his real estate and other deals with Robert Anthony. As for legal–I am making one last ditch attempt to get my meager check from DM (now True Renditions) and then I am going balls to the wall–even though I technically have none. AG, Dept. of Labor, FBI, Dept. of Justice. I have just enough on the magazine side to sink their boat. Book side–just what’s online. I am very irritated by the media–because it’s been OVER 2 weeks and a national news investigation might have stopped them in their tracks. I even emailed CNN. Is this like physicians protecting physicians? In my opinion now–it’s simply news that the owner of True Renditions lists an address in a NY Housing Authority project. What the ever loving hell!!! I used to be a small-time newsreporter–and now I am so disgusted with the media.
At the writers loop–where the magazines writers are: some are reporting they already have signed contracts in hand from True Renditions. Of course, the atmosphere is jubuliant over there. I am very angry that they are scamming these folks AGAIN! I have attempted to warn them and balance the tight rope of not getting kicked off the loop. No one wants to hear it and I usually get ignored–even though I don’t come on strong. I have NOT went on the loop and said what I uncovered about the new owner using an address in the projects. At least two Dorchester Publishing employees are posting on the loop–so I can’t really say everything. Turns out one of the writers there has made a side living teaching people how to write for these magazines–and the level of trying to protect that supercedes (apparently–in my opinion) protecting and warning the writers.
I got a dumb idea. I abhor publicity hounds–and cringe when I see that attorney on TV–Gloria Alred? The one who represented females in the Tiger Woods scandal… Does anyone have connections to some militant attorney like that who has the connections to get this in the news? Many of the writers involved in this mess are females. If it takes involving ourselves with someone like that–I’ll override my slight feeling of revulsion and go for it.
Gloria Allread–contacted via her website today. She doesn’t just represent woman’s issues as I originally thought. Will post if her office responds–or if another attorney’s office she might put us in contact responds. I mentioned I did not wish to be a spokesperson in all this–just someone who helps the rest just justice. I listed Brian’s website as well as Kristin Nelson and Linda Howard’s. I just found Howard last night–she has an excellent blog about the MANY frauds at Dorch. I’m just trying to get everyone together and aware of everyone who posts publically about Dorch.
In a previous post of mine (I just re-read) I came across with poor word choices. I was not slamming Gloria–just my aversion to publicity that centers on me. From what I can tell she (if she chooses) can get some action on this and stop Dorchester from continuing business and usual–or unusual. So apologies for my former post. What I should have said was: I have a HUGE personal aversion to publicity and cringe when I see people on TV with Allred. But NOW I see the guerilla warfare type of attorney is the only hope against Dorch.
On Monday, March 11, I spoke with Norton Lazarus of OEM Capitol Company, the company that auctioned off Dorchester’s assets other than rights to authors’ works. It is my understanding that in the next two weeks OEM will hold second auction to sell those rights.
It is unclear whether the rights will be sold en mass or cherry picked although Lararus did mention Article 9 of the NY UCC. If memory serves, that is the provision relating to bulk sales. Supposedly writers, agents, etc will be contacted. True or another Dorchester scam?
Although I am noit admitted to the NY bar nor has my practice involved a lot of IP, I have serious doubt that a unilateral letter from an author reclaiming rights is something Amazon et al is going to pay a lot of attention to.
Would that i had time to file a class action lawsuit vs past and present Dorchester management and ownership for what amounts to criminal mail fraud, theft by deception, etc. Maybe someone could get the US Justice Department interested. But then, the current department is far too busy fighting States’ Rights to actually help citizens.
Instead of bewailing obviously spilt lactate, I think i’ll devote my energuy to writing new books for a neew publisher
We can we, the readers do to help? We don’t like seeing our favorite authors getting dicked around.
Since Dorch auctioned off only Dorch Media and the mag rights so–when we talk about another auction to sell those rights–I don’t see how that is possible since they haven’t paid for some of the stories. I consider my three unpaid stories MINE until I am paid for them.
Perhaps Lazarus was referring to the book division, which is up for auction in a few weeks?
I’m still considering filing with the U.S. Dept. of Justice. And anyone else who will listen. Maybe what is happening right now cannot be stopped legally–but perhaps we can stop all the other scammy corporations being set up by either Dorch, their agents or former/current employees. The real danger here–like I have discussed privately with another author–is some of these other publishing companies are “hidden” and we well might be writing again for Dorch in another form. I think the Justice Dept. should have time (I hope) to unravel that one.
