Horror Aficionados discussion

If you visit Brian Keene's blog, chances are you are aware of what's happening. That's how I found out, at any rate, that Dorchester Publishing is essentially spitting in the faces of countless authors.

Brian Keene: Boycott Dorchester

I can't imagine how many Leisure Books titles I've bought over the years, as that imprint has been a tremendous gateway for horror readers.

But, I can't in good conscience, buy another book from them--and I haven't since last summer--if they are unable or unwilling to do the right thing.

Opinions?

Gef wrote: "If you visit Brian Keene's blog, chances are you are aware of what's happening. That's how I found out, at any rate, that Dorchester Publishing is essentially spitting in the faces of countless aut..."

Oh I'm with you and Brian! Its ridiculous the 180 they've pulled in the last few years! They used to be a great company to work for and to buy from!

I read it - I'm in.

How terrible!
I will not be supporting Dorchester/Leisure books with my purchases!

This is just outright pathetic....still selling their books and NOT paying the authors who basically did all the work to get the story there in the first place. I certainly will do my best to support the ban on Dorchester.

I bought a few things from them last year, but if I still were I'd be glad to stop. That is lowdown.

I just read the blog, and have to say I am pissed as hell! WTF!!! I am all for the ban!

I am definitely joining the boycott. There are just certain things that you don't mess with. Somebodies creativity is one of them in my opinion. These authors are giving us something wonderful to read and now aren't receiving the benefits of those efforts, it's wrong. If I purchase a book a expect that the author is going to see a fraction of the money that's why I try to buy my books new. Why would they continue to bring us such wonderful forms of escape while they are being screwed over.

I think the writers should organize and sue. Not only sue but what the publisher is doing is criminal. They should be facing jailtime instead of doing their chicanery.

I'm also very surprised at the lack of legal action taken by the authors.
Personally, I buy my books used, so it doesn't affects writer's dues as far as I know, but I did buy April's book of the month new. I hope Jeff Strand gets his cut.

I had hoped to get Jeff Strand's Pressure, but Leisure is the only publisher I'm aware of who released it. So, I'll just have to wait until Jeff is able to self-publish it or finds another publisher. Sounds like a great novel, too.

Keene explained that he didn't have the money to take legal action.

It's been a long time since they've published anything I wanted to read, and I don't buy ebooks, so I guess I'm in.

Yep and most of these authors are in the same financial straits as Keene so they have no money to even consider suing! It's sad because they were put there by the long period of patience and hope they put up with and never got the money they earned. They don't even have the money to make a legal stand beyond stating what they can to the public on the matter :(

I was thinking of the money situation, too. Not everyone has the funds to sue.

I'm in.

I am too. I won't be buying any of their new releases. I hope any new writer that is thinking about signing up with them does some research and thinks twice about it. What a big,fat dirty mess. Shame on them.

I don't really buy from Liesure anymore, either. So, I guess I'm in. I'm not sure I can commit, though. If they were to release something I really really wanted to read, I might break... :/

I've read more Leisure books than I can easily count. My work as a book reviewer for Cemetery Dance, Hellnotes and other markets and magazines meant I was on the review list and recieved books before they even hit the bookstores - for free. I loved Leisure books, loved their dedication to the horror genre and I even aspired to someday write for them - but this whole brouhaha pisses me off. I have been burned by small & shady fly-by-night mini-publishers - to see a company the size of Leisure screw their authors around brings out the bare knuckle in me.

Bah.

Boycot them, I say.

I'm joining. Jeez, what's wrong with them?

Maybe if the authors joined together they could find a lawyer who might take their suit.

Or there are volunteer lawyers.

It appears a class action suit is in the works...

Leisure books are great and I've discovered many brilliant horror authors through them. I have shelves' worth right here...mostly bought at a discount. Books are so expensive here in Australia, so access to cheap Leisure titles was a breath of fresh air.

But now...obviously you can't get the cheap trades anymore, so I don't need to make a decision over a boycott. It's been done for me!

But authors complaining that they can't afford legal help because they don't have any cash due to not being paid for their books? Do what everybody else does. Get a job, get money, hire a lawyer, if it means that much. I like Jennbunny and 1412's ideas too. Publishers do get away with this kind of thing if they aren't legally challenged.

I went through it with Wildchild Publishing, exact same thing of ebooks being sold without the rights and royalties not being paid (even when I bought my own book as a test!). Being in another country it was very hard to make legal threats, but threaten them I did (along with Amazon, whose legal department actually sorted the mess out). Seems there's a lot of bitchiness going on, but not any real steps to sort this out. Pah!

Hear, hear!

That really sucks, count me in.

I passed on the word to a friend of mine who likes horror books as well....she is in for boycotting.

Funny thing I've seen bandied about on a couple blogs in the plight of authors who are actually happy with their relationship with Dorchester, and will subsequently suffer due to the boycott--at least potentially. The thing that makes it funny is that I haven't come across a single testimonial from a DP author praising their business relationship. Go figure.

