The foreign born A list talent agent turned author (#1) in her own country has been majorly screwed over.
She created a best selling trilogy with an independent publisher who loved her and did everything to make it big. It worked, the first book (#2) was translated into 10 languages and sold 300,000 units worldwide.
Ahead of the follow up (#3), it caught the eye of this publisher (#4) who poached her. They said they were so impressed at how she reignited the “Bonkbuster” genre and promised to publish in every single country, pumping money into billboards and prime the trilogy for a Hollywood remake.
They lied to her.
They did nothing.
The author used her entire advance money to pump into the promotion, the publisher gave her a publicist from the children’s department to market what was going to be dubbed “the raunchiest book of the year”, took the manuscripts and published the book with endless typos - even changing character’s names.
They then refused to publish in Australia, despite the author being huge there and one of the storylines in the book - a leading soap opera being cancelled and then revived on streaming, was taking place in real life with Neighbours. The author offered to pay her expended to travel go Australia and promote the book. They refused.
They also refused to publish in over 100 other countries. Several countries, especially within the EU, have “use it or lose it” policies when publishing, incurring compensation checks.
It’s clear they bought our author, to keep it on the DL and let it flop. They wanted to eliminate competition for other new writers on the roster, who they want to take the Queen of the Bonkbuster crown, which endless outlets have given to our author - and all the worldwide sales that go with it.
The third book, (#5), is due to release this year, as a self publisher. Our author is owed money well into the 6 figures and the publisher is now ignoring, completely ghosting the author and her legal team.
Author: Melanie Blake
Books: Ruthless Women, Guilty Women
Poacher Publisher: Harper Collins
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