Agents call for 'transparency' from Freight Books

Authors and agents have called on Freight Books to provide more transparency about its financial status after it emerged its writers have not been paid for several months.

Pressure on the troubled Scottish independent publisher has intensified after its failure to pay its authors, with suggestions that the firm is withholding payment as it looks to sell the venture.

Freight Books was founded as an imprint of Freight Design in 2011 by Davinder Samrai and Adrian Searle, with Searle abruptly leaving the company in April due to “irreconcilable differences over strategic direction”. Earlier this year, it was reported that Freight was in talks to sell the books side of the business, following an "unsolicited" request to buy the press.

Samrai has confirmed that there are "still ongoing conversations" about selling the business but declined to comment on claims it has not paid authors for several months and is witholding payment until it sells the business. The Bookseller understands there have been two expressions of interest, although the business is still being advertised for sale on the Publishing Scotland website. Searle still owns 50% of the business and it is understood that legal discussions are ongoing between co-owners Searle and Samrai.

The business' sales document has revealed that the turnover for the last financial year was £260,000, with sales increasing "rapidly" in the past five years.

Authors and agents speaking to The Bookseller have expressed "deep concern" about Freight Books, particularly over lack of payment, and have called on the publisher to provide transparency and clarification on its status. A spokesperson for the Society of Authors confirmed that a "number" of concerned authors had been in touch about the issue.

Gordon Wise, president of the Association of Author’s Agents, said: “We’re deeply concerned about any publisher who doesn’t honour its contractual obligations to its authors, not least on the crucial matter of payment. My understanding is that (Freight Books) is seeking to delay payments due while the company is readied for sale. This is completely unacceptable – I don’t believe it is under administration, it continues to offer the works for sale, are in receipt of funds owing to authors, and are therefore in clear breach of contract. And if Freight [Books] is a subsidiary of another company [Freight Design], then that company surely has an obligation to honour those contract terms.”

Agent Jenny Brown confirmed that four of her authors were owed money by the publisher. She said it was a "heartbreaking situation" and that the trade is "still hoping that there could be a positive" outcome for the business.

Another agent, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said two of their authors had been owed money by Freight for several months. "It's the general state of affairs with Freight Books across all authors and agencies, as I understand it", the agent said.  “...We've reached the point where we think Freight Design need to be more transparent about its publishing finances, and fear that there is unlikely to be a solution that will pay our authors before the end of the year. We're thinking seriously about what's best for each author but haven't made any firm decisions yet.”

An author, who wished to remain anonymous as rights negotiations are still ongoing, told The Bookseller that while he is not owed any money at present, the "big issue" is the "uncertainty and complete lack of clarity" from Freight Books. "It clearly has no desire to continue publishing but it won’t admit that because to do so would mean engaging with authors and agents who would have to see rights returned", the author claimed. "There is a huge amount of anger and frustration among Freight authors who are very pessimistic about a positive outcome at this stage."

Figures in the trade expressed concern about the future of the publisher following Searle's departure in April, but were reassured by the appointment of Robbie Guillory as interim managing editor. However, Guillory left the company last week.

In emails to authors seen by The Bookseller, Guillory said: "We are hoping to hear back from interested parties by the end of this week, but whatever the outcome — I'm afraid that I am no longer able to continue on this journey with you. I wish I was in the position to be able to see this through to the end, but for a number of reasons this is no longer possible for me.

"Davinder and the wider Freight team will continue to man the stations, and I will be a phone call away if they need to pick my brains. He (as have we all) has continued to work incredibly hard to repair the damage and plot a way forward for the numerous and significant issues that are not of his making. I hope that he, the team and you all, get a good resolution to this situation.”

Searle has been contacted for comment but has yet to respond and Samrai declined to comment further.