Posted by:
Once More
(
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Date: August 22, 2013 03:45PM
Excerpts from Salt Lake Tribune article:
Two Utah authors say Cedar Fort Publishing’s Sweetwater Books canceled publication of their young-adult fantasy novel “Woven” because one of the authors is gay and wanted to reference his partner in his bio. …
Although Cedar Fort is a predominantly LDS publisher, Jensen says he was told Sweetwater would have more of a national imprint and that the content in “Woven” — although “very G-rated” anyway — would not have to adhere to Mormon standards.
But when Jensen saw a proof of “Woven’s” cover art on Aug. 2, he noticed that the publishing house had stricken a phrase in his bio: “He lives in Salt Lake City with his boyfriend and their four dogs.” Jensen pointed out the error.
… Cedar Fort Acquisitions Editor Angie Workman wrote: “I was concerned about your bio and wondered what effect it would have with our LDS buyers, so I spoke with [Cedar Fort owner] Lyle [Mortimer] about it. He says we can’t risk ruining our relationship with them by stating you live with your boyfriend. … We will have much better sales if we can get into Deseret Book and Seagull.” …
“I was speechless,” says King, who unlike Jensen is a practicing Mormon. …
Jensen says Mortimer told him, after some shouting, that “God had given me a penis for a reason,” and threatened to publish “Woven” without names attached. Jensen was shocked by Mortimer’s position, he says, because “I’ve known Lyle for several years. He knew I was gay.”
Jensen says Mortimer gave him a deadline of Aug. 5 at 8 a.m. to buy out the rights to the novel for “thousands of dollars.” … [end excerpts]
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56764258-78/jensen-says-cedar-fort.html.csp