I know someone who was debarred from operating certain types of business in FL after he was convicted for fraud. He simply started other identical corporations with former employees as the fronts; their names appeared on the paperwork as owners and directors and he wrote them a cheque at the end of every month for the privilege. Seems a common enough practice. I suspect something similar is going on with this “bought by former employees of Dorchester” development.
Brian, we are down to Sam Hazell as the only employee “living” with her phone (notice they don’t give out the new number they bragged about on Facebook) in that UPS box. She was production assistant, and then controlling rights requests. One author got a letter saying she was working to return all rights on authors who had requested it. I will believe it when I see.
I have contacted Barnes and Nobles and Amazon.com to have my titles removed. The kindle books (which I have never seen a dime of) and they CONTINUE to sell even now, and the Pre-Order for the tradesize they had no intention of creating to fulfill orders. Both BN and Amazon are taking down all my titles.
I suggest any LoveSpell and Leisure authors who have kindle books or tradesize pre-order listing on BN and Amazon to filed DMCA notices and get the books down NOW. Stop them from collection even more money they have no intentions of paying royalties on.
It was March 2010, and I’d just received what every 1st-time author hopes for: a book deal. Then-editor Don D’Auria offered me $2,000 for the rights to my first thriller. I gladly accepted. The amount of money wasn’t as important as actually getting paid for my work. I got as far as the beautiful cover art in June of that year, and that’s when it really hit me: I’m going to be a paid published author. I kept emailing the company, politely asking when my advance check would arrive (soon, I was told). Then August came. I was unaware Dorchester was in such financial distress. Then Don (who i really admire) was let go along with another editor, Leah. I became very familiar with Dorchester’s failed promises, thanks to Brian Keene’s website. September came and I was faced with a decision: ride out the storm and hope for the best, or get my rights reverted to me since I’d not been paid, meaning Dorchester failed to hold up it’s end of the deal. It was a tough decision for me because I had no backup publisher. I would have to go through the dreadful query process again. I got my rights back at the end of 2010. Since then I was able to get an agent who’s shopping my book. It’s been tough, I must say. As you know, just because you have an agent doesn’t mean you’ll get a deal. But I truly believe that if it sold once, it can sell again. So my agent’s trying, and I’m hoping. Sometimes I wonder whether I should’ve stuck with Dorchester. Brian’s great reporting on that company always reaffirms that I made the right call. Good luck, everybody, who’s been screwed by this company.
Brian,
Len and I have been trying to get acknowledgement of the reversion of rights for our four Leisure books for over a year now.
I have followed steps 1 and 2 today and await a reply from GWT, Amazon and B&N.
We did get a box of trade paperbacks on two of the titles – reprinted from the mass paperback originals. And all four titles are up as eBooks.
Emails to Mr Anthony have started to bounce now, of course. Ones to Ms Hazell have not bounced.
Our unpaid roaylties are small and I have advised them to forget them. I just want ackowledgment that rights have reverted to us and sales by them have ceased.
May as well ask for World Peace I guess.
Great work keeping this fight going.
best
Mick
Hi Folks. Just a note — as per the most recent Blog entry, I’m tied up with deadlines and being a Daddy. Sorry I haven’t responded (and Deb, sorry I haven’t responded to your emails). Hope to get caught up this weekend.
No worry, Brian. They seem to be playing Mole. I did receive a letter from the firm handing the Backe liquidation of Dorch Media. I forwarded information on termination of rights to that lawyer firm, as you suggested. They wrote back saying they do not represent Dorchester Publishing, and my letter must have been misdirected to them. (as of this date)
Dorch Publishing website is not there – you only get this message now:
http://www.dorchesterpub.com is currently unavailable
The site is undergoing maintenance.
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Ingram Publisher Services just sent out this announcement:
“Departure Notice:
To whom it may concern:
As of February 24, 2012, Ingram Publisher Services no longer distributes for Dorchester Publishing.
No further orders will be accepted.
Eligible returns of Dorchester Publishing titles will be accepted until May 25, 2012.
Included Imprints:
Dorchest Publishing Trade
Dark Desires Audio
Audio Realms
Included EAN prefixes:
978-09731596 978-1428
978-161331 978-1897304
978-1897331
FYI –
Received snail mail from Garfunkel Wild, PC dated 3/22/12, text as follows:
Dear Ms. Hilton:
I am in receipt of your letter dated March 10, 2012 regarding purported termination of Dorchester’s publishing rights.
