Hi all. I wanted to report on what was happening with Mister
Slaughter. Unfortunately we don't have a publisher yet, but never
fear, we're still pushing ahead. The deal is that I just didn't think
Pocket did a very good job with [The Queen of Bedlam]. There was
no promotion at all (well, there was a small ad in the New York Times
Review of Books, but that was because the publisher at Pocket liked the
cover) and I just can't throw Mister Slaughter into the fire.
If you guys want to know where I am mentally, just read the commentaries
in the new Pocket editions of Boy's Life and Gone South.
I'm not saying you should buy them if you already have them, but take a
look at those commentaries. They tell a harsh story, but it's where I
am.
Due to the economy, publishers are buying fewer books and seem to be
reluctant to put money in promotion or author's tours. If the book
doesn't make X amount of profits, whoever championed that particular
book gets his or her head cut off, because of the corporate structure of
the publishing world. And in my particular case and the case of Pocket,
I honestly think they have no idea how to promote the Matthew Corbett
series. Really...I don't think they understand the books or see the
potential in Matthew's story.
Wouldn't be the first time, guys. Recall that I had to fight to keep
Boy's Life from being turned into a run-of-the-mill mystery
piece, and that was only one of many fights I had with Pocket over the
years.
So here I am again, similar to when I took Speaks the Nightbird
home and thought I was done with publishing. This time, though, I have
lots of options and I'm determined to continue Matthew's story to the
finish. The problem is that sorting all this out is going to take some
time, and I want to be careful that I find the right people in the
business who'll help me continue on.
I had hoped that Mister Slaughter would be out in October of
2009, but it probably won't be. I'm cleaning house, and what I have to
do may add several more months to the schedule.
One of the elements of Mister Slaughter is that Matthew is really
beaten and bruised by Tyranthus Slaughter during the course of the book,
but he never gives up. The book is about not quitting in the face of
adversity, as a matter of fact. Matthew is not a quitter. He's a good
example for me to follow, and that's what I intend to do.
Thank you for hanging in with me, and hopefully within a month or so,
I'll have some better news.
Best Wishes,
Robert McCammon
October 30, 2008