Karen Platt’s blog

Timber Press books USA

I would like to alert readers to the new release from Timber Press, ‘Black Plants’ following hot on the heels of their release, ‘Green Flowers’ and the earlier release in 2005 ‘Striking Silver’. It is not coincidence that these titles relate directly to my own titles ‘Black Magic and Purple Passion’ first edition in 2000, now in its third edition; ‘Emeralds’ released in 2004 and Silver Lining just one month before Timber’s book on the subject in 2005. So why the similarity? When I first came to the Northwest Flower and Garden show in Seattle to sign books in 2001, the first edition of ‘Black Magic and Purple Passion’ was a huge hit. I was hounded by Timber Press to sign a contract to produce a second edition. They asked me what I was doing next. I had little hesitation in revealing my next titles. So I discussed the books I had already planned on gold plants, silver plants and on green flowers. I had already planned a second edition of my black plants book. However, when I received the contract, I was wary of the wording and sent it to my lawyer. She advised me to throw it away, saying I would not earn a penny from such a contract. I tried to negotiate a better deal with Timber, however, Bob Conklin, then publisher, told me to ‘sign or we’ll get someone else to write the books and leave you without a leg to stand on’. I said I had no wish to work with such people. I do not regret my decision but I am appalled that Timber should go on and publish titles on the same subjects. I understood the meeting was in confidence, I expected a reasonable contract. Their actions undermine my livelihood. I feel you should be able to approach a publisher without them doing this. These are not ordinary gardening subjects, particularly black plant sand green flowers – no other books existed on these topics at the time I published my books on them. 

I went on to self-publish all my titles. All my books on these subjects were released prior to anything Timber Press did. My books have sold well in the USA, particularly on the West coast where I designed black gardens at the Northwest Flower & Garden and the San Francisco Garden shows in 2003. They also sell well in most parts of the world and of course in the UK where I was born and bred and still live. 

My original works are still by far the most comprehensive books on the market. For example, my book on black plants now has over 2750 dark plants within its pages, Timber Press’ book has just 75. I spent over 12 years researching colour and plants before releasing my first book. I am the founder of the International Black Plant Society and also of the International Society for Green Flowers. Some of the phrases and wording in the Timber books appear to be taken directly from my own works. I am known as the foremost authority on black plants in the world, a position I have held for over 20 years.

My books are available to order direct from this website and sent around the world by airmail, www.karenplatt.co.uk

You can also find the books at good bookshops (you may have to ask them to order, libraries and also on other online websites). 

I thank all of you, the many thousands that have bought my books for your immense support. If you are visiting this website for the first time, I would be grateful if you would leave a message of support. Vote with your feet – buy the original works. 

The BLACK PLANT SCANDAL

A certain blogger, whom I do not wish to give any publicity to, but mention in case you come across her blog, has tried to post her defamatory, untruthful and malicious comments here. She has posted them on her own blog. I would not wish to give credence to nor to waste time responding, but I am not fond of lies. She misrepresents, twists and omits what passed between us. I sent a simple message to her:

“I hope that if you feel the need to mention Timber Press books in any way, that you will also mention my original works, which are still by far the most comprehensive books on the market”. 

Incidentally, I found her on friend Erick Lux’s Botaniverse blog, Erick had met me and said some very nice things about me and my work. She left a message on his blog,  saying she could not wait to get my book. If she was not interested all she had to do was ignore me, but I do believe she saw a way of hopefully making money from my plight. At first she suggested I pay to advertise on her blog.

Since I sell advertising space on my blog, it would devalue that advertising if authors or product manufacturers could simple leave a comment pitching their book/product.

When this failed she offered, as she says on her blog to represent me in my plight against Timber as she is a non-practising lawyer (does that mean unemployed?). I rejected this offer too and was subjected to a string on increasingly disturbing emails. It was her who kept emailing me, not the other way round, I am usually very busy writing books and speaking plus other things. In the end I started bouncing the emails back and they stopped. She sent the following to me on 29 July, when I told her what had happened to me:

Don’t push me. I have a post all written out about what a whack job you are, and everyone I’ve talked to on Twitter already thinks you’re crazy. The only reason that I haven’t published it is that I’m not really interested in the topic anymore. So really, don’t email me anymore.

Now I find, several months on that she feels the need to portray me again as some kind of lunatic. I wonder if she would like to step into a law of court and attempt to prove this. All this for simply asking if she could mention my books seems very odd to me.

She appears to be very upset at my success with my books. I think I detect a green-eyed monster or is that a fern? What is odd is that some people (any brain cells functioning???) seem to believe what she has written. I have never claimed to have invented black plants, but I did write the first book on them, now in its 4th edition. I did have a meeting with Timber Press in 2001 in which I revealed what I was working on. I did reject their pathetic contract. I was threatened by Timber Press to the effect that if I did not sign, ‘they would take everything I wrote and get other people to write books on the same topic. I did walk away, something I do not regret – who would want to work with such people? I did publish all my books and Timber Press, true to their threat, have worked their way through my list. I did have a plant line called after my book ‘Black Magic and Purple Passion’, from 2001-2006 with the 3rd largest propagators in the USA, and that contract was broken by them on several counts. The RHS did try to take my book the Seed Search in 1999/2000 and it took 6 letters to make them see that it was copyrighted. Copyright exits to protect authors. I see nothing wrong in self-promotion – it’s one of the reasons I am so successful – all authors have to do it. I have spoken widely in the USA, and been featured in most major USA newspapers and magazines as well as on several TV stations. I can prove as can others the validity of all of the above. I have worked alongside the top people in the horticulture industry, I am well respected for my work, which speaks for itself. They recognise the contribution I made to the promotion of black plants over the past twenty years.

Publishers send out advances – before a new book is released, copies are released to key reviewers. And for a lawyer she is not too hot on defamation of character laws as what she has written constitutes libel under English law. Also she has no knowledge of the sad fact that not all publishing contracts are created equal.

I think you have to ask why this woman, Fern, is attacking me. How many strangers do you know who would do this to you? What are her motives – could it just be that she realises ‘black plants’ talk gets her to the top on Google and gets her noticed? It’s a great pity she cannot channel her efforts into something more positive than trying to destroy someone else’s good reputation e.g. mine. Thankfully I do receive much support, (from authors and writers who understand the situation and have themselves been in similar positions with publishers) much admiration for my work and I know how to stay positive and not let a drop in the ocean like this have any effect – anyone with an ounce of sense will look me up and realise that my work speaks volumes. I don’t intend to make any further responses to anything of this nature- just wanted to set the record straight. What I do intend to do is to continue to work and to come up with what is new and has never been done in the horticultural world before – that has always been my aim. Thank you for your understanding and support.