I Goofed

This is a post I wrote for CreateMixedMedia.com, where you can see it here. Go here to read my publisher's post on the subject.

----------------

When you launch a brand-new book into the world, it’s a happy occasion, especially when you get to share joyful experiences and great adventures with lots of fabulous people. I was so excited forDestination: Creativity, The Life-Altering Journey of the Art Retreat to hit the shelves because it does all those things and more, showcasing wonderful retreats and amazing workshops and people I wanted everyone else to get to know.

In the midst of that excitement and joy, however, it has been brought to my attention that I made a serious omission by not giving credit where it should have been given. Penny Arrowood contacted me to voice her concern that the trades she made for Art and Soul in Las Vegas were used on pages 12, 13, and 14 and on the cover with no attribution anywhere in the book and that work made by others was similarly used without acknowledgment and credit being given. I am so sorry that this happened. It was not my intention for there to be any confusion about the provenance of anything shown in the book, and I would never want anyone to think I was claiming any of the work as my own.

As the author, it was my responsibility to make sure that everyone who contributed to the book was given credit for their contribution, and I failed to do that. Although I could offer explanations about the process of creating a book and explanations about how this happened, they make no difference when someone feels they and their work have been slighted and taken advantage of.

In everything I do, from my blogs to my podcasts to the books and articles I write, my purpose has always been to inspire creativity in other people. That is my purpose. By failing to insure that recognition was given for Penny’s work and that of everyone else who provided trades at the retreats, Moo cards with their photographs, and permission to use their wonderfully happy faces, I have failed to inspire and support those people, and I sincerely apologize.

I should have made sure that everyone who participated in any way was acknowledged and given credit for their invaluable contributions to the book, and I didn’t do that.

I am sorry that this has marred the excitement of the release of a book on which many, many people worked really hard and for which we’ve all had such anticipation.

I am sorry.