Please be advised that this firm does not represent Dorchester Publishing and your letter is misdirected to the undersigned. Notice to this firm does not constitute notice of termination. This is an issue you need to address with Dorchester Publishing.
Please be guided accordingly.
Sincerely,
Burton S. Weston
Linda: Good. Now that they’ve acknowledged it, if they sell your rights as part of Dorchester’s continued auctions, they are just as liable.
Brian, I too received letter of them disavowing any connection with Dorchester Publishing.
Another nail in the coffin, if nothing else.
Brian, many thanks for all you’ve been doing on this front! I’ve also just received the same letter as Linda and Deborah, as well as the same e-mail from Sam Hazell that Linda cited on March 14 above. Word for word.
Sam Hazell seems to be the ONLY Dorchester employee left. I sent a test email to check with all that were left after Keeslar walked.
I Folk (bookkeeping) – UNDELIVERABLE
Hannah Wolfson (General questions) – Auto responder saying her email has been routed to Hazell
Brian Chinn (Accounting) – UNDELIVERABLE
Kelley Allen (Tradesize) – UNDELIVERABLE
Deborah–I give you thanks for posting that info. I would have had no idea. I have yet to email L Folk (accounting) since mid Feb. about my accounting problems with Dorch. If it wasn’t for you (and Brian graciously being the clearinghouse of sorts) I would not have known. I posted your post at the True Writers yahoo group loop. I offered no comentary–just said this was YOUR news and that you and I have emailed in the past (not about that) on other matters. You emailed awhile back–and sadly I neglected to answer your last email about how Dorch has affected your dear friend. Sorry about that. Thanks for all you are doing on Brian’s site–and all the stuff you are doing behind the scenes that cannot be made public.
I am wondering if you sent those emails to the old Dorch email addresses or did you send them to the new True Renditions email addresses.
yes, they are the addressed in effect until the end of this month. Sam Hazell is still answering her email as of last Friday. The letter from CEO Anthony was the same one we all received at that start of February, how they were involved in selling the backlist to another publishers. This is the contact if you need it:
Samantha Hazell
The phone number is the same. 212.725.8811. The selling agents are still in negotiations. I can’t remember if you’ve seen the announcement from the CEO, but I’ve attached it here as well. Feel free to contact me for further updates.
Best,
Samantha Hazell
Contract & Rights Assistant
Production Assistant
Dorchester Publishing
105 East 34th Street, Box 175
New York, NY 10016
Samantha Hazell has politely went on “attack” to me, as of today. Instead of getting into it here–I’m just going to put it up on my blog. I’m going to open my personal emails to Loretta Folk on the blog. I am going to post PUBLIC communications Samantha and I had on the semi-private (400 or so members) True Writers yahoo groups loop. I am a journalist–so I make NO editorials on this. I’ll leave that to the esteemed Mr. Keene and others! Plus–I don’t have the cha chas, Keene has to really say how I feel! LOL! I wish I could get really colorful in my language towards all this–but I CANNOT due to some journalistic projects I am involved in now that have nothing to do with Dorchester. Objective and all that. Deborah and I had a few private emails about Dorch. And due to my personal integrity (and journalistic integrity) I would NEVER bring anything that was private into the public. In other words–Deborah made a public post here–I cut and pasted on True Writers–and then came back here, and said so. I am not smart by any means–but I know what to keep private. I am making MY semi-private and private stuff public–just so you all can get an insight into Samantha’s attitude–and how the low-grade writers get treated. Feel free to tell me I’m way off base–trying to protect other writers (and myself).Feel free to tell me if I did, indeed, have something personal against Ms. Hazell based on my posts at True Writers. I can asure you–I did not and do not. However, my word is just that–words. Let the facts speak. I have one post on my blog already, The Truth About True Story…(all documented). And a mish mash, I’m off to post now. In case ya’ll find my cold, dead body in the Hudson–at least I have a public record of this. AND, Keene has a spark to ignite a new killer horror novel. http://www.begrudingwriter@blogspot.com
Whoopsie! My link is http://www.begrudgingwriter.blogspot.com
I stuck a @ in there by mistake and didn’t spell it right. Shows you I am NOT a blogger that much–and I am a begrudgingwriter (truly) and only write if there is some injustice. Is this Dorch thing as injustice? You betcha! Ignore all the crap about cults and political corruption–it will be under blogs with TRUE STORY in the titles.
