So why can't I buy a copy of the book?

In many ways I was fortunate to find a publisher for "John Shepherd - The Loyal Cavalier". Irrespective of the merits of the book or the qualities of its subject it was never likely that it would make my fortune - nor enhance a publisher's P&L. But just as I did not write the book with personal reward in mind nor did the publisher, the "Association of Cricket Statisticians & Historians" (ACS), wish to do much more than cover their costs. The ACS publishes many cricket books as well as a quarterly magazine and in truth these are mostly for cricket tragics like me. Their "Lives in Cricket" series includes some cricketing names so obscure that you really would need to be a cricket obsessive to have heard of them. That was not the case with John Shepherd who is not only one of the few living subjects in the series but is well known in his native Barbados as well as his adopted counties of Kent and Gloucestershire.

 The print run of the book was around 650 of which I took nearly 400 to sell myself. By mid-2011 I had sold all but a handful of my supplies and the ACS had sold most of theirs as well. I enjoyed marketing the book myself and was pleased that putting a bit of effort into the task brought rewards. I created this website and also sold the book on Amazon. The reception of the book was gratifyingly positive and sales were helped by John Shepherd's personal support. However the ACS was not proactive in marketing the book at all and I suspect all but a handful of the 250 they sold were to members. No real marketing effort was made despite that fact that the comparative fame of the book's subject was such that demand outside of the ACS membership was strong. A huge missed opportunity was the fact that Shepherd become Kent CCC President in 2011. I received orders from the Kent shop and elsewhere on the back of this - unsurprisingly.

A short while ago (November 2011) I asked the ACS to consider doing a reprint and suggested that I would take 100 more copies and that I would have thought that they could have at least matched that number with a decent sales effort. Initially I was quoted a price of £5.50 per copy for 100 from a reprint which, given the cover price of £12 and even allowing for discounts to resellers, would have made a reasonable further contribution to the costs I incurred in writing the book. I accepted the offer. However a couple of weeks later, and following an ACS Committee meeting, I was told that the price for 100 would be increased to £8.61 each, said to be midway between the cover price, and £5.22, the price at which the Association would buy them from the printer! So the ACS not only reneged on the offer made to me but sought to profit from my sales to the extent of £3.39 a copy! Outrageous. I naturally tuned down this "offer" and further decided to cut any further contact with the ACS by resigning my membership.

If this story surprises you it shouldn't really. The ACS has a history of internal strife not least with me! In winter 2009 they published in their Journal an article that was highly crucial of my entirely factual and accurate description of John Shepherd's time in Rhodesia in Chapter 5 of the biography. This article, by a Rhodesian exile with a chip on his shoulder, was not only contentious but also libellous making untrue allegations about my approach and rigour as an author. This article appeared without my having been giving the courtesy of seeing it first and when I complained I was initially fobbed off with a platitudinous response by the Association's then Chairman - and no apology. Having consulted a Solicitor I then wrote to the Association pointing out the defamation in the article and saying that unless a proper apology was given and made public in the Journal I would pursue a libel action with the ACS. This did the trick and an apology was made and appeared as requested. The matter was closed.

Now I do not know whether the ACS's lack of enthusiasm for properly marketing my book - they withdrew it from their lists pretty promptly in 2010/11 - has anything to do with the affair I describe in the above paragraph. Nor do I know whether it was a factor in their reneging on the reprint offer which was unequivocally made to me. But I wouldn't be surprised. My book must surely have been one of the most successful ever for the ACS and I know that there is a demand for it still. This demand will remain unfulfilled - and that is why sadly I cannot offer to sell any more copies!

The Final Straw

The final straw of this author's relationship with the ACS came when in the process of severing my relationship with them it emerged that the Association has a small number of copies of my book in stock. The numbers were not disclosed to me but I would guess less than 25. I suggested that the ACS sell these to me at the same price that I had previously purchased copies - viz £6 each. The ACS, descending into unplumbed depths of pettiness, told me that for these few remaining copies, which they have no intention of marketing, I would have to pay "one third off the copy price" - which is £8 per copy. Ha!