Not for free, after all

BY Nilanjana Roy| IN Opinion | 22/03/2008

A response to ‘Chicken Soup for Free?’ by Suneetha B, carried on the Hoot in December.

NILANJANA ROY offers a clarification from the publisher.

Dear Editor,

I know this is a belated response, but I¿ve only just seen the story you carried on Westland Books and the Chicken Soup series:

http://www.thehoot.org/web/home/story.php?storyid=2857&mod=1&pg=1&sectionId=35

I can understand the author¿s indignation, but I do wish she had contacted our office. We would have been happy to clarify that all contributors are being paid--the first set of payments have already been made.

The confusion was caused by an initial decision to make a large payment to the editors of the books, which they were supposed to use to pay contributors. When we discovered that this system wasn¿t working, we changed the nature of the payments and now make sure that every contributor is paid for their work directly by us. We cannot match dollar rates, given that the books will be selling only in India, but we match normal Indian freelance rates. Our policy is to ensure that writers and editors share in the success of the Chicken Soup series, and once the books are out in the market, we hope to increase rates.

I hope you¿ll carry this letter in the interests of fairness. If anyone has any further questions about the Chicken Soup series, they¿re welcome to contact us at the address given below.

Thanks and warm regards,

Nilanjana

March 20, 2008

Nilanjana S. Roy

Chief Editor

EastWest and Westland Books

IInd floor, K Block Commercial Complex (near HDFC Bank)

Birbal Road

Jangpura Extension

New Delhi-110014

Ph (office): (011) 4353-7537

Ph (mobile): (91) 92124-00248

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