THE FIFTY-FOURTH PAGE

Dreams die hard. The contract arrived in a reasonable amount of time. I made a couple of changes with the editor’s approval, and signed and returned it within the day. The lawyer, an ass first class, found fault in my emendation and hung on to the document for several months while work progressed on the manuscript.

No word was forthcoming from the movie, book club, and paperback people. My editor assured me it would be best if offered after it was set in type and in galley form. Proofs came quickly, as indeed, the book had gone instantly into production. My editor had seen no point in altering the text nor making corrections in typographical errors, which were picked up wholesale and carried through into the final proofs. A pattern was emerging.

The contract came back without the changes I had requested, so I thought it best to show it to a lawyer. He--get this, we’re talking about those people who are the butt end of the joke industry and will do anything for a nickel--wouldn’t take on the job. He said he did not know where to start with such a document because it resembled nothing he had seen in business.

I sadly gave up and sent the thing back as they wanted it. At least, I had the advance money.