Dorchester Publishing Problems

As a member of the Horror Writer Association, I wanted to support our organization's censuring of Dorchester Publishing.

Here is the letter, President Rocky Wood sent to the company:

This e-bulletin is authorized by HWA's National Board of Directors.
Open Letter to Dorchester Publishing:
To the Attention of Robert Anthony, President, Dorchester Publishing

Dear Mr Anthony:
We have been made aware of numerous claims by our Members and other authors that reflect poorly upon Dorchester’s business practices. This is particularly the case with the Leisure imprint.
On behalf of our Members I write to remind you that Dorchester/Leisure has been removed from our Approved Publisher List. New Dorchester/Leisure authors cannot use their relationship with your organisation as status credits for our Membership categories.

We request that you pay all HWA members who are owed Royalties by Leisure/Dorchester no later than 30 April 2011. We also request an immediate assurance that Dorchester will fulfil all your contractual obligations to all HWA members published prior to 31 March 2011; that you provide a full and accurate accounting of Royalties due as per your contracts with each HWA member; and pay all future Royalties in full and on time.

We also request Dorchester audit your catalog and that of your Associates to determine that no fiction is offered for sale in electronic format in breach of authors’ copyright or other rights; and that Dorchester compensate HWA members for any electronic copies of their work that has already been sold in breach of their rights, no later than 30 April 2011. 

We request that Dorchester provide immediate active assistance to all HWA members wishing to revert rights where that reversion is consistent with Dorchester’s existing policies and/or contractual obligations.
Leisure/Dorchester should also cease and desist from publishing any material written by HWA members where that member has requested Leisure to do so within your mutual contractual obligations, and in any format - printed or electronic. 

Should Dorchester complete these requests and show ongoing good faith towards all authors, including HWA members, HWA will reconsider Dorchester’s status.

Rocky Wood 

President HWA (in accordance with Resolution of the HWA Board)

For more information from the HWA please click here. 


For an author's perspective, check out Brian Keene's homepage.