On Sunday afternoon I received the latest edition of “Cantaranews,” an occasional newsletter report on the literary quarterly Cantaraville. In it, Cantara Christopher (the editor and owner of Cantarabooks and Cantaraville) published a statement about AuthorsBookshop.com entitled, “Caveat on AuthorsBookshop.com,” which contained false claims and mis-characterizations of my business.
It is my understanding that she has a readership 1300+ strong. Because this is a significant number in an industry as small as mine, I take her allegations very seriously. I feel it is important for the integrity of myself and my business to issue a formal statement to clarify the truths behind her claims.
First, she claims to have spent 3 months this summer as a Publisher Partner. Though she has held a Publisher Partner membership with AuthorsBookshop.com for some years, she failed to disclose the fact that she actually served for about two months as the Manager of Sales and Marketing of AuthorsBookshop.com. As such she had privileged access to company information, which she is naturally under a professional obligation to not disclose. However in her newsletter she not only disclosed it, but knowingly misrepresented it in such a way as to deliberately shed AuthorsBookshop.com in an unfavorable light.
She claims, “A look at the sales figures for AB clearly shows, however, that for the past four years AB has been selling an average of only 100 copies a year.” This is not true. Our sales figures are simply much higher than this. Having served as the Manager of Sales and Marketing, Ms. Christopher is well aware of our sales figures and she is being dishonest in this statement.
She also states, “AB makes little to no attempt to promote the titles in its catalog, and is making no attempt at all to attract a general readership.” Again, completely untrue. We promote our inventory through blogs, our own online radio show, podcasts, social media, other major book selling websites, book festivals and fairs, readings, social gatherings, a catalog and much more, all in addition to our own website and the marketing tools we provide to our members therein. Having served as the Manager of Sales and Marketing she is well aware of these methods.
Her statement, “By the owner’s own admission, AuthorsBookshop has no particular literary “cache”, no brand familiarity, no particular distinction that might entice potential readers to buy a book at AuthorsBookshop rather than from any other site,” is also untrue. I have not admitted this, nor do I believe it. Why would any business owner say something like that? If I felt this way, I would fold up the business and spend my time doing something else. After five years of working to build this thing, I would have to believe we have some brand familiarity, and we are constantly working to build it. Of course I would love to have more, but then so would McDonalds and Tiffany.
“Note that AuthorsBookshop does not stock large numbers of copies of any title — its main objective is to get as many different titles on its shelves, thus limiting the number of copies of each title to 3.” This is also a lie. As I write, I am looking directly at cases of books. It is true, we start with an inventory of 3 books of each new title. But as a title sells, we are happy to increase our inventory… we have to. We need to fill orders or we would go out of business. We carry more than 3 copies of many books – often accepting them by the case. Ms. Christopher knows this to be true, as we held a book published by her own publishing company at case-level quantities for several years. Also, as the former Manager of Sales and Marketing, she is very well aware of our inventory levels. For her to pretend that we only shelve 3 copies of any title is simply deceitful.
“A cursory look at its website shows that its main activity is in promoting the books of its author-members TO OTHER AUTHOR-MEMBERS.” Again, completely untrue. A look at our website – cursory or otherwise – will reveal nothing that specifically markets books to our members. I can’t imagine what she is even referring too… other than, nothing. Note that she does not give a single example.
“Simple arithmetic though will show that, financially, this is still a no-win deal for their member authors. First of all you have to have the book printed yourself and factor in the per-unit printing cost of each copy; the cost per copy of shipping the books to AB;” This confusing claim has me baffled. This statement holds true of all booksellers. Somehow, the cost of book production is now the responsibility of the book seller? To argue that a bookseller is somehow accountable for production and distribution cost is to argue that all booksellers are a no-win deal.
There are other, more minor misleading untruths and mis-characterizations, but I think this should suffice. My intention is to shed light on the credibility of Ms. Christopher’s claims and I feel I have done so.
One last bit of information that Ms. Christopher failed to disclose. After receiving an email plea for rescue from a claim of impending destitution (“If we were refugees from Nazi Germany our situation couldn’t be any more dire. It even feels like we’re refugees.”), my wife and I offered a room in our home for her and her husband. We opened our home to them for a rent a fraction of what would have been reasonable. We did this with no expectations or strings attached. A friend expressed a need, and we had the resources to assist. That is how both my wife and I were brought up, and that is what we do. It is what we want to teach our five-year-old daughter.
