A FANTASY novel published as a children’s hospice fundraiser has been withdrawn from sale – after it was discovered that some copies were accidentally printed with extracts of hard core pornography.
The hunt is now on to find any outstanding copies of Otherworld containing the offending 20 pages of adult material.
Horrified author Adrian Bailey is asking anyone who has bought or been given a hardback copy of his debut novel to contact him – for fear that children could read the explicit passages.
Physiotherapist Adrian, aged 46, of Derby Square, Douglas, personally paid for the printing of 2,500 hardback copies of Otherworld, and a similar number of paperback versions – with all proceeds to go to Rebecca House.
Some 800 copies were bought at the book launch at Hospice Isle of Man’s Christmas fair in 2011. Since then, some 2,500 books, which had been stocked in Shoprite stores, have been sold in the island with a further 500 books sold off-island.
It quickly become clear, however, that the books had not been proof-read before printing and they were full of typographical errors.
But worse was to come. At the end of January 2012, the author was contacted by a woman in Ballaugh who had read up to p472 of Otherworld to find that the action had got somewhat steamier.
Instead of a fantasy tale set in the Isle of Mist, based on Manx folklore and legend and aimed at both children and adults, she discovered 20 pages of smut in extracts from two short stories entitled ‘From the Halls of Montezuma’ and ‘Tasting Chantal’.
Adrian said: ‘I just could not believe it. It was like the feeling you get when you’re about to have a crash. My first thought was how many more are there out there?’
He said he had jumped in his car and set off to Ballaugh where he found the book’s bemused owner was more bothered that she could not find out what had happened in his story.
Adrian took the book to the Douglas-based publisher who he said reacted with ‘shock and horror’ and promised to contact the printers in America and seek legal advice.
In February last year, the US printer wrote to him ‘apologising sincerely’ for the ‘unintentional error’, and explaining that a mistake on the press had resulted in ‘no more than six’ copies of the hardback edition being printed containing an erroneous insert from a book targeted for the adult fiction market.
But then last month another copy containing the 20 pages of porn turned up – prompting Adrian to go public. ‘I feel I can no longer stand by while more copies are potentially out there,’ he said.
Of the 2,500 hardback copies printed, some 500 have been sold.
All copies, both hardback and paperback, have now been withdrawn from sale, although it is only the hardback edition that contains the adult material.
Adrian said: ‘My reason for moving so fast on this is that it’s a children’s book written for adults. One parent told me his daughter was half-way through reading the book and she loved it.’
Mary Doyle, PR and marketing manager for Hospice Isle of Man, said: ‘We are very grateful for Adrian for writing his book in aid of the children’s hospice. It’s been a labour of love.
‘It’s obviously sad to learn a number of copies may contain offending extracts that are not suitable for children. We are pragmatic enough to realise these things happen and the best thing to do now is to retrieve the books if there are any more out there.’
Adrian said he has taken legal advice. He said it is his aim to republish Otherworld without any errors, with proceeds once again going to Rebecca House. Three other books in the series are planned.
He said it took him about 18 months to write the first novel. ‘I’ve lived in the Isle of Man for 18 years and the island has been good to me. I wanted to give something back so I decided to write a book, pay to have it published with all money going to the Hospice.
‘It was never meant to be published – but someone who knows me talked to a publisher who contacted me.
‘As a first time author, it was a wonderful opportunity to get your book out there.’
It has cost Adrian £12,000 in total to have the book published. The hardback copies were priced at £12 with £7.99 for the paperback edition.
Otherworld tells the story of Wally Gobbit who is working in the British Library when he discovers a secret Chronicles of the Isle of Mist which details the local folklore and legends.
He decides to visit the island and finds out that all these fantastic tales are true.
Anyone who has a hardback copy of the book with the offending material can contact the author on 615363.