A book contract with a leading publisher, together with a six-figure advance, are the cherished dreams of many authors. But when the author is a controversial figure like Milo Yiannapoulos, others say they feel like they’re in a nightmare. A Breitbart News contributor who calls himself a “free speech evangelist,” Yiannopoulos is author of Dangerous, scheduled for release in March.
“Simon & Schuster CEO Carolyn Reidy sent a letter to her employees and some authors earlier this week to assure those concerned by the Yiannopoulos signing that the publisher will not publish books that contain hate speech,” reportsAndrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer.
“The Reidy letter comes partly in response to another letter delivered to Reidy earlier this month, and signed by a number of S&S children’s authors, protesting the contract with Yiannopoulos, for which Yiannopoulos reportedly received a $250,000 advance,” he tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally.
Also this week, Albanese adds, bestselling author Roxane Gay withdrew her latest manuscript from Simon & Schuster; Gay is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at ABA’s Winter Institute on Saturday, January 28.
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Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.