Showing messages 1 through 2 of 2.

• gotta disagree
  2004-01-03 08:52:43  jnazario [Reply | View]
  
  
  oops, i forgot to log in. it's me, jose nazario, who wrote that last comment.
  
  i hope all is well.

• gotta disagree
  2004-01-03 11:41:37  Tim O'Reilly | [Reply | View]
  
  
  If a publisher is indeed "investing" -- that is, helping you to develop as an author, or making your name in the first place -- a contractual tie may be appropriate, as I said in my original posting. But let me ask you this: suppose that your book doesn't sell as well as you expect (I see it is just out in November), or that your editor leaves, or that you have a great idea that's appropriate for some other publisher's list--will you still feel that way? After all, if your publisher succeeds for you, why do they need a contractual tie? Isn't the contract designed to protect them precisely in the case where you are unhappy? Isn't mutual success sufficient?
  
  I'm a publisher -- I am in exactly the same position as Artech House. I might develop an author, only to have him or her solicited by other publishers. It happens, and I hate it. But I think that tying an author down -- especially a new author who doesn't yet realize the big differences between publishers -- is often taking unfair advantage.
  
  As John Levine says, it's probably easy enough to get out of a RoFR, unless it says for all future projects. So maybe this is a tempest in a teapot.
  
  Anyway, best of luck with your book. Like you, I have a lot of respect for your publisher. I've heard good things about their books.