Book Publisher Offers Some Advice for Authors
In my role as publisher, first at Macmillan of Canada, then at McClelland & Stewart (a period spanning almost precisely 25 years), I used to supply this document — headed “awful warnings” — to new authors.
I was pleased to note the initial reaction was invariably an amused one. About six months later, however, a much more thoughtful letter tended to follow. I should stress that the conditions described here are not restricted to Canada. These warnings were picked up and republished in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. I like to think the rest of the world is free of the imperfections mentioned here.
