GIFTS OF DAWN

Subject: Sorry this took so long I've been talking to publishers :)
Message:  This is a story of WARNING for all those aspiring authors out there;

I first contacted Chris Mundy of National Pacific Press around the 20th September 2007 and almost immediately he came back with a favorable response saying he wished to publish my book.

• October 2007 Chris Mundy of National Pacific Press came to my house to talk about the publishing process
• 2nd November 2007 Mundy drafted and forwarded a contract to publish
• 20th January 2008 Mundy came to my house again with the final copy of the contract to publish The Mind of War, I have never signed my copy
• August/September 2008 Mundy informed me would be the release date. Around this time I paid him an investment of $4,471.88 for design, typesetting, artwork, proofing, printing, marketing, sales & distribution
• September 2008 Mundy changed the release date to October 2008
• October 2008 Mundy changed the date again to November 2008
• November 2008 Mundy changed the dates again to December 2008 with the pretext that Christmas sales would be far more attractive monetary wise
• December 2008 Mundy changed the dates for the fifth consecutive time to February 2009
• 1st January 2009 the book was advertised by the distributor on the internet for sale in Feb 09
• Feb 09 Mundy changed the dates again but I couldn’t get a hold of him until 26th Feb
• 14th March 09 Mundy verbally agreed to produce an edited copy of my manuscript within 30 days or he would refund my money and give back my war pictures, manuscript & publishing rights
• 30th April 09 Chris Mundy sent me an e-mail stating ‘I will complete the editing and then we'll call it quits, and you will be free to pursue other publishing deals wherever you want’
• 1st May 09 Mundy sent me an e-mail stating ‘it WILL be finished by next week’
• 2nd May 09 Mundy sent me an e-mail stating ‘I have made the deadline date for delivery of the edited text next Friday’
• 11th May 09 Mundy sent me a partially edited version of my manuscript
• 14th May 09 Chris Mundy of National Pacific Press finally sent me a complete edited version of my Manuscript missing even his own dates.

To date Chris Mundy of National Pacific Press refuses to even though agreed upon;
1. Reimbursed me my investment money of $4,471.88
2. Returned my war photos
3. Returned my manuscript

I believe he has contravened, possibly among others, the Practices covered by the Fair Trading Act;
1. Delivery of Goods
2. Taking payment without intending to supply as ordered

It can happen to any of us guys and in many countries there seems little we can do about it. Along with that he was on the recommended publishers list ... shocking!

All the best in your own endeavors and I hope this never happens to you.