Niche entertainment firm Russells Solicitors has admitted it was responsible for exposing JK Rowling as the author of The Cuckoo's Calling.
The Harry Potter author wrote the crime novel under the nom de plume Robert Galbraith. Until last week no-one was aware that the book, which received favourable reviews, was her work. Rowling says she wanted to keep it that way. But her lawyers have ruined it. Russells partner Chris Gossage told his wife, who told a friend, who tweeted it to the Sunday Times. Whoops.
Rowling is fuming. She says she thought she "could expect total confidentiality" from Russells. "I am very angry that my trust turned out to be misplaced," she said. "To say I am disappointed is an understatement". Russells, after failing to locate a Time-Turner, apologised "unreservedly". But rather ungallantly it then tried to deflect blame on to a muggle, Mrs Gossage, saying "Whilst accepting [Chris Gossage's] own culpability, the disclosure was made in confidence to someone he trusted implicitly".
Rowling has at least benefitted from a 6000% increase in sales of her new book (not that she needs the extra cash). Gossage can look forward to the loss of one mega-wealthy client, a lot of bad PR, and possibly even the stern attention of theDementors Ministry of Magic SRA.
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The Harry Potter author wrote the crime novel under the nom de plume Robert Galbraith. Until last week no-one was aware that the book, which received favourable reviews, was her work. Rowling says she wanted to keep it that way. But her lawyers have ruined it. Russells partner Chris Gossage told his wife, who told a friend, who tweeted it to the Sunday Times. Whoops.
Expecto ballsup |
Rowling is fuming. She says she thought she "could expect total confidentiality" from Russells. "I am very angry that my trust turned out to be misplaced," she said. "To say I am disappointed is an understatement". Russells, after failing to locate a Time-Turner, apologised "unreservedly". But rather ungallantly it then tried to deflect blame on to a muggle, Mrs Gossage, saying "Whilst accepting [Chris Gossage's] own culpability, the disclosure was made in confidence to someone he trusted implicitly".
Rowling has at least benefitted from a 6000% increase in sales of her new book (not that she needs the extra cash). Gossage can look forward to the loss of one mega-wealthy client, a lot of bad PR, and possibly even the stern attention of the
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I suspect not. Particularly given that the result was limited to an uplift in sales on behalf of a client that isn't shy for a bit of cash and wanted only to keep her secret, well, secret.
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http://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/unmasked-by-a-suburban-mum--but-why-the-jk-rowling-plot-thickens-8714109.html
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As for waiting for the SRA .... good luck...
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As for telling his wife, he ought to have known that a secret that juicy would be passed on to someone his wife "trusted implicitly" and so on down the line until... What an idiot.
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These things are very important. Plenty of us to no chat to friends about work matters or even name a client. Are they even allowed to tell a relative they act for JKR? Even that alone could be wrong unless it's been announced.
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