Marley and Me
Saturday, September 15, 2007
The Book That Is Not My Own
In the days and weeks ahead, you might see a book out there in stores with my name on it, and I want you to know it is NOT a new book by "John Grogan, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller MARLEY & ME" -- though those words appear prominently on the cover. The book, titled "Bad Dogs Have More Fun," is actually a collection of my previously published newspaper columns from The Philadelphia Inquirer, very few of which had anything to do with dogs. And it was published by the newspaper and Vanguard Press without my consent or involvement -- not even my prior knowledge. I only found about this collection through a third party after the Inquirer and Vanguard (with whom I have no association) had already signed the contract.
If I sound disappointed and upset by this, it is because I am.
The Philadelphia Inquirer owns the copyright to the work I produced during my four years as a staff columnist there. I was what is known as "a writer for hire." This is the customary work arrangement at newspapers, but the decision to collect a columnist's works in book form (Anna Quindlen, Dave Barry, Lewis Grizzard, etc.) is typically initiated by the writer and becomes a cooperative endeavor between the writer and the newspaper. Not this time.
Vanguard and The Inquirer struck their deal without telling me, then chose the title, the cover image and all of the content without my input. They never even informed me of the columns they had selected. Therefore I cannot and will not endorse this unauthorized collection in any way. This is particularly painful for me because I am proud of the work I produced while at The Philadelphia Inquirer and always looked forward to someday working collegially with my editors there to put out a collection of my work we could all be proud of.
If you choose to buy this collection, just please know that it is a book I was given no creative control over and for which I will receive no compensation.
Thank you all for your kindness and support.
John Grogan
posted by John Grogan at 6:53 PM
 
29 Comments:
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It's really a shame that the Inquirer and Vanguard are choosing to cash in on your success without involving you. One word can sum it up: greed.
Have you thought about posting a comment about this on the book's Amazon.com page? I'm tempted to do so myself. Maybe if everyone who reads your blog posts a comment on Amazon word will get out about this.
Wow. Just wow. You'd think that people you worked with would have a certain decency towards you and not try to capitalize from your fame in this manner. But no.
Count on me to not buy the book nor let anyone I know buy it. I'd love to read more of your work,but this is not fair. I'm sorry you're going through this.
P.S. And I agree with dr about this. Post on Amazon. If you don't feel comfortable with that (posting yourself) we'll do it for you.
My gawd man! Exploitation is ugly. One can only weep at the lack of creative imagination those that compiled this work must suffer from. We should pray for their inadequacies. I sincerely hope they get the help that they are surely crying out for. John, rest assured I (we-all of the Marley and Me group) are with you on this. Peace ~ Out
I'm cancelling my subscription to the Inquirer. Should have done so a while ago. I'll post on the book's Amazon.com page. Thanks for the tip, dr.
Hi!
I just like to say that your book "Marley and Me" is so exciting and real, I couldn´t stop cryig.
I´ve 2 dogs ( Boxer )and i´m crazy about them.
Thanks God for your words about Marley, they helped me a lot!
Love,
Gisele
Sorry,
it´s "crying" ( last post)
i wrote it wrong...
:)
John: I just finished listening to book on CD, Marley & Me. that was yesterday and my eyes are still swollen and red from crying. I also have a yellow lab (Jake) and went thru same disasters you did.( He has torn my water bed twice! with no water left at all). but he's my baby. I can't believe The Enquirer is doing this to you. the least they can do is compensate you. I can't wait to read more of "Your" books. I think you are one of the greatest writers and also excellent entertaining reader.
Genie
I am so sorry to hear about this illegal cash-in on your work. And to think I was going to buy the book! Anyway, I want you to know that I enjoyed your book (your real book) immensely. It was one of the best true dog/human stories I have ever read. Thanks for sharing it with all of us!
Hello, i'm a reader from Singapore.
I purchased your book from a bookstore yesterday and i lapped it up at one sitting.
It's amazing how you could put 13 years with your lab into a book -so wonderfully written (:
I'm sure you already have an endless stream of compliments, but i just can't resist telling you how your book has touch lives not just in your country, America.. but somewhere as far as Singapore as well.
I have a cocker myself, and reading your book.. has enabled me to appreciate my lil' darling more (as much as i equally fear the day she has to go).
Nonetheless, thank you so much!
And God Bless your Family (:
I saw this book right next to "Marley" at the book store. Good thing I didn't pick it up, altho I'd really love to read more of your stuff. Will wait patiently for your next project to finish.
Reading "Marley" makes me want to go and get myself a dog.
A resounding boo and hiss from New York to The Philadelphia Inquirer. WOW.
