how to get out of a book publishing contract?

Question

Signed a aeven year contract and feel the book publisher is not holding up their end of the agreement and I want out with my book intact.

Answer 1

Getting out of the contract will require a lawyer and may also require some serious investment of time and money. I suggest that you consider these alternatives:

1. Re-examine your expectations. It could be that you were expecting the publisher to do something that isn't likely to happen.

2. You give no details about whether this is a subsidy press, an academic press, a trade (as in general fiction or mainstream non-fiction) press, or what. Therefore we can't suggest ways that you might get your publisher to live up to them. Ask again, with a detail or two, and we may be able to help more.

2. Ask to be released. They may want out, too. That might be why they're not performing well.

3. Pretend that your book is self-published, bar the monetary investment. Get out there and make it work, and then, when it has run its course, shake their dust off your feet, knowing that your future works will not have a reduced chance of publication because this one didn't rack up many sales.


In sum, you can always get a lawyer, and it is a good suggestion, but it's a last resort. Before you make one rich, look for other ways out. THEN sue, knowing that you can show good faith during the trial. Juries, mediators, and even judges like that, I'm told.

Answer 2

You're going to have to talk to a lawyer and your agent on this one. You will have to prove that the company is not holding up their end of the deal in order to do this (or find a loophole in the fine print of your contract).

Answer 3

Die?

Yeah, talk to a lawyer about contract disputes, they are the ones who'll go over all the nitty-gritty and decide if you have a just complaint.

Answer 4

If you feel they are not holding up their end you can sue them to get out of it. Talk to a lawyer.