---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The normal reaction of a publisher when…"
description: "\"The normal reaction of a publisher when faced with an author with a bee in his bonnet is to grab the check and run.\" — Michael Korda"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/michael-korda-2925_bee_the-normal-reaction-of-a-publisher-when_1511305.png"
---

#  The normal reaction of a publisher when faced with an…

![“The normal reaction of a publisher when faced with an author with a bee in his bonnet is to grab the check and run.” quote by Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/michael-korda-2925_bee_the-normal-reaction-of-a-publisher-when_1511305.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/michael-korda-2925_bee_the-normal-reaction-of-a-publisher-when_1511305.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/michael-korda-2925_bee_the-normal-reaction-of-a-publisher-when_1511305.png)

> “The normal reaction of a publisher when faced with an author with a bee in his bonnet is to grab the check and run.”

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Publishers often exploit eccentric authors for profit, prioritizing money over artistic integrity.

**In simple terms:** Publishers take advantage of quirky writers for cash.

Key Takeaway

Beware of exploitative deals.

Themes

exploitation publishing artistic integrity

Mood

cautious critical

Type

advice warning

When to use this quote

- contract negotiations
- publishing contracts
- author support
- financial ethics

Key Concepts

capitalism authorial autonomy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can authors protect their vision?
- What safeguards exist against exploitation?

A Different Perspective

Not all publishers act this way; some champion creative freedom.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Author Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author-bee-5565250/) [Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bee/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Check](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/check/) [Faced Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faced-author-5565251/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Publisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publisher/) [Publisher Faced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publisher-faced-5565249/) [Reaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction/) [Reaction Publisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction-publisher-5565252/) [Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/)

## Related quotes

> [I was a nobody when I met with the publisher. Nobody knew who I was. I was doing some speaking for entrepreneurs. I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/i-was-a-nobody-when-i-met-with-the-publisher-nobody-knew-who-i-was-i/)

[Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/)

> [“People don't know they want to become an author until they meet me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-j-robak/people-don-t-know-they-want-to-become-an-author-until-they-meet-me/)

[Lucas J. Robak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-j-robak/)

> [What makes a publisher decide to market a book to a particular audience is not the subject matter but the style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-smith/what-makes-a-publisher-decide-to-market-a-book-to-a-particular/)

[Russell Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-smith/)

> [Most people do not pay attention to the publisher's imprint on a given book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/most-people-do-not-pay-attention-to-the-publisher-s-imprint-on-a/)

[Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/)

> [I'd rather be a cartoonist. I don't want to be a publisher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-forsman/i-d-rather-be-a-cartoonist-i-don-t-want-to-be-a-publisher/)

[Charles Forsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-forsman/)

> [The professionals are going to be joined by the average Joe. Everybody's a publisher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-brown/the-professionals-are-going-to-be-joined-by-the-average-joe-everybody/)

[Eric Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-brown/)

> [The Internet will make every enterprise a publisher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-case/the-internet-will-make-every-enterprise-a-publisher/)

[Steve Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-case/)

> [I read whatever the publisher sends me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/i-read-whatever-the-publisher-sends-me/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [As a publisher, you have no direct relationship with advertisers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-calacanis/as-a-publisher-you-have-no-direct-relationship-with-advertisers/)

[Jason Calacanis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-calacanis/)

> [A publisher should always be on the receiving end. He should take an interest in almost any subject and remain anonymous, letting the author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-canfield/a-publisher-should-always-be-on-the-receiving-end-he-should-take-an/)

[Cass Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-canfield/)

> [Think like a publisher, not a marketer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-meerman-scott/think-like-a-publisher-not-a-marketer/)

[David Meerman Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-meerman-scott/)

> [No author is a man of genius to his publisher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/no-author-is-a-man-of-genius-to-his-publisher/)

[Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/)

> [Being with a small publisher has been huge. They bat for me for everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-amsterdam/being-with-a-small-publisher-has-been-huge-they-bat-for-me-for/)

[Steven Amsterdam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-amsterdam/)

> [“Don't simply dream, create. Don't simply create, ship. Don't simply ship, dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/don-t-simply-dream-create-don-t-simply-create-ship-don-t-simply-ship/)

[Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/)

> [It's really inspiring to know that your publisher is so behind you. It makes you want to put forth your best work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-wight/it-s-really-inspiring-to-know-that-your-publisher-is-so-behind-you-it/)

[Eric Wight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-wight/)

