The backlash contiunes for The Jewel of Medina

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Wed September 3rd, 2008, 6:13 pm

I didn't know the author was from my state....

Canceled Muhammad novel finds new publisher
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/l ... cation=rss

Hope it gets published this time.

SM

TerriPray · Post by **TerriPray** » Wed September 3rd, 2008, 6:48 pm

From what a friend, who has been in the trade some 30+ years, said the book was withdrawn by RH on the basis of insurance. IE, they couldn't get insurance to cover potentially violent reactions due to the book.

I'm not sure if he mentioned it as speculation, or information he'd had passed onto him. So take this as a 'might be the reason' behind the book being released from the contract by RH, rather than gospel.

Terri

Catherine Delors · Post by **Catherine Delors** » Wed September 3rd, 2008, 7:02 pm

Sarah, at Reading the Past, said it had already been picked up by publishers in Denmark, Spain and Brazil. Good for Sherry Jones, and hopefully she will benefit from the huge buzz generated by this story.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Wed September 3rd, 2008, 7:48 pm

I'm so glad this has found another publisher. It's appalling that Random House would withdraw it because one non-Muslim American objected. I don't care if they couldn't find an insurer. If the author had the courage to write this novel, publishers should have the courage to publish it. I hope both the author and her new publisher make a bunch of money!

Ariadne · Post by **Ariadne** » Wed September 3rd, 2008, 7:53 pm

I see it's also found a publisher in Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. A British independent press called Gibson Square that has apparently published many other controversial novels.

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Wed September 3rd, 2008, 9:08 pm

I'm so glad this book is being published. The fact that it was withdrawn upsets met. Considering the fact that the person who threw the most stink about it also has he rown book coming out. And the fact that another publisher is publishing a book like this one.

The mroe I think about it the less I think its angry muslims RH needed to worry about but a sad little professor who didnt want her spolight stolen.

Catherine Delors · Post by **Catherine Delors** » Wed September 3rd, 2008, 10:21 pm

Absolutely, Divia! All started with that professor who, while painting to the publisher an apocalyptic picture of the Muslim response she anticipated, called one of her own Muslim students to fan the flames. She told him is was inflammatory material, to warn everyone on his listserv, etc...
Actually at least one Muslim site, IslamOnLine, took a reasonable approach: the reviewer there didn't like the book, or think it was appropriate or accurate, but she didn't think it was a reason to oppose its publication.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Thu September 4th, 2008, 6:02 pm

I hear the new U.S. publisher is going to be announced on Monday. With all this buzz over the controversy, the author is certainly making lemonade out of lemons!

Ariadne · Post by **Ariadne** » Thu September 4th, 2008, 6:49 pm

I'm curious to hear who the US publisher will be, considering the author has said it will be in bookstores in mid-October. That is FAST. I'm guessing it'll be a small press or indie with some muscle behind it, as is the case with the UK.

If this goes through, the Langum Trust will, presumably, stop blacklisting Random House, so relevant 2008 novels can be considered after all. So no permanent harm done to the authors' chances, and in the meanwhile, the Trust will have gotten itself some major free publicity.

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Thu September 4th, 2008, 7:17 pm

I just noticed that Random House let her keep the $100K advance they already paid, even though they cancelled the contract and won't get a penny back. Now I'm not feeling quite so sorry for the lady --

And she'll probably make buckets on a controversial novel that has immediately gone into foreign distribution. Hmm, not a bad strategy.