Post by Dreadlocksmile on Jul 13, 2010 9:06:16 GMT
As posted by Guy N Smith on David McAfee's Blog:
mcafeeland.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/why-i-left-ghostwriter-publications/
It has come to my notice recently that Neil Jackson, Ghostwriter Publications, has received some bad press in the forum, accusations of deceit, fraud, lies and theft. Some people are asking why I have not stepped in. The straightforward answer is that I have not had any reason to do so.
Jackson contacted me in January 2008 and we met up in the summer of that year. He had some good ideas and I am sure that had he carried them out then he ands his writers would be in a different position today. Unfortunately he got side tracked and spent far too much time in chat rooms and publishing these so called Chap books.
Consequently, his proposed publishing schedule fell behind. I signed three or four contracts with GWP and, to be fair several of my books were reissued, albeit a year or so later than scheduled.
The books were of high quality, I could not fault them. They were delivered to my home to be sold through Black Hill Books. Hence I had control of the stock. Whether or not any more were printed and sold elsewhere by GWP I do not know. All kinds of merchandising arrived from GWP and again I suspected that Neil was being sidetracked with trivia at the expense of serious projects. All orders reported not to have been responded to, were those sent direct to GWP. Those received by ourselves were dispatched within 2-3 days, often by return of post. Our own customers will verify this.
I make it absolutely clear that I have never invested any money in GWP. I believe that the delay and/or non – publications of other writer’s book was due to lack of finance.
On two occasions GWP paid me royalties. After that I paid them their share of books sold by Black Hill Books and will continue to do so until stock runs out. I have not lost anything through a 21/2-year association with GWP.
I heard stories from individuals about books ordered and paid for from GWP and not received. I forwarded their correspondence on to GWP and hoped that Neil might respond.
At the outset it seemed an interesting project. A year or so on it was becoming tiresome. Contracts were basic and flawed, anyway, and I was happy to go along with these, as I knew I could pull the plug if necessary. After all, GWP was hardly a major publishing house. I did not invest much in the way of time; all the books were reissues any way.
I sincerely sympathise with those authors whose hopes were raised and then dashed. Provided you have a copy of your work then you can offer it elsewhere and GWP have no claim on it.
One writer has informed me that he has complained to both his lawyer and the police. The former was prepared to go ahead with litigation but informed him that it would probably cost him more than the sum of money he was owed. The police dismissed it as being a civil matter. Hence it seems that retribution is a non-starter.
I can understand the anger and frustration of those who posted their grievances on the forum. I state Categorically that I was in no way involved with GWP’s business dealings. I merely let them re-issue a few titles, an agreement, which involved no risk to myself.
Black Hill Books never advertise titles, which are not currently available and do not accept pre –publications money or offer discounts. If a title is out of stock when an order is received we make a refund. Over three decades our integrity has never been questioned.
mcafeeland.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/why-i-left-ghostwriter-publications/
It has come to my notice recently that Neil Jackson, Ghostwriter Publications, has received some bad press in the forum, accusations of deceit, fraud, lies and theft. Some people are asking why I have not stepped in. The straightforward answer is that I have not had any reason to do so.
Jackson contacted me in January 2008 and we met up in the summer of that year. He had some good ideas and I am sure that had he carried them out then he ands his writers would be in a different position today. Unfortunately he got side tracked and spent far too much time in chat rooms and publishing these so called Chap books.
Consequently, his proposed publishing schedule fell behind. I signed three or four contracts with GWP and, to be fair several of my books were reissued, albeit a year or so later than scheduled.
The books were of high quality, I could not fault them. They were delivered to my home to be sold through Black Hill Books. Hence I had control of the stock. Whether or not any more were printed and sold elsewhere by GWP I do not know. All kinds of merchandising arrived from GWP and again I suspected that Neil was being sidetracked with trivia at the expense of serious projects. All orders reported not to have been responded to, were those sent direct to GWP. Those received by ourselves were dispatched within 2-3 days, often by return of post. Our own customers will verify this.
I make it absolutely clear that I have never invested any money in GWP. I believe that the delay and/or non – publications of other writer’s book was due to lack of finance.
On two occasions GWP paid me royalties. After that I paid them their share of books sold by Black Hill Books and will continue to do so until stock runs out. I have not lost anything through a 21/2-year association with GWP.
I heard stories from individuals about books ordered and paid for from GWP and not received. I forwarded their correspondence on to GWP and hoped that Neil might respond.
At the outset it seemed an interesting project. A year or so on it was becoming tiresome. Contracts were basic and flawed, anyway, and I was happy to go along with these, as I knew I could pull the plug if necessary. After all, GWP was hardly a major publishing house. I did not invest much in the way of time; all the books were reissues any way.
I sincerely sympathise with those authors whose hopes were raised and then dashed. Provided you have a copy of your work then you can offer it elsewhere and GWP have no claim on it.
One writer has informed me that he has complained to both his lawyer and the police. The former was prepared to go ahead with litigation but informed him that it would probably cost him more than the sum of money he was owed. The police dismissed it as being a civil matter. Hence it seems that retribution is a non-starter.
I can understand the anger and frustration of those who posted their grievances on the forum. I state Categorically that I was in no way involved with GWP’s business dealings. I merely let them re-issue a few titles, an agreement, which involved no risk to myself.
Black Hill Books never advertise titles, which are not currently available and do not accept pre –publications money or offer discounts. If a title is out of stock when an order is received we make a refund. Over three decades our integrity has never been questioned.