City Woman by Patricia Scanlan

Author:Patricia Scanlan [Scanlan, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781471141102
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Twenty-Eight

‘I’m not putting Maggie up against Janet Stevens. She’d sink like a stone,’ Sandra Nolan said vehemently. She was sitting in the boardroom of Enterprise Publishing at the emergency meeting she called when she heard the news that was turning their publishing schedule upside down.

‘Why the hell is Janet Stevens coming out in October? The Americans always bring her out for the summer market – that’s why we held on to City Woman until October!’ Jeremy said irascibly. The news had made him very angry. He had great plans for City Woman, but Sandra, who was the best marketing person in the business, was right. There was no way a first-time author could be put head to head with an established and very popular author who sold millions.

‘Seemingly, Janet felt she should be getting a higher royalty after all the books she’s sold for Arthur Martin Publishing,’ said Sandra, ‘and even though she was half-way through the book, she refused to sign the contract. They thought it would just be a formality and they never thought she’d get stroppy. She’s usually so placid.’ Sandra was always up to the minute in publishing gossip.

‘Obviously she got the royalties she was looking for then,’ Marcy said glumly, feeling very sorry for Maggie, who was going to be so disappointed.

‘And how!’ grimaced Sandra. ‘Not only did she get her royalties; she insisted on two hundred and fifty thousand just to sign the contract.’

Jeremy winced. ‘Keep that to yourself, for God’s sake! We don’t want any of our lot getting ideas. I hate hearing things like that.’

‘When do you want to go with it now?’ Marcy asked.

‘I think,’ said Sandra slowly, ‘that we should postpone it until November of next year. We’ll get the Christmas market, and launch the paperback the following summer and her second hardback in October of the same year. As far as I can see from what’s coming out next year, November is our best time. Because we’ll have the two hardbacks out within the space of a year, plus the City Woman paperback, we can do a media blitz and the momentum will keep going for the second one. In one way Arthur Martin has done us a favour. Believe me, in a couple of years’ time it will be Arthur Martin who’ll be saying they can’t put Janet Stevens up against Maggie Ryan,’ finished Sandra firmly.

‘Who’s going to tell Maggie?’ sighed Marcy. ‘She really slogged her guts out to get City Woman ready for us when I asked her to.’

‘I’ll tell her,’ Sandra said. ‘It’s my department’s decision and I’ll explain all the facts to her.’

‘Treat her to lunch. Buy her flowers. Make a fuss of her,’ Jeremy instructed. ‘I’m as disappointed as she’s going to be.’

‘I will,’ Sandra assured him. She was known for her great ability to smooth ruffled feathers.

‘Hell! Buy her a bottle of champagne too – a decent bottle,’ Jeremy growled, and brightened up a little as Marcy squeezed his hand. Sandra, who was phoning Locks restaurant to make a lunch reservation for the following Friday, did not notice.

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