Sending good vibes your way,
Frances
http://blogjem.com
That is really a pitty about this collection .... I had heard about it and was eager to get it....
but suddenly I just don't feel like anymore!
I think publishing a person's work (I'm a photographer) without their permission r at least participation is lack of respect.
As a photographer I feel the pictures |I take carry a lot of my inside... my point of view... so that is like they are part of me... and having them published unauthorizedly feels like someone is invanding my privacy!
Just wanted to share the feeling.
Your book is amazing and it is REAL ! Real story, Real people, Real love! And that is why it became such a hit worldwide!
You had Marley :)
The newspaper didn't !
Greetings from Brazil
Alice & Maui (my yelow lab girl).
I enjoyed your book immensely and passed in on to my (adult) children to read. We heard that you have a new book out and were looking forward to reading it. Luckily, I googled your name today (to find the new title) and ended up reading your blog. I wanted to let you know that, as a matter of principle, I will NOT be purchasing this "unauthorized" book. I will, instead, purchase a copy of your children's edition of Marley's story for my niece.
Hi,
You have given Marley the BIGGEST tribute any owner can give to their beloved canine friend. By writing the book, Marley now lives in the hearts of people all over the world and rekindle the fond loving memories of so many dog owners of their dogs. You are such an inspiration!!
I am from Singapore and in Singapore, most of us live in apartments because of scarcity of land. Being in small apartments, most dog lovers can only contend with small dogs. I had a Maltese and his ex-owner had named him Milo (after the chocolate drink). Why he is named after a chocolate drink when he is snowy white, i'll never know. Though Milo is small, he is the BIGGEST possible amongst his breed. Though he is a Maltese, he seriously thinks he is a Jack Russell trapped within his body with that bountiful energy he has.
Milo's favorite hobby is to dash around with a frightful speed as if there is fire catching up with him at the end of his tail and fly (yes! Literally fly!) from 1 sofa couch to another and land onto my wood flooring several metres from the sofa. How he does that, I will never know.
Reading about Marley reminded me of all the naughty things Milo did that really threw me into a frenzy. In Asia, there is this pungent fruit known as Durian. The fruit is big, ultra soft to the touch and the you can smell the fruit miles away. It's an either you-love-it-to-pieces or Hate-it-with-your-guts fruit. Well, apparently, Milo has developed an intense affection for the fruit... and there was this once, there was a box of leftover durian fruit in the fridge for a couple of days and it had started to turn bad. I threw the entire plastic box into the dustbin thinking that Milo wouldn't be able to do anything with it since the dustbin is covered with a lid.
Upon returning home after a full day of meetings, i could smell the fruit even when i was still far away from my apartment. I was wondering how could the fruit be contained in the plastic box yield such strong smell?
I opened the door, curious to inspect the source of the pungent smell. And I noticed something different, Milo wasn't there to greet me with his usual immensely enthusiastic stand-on-hind-legs to do the hi-five with front paws welcome. I knew he must be somehow linked to the smell........
What greeted me in the living room was the most horrific murder and shredding of the plastic box. Milo had miraculously opened the dustbin lid, extracted the box of rotting durian fruit and miraculously YET AGAIN peeled off the air-tight hard plastic box with his teeth and strong jaws and spilled the fruit on the carpet. And he had successfully smeared rotting durian fruit everywhere on the carpet and the floor while he wrestled with the fruit to injest all that remained in the box...... and I was looking at a Milo which is smeared everywhere on his white snowy fur with wet damp rotting durian fruit and there is NO NEED to gingerly step where no fruit has been smeared on the floor and carpet. The offensive smell and fruit were EVERYWHERE!
And Milo has got the most satisfied look on his face, his tail ready to wag in total pleasure if I were to even give a hint of smile. I boomed his name out LOUD and he took off to dash under the bed which is really the wrong thing of me to do, given his durian coated fur.
I had no choice but to smile and laugh and fool Milo into thinking that I'm not the least mad at him. Afterall, he simply can't resist doing his hi-five stunt with me whenever I am back. He dashed out from under the bed really quick upon hearing my laugh and came running to me with his total unabated passion and started his hi-five greeting with me...
I caught him, threw him into the shower...... and yelled at him in total frustration. Instead he gave me that look, that look that says i had taken advantage of his total devotion to me and caught him only because i had used a dirty trick on him...
Ooh........ i spent 2hours cleaning him and the house up and tried with ferocious determination to rid the house of the rotting fruit smell.
Marley reminded me of Milo and it is funny... it is the naughtiest things the dogs did that made them so special.. I just love Milo and if anyone were to ask if i want a better behaved dog? My answer would be a straight NO. My life's full of surprises because of a really badly behaved dog. I think they are rare and God sent them to us to teach us something.