They lived in our home for three months and nine days and, sadly, left without fulfilling all of their rent obligations, without so much as a good-bye or thank you, and having left a large amount of trash and refuse for my wife and I to clean up and dispose of.
I want to make it clear that there is much more to her story than a simple report on a business in the book-selling industry. It seems she would have us believe that she is a concerned and objective third party bringing unjust and ineffectual business practices to light. In fact, however, she is deceitfully misrepresenting privileged information to libel myself and my business in what appears to be an attempt to settle some sort of imagined personal score.
It is sad that Ms. Christopher has chosen to defame me and libel my bus
iness. What objective can she have, other that to hurt the business that I have worked so hard to build? I tried to help her – I welcomed her into my home, shared my life, my family and my business with her. It is indeed a very odd path she has chosen since she decided to end our personal and professional relationship. It has left me confused, angry and I will admit, hurt.
If she feels I have affronted her in some way, she has not informed me of what it could be. If informed that I have done so, I would have certainly done whatever possible to make amends. I do not believe I that I have affronted her in any way… however, I can not figure out any other reason to explain her behavior.
Personally, I wish Cantara no harm. I hope she continues to do the great work she has been doing in bringing wonderful new voices to light. We need more people doing what she does, not fewer. Though she has harmed me, that is now her cross to bear. I will continue my hard work and commitment to my mission; helping as many authors sell as many books as possible. Hopefully my intentions will remain clear in all that I do, regardless of the untruths others may conjure.
Incidentally, it seems I am not the only person who finds her lack or professionalism and candor worrisome.
Obviously, you are free to make your own decision as to Ms. Christoher’s professionalism and integrity. I think it is clear that I have made mine.
If you have questions about any of these points or would like further information I invite you to contact me via the AuthorsBookshop.com contact page. I intend for this to be my only and final public statement regarding this issue.
Thank you for your time. I truly appreciate your having given me the chance to set the record straight.
Brad Grochowski,
Founder and owner, AuthorsBookshop.com
Buy indie. Sell indie. Be indie.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Great response, hon. I am so disappointed in her, but I am so proud of you for how you have handled her turncoat behavior. I'm also proud of our little family for still seeing the good in people, even when presented with situations that remind us that not everyone values friendships and kindnesses as much as we do.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Brad,I'm glad you posted this and set the record straight. I was very shocked and confused by her intentions and purpose when I received her newsletter. For her to now criticize policies that haven't changed throughout the time that she promoted and praised those policies, has "personal grudge" written all over it.I hope everyone who received her letter will think it over and see it for what it is.Best,Marc
November 25th, 2009 at 6:59 AM
Hey Brad,When we met online a few weeks back and you were interested in my work, I of course wanted to see what you were all about. I was impressed w/ the Indiebookman blog and your efforts w/ Authorsbookshop and especially the podcasts. You seemed more than legit and I was encouraged by your professionalism, writing chops, insight and supportive attitude.I remember linking on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc., a piece Ms. Christopher had posted on your site, something really really loooooooong, as I recall, though not w/out substance. Yet I thought at the time, hmmm… who is this crazy woman with time enough to write this absurdly lengthy piece few people are going to read straight through. Then I saw her bio and photo and it clicked: I'd met her before, a few years back, in San Francisco.Long story short, she proved herself back then to be untrustworthy, a liar and a phony. Maybe you've chosen to take the diplomatic road — and I respect you for it — but I don't have to. I'm happy to tell anyone who will listen that this woman is not to be trusted, as you can tell by her mistreatment of you and your family and your work.Funny (not haha, but…) when I saw that you were involved with her, it gave me second thoughts about you. Now you know what I've long known. I wish I'd had the courage earlier to say something, to ask you what was up w/ your connects w/ her. I even talked about this w/ my girlfriend. Sorry you had to go through all that bullshit w/ her. I will spread the word re: your post through all the distribution channels I've got.Fuck that crazyass bitch!Respectfully,Antwon Thomas
November 25th, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Admittedly I've only sold one copy of my title in my limited time as an author member of AB, however the insights I've gotten from interactions with Brad & other "indie" folks that he's introduced me to far outweigh the financial gains I've made via sales through any other outlet. Keep doing what you do Brad. Maybe when we know one another a little better I'll tell you what I really think.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:53 PM
UGH! Crappy! Yuck! I've got boots on, and I'll kick some ass for you and your girls. She's nusto, let God and the Devil take care of her. Teporah
