In Brief: Hafida Latta is a Tunisian British author who in 2021 wrote a Tunisian cookbook. She loaned Max Scott money and secured sponsors for him to publish her book. He published it, after many delays, and sold it internationally but despite endless promises, he never repaid her loan, failed to report sales figures, didn’t adequately pay her royalties and didn't respond to her lawyers' letter.
Hafida Latta’s case in her own words:
My name is Hafida Latta. I am a Tunisian born author and have been married for the last 57 years to a British Council officer and, therefore, I have dual nationality. In 2021, I gave a loan to Max Scott to print and publish my Tunisian Cookbook. Two sponsors were also found by my contacts to expedite the publishing of the book.
After 15 months of delay, the book was finally published and Max Scott, the publisher, was selling it on the international market. Despite dozens of reminders by email, messages and phone calls Max Scott continued to use his traditional tactic of delays promising to reimburse the loan and pay the royalties within a month, a week and, on one occasion, make the transfer the same afternoon. Money owing to me as the author under the contract, however, has not been paid. It is long overdue. The loan was made in July 2021. Documents can be made available to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) on request.
Max Scott, the owner and managing director of Nomad Publishing made many mistakes and delays which led him to complain about costs. He ignored basic contractual commitments like reporting sales figures and the various clauses in the contract of reimbursing the loan and paying royalties. He also ignored a lawyer’s letter sent to him on my behalf.
When he became aware of my intention to share my story publicly, including on this petition, he again engaged me in manipulative conversation completely brushing off his past misconduct. When I stood my ground and made my demands clear, he switched to a very unpleasant tone insinuating that I had somehow lost my bearings and had been drawn into the dark space that other authors who have reported his misconduct inhabit.
In my opinion Max Scott behaved fraudulently and is shaming the British publishing industry. I am aware that I am not the only one to have been treated so badly. My case and that of all the other authors rests in the hands of the fraud squad.