Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is reportedly having problems with Alfred A Knopf and Edinburgh-based publisher Canongate, who signed a £1 million deal with the Wiki Leaks founder for his memoir.
The Guardian has the story: “According to publishing sources … the contract has fallen through, at least in its original form, after Assange indicated he no longer wished to write the kind of book that was initially envisaged. He is thought to have told publishers that the book, ghostwritten by the novelist Andrew O’Hagan, could give ammunition to US prosecutors, whom he fears may seek his extradition on terrorist charges relating to WikiLeaks disclosures.”
Assange isn’t having as much luck in the book world as his former colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg did. Domscheit-Berg may not have landed a $1.5 million advance, but he has had critical success with his tell-all Inside WikiLeaks: My Time with Julian Assange at the World’s Most Dangerous Website.
According to The Guardian story, the publishers are not commenting on the project except to say that it: “is still very much alive, with over 35 publishers around the world committed to publishing this book.”