Whisper House Press

Hello Mickey and The King’s English Team:

I’ve decided that I need to withdraw from the artists’ event on June 21st. The reason for this withdrawal, prudence might suggest, should be kept inside my head. However, I feel compelled by my conscience to speak truth to the powerful, and The King’s English is a powerbroker in local bookselling.

I want you to know that as an independent (for now) author, being charged a stocking fee (or whatever you’d like to call it) feels predatory and unethical. The authors providing programming for your shop do you a service in exchange for the service you do those authors by hosting their events. I’ve now done 8 book events in three states, and at no point has one of those proprietors attempted to charge me a fee for selling my book at their shop apart from sharing a standard 60(author)/40(bookseller) sales arrangement. So TKE stands out in this way [charging $50 to stock per ISBN + consignment fees].

I hope you decide to change that policy. Until that time, whether with my traditional publishers or working independently, I won’t be a part of TKE events. I say this with full knowledge that this commitment on my part is no major loss for your store. Please consider that as the organization with all the power in the relationship, it’s incumbent upon you to do right by the authors you’re supposedly supporting.

Thank you.

Steve