## More by Michael Korda

> [Hebron is a bone of contention between Israeli settlers and the Palestinians in part because Abraham is buried there, in the Tomb of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/hebron-is-a-bone-of-contention-between-israeli-settlers-and-the/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [In 'Gran Torino,' Eastwood moves towards the climax of the movie not by staging a shoot-out, but by putting his weapons to one side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/in-gran-torino-eastwood-moves-towards-the-climax-of-the-movie-not-by/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [Some people are so famous that the legends about them and the cultural aftermath of their life altogether obscure the real human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/some-people-are-so-famous-that-the-legends-about-them-and-the/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [The advice I would offer to any writer is that even when you think you have revised your book to the point where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/the-advice-i-would-offer-to-any-writer-is-that-even-when-you-think/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [Citizens of Rome might boast that the claim of 'Civus romanus sum' set them apart from barbarians and slaves, and it was true up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/citizens-of-rome-might-boast-that-the-claim-of-civus-romanus-sum-set/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [Concentration is the magic key that opens the door to accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/concentration-is-the-magic-key-that-opens-the-door-to-accomplishment/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [Luck can often mean simply taking advantage of a situation at the right moment. It is possible to make your luck by being always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/luck-can-often-mean-simply-taking-advantage-of-a-situation-at-the/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [Nothing is more difficult than to recreate in all its complexity than a distant age, and not only to get it right but make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/nothing-is-more-difficult-than-to-recreate-in-all-its-complexity-than/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [The American system demands success, and in order to succeed we must first believe that we can. Yet our society, with its intolerance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/the-american-system-demands-success-and-in-order-to-succeed-we-must/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [In my experience, with very few exceptions - I am, as it happens, one of the exceptions - the one thing that most editors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/in-my-experience-with-very-few-exceptions-i-am-as-it-happens-one-of/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [We British and Americans have never been conquered and occupied by the Germans, or forced to make the choice between defiance and collaboration, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/we-british-and-americans-have-never-been-conquered-and-occupied-by/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [Ronald Reagan had a kind of shallow movie-star charisma - a combination of makeup and the skill of a good actor - but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/ronald-reagan-had-a-kind-of-shallow-movie-star-charisma-a-combination/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [An ounce of hypocrisy is worth a pound of ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/an-ounce-of-hypocrisy-is-worth-a-pound-of-ambition/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [The men who died at D-Day did not die shoulder-to-shoulder with their French comrades. They died to liberate the French from a sinister and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/the-men-who-died-at-d-day-did-not-die-shoulder-to-shoulder-with-their/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/one-way-to-keep-momentum-going-is-to-have-constantly-greater-goals/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

[Explore all 145 Michael Korda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

## More Bee quotes

> [Those who have not been stung will hardly fear a bee the same as those who have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/those-who-have-not-been-stung-will-hardly-fear-a-bee-the-same-as/)

[Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/)

> [Give me a 15-ft. crocodile any day over a bee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bindi-irwin/give-me-a-15-ft-crocodile-any-day-over-a-bee/)

[Bindi Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bindi-irwin/)

> [You're looking at the Bee Gees right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-gibb/you-re-looking-at-the-bee-gees-right-now/)

[Robin Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-gibb/)

> [I used to watch old clips of Muhammad Ali, where he'd be talking the jive during interviews, you know, 'Float like a butterfly, sting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/i-used-to-watch-old-clips-of-muhammad-ali-where-he-d-be-talking-the/)

[Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/)

> [I love the Bee Gees, and I love Barry Gibb and Andy Gibb. I listen to them almost every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-love-the-bee-gees-and-i-love-barry-gibb-and-andy-gibb-i-listen-to/)

[Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/)

> [While I was writing the songs for 'Fuzz Universe,' I was immersing myself in Bulgarian Female Choir music, Baroque lute and violin pieces, Johnny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/while-i-was-writing-the-songs-for-fuzz-universe-i-was-immersing/)

[Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/)

> [I love Donna Summer, and I love ABBA. I love late '70s disco. I love the Bee Gees. I just love that period of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-love-donna-summer-and-i-love-abba-i-love-late-70s-disco-i-love-the/)

[Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/)

> [“Your words, your thoughts are deep and intoxicating. Your words mesmerize me and pull me into them as a bee gets pulled into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/your-words-your-thoughts-are-deep-and-intoxicating-your-words/)

[Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/)

> [When I was a kid, people people would always say, 'Oh you look like Chilli from TLC.' It wasn't until I did 'Akeelah and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keke-palmer/when-i-was-a-kid-people-people-would-always-say-oh-you-look-like/)

[Keke Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keke-palmer/)

> [I really respect Samantha Bee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iliza-shlesinger/i-really-respect-samantha-bee/)

[Iliza Shlesinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iliza-shlesinger/)

> [I would say things like 'I am the greatest! I'm pretty! If you talk jive, you'll drop in five! I float like a butterfly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-would-say-things-like-i-am-the-greatest-i-m-pretty-if-you-talk-jive/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [How does a queen bee behave? However she wants to. But please don't wait for someone to hold the door open for you when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/how-does-a-queen-bee-behave-however-she-wants-to-but-please-don-t/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [If a queen bee were crossed with a Friesian bull, would not the land flow with milk and honey?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-st-john/if-a-queen-bee-were-crossed-with-a-friesian-bull-would-not-the-land/)

[Oliver St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-st-john/)

> [I'm a worker bee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-m-a-worker-bee/)

[Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/)

> [I never smoked cigarettes, I never did hard drugs. But I love bee pollen capsules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marky-ramone/i-never-smoked-cigarettes-i-never-did-hard-drugs-but-i-love-bee/)

[Marky Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marky-ramone/)

[Browse all 94 Bee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bee/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The normal reaction of a publisher when faced with an author with a bee in his bonnet is to grab the check and run.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Korda"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/the-normal-reaction-of-a-publisher-when-faced-with-an-author-with-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bee"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/the-normal-reaction-of-a-publisher-when-faced-with-an-author-with-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/michael-korda-2925_bee_the-normal-reaction-of-a-publisher-when_1511305.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/michael-korda-2925_bee_the-normal-reaction-of-a-publisher-when_1511305.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/michael-korda-2925_bee_the-normal-reaction-of-a-publisher-when_1511305.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The normal reaction of a publisher when faced with an author with a bee in his bonnet is to grab the check…” — Michael Korda",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Michael Korda",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The normal reaction of a publisher...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/the-normal-reaction-of-a-publisher-when-faced-with-an-author-with-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/the-normal-reaction-of-a-publisher-when-faced-with-an-author-with-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
