Creative Non-Fiction

Publisher Gill & Macmillan believed everything that Delaney Wilson put in her book, High Society. She had notes aplenty to substantiate her every allegation. This was a work of non-fiction, after all, and not a novel.

RTE put together a two part documentary based on the book, which is the sort of promotion that any publisher would love. The publisher was satisfied that Ms. Wilson could prove her case, which would be necessary down the line. After all, when an author claims that a government minister is a coke head, she'd best have some very solid documentation because the government is going to be inquiring as to specifics and substantiation. After RTE aired the show, the questions from government quickly followed. Can't go off and make such sordid claims about ministers without getting noticed, can you?

Yes, well, ahem, said Gill & Macmillan. We thought that Ms. Delaney Wilson had copious notes, and now she's saying she made audio recordings? Don't know a thing about that. She misled us. As for the notes and the recordings, they've all been destroyed. It wasn't our idea.

Ms. Wilson says that her solicitor advised her to destroy the lot so that she could maintain the confidentiality of her sources. Gill & Macmillan is pitching a fit, since she never asked them if that was a good idea, and they are her publisher.

RTE is feeling the heat, since they broadcast the program that suggested government ministers were snorting cocaine. It would be expected that RTE, in turn, would apply the flames to Gill & Macmillan's feet, while the publisher can only say that they were duped.

They could offer to return the purchase price, a la James Frey, but this particular work of creative non-fiction may lead to deeper trouble. Delaney Wilson is on holiday in New Zealand, at the other end of the world. Her publisher would very much like to talk to her when she comes home.