Michael Musto (Slightly) Less Screwed in Book Deal
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Musto wrote last week about his travails with the book. It was originally supposed to be published on February 1 of this year. But the date came and passed without notice, and ever since, gay communications conglomerate Regent Media (the owner of Alyson) has barely acknowledged Musto or his book.
Having once had a paycheck from Regent held hostage for months (although it was only for an article, not an entire manuscript), we felt especially sympathetic. Getting money from them, once you've turned in your writing, is about as much fun as running into an ex on a walk of shame.
After his column ran, Publishers Weekly subsequently reported on Alyson's financial troubles. Stories of unpaid advances and never-published books had circulated on blogs and in publishing circles, but that quiet was officially broken by Musto. Freelancers for other Regent Media outlets like Out and the Advocate, who have been complaining loudly all over the place, rejoiced that a writer of Musto's stature outed the publisher for its practices.
Of course, screwing your freelancers is certainly not limited to gay publishers. But getting screwed hurts most to when you're stiffed by one of your own. Maybe Alyson will do fully right by Musto long before Joan Rivers throws him a 50th anniversary party.
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