Once again, we continue our exclusive interviews with the former authors of Black Pearl Books. "Former" due to the contraversy surrounding the company alledgely not paying royalties to its authors. So far we've heard from Brenda M. Hampton, Rahsaan Ali and recently, Tia Hines. Tangelika Bolen requested this interview sorely because she felt the need to warn others about purchasing her novel, Sensation. As requested after each exclusive interview, Authors N Focus welcomes a response or even a rebuttal from Black Pearl Books in the comment section. For now, let us hear what Ms. Bolen has to say.
Charles: Tangelika, thanks for agreeing to this interview. Please share with us how you were first involved with Black Pearl Books. Wasn’t your novel Sensation written under a different title? Why the change?
Tangelika: Destiny was first self-published through a company formally known as Bookman Marketing Publishing Company. After receiving my first ordered copies of “Destiny”—I was breathless when I saw that my covers were all blurred. I immediately sought out several publishing companies, via a website search, which is how I came across BPB. I queried Black Pearl via email and Felicia Hurst requested two published copies of my novel for review. After sending my copies to Felicia, Bookman Marketing self-publishing company agreed to a reprint at my expense to make cover corrections, which is how I ended up having two very different covers for Destiny! Despite the shameful flawed book covers, Destiny was moving at an extremely fast pace. The reviews were wonderful, including the email that provided me with direct contact to Felicia’s Hurst phone number and requesting me to call her during a holiday weekend, night or day and collect if necessary. Her words were “My Editors loved your book” and of course I had a million-dollar-smile, assuming that I was on my way to making one-tenth of that. (lol)
Charles: For the readers out there who are not familiar with your work, what is Sensation about? What was the initial response from BPB?
Tangelika: Sensation tells the tale about a young girl named Teresa Tucker who dreams of getting married, yet she’s caught up in a non-committing relationship. She and Delvin, her so called boyfriend whose eleven years older, continues to cheat and play games with each other’s hearts. Feeling undeserving of Delvin’s love, her life takes a plunge for disaster once she allows herself to get caught up in the world of exotic dancing. Sensation is a romantic suspense novel with a twist of mystery. The impulsive drama throughout will have you laughing, shaking your head and biting at your fingernail tips.
Charles: Did BPB make any promises regarding release date, promotion, etc?
Tangelika: SEVERAL! It was told to me over the phone, when I advised that my mother was a Paralegal and wanted to look over the initialed offered emailed contract, that I had “72 hours” to sign and return my contract immediately via fax being that the seventy second hour would end on a Sunday. The smoke blown in my ears were glamorized. I was told that I had a best-seller, and that if I signed right away I could have my novel by mid fall (sometime in October) was her exact words, and this conversation took place back in July of 2005. I was promised a travel table with a table cloth personally designed to advertise my novel. I was told by Felicia Hurst, that she would issue books and make schedules to bookstores for book signings and send out advertisement of my comings. I was told that my book was going to be sold world wide and would be in all the major bookstores as well as a few Ma & Pop stores too. When I asked about self Marketing, and Press Release—Felicia told me not to worry that Black Pearl Books will handle everything and that there was no need to involve a publicist, and that she would be keeping me so busy with promotional tours/book signings etc. Felicia requested that I obtain in writing a cancel agreement from the publishing company in which I had no contract with. She insisted that they send her a letter stating that our business was done, and that they will not reproduce my novel formally titled as Destiny. Therefore stopping it’s availability to the public when it was selling at a fast pace.
Charles: What aroused your suspicions about BPB? What was the first sign something wasn’t going right?
Tangelika: Absence! Being a new Author on the rising, I didn’t want to seem antsy—I wanted to give BPB the space to do what publishers do best. October had passed, no email, no contact. I started contacting Felicia via phone, and she would answer the phone back then, but in less than a second, she’d have me off the phone promising to call me back, seeming as if she was so busy. When we did talk, she told me to look for my novel to be released in December. Nearly the end of December, and over 180 days which immediately breached our Contract, I called again. This time she was prepared for me. Felicia told me that my novel was ready and would be coming out along with Brenda M. Hampton’s novel this past month of March. I was promised to finally have books in my hand on February 28, 2006. My novel never came!! I called again, and I was told that there were printing issues, and that she would be sending my novel out soon, and to please bare with them. Nearly the end of April, after leaving several voice messages, I received an email stating that she was finally sending out Sensation to me via UPS. More than likely, if I would have received my books, I probably would have slept with them, that’s just how thrilled I would have been. Needless to say is that I received a 3 ring binder note book instead, asking me to do an overview of the final layout and any final changes if necessary. At that point receiving an unpublished manuscript instead of a hardcopy galley clearly indicated that my work was never submitted to a printer press. One year three months later, still no novel.
Charles: When you found out BPB had released Sensation without your knowledge, what was your reaction? Were you informed about the pre-order of your novel beforehand?
Tangelika: Well, that situation is stickier than we may think! They were entitled to at one point! Black Pearl Books posted my newly titled novel “Sensation” on many, many websites. So many that I’m not even aware of all of them even to this day. On ALL of the websites, my novel was and still is available for pre-orders. From my perception on Amazon showing a release date for March 2006 and available for pre-order, and back when Amazon use to show the before and after rankings, it was moving around quite a bit to the point that Amazon changed my release date to May 2006 and posted beside my novel “currently unavailable”. I noticed that on the Barnes and Noble website it now post an August release date. The novel “Sensation” is still posted on all the other websites for pre-order even to this date! It’s truly one big mess. Even after I canceled my Contract Agreement back in July, BPB continues to advertise and I assume accept money for my unpublished work!