Deborah–thanks again for keeping folks updated on the Dorch. I just got done throwing together an unedited blog–just to document what Ms. Hazell is saying to me. When/if you have time, I’d appreciate your opinion (and whoever else wants to weigh in) if it appears I have gotten “personal” with her about my issues with Dorchester or True Renditions.
TRUE STORY: You Be The Judge. Read the dashed-off version at: http://www.begrudgingwriter.blogspot.com
welcome. There is a lot of disinformation floating around at this point. I am just hoping to pass on solid contact info and updates to help all the authors from Dorchester Publishing and Dorchester Media at least reach parties that are answering emails or phones.
The “silence” is the hardest part, the deliberate misleading of “new corporate offices” which turns out to be nothing but UPS PO Box, which really is sad.
Businesses fail. It happens. Dorchester should simply be upfront about it, come out and say what is what, and then be honest and understanding enough to contact the authors with rights reversion, apologizing and telling people here is your works back, we cannot pay you, but at least you can move on with your life and shop your books to another publisher to get money.
That they are still trying to sell the works in various venues, like overseas etc, when they have no intention of paying authors is just very depressing.
Sorry for not saying much lately, gang. Fact is, I’m withholding further comment for a few weeks while a few different legal actions are given a chance to be effective (none of which are mine).
Hi Brian..thanks for the info.Im not a writer,I was looking for info on how to get my refund for my magazine subscriptions i had already paid for..Man they screwed alot of people..My refund check has been in the mail for almost a year now..What a joke.
Gracie–and others. You can read my swiftly put up blog at http://www.begrudgingwriter.blogspot.com and click on the blog: Dorchester Publishing:True Story and True Confessions Magazines In The Hood? Gracie, I am partially doing this to help you and others get their money back. Read the blog to see PART of what is going on with this magazine company. I ONLY print what I know to the be TRUE–and if I don’t know, I say–I suspect or whatever. BEST WISHES! Together, we’ll get this done. I’m also soliciting anyone in the Brooklyn area to check out the new corporate “address” for the magazines, which is in a NY Housing Authority project. Yes–there’s reasonable proof.
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Yes–I had lots of posts about Dorchester on my blog with information that I either experienced, confirmed or heard from reputable writers. I took them all down except one. Because as of today I am writing an ebook about Dorchester–based on my experiences, two years of hellish research and what other writers and customers are saying. Feel free to email me–both the good and bad if you want your proven statements considered for my ebook. Your name will be kept private–if requested. http://www.begrudgingwriter.blogspot.com for more information on what I am doing and who I am. NOT a money-making thing (break even thing)–just getting the word out. Go to True Story, True Confessions, Dorchester Publishing, Dorchester Publisher and True Renditions Facebook pages and see for yourself what is happening right now. Or I should say–not happening.
Deborah–thanks for keeping us informed. What is also really depressing is the new alleged (yes, I am the one who is alleging) scam with True Renditions. It’s pretty unbelievable. I, too, am going “semi-silent” for now. I have just one post up. Besides getting all this in an ebook–I am doing some things behind the scenes. And, I too, want to see how effective they are. And besides–Dorchester–none of its business what we all know and what we are all doing.
In light of all that has gone on with Dorchester and the ongoing fiasco with Harlequin (its authors are embroiled in a class action lawsuit because Harlequin essentially created a second company in order to abscond with its authors’ profits) Will HWA ever consider allowing self-pubbed authors become full-fledged members? I’ve won awards and sold hundreds of ebooks, in fact, I’m starting to supplement my income quite nicely now that I’ve got a few books out for Kindle, but I’ve never actually met HWA’s requirements. I believe I’m making more money off my horror writing right now than any person who got dicked by Dorchester and in a year’s time I’ll have self-published 3 more books for sure. This isn’t about being a better writer, because I’m not. I write appealing crap, but it is crap and I admit it. I just got lucky because I was too busy to follow my dream of getting a “real” publisher and got so frustrated that I self-released my first book, Forever Fifteen. I wish you all my best — it used to be my aspiration to be signed with Harlequin or Dorchester. Anyone here read J.A. Konrath’s blog? His blog is the reason why I chose not to chase after publishers and agents in the first place.
what happened to our money? i have been in contact with the atterny general and better bb. they cant do a thing cause you wont anser. im a 69 yerar old on a fixed income. i want my frigging money. we can go to judge judy. haha. she will rake ur ass across the coals. but really, do u think its nice to screw me out of $240.oo? hope the hell you chock on it. thanks for nothing!
Sharon: If Dorchester owes you money, you should contact Amazon, who have bought out the rights to much of the backlist.