DL/A-Z//HARPER C/2 - [Correspondence with Harper Collins 1993-1995]

DL/A-Z//HARPER C/2

Sub-file

[Correspondence with Harper Collins 1993-1995]

08/01/1993-12/12/1995

22 Letters (typescript and MS)
14 Fax

Harper Collins

029 is a fax from Maggie Usiskin of Harper Collins to Doris Lessing, arranging promotional events for Lessing.

030 is a fax from Julie Baldwin of Harper Collins to Lessing, putting her in contact with Godfrey Reggio, a friend of Philip Glass.

031 is a letter from Peter Winslow of Harper Collins to Lessing, hoping to arrange lunch.

032 is a letter from William M. Shinker of Harper Collins announcing that Harper Perennial will be publishing The Golden Notebook. Lessing hand writes "Card 2.4.93".

033 is a letter from John [Boothe?] of Harper Collins announcing that he is leaving, but will continue in a consultancy role.

034 is a fax from Terry Karten of Harper Collins to Lessing, announcing that African Laughter has been nominated for a Los Angeles Times Book Prize.

035 is a letter from John [Boothe?] to Lessing, regretting that Lessing cannot attend an unnamed event, and arranging to have lunch in October and meet up in Frankfurt. Lessing hand writes "Yes to both".

036 is a letter from John [Boothe?] stating that he is reading Under My Skin, and praising the work.

037 is a fax from Lessing to Brie Burkeman, copying a letter from Shinker to Lessing, stating that Harper Collins has agreed to publish Lessing's Under My Skin.

038 is a fax from Harper Collins to Burkeman enclosing a not of plans and dates for promotional events regarding Lessing's Under My Skin. The tone indicates some sensitivity to Lessing's "dislike of promotion".

039 is a letter from Winslow to Lessing, accepting an invitation to the opera.

040 is a letter from Usiskin to Lessing, confirming dates for promotional events.

041 is a fax from Karten to Burkeman, confirming the sale of a limited edition of Under My Skin, which will require Lessing's signature.

042 is a fax from Monica Lauritzen to Lessing, requesting an interview on National Swedish Radio regarding Under My Skin.

043 is a fax from Usiskin to Lessing, listing potential promotional events. Lessing has ticked the events she agrees to. Enclosed is a fax from Vogue Australia requesting a photo-shoot to accompany an interview Lessing has already done.

044 is a fax from Usiskin to Lessing confirming the photoshoot requested in 043.

045 and 046 are faxes from Usiskin to Lessing arranging promotional interviews and events.

047 is a letter from Joy Chamberlain of Harper Collins to Burkeman, requesting Lessing's opinion regarding illustrations on cover and interior art. Lessing hand writes her opinion.

048 is a fax from Usiskin to Lessing arranging a promotional interview.

049 is a letter from Winslow to Lessing, thanking her for a recent social engagement and suggesting another. "I really did enjoy Tuesday evening even if you did go into the attack!"

050 is a letter from Mandy Kirkby of Harper Collins to Lessing, enclosing a proof of Briefing for a Descent into Hell, due to be re-issued, and African Laughter, which is being reprinted with some corrections. Mentions sales of Under My Skin.

051 is a letter from David Young of Harper Collins to Lessing, thanking her for lunch and discussing her suggestion for the front cover of Love, Again. Mentions an initiative to encourage reading in Zimbabwe, and suggests using the complete short stories of Jack London, [the rights to] which he recently acquired.

052 is a letter from Young to Lessing, addressing concerns [in a 17 April letter from Lessing] that her books African Laughter and Under My Skin were unavailable for purchase in Zimbabwe. 053 is a letter from Eddie Bell to Lessing addressing the same problem.

054 is a letter from Young to Lessing, clearing up what was evidently a misunderstanding and stating that Sue McMillan is preparing a complete stock order of Lessing's books. He encloses a fax from McMillan to Young explaining that she miscommunicated with Lessing.

055 is a terse letter from Lessing to Young, insisting that McMillan stated that she couldn't get hold of copies of African Laughter and Under My Skin. She refers to Young's statement in 052 that Under My Skin was out of stock for a short period, and points out that the "short period" was the run up to Christmas, the "chief selling time in the whole year".

056 is a letter from Young to Lessing, arguing over the finer points of whether and when Lessing's books were unavailable for sale in Zimbabwe.

057 is a letter from Young to Lessing providing a detailed report as to the availability of Under My Skin and African Laughter in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

058 is a letter from Kirkby to Lessing confirming that [reprinted] copies of The Memoirs of a Survivor will be sent to Lessing. She also announces that Lessing's Prisons We Choose to Live Inside has been selected for an Australian schools' syllabus. Lessing hand writes [for a fax?]: "Jonathan / Have they sent you this? I am very pleased / D."

059 is a letter from Ashley Chase of Harper Collins to Lessing enclosing the first-pass galleys of Love, Again.

060 is a letter from Lessing to Chase, including her feedback on the galley proofs of Love, Again. Lessing points out a number of errors and makes a suggestion regarding the jacket.

061 is a letter from Young to Lessing introducing Helen Ellis, who will be taking over Usiskin's role as publicist for Lessing.

062 is a fax from Jane Beirn of Harper Collins to Lessing, making suggestions for the promotion of Love, Again in the United States. Lessing has typed a note onto the bottom of the fax for Burkeman, listing the sales figures for African Laughter, The Real Thing and Under My Skin, and indicating which books had been promoted and which hadn't. She quotes the number of copies of Love, Again Terry [Karten] hopes to sell, and indicates that it will be promoted "sensationally and sexily". She states that she does not want to do the promotion. "I can't face it."

063 is a letter from "Georg T." of Harper Collins to Lessing, congratulating her for winning the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and being named Norway's Woman of the Year.

064 is a fax from Kirkby to Lessing, suggesting titles for a forthcoming publication of collected plays – including Each His Own Wilderness and Other Plays – and asking Lessing for her approval or feedback. She also discusses the cover art of the book, suggesting a scene that would ultimately appear on one edition of Play With a Tiger.