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Bennett CerfBennett Cerf
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Session:         Page of 1029

Q:

Didn't you have the responsibility of reporting how many copies you sold?

Cerf:

Don't be silly. Of course we did.

Q:

Is this where Jacqueline Susann complained?

Cerf:

Oh, heavens no. She never questioned our reports. Since you're jumping ahead, I think that Jackie Susann just wants to get out of her contract with Geis because she's been offered huge sums by other publishers. So she's using any subterfuge that she can think of to get out of a contract. I don't think that she's going to get clear of Mr. Geis unless she pays him handsomely. But as far as her not getting full royalties is concerned, I can tell you that is an absolute lie because we're the ones who paid them. She wouldn't trust Geis even in those days. The U.S. royalties we paid from our sales. Her claim, I think, is that he falsified sales of the book abroad. We had nothing to do with that accusation and I don't believe it, anyway. I think that Geis is very careful about these things. That's my opinion. I don't know.

Anyway, for awhile, all went well. The Linkletter book and Groucho's book...he had many successes...Helen Gurley Brown's Sex and the Single Girl. Gradually, though, the books began to get sleazier. Nobody really looked at Valley of the Dolls when it came in. It's not too bad, anyway. To this day I haven't read Valley of the Dolls, I must admit to you, and





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