STATUS: TGIF! I need it.
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? THE CHAIN by Fleetwood Mac
Starting at 8 p.m. last night, rumors hit Twitterville that Leah Hultenschmidt (Editorial Director) and Don D’Auria (long-time editor) were let go from Dorchester at the close of yesterday’s business day.
For those of you who don’t know, Dorchester has always had a lean editorial staff. With the Departure of Alicia Condon several months ago and the news from yesterday, well, the editorial staff now consists of one person—Chris Kesslar.
This morning the rumor was confirmed by an email from Leah so I feel quite confident in posting this info. Not to mention last week Dorchester let go their digital director and yet they announced a digital initiative. Eyebrow raise.
I’m assuming I don’t need to tell you what this all signifies…
Oh boy. Will be interesting to see how this all shakes out, and the longer-term ramifications.
Aw, that stinks. Sorry, Ms. Hultenschmidt and Mr. D’Auria. And sorry to all the authors who (thought they) had publishing contracts.
It’s really sad. Although, I rarely read a paperback, and when I do it’s one that was hard cover first.
I went to Dorchester’s sight to read what they have up there. Sure are a lot of authors!
I feel bad for the employees, when someone has worked for a company for a long time, it’s a terrible thing that the company could care less.
It would be nice if they did the right thing and released the rights of those authors (myself included) whose backlist they hold. It’s the only way we have a prayer of recouping some of the money they’re holding in reserves and/or failing to report.
However, expecting a publisher to do the right thing when it’s been breaching it own contracts for years is no doubt a vain hope. Call my discouraged.
Sorry to see these editors and so many others lose their jobs, too.
Yikes, quite a shake-up going on. Guess they will do whatever it takes to protect the bottom line. That seems to be the way of business now’a days.
I read a post somewhere where some of the authors are jumping ship, too.
Sounds like a real trainwreck over there.
No surprise they leave one editor, Chris Kesslar???
I’m so sorry for everyone who lost their jobs and those authors who are being forced into such a position.
For myself, I’ve tried to see it as an opportunity to do more with a book I love and I’ve obtained my rights back, since my book wasn’t due to be released until October. But I know for some, this is a catastrophic event. My heart goes out to them all.
Still counting my lucky stars. I was literally hours away from submitting to Dorchester when you first broke the news about Dorchester awhile back. Sounds like they’re going to fold if you ask me. Onward and upward.
I hate to say it, but I have a feeling this is just the beginning. I for one have no idea what the publishing landscape will look like once this finally all shakes out–except it will be completely different.
I’m feel for the people who lost their jobs. I hope they got good packages and have time to find something that fits in with the way publishing seems to be moving…Best wishes to them.
When the music industry changed to the iTunes format, was there this much collateral damage? Did all the displaced people in that industry find new rolls in the same industry? (Just curious…)
I guess the Great Writer Ripoff of 2010 means there are fewer slices to the pie so one hog gets it all (with a few crumbs for the writers). Hooray!
Scott Nicholson
http://www.hauntedcomputer.com