I just accidentally deleted my initial thoughts. So here goes again. I discussed this key issue with my supervisor yesterday. She is one of only three readers of the entire manuscript's 373 A4 size pages. The others are a London publisher's editor and me fein. A cupla others have read a chapter or two. Only one glaring error was pointed out to me so far and I immediately recast the relevant sentence. What has brought all of this to the forefront of my mind is a reference in a publisher's terms & conditions that would require me ("the author") to indemnify the publisher regarding "any and all" actions and claims in libel and/or defamation (L&D) against them regarding any of the manuscript's published contents. It would have been far from my mind in researching and composing the manuscript that I would have libelled or defamed anyone or any organision. But my intentions would count for nought in any such legal actions. There would be an onus on me to disprove any related allegation against me by a claimant. So, before instructing a publisher - and forwarding a substantial sum to them in the region of £5,000 - I must construct a resilient, defensive rampart against any claims. Three options exist.
First, I can invite a Belfast lawyer, expert in the L&D field to advise me. This could involve a four figure fee. Next, I could rely upon the publisher's editors to alert me to any obvious risks in advance of publication. Their documentation does not appear to offer this friendly service. Finally - and this option seems to me to be the best, perhaps the only practical and economical one - I can, starting today, review, and recast as necessary, the complete manuscript in order to gain as much confidence as I can, that the manuscript's publication will not land me in Belfast's Royal Courts of Justice at risk of serious financial outlays. I'm presently in my 82nd year and hope to leave my son a few shillings 'when I shuffle off this mortal coil'. Best to minimise any expenditure beyond the publisher's £5k, some of which might be recoverable if the manuscript's transition into a paperback on a shelf in Waterstone's or No Alibis, generates any 'royalties'. A hopeful note on which to end the epistle. More anon.
First, I can invite a Belfast lawyer, expert in the L&D field to advise me. This could involve a four figure fee. Next, I could rely upon the publisher's editors to alert me to any obvious risks in advance of publication. Their documentation does not appear to offer this friendly service. Finally - and this option seems to me to be the best, perhaps the only practical and economical one - I can, starting today, review, and recast as necessary, the complete manuscript in order to gain as much confidence as I can, that the manuscript's publication will not land me in Belfast's Royal Courts of Justice at risk of serious financial outlays. I'm presently in my 82nd year and hope to leave my son a few shillings 'when I shuffle off this mortal coil'. Best to minimise any expenditure beyond the publisher's £5k, some of which might be recoverable if the manuscript's transition into a paperback on a shelf in Waterstone's or No Alibis, generates any 'royalties'. A hopeful note on which to end the epistle. More anon.
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