“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(Perhaps we should be flattered that the last we heard of the bidding saw Bantam making an offer to Prentice of $50,000 for the present Seven, plus the next two.... Jane spoke to John Nelson this evening before the session; he called her from his place, after failing to reach her this afternoon. As far as we know, the set-to is cleared up now, Jane is free, etc. Grace gave John sales figures for Seth Speaks which are much too low, so we really have little idea of how the book is selling, judging by those. Actually, Grace told Jane last week, and John this week, that the book is “a smashing success,” whatever that means, and is in its sixth printing. We aren’t due to collect royalty money this month from Bantam, however, which means the original $35,000 isn’t eaten up yet by sales. Some $12,000 to go.

(Pat called John unethical because he told Bantam that Pocket Books was interested in acquiring Seven. Bantam, who had the original option on Seven, then bid higher for the three projected Sevens than Pocket Books has so far—the latter has until this Wednesday to bid against Bantam’s $50,000 offer.