And the latest on this boycott:

http://www.briankeene.com/?p=6306

And the list of those authors participating and backing up the boycott:

http://www.briankeene.com/?p=6208

Eric wrote: "It appears a class action suit is in the works..."

Mostly, I agree with you, Eric. But... it's not always that easy to just "get a job", save that money and then sue. Keene is in dire straights and needs help now.

That being said, I think any horror author other that King or Koontz that doesn't have a day job is asking for trouble.

Wow. What a crappy way to do "business".
I'm in on the boycott.

Brian Keene, on his blog, has a letter to Dorchester from the president of the HWA(Horror writers of America)that they don't recognize Dorchester has a legitimate publisher anymore and anything they publish will not be eligible for a Stoker award until things are fixed. check it out on his blog.

Wow, that's pretty intense.

Hmm now maybe they'll take things more seriously.

I am focusing on the spurned authors by buying their books from other places where I know they will get paid.

Todd wrote: "I am focusing on the spurned authors by buying their books from other places where I know they will get paid."

Good plan Todd. If I had the money right now I'd be doing that too.

Todd wrote: "I am focusing on the spurned authors by buying their books from other places where I know they will get paid."

Exactly! I've been buying almost exclusively from the smaller presses lately. Deadite Press is in the process of releasing most of Brian Keene's catalog plus stuff by Wrath James White, Bryan Smith, Ed Lee and others. Dark Regions Press has a bunch of releases as well, many of which are available in trade paperback. Just received Jeff Strand's Wolf Hunt, can't wait to get his take on a werewolf tale!

It's really unfortunate--Leisure wasn't all that author-friendly to start with (in pay) but this is appalling. I hope it works out for the authors.

Scott Nicholson

I kind of felt guilty reading a Dorchester paperback of Darkness on the Edge of Town the past few days but I bought it before I saw what was going on. It's a shame because the book was really good and it's how I usually read these types of authors but I guess I will have to stick with the e-books on my Nook.

The whole story is sad. I won't be buying any of their books unless it's second-hand where they won't be getting money from it.

Dorchester CEO Bob Anthony and his accomplices should be tarred and feathered and made to walk the streets for months. They should be shamed for their underhanded methods and preferably jailed. I hope them to fail miserably and have to live a beggers life, some people doesn't deserve any happiness or succes.
I can't stand when people disregard the property of others amd spit in their faces while doing so.

Am so thankful I learned of this. And I will pass the info on to as many people as I can.

This is...horrifying.

I've been following Keene's blog on this since last year, but haven't checked for months. Now, it's come to this- much worse and much more disgraceful. They are being illegal, immoral, and unjust, it seems to try and save their butts as much as they can when they can, worrying about the consequences later. This is absolutely unacceptable. There are very serious legal ramifications for this and multiples being frauded. It won't take long. It's so sad as I used to be such a supporter, even bragging about the excitement of their book clubs on my book blog and to friends.

Erin wrote: "This is...horrifying.

I've been following Keene's blog on this since last year, but haven't checked for months. Now, it's come to this- much worse and much more disgraceful. They are being illegal..."

I was the same way Erin :( This all bums me out

Ed wrote: "This is absolutely disgusting. When Dorchester tanked, I was beside myself for the lack of what was probably the biggest horror publisher in the country, but now I'm just infuriated. To hear of an..."

Ed I just read your blog entry where you discuss how easy it was to support the ban when there weren't any books you wanted to buy. I completely agree with you. I was 100% behind the ban and refused to review any Dorchester titles (still won't) but now that the new Ketchum is out…… well, I’m torn. I am also out of Laymon novels and the only cost effective way to get those remaining few titles is to go through Dorchester. It really is a tough situation for genre fans.

I know there are still authors who are getting paid by Dorchester and I would hate to hurt them but, after much contemplation, I have decided that there is no way I can support a company that engages in these underhanded practices (even if it only involves a few authors). With that said, I would never judge anyone who breaks the boycott because Valley of the Scarecrow is one fine novel and no one should deprive themselves of that!

looks like Dorchester has officially been removed from the HWA. Not sure when, their posts aren't dated.

http://www.horror.org/news-2010_dorch...

I was a huge Leisure fan, getting every book from their Horror Book Club and finding some great authors through it... for that, I thank them... but I will never buy another book from them again, as most people have said... I also had a book in their submisisons pile which I worked my butt off to get to them, and pulled it once I heard about the situation... which sucks, because at one point not too long ago, they were the go-to horror publisher.

It's good to see that most of my favorite authors have found other homes for their books and future books, and I will be following the likes of Keene, Everson, Rollo, Clegg, etc. to other publishers...

Armand Rosamilia
Armand Rosamilia

I have alot of Leisure books on my shelves at home that I haven't gotten to from quite awhile ago. I feel self-conscious about putting them on my virtual shelves here without the disclaimer that they were purchased "way back when".

I think you're thinking too hard about it.

And to think that in 2009 when I began reading Jack Ketchum and Brian Keene's work, learning about how great Dorchester was, I would have loved to see my work published by them. Not going to happen now!!