We recent wrote up Dorchester Books’ woes and the strategy it announced to deal with them (see The Incredible Shrinking Publisher).

Today the National Board of Directors of the Mystery Writers of America removed Dorchester from its list of Approved Publishers. This is not the first time MWA has taken this position.  In December of 2009 it took exception to a Harlequin initiative and delisted it, too.

Following is MWA’s memo to its members concerning Dorchester:

Richard Curtis

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Dear MWA Member:

The National Board of Mystery Writers of America voted unanimously on October 6, 2010 to remove Dorchester Publishing from our list of Approved Publishers, effective immediately, primarily because the company no longer meets two of our key criteria.

First, the initial print run by the publisher for a book-length work of fiction or nonfiction must be at least 500 copies and must be widely available in brick-and-mortar stores (not “special order” titles). In other words, print-on-demand publishers and Internet-only publishers do not qualify.

Second, the publisher must not wrongfully withhold or delay royalty payments to authors. We have been hearing an unusually high number of reports from our members of unpaid advances and withheld royalties on their Dorchester books.

Dorchester titles will no longer be eligible for Edgar® Award consideration nor will its authors be eligible for Active Status membership for any books published after October 6, 2010. The board made it clear to Dorchester that it is welcome to re-apply once these problems have been cleared up.

This e-bulletin is being sent on behalf of MWA’s National Board of Directors.