Charles: So does this mean I order Sensation from Amazon.com, as a reader will not get a copy of the book? If I do receive it, does it mean I’m reading a novel you didn’t authorize publication for?
Tangelika: I noticed last month, that after posting copies of my images for my upcoming works, that Amazon is now accepting pre-orders again for my novel. This to me indicates that BPB has something to do with that. I questioned them via email, and have not gotten a response. I am truly hoping that BPB did not publish my work without contacting me or without my written authorization, and I would hope that they would use any printing monies towards royalty payments for their very patient Authors first! (That would be the sensible thing to do.) To publish my work would be considered “Theft by Taking” and stealing is against the law! Black Pearl Books are in breach and have been notified accordingly.
Charles: Did anyone in the company make any intent to contact you or were you able to contact them?
Tangelika: Black Pearl Books did not try and contact me to explain anything regarding my novel whatsoever! I contacted them many of times, only to receive no answers to my questions.
Charles: Tangelika, when did you find out other BPB authors weren’t being paid? What was the reaction from your fellow authors who went through the same experience?
Tangelika: I am an Author who loves to read. I support my family first. I made it a point to start purchasing all of Black Pearl Books titles. As I started posting reviews, I’ve became acquainted to many of their Authors. Being that I didn’t have printed work and not due any royalties, I was the last to be conversed with. However talking to the other Authors and finding out the bad news about Black Pearl Books was sickening to my stomach. I became depressed—I wanted this nightmare to end quickly.
Charles: Regarding the Essence.com comments, how shocked and/or disappointed were you reading them?
Tangelika: A lump welled up in my throat, I perspired, profanity spieled out of my mouth word for word and then I cried. I could not believe that that could be. How does a Publisher that wants to make a name for their business, stoop to such trifling low levels.
Charles: Did you feel it was a ‘slap in the face’ to you personally, especially after you and the other authors were told to be quiet about the royalty issue?
Tangelika: Yes I felt it was a smothering slap across my face! The attack was personal to me, Sensation is about an exotic dancer, and there was a negative comment about strip clubs written in one of the comments but aimed at another author. Yes it was very personal for me irregardless to the statement. It was my Publishers that were behaving badly publicizing conflicts on a public website that reaches out to millions, and prior to that we received threatening letters, telling us either “Snitch” on other authors and not to talk about Black Pearl Books or we would be prosecuted.
Charles: Amazingly, this issue has been going on since August. Why hasn’t there been a public outrage over BPB’s treatment of the authors in your opinion? What have you’ve heard from your fans so far?
Tangelika: What I have been hearing from fans and other Authors (shamefully) is that Black Pearl Books is not the only company that is not paying their Authors and this does not make it okay! Authors are afraid of ruining their reputation, and don’t won’t to risk having other Publishing companies turn their nose up to them, thinking that they are just trouble makers. We have a voice inside and someone enjoyed hearing us, we sat down and put it on paper, and that took courage in itself. Therefore standing up for oneself, we should not be afraid of being heard-out-loud.
Charles: I assume like all the other authors I’ve spoken with, that you’ve moved on from Black Pearl Books. What’s next on the horizon for you?
Tangelika: Most definitely! I have re-edited and I am doing the first print run ever for “Sensation” something BPB never did. And I am also doing a double release because my novel Justifiable Behavior will accompany Sensation this coming December and just in time for Christmas. My novels will be published through my own publishing company in the name of my daughter.
Charles: Tangelika, what would you like to say for all the new and aspiring authors out there?
Tangelika: I always believe in second chances, not all publishers are out to get you. Don’t let my experience steer you away from submitting to anyone. Just be careful. If you are rushed to sign an agreement then there must be something in it to worry about. Keep writing, and keep believing that your work is marketable.
Charles: In closing, this is your chance to say what’s on your mind. Please share with us how are you feeling now. Are you still hurt over the whole ordeal? If Ms. Hurst or Mr. Chapman read this right now, what do you want to say to them?
Tangelika: After moving on and continuing to work on my third novel Harmony, I became at piece again and fell back in love with writing, and in the process I gained long lasting friendships. Having to write my real-life-pain in this interview, reminded me of the suffering that I still endure, (its too incomplete to bury). Felicia Hurst painted me a beautiful rainbow when she blindingly seduced me to sign with her company so quickly, going against my better judgment, and pulling Destiny a fast selling novel off the market shortly after its release.
Mrs. Hurst and MR. Chapman…Please send me my null/voided contract agreement which was signed for by someone in your establishment. I am still waiting for it after three months! And please do not attempt to publish my work. To all readers, please do not purchase the novel Sensation, published through Black Pearl Books. I sincerely thank you in advance for supporting me!
Charles: Tangelika, thank you so much for this interview. I wish you much success to you in the future.
Tangelika: You are welcome. Thanks for the opportunity for my voice to be heard.
~Tangelika Bolen
Author of Sensation and Justifiable Behavior
http://www.tangelikabolen.bravehost.com/
http://www.kendallpublication.bravehost.com/
tammywritesbooks@yahoo.com
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