Stealing from a homeless person is the lowest thing you can
do. Stealing from an artist is the second lowest.
This thought crossed my mind a few years ago, when a French
publisher translated both of my books, actively promoted and sold them and
didn’t pay me or my American publisher any of the advance or royalties promised
in the contract. We looked into legal action, but the possibilities seemed
limited (since the contract wasn’t worth millions and the publisher was based
in a foreign country). So I learned to live with the fact that someone had
stolen my work and was selling it—and
there was nothing I could do about it.
However, finding myself in Spain and en route to Paris, I
decided to email the publisher and see if he cared to get coffee and explain in
more detail why he never paid us. (Previously, he’d only indicated that his
company was struggling financially.) To my surprise, he responded. He said that
he wasn’t going to be in town while I was there, but a package would be at my
hotel when I arrived. Entering my room and opening the cardboard box, I found
500 euros (about $670) and a translated copy of each book.
The publisher explained that he hoped to make additional
payments, and we’re in the process of mending our relationship. (We’re Facebook
friends again!) Perhaps this will be a rare and unexpected happy ending in the
publishing world. We shall see.
