Quote:
Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks
Many traditionally published author contracts have a clause that reads something like, 'publisher has right of first refusal on next book.'
This varies in wording--some only get right of first refusal in the genre, some only get right of first refusal for a series, some get it for anything the author writes.
I'm not sure there is an easy answer to your question, but in general, the author doesn't have a ton of power to wield in many cases. IT's damned hard to get published in the first place. There's some loyalty involved, there's a lot of hard work--on the part of editors, artists, publicity, copyeditors--and the author. So this mess doesn't do them any favors and just walking away isn't likely to be a great choice for anyone.
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Exactly.
As far as clout is concerned, in a matter like this, the answer is none. I doubt that even the head folks at Tor have much clout, since they're just one imprint owned by a conglomerate. (Just guessing: I imagine they have a voice, but just how much is another matter.)
When an author leaves for another publisher, it's generally because they got a better offer, or because of overall dissatisfaction over how their books were handled. Or maybe because their editor left and went to another house. One thing you don't do (even if you could) is pick up and leave in a snit because one thing happened that you didn't like. (Within reason, obviously.)
Also, please remember that at this point ebooks are still a very small part of an author's royalty check, if there is a check, and if ebooks are visible at all. That'll change. But right now, a publisher's ebook policy is something to get annoyed about, maybe, but not a reason to part company.