HB: Got another comment on the Murder Wars, that's just too good not to give a post all of its own. So here it is, from the WW's very own Jane Jakeman (herself a crime novelist so dangerously gifted that she could find half a dozen murder weapons in a totally empty room):-
NB: I've kept this post up so readers can follow the thread in full. In actual fact - though JJ had this info on what appeared to be good authority - she doesn't seem to be right here. See the festival's comment below and a longer post from them, dated 23 July.
"What the general public doesn't know about the Harrogate Crime Festival is that the authors are not invited to appear there solely through merit. Their publishers have to pay a hefty sum per author to the festival organisers.This means that only big publishers can afford it, and then only with authors they want to push. It is rather like the system by which bookshops are paid by the publishers to have certain books in the window. These promotional activities, disguised as literary festivals, etc., play a large part in the present dismal standard of best-selling crime fiction. In my view, one of the finest crime publishers currently operating is the tiny Bitter Lemon Press, which specialises in translations of foreign work, but their sales are tiny compared with the massive 'popular' and heavily promoted stuff. I think the best way to get these practices dropped is to make the reading public aware of them."
Hear, hear to that!
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
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3 comments:
Authors at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival actually receive a fee and we also cover the cost of their hotel room and travel.
We receive no payment from publishers to ensure their authors are programmed. Programming decisions are made independently with our rolling Programming Chair with the support and guidance of the Committee.
I was told a few years ago by a major editor at a big publishing house that they had to pay several hundred pounds per author per panel. (I appeared on one myself and certainly received no fee!) in addition to paying the author's expenses. Are you telling us that no money changes hands, however the transaction may be described? It may not be 'to ensure' that an author is selected, but do you really say there is no payment from publishers? They pay nothing to the Festival?
jane Jakeman
Unfortunately your source is incorrect.
Programming is led by the Programming Committee and no money exchanges hands in return for programming authors.
In addition, I have resurrected your contract from 2003 with regard to payment:
Fee: A cheque for your fee of £100 will be sent to you after the Festival. If you are VAT registered our accounts department will need a VAT invoice from you before payment can be made: please indicate on the attached form if you are VAT registered and we will await the invoice.
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