Dear Bloomsbury Academic:
I have three things to say to you:
1. You haven’t paid me in about two years for my book Blake and Kierkegaard: Creation and Anxiety (2010). It has sold about 300-400 copies during that period (I know, I’ve been checking Worldcat — it’s in 777 libraries as of today and was in about 300 in 2013), and my contract stipulates annual payments. These payments, such as they are (enough to buy a tank of gas and take my wife out on a date), have been coming around June. The book has obviously done well, as Continuum released it in paperback in 2011.
2. You haven’t responded to any of my emails over the last year. That’s what really annoys me.
3. So, you are in breach of contract.
I am letting all of my academic friends know and warning them away from publishing with you.
Get it together, and I will change my mind. I very much enjoyed working with the Continuum staff before Bloomsbury acquired it. Very professional, particularly their first class job of managing the editing. I’ve been singing your praises until now and would like to do so again. I really don’t want to make you look bad. I like you.
And, I need another tank of gas and my wife would probably appreciate another date.
Sincerely,
Jim
