I heard on the grapevine, to which I have a special broadband connection here in darkest Gloucestershire, that a Very Famous Author of Many Dozens of Bestsellers said at  a dinner that she was absolutely sick of Publishers' Editors, and especially the young ones two years into the business,  thinking they knew how to write her books better than she did. I totally agree and if you knew the author in Q. so would you.

Now she is not a difficult lady in any sense and nor am I. I am happy to have my copy editor point out mistakes, discrepancies and blindingly awful paragraphs. I have worked with my Editor, one of the best in the business, for many years and if she makes a tentative suggestion as to a move that would enhance the book - and her suggestions are always tentative because she is polite - then nine times out of ten that is the move I make.

But some editors - it used to be only in the USA, but the tendency is creeping in a relentlessly slimy way over here - want to re-write the book. I have come to the conclusion that they do it not because they think it will improve it but for reasons 1. of simple Power and 2. Because they are failed writers themselves.  When my sequel to Rebecca, Mrs de Winter, reached my UK and about 20 European editors, there was the odd change and correction to be made and I am glad they were suggested. When it reached the US editor I got a TWENTY ONE PAGE FAX full of suggested re-writes. And when I say re-writes, boy, do I mean re-writes. There wouldn`t have been much of my original book left. The words 'flea' and 'ear' were applied.

My current US publisher is quite wonderful and no changes, re-writes or other power-moves have ever been suggested. Not one. And judging from the number of e-mails I get from over the pond, the punters like the result.  But alas, my US publisher does not do children`s books so THE BATTLE FOR GULLYWITH has gone to others.  All of which, so far as I can gather, belong to  either the Power or Failed-writer group, or even to both. If they do not like it, do not want to publish it, do not think it right for their list  or their readers or whatever, that`s fine. They should say so in as few words as possible. Usually two will suffice. No. and Thanks.  I am not offended, I do not require long critiques. I`ve been around too long for that. But do you know, they cannot resist going into Power mode even while turning Gullywith down. They start demanding re-writes even when they don`t intend to buy the bloody book. Here is just one. They said if they were even to think of considering it they would want ''an extensive line edit and language and punctuation ( and quite possibly plot and character ) would figure into that.'

Now spelling to accomodate those who cannot work out that theatre means theater and colour means color, are fine by me though I do think they are patronising their readers and I know my punctuation is a tad eccentric. People love me for it. Never mind that. But changes to plot  and character ? The famous author of  a great many bestsellers was SO right.