Musto vs. Regent Media
In today's Village Voice, long-time columnist Michael Musto delivers a scathing tell-all about how Regent Media has relegated his latest book, Fork on the Left, Knife in the Back, to publishing limbo. The book, a collection of columns and essays, was originally due February 1st, but has continued to be pushed back as each successive release date slips by.
Writes Musto:
"I'd delivered the entire package in the summer of '09, but I never received any communication about it in terms of editing or marketing except when I anxiously pushed for info. Occasionally, I'd email my editor, "Is the book still happening?" "Oh, yes," he swore, maybe hoping against hope. "But will there be galleys as promised?" I wondered. "Oh, sure," he'd say, optimistically. "Probably in two days. It shouldn't take longer than that." How was I to know that two days would morph into two weeks, two months, and eventually into the 12th of never?"
We'd heard that Musto's fabulous party celebrating his 25th anniversary at the Voice was originally supposed to be a book release party, and he confirms that in the column.
Musto is also a columnist for Regent Media-owned Out Magazine, and it's pretty cute to read him desperately trying to skate the line between scathing expose and, like, not pissing off his bosses at Out. That's the same Out that's been giving their freelancers the shaft for months. And while less "famous" writers continue to holler for their hard-earned cash, Musto says her checks cleared.
Of course, we have to wonder what the point of all this really is. Seriously, even if the book does get published it'll just end up out of print sooner or later, just like all Musto's other books.
Read more: Regent Media Is Holding My New Book Hostage [Village Voice]
