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4th July 2008

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Sutton returns with acquisition

06.02.08 Tom Tivnan

Alan Sutton could become one of The History Press's (THP) main printers after acquiring all assets of Oaklands Book Services, the printing side of his former business NPI Media Group.

Administrator Tenon has confirmed that Sutton, through new company Asterim, has bought all of Oaklands's contracts, including to its largest customer THP.

The printing business was sold off when NPI went into "pre-pack" administration in December. The publishing assets, which include Sutton Publishing and Tempus, were hived off by THP, the newly formed group founded by NPI's former backers Octopus Investments.

Oaklands employs around 30 members of staff. The acquisition marks the end of an eventful year for Sutton. After forming NPI and acquiring five businesses in February 2007, he was sidelined by the group's board in October. He left the business when THP was formed, amid a number of disputes from authors and agents about royalty payments.

Alan Sutton tom tivnan The History Press Oaklands

Comments on this article

By graham waters

Sutton soon sneaked in through the back door.Meanwhile,how many authors have received their royalty payments from the Sutton Press,sorry 'History' Press'?I certainly haven't!!

By Another author

Nor I.

By Eating cake, yum, yum.

I'm an ex-employee of NPI so I know the story and characters better than most and I've been watching all of this with interest from the outside. Alan has bought the printers back from the receivers and has ensured the job security of 10-20 people that THP disposed of in an immoral but legal way. He has no financial connection with the History Press whatsoever beyond being a printer for them. I will say though that working for Alan has been interesting and fun and not half as bad as everyone makes out.

By ex employee

You may love Sutton but a lot of people who have worked for him don't. My advice to THP is keep away.

By A Sutton author

I've heard nothing from THP since the round robin letter before Christmas. Despite several attempts to contact them I've heard nothing further about royalty payments (nor yet received any money). The next royalty payments are due by the end of this month. Are any other Sutton authors out there considering reclaiming the rights in their books from THP (Contract Clause 16c)?

By An ex-Sutton employee

Does Eating Cake really live in the real world?
Comment edited, 25th February 2008

By ex employee

"Ego and folly", absolutely right. Plus a little meglomania perhaps ?

By An author

I'm a Tempus author and have heard nothing at all from them since my book was published last year. I would like to meet other NPI authors to see if we can find a way of clarifying our situation, e.g.have our rights reverted? Could we meet in a pub in London or W.Country? Any suggestions?

By Duncan Beal

As a small publishing and independent distribution company, we have been approached by a number of disgruntled authors who are interested in getting hold of their stock, but need a home for it. We would be happy to talk to any authors about single title distribution. Please contact dbeal@yps-publishing.co.uk

By Philip

If there are any authors whose crime-related books now look unlikely to be published under the new regime at THP, or whose rights in crime-related books are likely to revert soon, True Crime LIbrary would like to hear from them. Email philip@truecrimelibrary.com

By Time for Action

Okay, I’m now seriously hacked off. It’s been more than 2 months since I received a letter from Morris assuring me that authors would receive their royalties and since then I’ve heard nothing, received not a penny and my many attempts to get information from THP have all been utterly ignored. It is also quite clear that I am far from alone. What’s worse is that these shysters are quite blatantly selling my work. I see copies of my books appearing on Amazon, for example, and my local WHS has replenished their stocks of my titles too. Obviously, then, THP is making money from my hard work without ever having paid me a penny. How can this possibly be legal? Enough is enough. I notice that some small publishers have started offering their services on this forum and I wish them the best of luck, but what we really need is a lawyer prepared to represent us all in a no-win no-fee class action against THP. So, are there any lawyers out there willing to take this on? To tell the truth I’m not even that bothered about the money any longer. THP is taking us all for mugs and we need to give those responsible a bloody nose. If we don’t, what’s to stop other publishers exploiting this apparent legal con of acquiring books to sell without the bothersome expense of paying the authors?

By Just one more author

I agree with you, Time for Action. It baffles me that they can do this and get away with it. Anyone who wants publishing contracts to mean anything should be on our side in this: the things we all signed have turned out to be no more than a cynical trick.

By Ex Sutton author, now publisher

Where are they now, those committed and experienced local publishers I dealt with, who no longer work for the Sutton empire? I could do with some help - john@hobnobpress.co.uk

By Yet another author

To any more authors reading this thread and still awaiting their long-overdue royalties, just ring THP, [names removed] - and ask, ask, ask every few days. I had to do so myself, and finally received my cheque early in March 2008. The royalties statements that came with it look bizarre, but life can be very weird. By the way, I fully agree with other authors here who wish to remain anonymous. As one who has been with them for many many years I too am highly dissatisfied with the general situation, but I have an extremely good relationship with my present commissioning author at the company, and feel that to bite the hand that feeds me (well, eventually) could on balance do more harm than good.

By bemused

So from all accounts, at Tempus/NPI Media authors and suppliers went unpaid, and staff were chronically overworked and underpaid... And yet he is able to trade again?
Comment edited, 17th March.

By FAO Yet another author

with approx 20 job losses announced to employees of The History Press in editorial and marketing, I'm not so sure that your commissioning editor will still be at THP for you to have a working relationship with them. I decided to cut and run and take my three books elsewhere despite an excellent working relationship with my editor. I can't work with a company that so flagrantly ignores and maltreats its greatest assets and is so keen to flout the author-publisher relationship and to treat its authors and staff with such disdain.

By get a break!

'ex employee' and an ex sutton employee' get a life! Were you sacked by Alan Sutton? You make fool of yourselves with such a petty "Let's go for Alan Sutton". He rightly tried to get rid of some of Sutton Publishing dross - perhaps you are two of them. I wonder what have you achieved in your lives? Are you anybody worth knowing? I don't think so. You clearly don't understand anything from publishing as a business!

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