Troubled publisher Freight Books asks writers to buy their own books back

In the UK, Scottish publisher Freight Books has asked writers if they wanted to buy their own books back, as the publisher faces an ‘extremely uncertain’ future, reports the Bookseller.

Co-founder Adrian Searle left the publisher in April due to ‘irreconcilable differences over strategic direction’. In September it was revealed Freight Books authors hadn’t been paid for several months, and printers took the company to court for unpaid work dating to the beginning of the year. Association of Author’s Agents president Gordon Wise has suggested that the firm was withholding payment as it looks to sell the venture.

In an email to authors, co-founder Davinder Samrai, who highlighted the ‘extremely uncertain’ future the publisher faced and invited authors to buy their own books, saying that it ‘may be possible to set stock against any monies you are owed’.

Wise said its members are ‘appalled that authors are being asked to pay for copies of their own books when in many instances the company owes them substantial sums of money, or that stock should be considered an acceptable compensation in lieu of payment’.

Category: International news