In today's Daily Mail, Guardian, BBC news and other media outlets there was a touching story about an elderly novelist and her desire to use her writing riches to help others. Here's how it was reported:
She wrote her book while living in a one-bedroom flat but has now swapped it for a £310,000 [$600,000] five-bedroomed property in Weare Giffard, Devon. The grandmother of two has invited friends who are 'unhappy' in care homes to move in - and says she already has a queue of people eager to take up the offer. Mrs Page, a widow, said: 'The book has sold nicely and I was able to buy a much bigger place to live. I only had a small flat before.
The Guardian reported, "suddenly prosperous on the advance and sales of her novel..." But the Daily Mail also reported the publisher: Authorhouse. A self-publishing outfit. That does not pay advances. And if she's made anywhere near £310,000 (or for that matter, £30,000) from royalties of this self-published book, I'll eat my hat (a small fedora). But it's a good public relations wheeze and I wish her well.
