Behind the Scenes of a Novel-Day6
What Stress Looks Like
Day 6 Was Lost
Today's photo reflects my current level of frustration and stress. Day six of writing was completely lost as I burned up the internet between my publisher and I. I had the misfortune to try and help someone I thought was a friend start a publishing business. While I had a non-disclosure agreement with her I had no contract, for my work or work she might put in ebook format for me. She kept assuring me the contract was coming. When I finally pushed the issue she said it was my book I could do what I wanted with it. I asked her to take it down.
From there everything went to the dogs. She attacked my writing, my integrity, and anything else you can possibly imagine. She took herself off my Facebook page and had all her friends do the same. I also removed anything connected to her from my sites. I did not want to misrepresent myself and have people think I worked for her.
The next thing that came out of this was her billing me for all kinds of things. I checked and as we had no contract, she could not go back and charge. She is now making herself a vanity press. I don't want anything to do with that kind of publishing. I have been there, done that. All this happened in May, 2012.
She contacted the Judge Judy show to get us on there and get this dispute settled. I declined. She wanted publicity for her publishing company and I was not going on television over this. Then she approached me about putting the business aside and working on getting our friendship back in line. She wanted my opinion on a YA (Young Adult) novel she was writing. She never sent it to me to read.
I have not heard from her since the first week in June. Last night she got on my FB author page and informed me that Monday morning she is taking me to court for the money owed. She also is placing a cease and desist order on the current book I have out, claiming that the cover art is hers...um no.
Consequently, my writing yesterday involved e-mails to my publisher. My blood pressure has gone up. I have butterflies in my stomach. This whole situation is absurd. You don't get rich or make money off someone else's work. Nor, do you go back an charge for work done or not done after the fact. The lesson in all this, GET IT IN WRITING.
The hours I spent doing research for her to open her own company will never be paid hours. The promises made to the partners will never be fulfilled. The only thing coming from this is stress and a headache. Ugh.
I did manage to get halfway through chapter four before all this came down. I am hoping I can put this aside and get some constructive work done today. Time will tell. Hope your writing day is going better than mine.