November 29th, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Brad you are certainly right to clearly rebut Cantara's article. You have made lemonade out of lemons.However, it is also true that as a business person in public, you are automatically a target. It goes with the territory. Of course you know this.Cantara may be the first person to use you so dramatically for target practice, but she will not be the last. The more successful you are, the more you will be insulted. Congratulations. After 25 years owning businesses, I continue to find this fact to be remarkable and perplexing. No matter how hard I feel myself to be working, no matter how many people benefit from my activity, still, there is a steady stream of attack from many sides. I never get used to it. (By the way, Publishers Weekly has said of me, "Laties is a bitter, bitter man.")I met Canatara via an attack. She had attempted to come to a book signing for my book, "Rebel Bookseller", at Vox Pop, and the staff at Vox Pop had printed up a flyer advertising the wrong day for my event, and she had come on this advertised wrong day. Since she'd gone out of her way to come to my book-signing, she was annoyed. She wrote a long, detailed, specific, point-by-point analysis of all the things that Vox Pop was doing badly as a cafe, and as a publisher, and as a bookstore. It was pretty surprising to be receiving such an energetic attack from someone I didn't know. I decided to meet her, and a week later we spent several hours talking at a bar in Brooklyn. Cantara is an original. No-one could invent her. She's led a remarkable life, and done some really interesting things. To simply complain about her behavior as abnormal or irrational — as some of those on this comment thread seem to be doing — is to ignore something important: The world would be a poorer place without her. You can object to this statement and insist instead that every human being should act "decently" and "nicely" and "professionally" at all times. But personally I don't mind if people act strangely or speak their quirky, irascible minds. I can usually tell pretty quickly what sort of person I am talking with — so unusual behavior doesn't bother me. I actually prefer working with unusual and quirky people. Creative people are often pretty odd.I would say that Cantara is the kind of person that gives plot to peoples' lives. It may be wise to keep a safe distance if you haven't figured out how much you want to engage with her. If you do engage with her, you can expect to be surprised. Sometimes the joke will be on you. But perhaps you will have benefitted in some way, in the meantime. It's all a crap shoot when you engage with unusual people.I don't mind the gambling aspect of friendship.I had a bookkeeper who embezzled a huge amount of money from me. I had business clients who damaged my business disastrously by violating my contracts. I got the stories for a book about my life from these people. I ought to be paying them a slice of my royalties (if I were only receiving any royalties!)Now I'm writing another book, largely about Sander Hicks, my publisher, who is also a highly controversial person because many people are furious with him for his actions as a businessman. Boy do I have some hilarious stories! I like the guy, even though I didn't get any money from my book (it has sold 3,000 copies, and in exchange I own a piece of Vox Pop).For all who are irritated with Cantara, I would simply suggest that you translate that irritation into a wonderfully hilarious (a bit Dickensian?) character for your next novel. (Don't admit you're doing this, by the way.)Interestingly, many people in the book business could be similarly translated. It's a strange lot, we are.Best, Andy Laties
December 1st, 2009 at 4:33 AM
Andy -Thank you for posting this really thoughtful and wise comment. I really truly appreciate it. It has offered me some great perspective on the thing, and given me a lot to think about.I agree with you, actually, on just about all of it. I think I had something of a business obligation to set the record straight. The things she reported were simply not true, and it had to be stated for the record. Also, of course, I was frustrated, disappointed and baffled that someone whom I had considered a friend and had gone out of my way to help would respond in such a way.This was my reaction in the moment, and I think this was a fair and appropriate human response.However, I am a lover of story, character and moment… and truly appreciate the drama that played out.I got a lot from Cantara, let that be said. My relationships with you and others to say the least. I also appreciate that.Cantara is, as you say, one of a kind. She is something of a rascal character, luring you in to trust her… then snatching your coins. How boring indeed the world would be without the rascals! It smarts a bit it when it happens to be your coins that got snatched… but you walk away all the wiser.I am not going to pretend to understand why she did what she did… and I am still smarting enough to wish she hadnta done it. I also don't think I am interested in a personal or professional relationship with her at this time. But as I said, I don't wish any harm on her. She gets to bear the burden of the life she lives. And, in the way you explain, I appreciate that she is in the world. I actually do wish her well, and look forward to hearing stories about what she has going on. I just heard that she and Michael have made their way to Ecuador of all places. So, not a month has gone by and I am already bemused by the continuing saga of this woman.Thanks again for posting such a thoughtful responce, thanks to all who have posted here and supported me. And may God save the rascals.