Comments on: Do I contact the publisher of a book I found my writing in?

Question: Do I contact the publisher of a book I found my writing in?

sugarfish — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:20:40 -0800

So my writing is in a book-filter. I found out a couple of months ago that a piece of writing I did for a fairly popular website was republished in its humor collection.

I was never notified, because the email address they had for me hasn't been active for several years. So what now? Do I contact them? I'm not asking for money or anything like that -- I have no idea if contributors were paid or not -- but do they need my current contact information? If nothing else, I'd like my bio info in the back if possible.

By: sugarfish

sugarfish — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:23:12 -0800

Oh, and of course I don't want to sound like some random person, because I don't know how to prove it was me that wrote it, but I really don't see any way for someone to know that I wasn't notified, so why would anyone but me be contacting them, you know? I remember fairly well the editing that the piece went through.

By: COBRA!

COBRA! — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:34:20 -0800

Can I ask what site and what book (if you want to email rather than post it, my address is in my profile)? I ask because I have sort of a guess what site and what collection you're talking about, and if I'm right, I think you're owed some money.

Even if I'm wrong, I vote for contacting them just on general principle.

By: mattbucher

mattbucher — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:38:20 -0800

You should at least be able to get some free copies of the book. If this is a major publisher, you could threaten a lawsuit and demand some money. You have the upper hand in this situation.

By: dersins

dersins — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:51:45 -0800

You have the upper hand in this situation

Not necessarily-- it depends on the terms of service for the site. Either way, though, you lose nothing by contacting them.

By: camcgee

camcgee — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 10:50:19 -0800

Definitely contact them, though keep in mind that getting your bio in the back requires resetting type for part of the book and then having new printing plates made for that section, which is an expensive proposition that publishers aren't likely to take unless they feel like they have to. It will likely be based on how hard you push and whether they feel they are legally exposed. And that's all assuming that the book goes to press again, which it may not. (All the foregoing is moot, of course, if it's a print-on-demand book.)

By: penchant

penchant — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 11:22:57 -0800

sugarfish: I suspect I know what site/humor collection to which you're referring, as well. If I'm correct, you are in fact owed some money ($50?), a place among the author bios, and a contributor's copy -- exactly what someone very close to me (not a professional writer) received for his contribution to the same book. Email me if you'd like to confirm the publication, but I'd definitely get in contact with them about it. It's too late about the author bio, unless they do another edition -- but not for the money or the copy.

By: shownomercy

shownomercy — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 11:37:41 -0800

Pretty hard to get in touch with writers unless they have a public website for themselves usually. I bet the publisher would be very happy to be able to pay you and get you the copy.

By: markcholden

markcholden — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:28:25 -0800

Contact them. No question.

By: easternblot

easternblot — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:32:49 -0800

Do you still have the pre-edited version? Because they might still have that, too, and it would be the ultimate proof if it matches up.

By: sugarfish

sugarfish — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 06:40:53 -0800

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'm going to contact them. Oh, and it's the McSweeneys humor collection.

By: mattbucher

mattbucher — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:54:04 -0800

Awesome. I'm not sure which Knopf editor acquired that book, but a list of all their email addresses can be found here.

By: penchant

penchant — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 10:28:52 -0800

Yep, that's it.