A ROMANTIC novelist has been ordered to pay £3,635 to a printer over the aborted launch of a paperback.
Mr Philip Sheppard, of Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin, a printer and typesetter, had sued Una Brady, writer of A Magical Place, at Dublin District Civil Court for unpaid services. Ms Brady, of Rushbrook Drive, Dublin, had a counter-claim for the return of £1,950 fees she had already paid, as well as the stress and embarrassment, dismissed.
The court was told Ms Brady, who worked at the perfume counter in Brown Thomas, did not proceed with her own launch because the book was not satisfactory. She had asked for the book to be similar in format to The Bridges of Madison County, but the one supplied looked like a child's book.
There were many typographical errors, she said. She also claimed the book was late and did not have gold-embossed lettering as promised.
Mr Sheppard told the court errors did occur in printing and the format had been agreed. The book was delivered on time and the job was done well, he said.
Judge Michael Connellan said Ms Brady had got what she wanted as she had insisted on large type-face. He said it was an unfortunate case, as both parties appeared to be novices at publishing novels.
Ms Brady had since found a publisher and the book has been re-released as Love on Grafton Street.