Edgar Award-winning author Steve Hamilton is parting ways with Minotaur Books, his publisher for more than seventeen years, less than two months before the scheduled September 29 release date of his next thriller, THE SECOND LIFE OF NICK MASON. After issuing a terse announcement to various trade publications and accounts saying “publication had been cancelled”, Minotaur spokesperson Tracey Guest added in an updated statement: “After many years of publishing Steve Hamilton, unfortunately SMP has had a parting of the ways and will not be moving forward with the publication of THE SECOND LIFE OF NICK MASON. We wish Steve all the best with his new series and his future endeavors.”
Hamilton told us the “decision was mine and mine alone” and said Minotaur asked him to stay “for over a month.” He continued: “Among many other serious problems, I did not feel that they had anything resembling a proper marketing plan in place to launch this new series. Although I am proud of my two Edgars, two New York Times Notable Books of the Year, and two New York Times Bestsellers, I have been unhappy for some time, and many former St. Martin’s authors who had gone on to greater success and happiness elsewhere had encouraged me to leave.”
Hamilton also took issue with Minotaur’s initial wording of the announcement. “They made it appear as if they had cancelled the contract when in fact they had pleaded with me in multiple conference calls to stay. I’m upset but it is consistent with their behavior for years. THE SECOND LIFE OF NICK MASON will find a new publisher and will succeed at a different level than my previous books.”
Hamilton’s agent, Shane Salerno, stressed in a telephone interview that he “personally bought back the contract,” which was for NICK MASON as well as three other books. “That’s how much I believe in [Hamilton]. We’re very confident he will find a new publisher right away and reach a wide audience with this book.”
Separately, St. Martin’s’ Thomas Dunne imprint is moving up publication of Michael D’Antonio‘s NEVER ENOUGH: DONALD TRUMP AND THE PURSUIT OF SUCCESS from January to October 6, 2015.