Tell me if I'm wrong, because I'm really not sure, but when an author puts another authors name in the acknowledgement section of their book don't they have to ask for permission?
I kept wondering why a particular CBA affiliated book (I write for the broader general market Christians included,) kept showing up bundled with my books on sites like Amazon. I couldn't figure it out as my work is nothing like what CBA affiliated publishers produce (much better) and I try to make that distinction at every turn since they do nothing to help authors who don't pay to belong to their exclusive market even if the author's work is approved for distribution to the official Christian market. No big deal of course they're a closed market but still. Don't their authors have to ask permission before putting ANY authors name anywhere in their book?
Great. Now I have to work even harder to let people know who my audience is because this particular author that mentioned me with other authors as an encourager to them didn't bother to mention I wasn't affiliated and don't exclude based on denomination!!!!!
Furthermore I never encouraged this author in their endeavor. I prayed he could find a way out of the mess he claimed to have been in. Doesn't help that they're a New York Times Best Selling author either. Good grief!
Thanks for nothing. :(
No, I don't think you have to have permission to thank someone in the forward or dedication. It's supposed to be an honor and unless there's libel or slander or incitation to riot or something, it's pretty much covered under freedom of speech. I don't think anyone was trying to confuse readers, even if that was the effect. It was probably accidental.
ReplyDeleteIf he's a NY Times Bestseller, this person might have thought he was doing you a favor to get your book associated with his name/reputation. We know you're FAR too humble to have ever asked for such a thing!
I think it would depend on what type of acknowledgment it was. If the author cites you as though s/he personally knows you or as a close friend when you are not, then that is inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I never met C.S. Lewis, but I often acknowledge the tremendous influence his books had on me. That is a different type of acknowledgment. It is simply recognizing a debt of gratitude for certain writings without implying a personal connection.
If the author is acknowledging you in the second manner, then s/he may not be being inappropriate at all. In fact, you may even want to write a note of thanks in that case.
CBA is frustrating, but you know the old saw that says that there is no such thing as bad publicity. LOL.