Bad dogs or the world's worst dog....they sure know a way to our hearts!
Luv,
Jaq (love from Singapore)
i heard you speak at the writer's workshop in ft. lauderdale this weekend. everytime the phila. inquirer was mentioned, I felt kind of proud and affiliated since I am a born-and-raised Philly girl. I even caught myself in a fantasy of returning home and getting a newspaper job. Now, after reading your post, i want no connection to that paper. Has The Inquirer or Vanguard ever heard of integrity or karma? just curious......
I read your book, Marley & Me. It was a heartwarming story of love and loyalty and the wonderful relationship between animals and their humans. So, when I saw the book, Bad Dogs Have More Fun, I could not wait to read more of your writings. Little did I know that it was published without your permission. I'm so sorry! I'm halfway through the book and decided to google you. I found your blog and here I am. Your writing is heartfelt and inspiring. Thank you for sharing it with me(and the rest of the readers).
Hi - I'm glad I googled you before I bought it. I've posted a comment on the discussion board on the amazon.co.uk site for the publisher's book. Hope that helps.
I loved the original book to bits. It's superb. Thanks loads.
I saw this book at the store on the shelf the other day. Something did not seem right when it appeared to be a desperate attempt to throw newspaper articles into a book.
Thank you for your explanation. It is making sense to me.
I personally don't think this unauthorized book will be a success. My opinion is, the Philadelphia Inquirer thinks that you are the star of the "Marley" books and they are attempting to exploit your work because of the Marley success. You are a great writer, but it was Marley who was the true star of your Marley books, and in the audiences' hearts.
i bought this book thinking it was another amazing creation of yours.. but rather disappointed. Seems rather disorganized.. after reading the very, very tiny printing at the bottom... ahh then it dawn on me! Anyway, still love the way u bring humour and life into ur writings! Waiting for ur next book!! CHeerios
I'm glad I didn't buy that book. I saw it as I was making my usual rounds through the dog and cat books at Barnes and Noble. Close call.
Hi John! What a bummer, because the coulmn you wrote about Victor and me was included! (Ordinary people vowing to marry)
I wish we had known you weren't involved before we told everyone we knew about it! :(
ts an very underhanded thing to do.. least they could have done it let you know
That's really a disappointment! I most definately will NOT support their actions by buying the book even though I am dying to read your material. I can wait for your new project. Apparently the Inquirer does not have the value system you have. I don't think anyone needs to live with "a Marley" to develop loyalty if they have any to begin with - which apparently the Inquirer management does not! You are right to warn an unsuspecting public who would never expect your employer to capitalize on your life story without so much as a heads up. Disgraceful!!!
That is an AWFUL thing to do to you, after all the work you did with them after all that time. I will definitely not buy the book any under circumstances. I'll probably just spend time at the bookstore and read it there. :)
I was one of those people who could not wait to read more of your works. I must say the Inquirer marketed this book well I saw John Grogan and I could not buy a copy fast enough, as I had thoroughly loved your previous book, and could not wait to read more stories about our beloved four legged friends.
I enjoyed reading your columns, they were extremely touching and funny. Cant wait to read some of your published works. Sorry of contributing to their profits, but I loved spending my few days off over xmas reading your writing. At 43 deg extremely hot for Aussie xmas it was wonderful reading under the airconditioner.
I'm sure alot of disfunctional dog stories have been posted. I certainly could write pages and pages of stories over my three golden's life. Each one with distinct personality, but always that unquestioning love and devotion to us. Always greated with a wagging tail and something in their mouth to throw.
Cheers
Kathy
I bought the book before I discovered this website/blog post. I enjoyed reading your articles but am disappointed that the book was not your doing.
I wrote a review on ebay reviews:
http://catalog.ebay.com/Bad-Dogs-Have-More-Fun_ISBN-10_1597775703_ISBN-13_9781597775700_W0QQ_fclsZ1QQ_pidZ61177802QQ_tabZ3
John,
Unfortunately, I hadn't read your Blog on this book before I bought it. I can't believe they did this to you.And on top of that to include the story "Marley and Me: The Whole Truth" which makes is sound like you made up most of the "Marley and Me" book. It is just uncalled for.
Their title is deceptive because more than half of the book is not even about pets. If I could return the book I would, but you only have 24 hours after purchase to return it and I didn't read this blog until a few days after purchase.
Greed is a nasty thing.
Mr. Grogan, I hope you remember me..this is Kate Gowen. Through happenstance, I found out about "Bad Dogs Have More Fun" this weekend and I'd like to discuss it with you. Please get in contact with me. My email address is kathleengowen@yahoo.com. I'd love to talk to you about this.
Thanks so much,
Kate