Author pulls his own book from store shelves
Book, Cherry Blossoms, pulled from store shelves over typos
CBC News
Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:46 PM ET
Last Updated: Jul 12, 2012 12:19 AM ET
Saskatoon author Wes Funk pulled his newest book from store shelves because the wrong version was printed. (CBC)
A Saskatoon author has pulled his own book from the shelves, after discovering a version that was not ready for publication was inadvertently printed.
Wes Funk made the move on his new book, Cherry Blossoms, after learning the printer was given an early draft and not the finalized work that was expected.
"A more primitive version of the book was sent," Funk explained in an interview on CBC Radio's The Afternoon Edition Wednesday. "And in the end, a more primitive version of the book was printed. So, we have some work to do."
Funk said the version was close to the final edit but still contained numerous typographical errors and needed some more fine-tuning.
He said the book was in stores for a little more than a week before he learned that it was not quite the novel he intended readers to see.
"The storyline is exactly the same," Funk said, adding that most of the problems were in the presentation, such as misplaced commas and words.
"Nothing too crazy, but just enough that it ruins the flow of the story," he said.
Funk added that his book had been selling very well in Saskatoon until it was taken off the shelves.
He said it was a difficult decision to pull the book and that has also led to a lot of extra work for him and his Regina-based publisher.
"We have been communicating with book stores and libraries all across Canada, getting it pulled," he said. "In the end I feel its going to be worth it."
Funk said he has learned from this experience that many books are published with typographical mistakes, but he did not want his latest work to be among them.
"I feel Cherry Blossoms is perhaps my best work and I just don't want it not to blossom," he said. "I want it to be a solid product and my integrity and common sense just kicked in."
He said it will take about one month for the book to be republished.
Cherry Blossoms is set in rural Saskatchewan and Saskatoon and tells the story of a farm wife who comes to a crossroad in her life.
"In a fit of rage, one day, she just packs up her dog and a few clothes and heads to a new life in Saskatoon," he said. "It's a very down to earth, real story."
Funk said he worked especially hard to weave real landmarks and areas of Saskatoon into the narrative.
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