Copping it sweet

Dear Editor,

I’ll cop sweet Jane Sullivan’s disaffection with my novel The Seaglass Spiral (December 2012–January 2013) but must defend my publisher, Finlay Lloyd, against her charge of showing ambiguous support for the book in its introduction.

Put simply, in forty years dealing with publishing houses, large and small, Australian and overseas, Finlay Lloyd has been the most attentive, intelligent, courteous, and energetic publisher I have encountered. Above all, this encounter has shown me that value persists in the publishing world. Finlay Lloyd knew why they liked my book, which is why I believe their support will continue, whatever fortune attends The Seaglass Spiral in the market.

Finlay Lloyd’s defence of value free from, but not disdaining, the market, is good for the morale of this author, but may also be good for the well-being of the book trade, where value might reside in what is given rather than what is expected.

Alan Gould, Canberra, ACT