Sarah Waters' Publishers

I like Sarah Waters' books. I have read two of them so far and have her other two on my shelves for future enjoyment. As moderator of a reading group and co-chair of an LGBT Network, I recently sent a letter to Virago (her publishers) asking that my email be forwarded to her in which I suggested her attending a meeting of the group and an event organised by the Network.

I did the same thing at the same time for Jake Arnott (author of The Long Firm trilogy and Johnny Come Home) at Sceptre. Someone quickly phoned me to tell me that Jake does not have email (something I know to be true) and asking me to send a letter to be forwarded to him.

Virago's reply was quite different. I very quickly received an email from one Clara Womersley with the very curt few words:

rather sit on hot coals??!!

No signature nothing else.

I know that Ms Waters has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize (as I am typing this, I am hoping she will be the winner to be announced in a few minutes), which make her an important figure of British literary life, but I don't think this is a good enough excuse for her publishers to alienate her readership and major fan base.

My response was as follows:

Dear Ms Womersley,

Thank you very much indeed for taking the time to deal with my request, as you have obviously done.

I fear however that a very important part of another conversation you were having with a friend or colleague might have been sent erronuously to me and was therefore lost to the benefit of the rightful recipient. I hope this email will allow you to correct this.

I looking forward to soon being able to inform the combined memberships of the Network and the reading group (over 200 people) of the good news that Ms Waters has received my request and is considering it.

Your faithfully,

In return I received Ms Womersley's out of the office reply with contact details for one of her colleagues. I fowarded the whole lot to her without creating the smallest reaction.

I will carry on trying to contact Ms Waters by other channels and when I finally meet her I will be sure to let her know how her people treat her public, like the bitter queen that I am!

(Unfortunately Sarah Waters did not win the Prize)

For the rest of the story, click here and here.

Tags: London, Sarah Waters, gay, LGBT, GLBT, lesbian, Virago, Man Booker Prize, Jake Arnott, literature, publishing, Customer service.

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