Shady Publishing:
Black Pearl Books Robs Eric Myriekes

by Taylor Nix
Urban Book Source
November 2006

For centuries contract issues has plagued the entertainment world and publishing is not exempt. Breach of contract cases and other contractual bereavements will always be present.

Take Eric Myriekes' claim against Black Pearl Books. In June of 2005, Mr. Myriekes signed a 3-book deal with the emerging Black Pearl. Ready to see his dream to the end, Eric signed a contract which mandated a strict in-house only editing of his work.

Upon release, his first novel Street Games was filled from cover to cover with mistakes noticeable by the average reader; misspellings, improper formatting, misuse and lack of punctuation, and the list goes on. Learning of the condition his book was released in, Eric immediately sent a cease and desist letter, requesting his authorial rights back, to the President of Black Pearl Books, Felicia Hurst. Upon receipt of the notice, it is said that Felicia became defensive, confrontational, and ended all contact.

Since then the negative reviews have yet to halt. Only after the negative appraisals were brought to her attention did Felicia email Eric agreeing to end their future contractual dealings, but has continued to sell Street Games. At present, Eric has yet to receive any form of payment from Black Pearl.

After his awful experience with Black Pearl, Mr. Myriekes warns all writers to research any company they are thinking of signing with, before inking the deal.

However, it must be said, Black Pearl Books is not the only publisher accused of not honoring an author's contract. With that said please keep in mind that the responsibility is yours to make sure you read every clause in your contract.

Taylor Nix is a writer and photographer for the Urban Book Source. Questions, comments and concerns can be sent to: taylor@urbanbooksource.com

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James Muhammad :

Posted 319 days ago

My Name is James Muhammad, I am the owner of Two Of A Kind Publishing. First I would like to apologize to Ms Grier for her experience with my company. We are not in the business of stealing story lines or not responding to submissions. However I would like to present a better understanding of what small publishing companies, like myself, are faced with. We sometimes receive between 75 to 100 manuscripts weekly. We receive another 150 to 200 letters. We do not have large submission's staff (normaly 1 to 2) who also has other duties. Is it possible they misplaced 1 or 2? Definitely! But It was not done, with the thought of killing someone's dream. I understand to you it's all about your book. But has a publisher, I know that if an author is being difficult in the submission process. Their attitude only gets worse! Why deal with them when there are so many who have a postive attitude. So in closing, I ask that you don't judge me or my company off 1or2 bad expierences. But off of the many wirters who have been published, and me being in the book game for over 15 years. You don't have that kind of lasting power, when you are "Shady"

hector :

Posted 332 days ago

i went through a somewhat similar expierence with triple crown puclication colombus,ohio i mailed them my entire manuscript titled consequences to the game very interesting story with a part 2 coming soon and after like 2 months i called and wastold that my book was being viewed now just recently i called back and was told that my manuscript was never recievedb but i have proof that someone sighned for it at the post office what kind of shhh is they on over there. now a new book gets droped by another publication company which is owned by the same owner as triople crown and in this new novel alot of the events that take place are similar to my book consequences to the game of course my book is much longer and 10 times better then the one that was dropped. the story and plots are different but alot of the events are the same. i wonder where this author got her ideas from. holla at me if you're interested in my writing i also have other official works in stock that are not published e-mail hectorluisrodriguez@ymail.com

LAUREL GRIER :

Posted 989 days ago

November 14, 2007
This article is EXCELLENT and so TRUE!!
However I refuse to allow my experience with a "Shady" Publishing company give me sour grapes as it relates to my budding Writing Career.
In early 2007, I submitted a Synopsis of my Manuscript for a book entitled: "RUBIES" to two different Urban Lit Publishing companies, one being TWO OF A KIND Publishing in Charlotte, NC
The other (well-known) Publishing company wrote me back stating that my book was promising and was being considered for publication with their company.
I contacted TWO OF A KIND Publishing to let them know that I'd had very positive news from the WELL KNOWN Publishing company, therefore I would NOT need them to consider publishing my book if that was their intention.
Well...............
After I conveyed that information to them they pretended as if they could no longer "locate my manuscript" at their Office.
Long story short.......... If a book is printed about a woman who pulled herself up by her bootstraps after having successfully made it out of the lifestyle as a "Gang Ho" (a "Rubie"), then you will know where the idea came from.
The Publishers at TWO OF A KIND in Charlotte, NC have very little to NO Integrity.
Therefore I AM WARNING EVERY BUDDING URBAN LIT AUTHOR TO PLEASE NOT SUBMIT YOUR WORK TO THIS COMPANY.
Hopefully they will reap what they sow. May God have mercy on them.
NO SOUR GRAPES JUST EDUCATING MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
God Bless,
Laurel Grier
Charlotte, NC
grierpe333@hotmail.com

Nikitia :

Posted 1075 days ago

That is so right. I have read some books from Black Pearl, and have wondered if an elementary student edited thos books. They have people's lives on these books and the number one thing that readers look at is the grammatical errors in a book. If I ever do decide to actually put my ideas together, Black Pearl is one company that wouldn't get a chance to read it.

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