Chapter Fifty-Four
Fifty-Four
Shelby called Claudia and asked for a meeting. She didn’t want to go to lunch. This was a conversation she wanted to have at the office.
The agency occupied two floors of a six-story building in Flatiron. It had high ceilings and an open floor plan, with lots of glass and brushed steel and exposed pipes. Lucite chairs added pops of bright color. Claudia had one of the few offices with a door.
A new assistant showed her to Claudia’s office, asking her if she wanted coffee or sparkling water.
“Nothing, thanks, I’m good,” Shelby said.
Claudia, dressed in a white pantsuit and lots of gold jewelry, rounded her desk, air-kissed Shelby on both cheeks, then took her seat. Shelby sat on the red leather couch facing the desk. Large windows overlooked Fifth Avenue.
“So, what’s on your mind, lady?” Claudia said cheerily, checking her phone. She looked up. “I told you I spoke to your editor a few days ago, right? She launched Bookshop Beach last week, and Team Shelby Archer is very excited.”
Launching the book meant that her editor had presented it to the publicity department and sales force and officially positioned it for next summer. Shelby tugged the rubber band out of her ponytail and wrapped it around her middle finger, tighter and tighter until it hurt.
“I’m having an...issue with the book,” Shelby said.
“Problem with the notes? Just do the ones you agree with and leave the rest. The same as last time.”
“It’s not the notes. It’s bigger than that. I don’t think it’s the right book for me to publish.”
It didn’t matter if Shelby believed she’d violated Colleen’s privacy in writing the book; Colleen did. So, she had two choices: she could move forward with Bookshop Beach and lose her best friend, or she could try to repair her friendships and lose the book. The more she thought about it, the more obvious the right choice seemed. She’d write something else. Sure, she’d lose the chance to have a follow-up to Secrets of Summer publish next summer. But it was a small price to pay for saving her friendship with Colleen.
Claudia tilted her head to one side. She unscrewed the cap of her sparkling water.
“Shelby, the book is good. What’s giving you cold feet?”
“I just don’t want to publish it. I changed my mind.”
“You changed your mind,” Claudia said, sitting up straighter. The expression in her hazel eyes changed from concern to something noticeably cooler. “Where is this coming from?”
“It’s just the way I feel. But I’ll get started right away on something else.” Authors had pulled books before. Books much further along the publishing process than her own. It wasn’t even listed online yet. Yes, it was on the publisher’s calendar. But things moved all the time. She just needed Claudia’s support. Claudia would smooth things over.
“Shelby,” she said slowly, choosing her words with obvious care. “This is your job—not a hobby. You were paid a lot of money for that book.”
“I’ll give it back,” Shelby said quickly. If that was the biggest issue, she had no problem taking the financial hit. She’d make it back on the next one, and she’d get by on royalties from Secrets of Summer .
“And what about your editor’s time investment? And mine? Can you give that back as well?”
Shelby hadn’t thought of it that way.
“No, but—”
“I’m sorry,” Claudia said coldly. “Let me back up: Do you need to postpone this book for mental health reasons?”
“No,” Shelby said, shaking her head. “It’s nothing like that. I just don’t want to publish the book—ever.”
Claudia nodded. “I see.” She clasped her hands in front of her on the desk and leaned forward. “In my capacity as your agent, I strongly advise against doing this.”
Shelby was confused. She thought as her agent, she was supposed to help her navigate the situation.
“I understand. But I can’t publish a book I don’t feel good about. I know what it’s like now to have a book out in the world, to promote it and live with it and get all the feedback—wanted and unwanted. I realize a book isn’t just a book. It’s a link between myself and everyone who reads it and if that link is not right—”
“I suggest you give this careful thought. Because if you pull this book, I can no longer represent you.”
Shelby looked at her in surprise.
“Do you have any questions?” Claudia said.
She didn’t. Except the one only she could answer: Was she really going to do this?
Claudia summoned the assistant to show Shelby out.