MAIN NEWS HEADLINES
April 1-15, 2005 Edition
Dorchester Answers
Readers’ Inquiries
About Dara Joy
NEW YORK, NY/03/28/05Dorchester-Leisure Books, responding to readers’ inquiries about the availability of star author Dara Joy’s next book, posted a lengthy response on its web site in early February, but many chat rooms and message boards have just now discovered the notice and have begun to buzz about the publisher’s pending lawsuit against the author.
In the online notice, Dorchester says, “. . . we can no longer ignore some of the unsupported claims Dara has made and feel its necessary to keep you informed as to the ongoing litigation.
“Dorchester initiated the litigation after Dara failed to deliver three books that she had signed a contract to write for Dorchester. In 1996, Dara signed the contract, promising us three books in 1998 and 1999. But we never got them. The deadlines were extended to 2000, 2001, and 2002; but we still never received her books.”
The statement said that instead of fulfilling her contractual obligations to Dorchester, Dara violated them further by submitting a romance novel to another publisher. According to her contract, she was required to submit her next romance novel to Dorchester; but a book of a different genre she could sell to another publisher, even though she would still owe Dorchester three romance novels by the extended deadlines.
Dorchester said that Dara assured its editors that Ritual of Proof, bought by another house without Dorchesters prior knowledge, was a science-fiction novel and not a romance. Dorchester said the book “contains all the elements of a romance and was shelved in romance sections of bookstores, reviewed in romance publications, and marketed as a romance novel.”
Dorchester says these are the reasons for the lawsuit.
The author reportedly claims Dorchester has withheld money from her, a charge Dorchester denies 100%.
The company said Dara has still not delivered the three books she owes them, and contracted with the other publisher for Ritual of Proof to secure a higher advance. The public statement said its repeated attempts to come to a compromise with the author have failed.
“As a small company that prides itself on excellent working relationships with our authors, were saddened that this case has brought about so many inaccurate perceptions. We hope it can be quickly resolved,” the statement concluded. For more information see the Dorchester site at http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SpecialFeatures.cfm?ID=1903
