November 29, 1888, letter to Mr. Ford. She has requested that her publisher the American News Company send him a copy of her first novel, The Berkeleys and Their Neighbors and would like a line or two in Harper's. She says she is not asking for a "puff." She outlines her reasons for switching from Harper's to The American News Company. She didn't want to wait to have her novel published first in the magazine and hopes that the critics will recognize "the hand of a young woman in the book." She is "not ashamed of my femininity even in art." December 24, 1888, letter to Mr. Stoddart. Writes on the day before Christmas to thank him for his offer of an advertisement for Hale Weston in [Lippincott's]. She notes that the newspapers are behind in reviewing her book (neither the Sun or the Boston Transcript have reviewed it). She expects that they will do it by Wednesday and requests that Stoddart wait a week to print the ad. She asks him to use his own judgment on the advertisement but follows with suggestions on paper color and wording. Does not want more copies of Hale Weston. October 27, 1889, letter to Mr. Roberts. Responding to his letter forwarded to Nova Scotia. Seawell is pleased that Hale Weston is being translated into German by Miss Braun, but would like to make revisions before it is published in English or German. Needs a proof that is printed on one side. She is presently working on a dramatization of Maid Marion; has had an offer to dramatize Hale Weston and offers for Throckmorton from Appleton's (to cover all expenses and 10 percent on the retail price from the start). She will have Mr. Merrat Halsted write her biography for the German publication. Unhappy that a story entitled My Hero, by a cousin, has been confused as hers "That's not my way at all-I know all about my heroes, down to the size of their shoes." Ends that she will always feel kindly towards Lippincott's. November 19, 1890, letter to Mr. Stoddart. Seawell informs Stoddart that she will take the 8:10 (or, if not, 9 A.M.) train to Philadelphia. She announces that she would like to visit with Mrs. Stoddart, but that she has an old friend that she has promised to reserve her evening for and that she will be staying at the Lafayette. She will be tired after her work and seeing her friend, and will go to bed early, so that she will hold the pleasure of being his guest. March 29, 1892, letter to Mr. Stoddart. Seawell writes "that it is not I who is hard to do business with it is you." She is angry that he wishes her to enlarge her story without guarantee of having it accepted for publication. She thinks that is the kind of offer given to an unpublished author. She goes on to say that she has just declined an offer of twice what she received for Hale Weston. She notes that the four works in five years that Lippincott has published have been well received and while"Lippincott may think me an inferior writer, the public does not." She says this as a matter of "business not of vanity." She suggests he tell her what he would pay for a 40,000-word story and then they might come to terms. December 5, 1892, letter to Mr. Stoddart. Seawell offers her novel of 45,000 words, Lady Betty, to Mr. Stoddart for publication by Lippincott's as a serial. She asks for $1,000, which is the same price she got for a serial of the same length the last time, and notes she has turned down an offer of $500. She writes that it [the title] is "not a very good name but I could not think of a better one." December 15, 1892, letter to Mr. Stoddart. Writes that she realizes that they are far apart on the monetary value for the complete novel [Lady Betty]. Would like to talk to him for fifteen minutes but since she has a deadline of 15th of January for a serial story for St. Nicholas, she would prefer not to come to Philadelphia. Seawell suggests that Stoddart take the train to Washington, they could discuss the matter, and perhaps go to a play with her group. January 14, 1893, letter to Mr. Stoddart. Writes that she has not heard from him in regard to the purchase of her novel [Lady Betty]. She had hoped he would come to Washington to discuss it. She needs a new sealskin wrap and she can't buy one until she finds out about her story. Appleton's is publishing Children of Destiny as soon as they get the English copyright, perhaps in February. Houghton and Mifflin had also made offers for it. Would like a half hours talk with him. Writes that he probably thought it "queer" that she didn't ask him and Mrs. Stoddart to dinner after the theater when she was in Philadelphia but that she had a dinner at six that day and could not manage a supper too. Mentions being with a [Mrs. Bennett?] and a [Mrs. Courtenay Baylor?]. January 22, 1893, letter to Mr. Stoddart. Seawell will send him her story, "Lady Betty," which she thinks is a bad name that needs to be altered, but will send it by express it on Monday. She would like a prompt decision. Talks about inexpensive photogravures of Versailles and Holyrood. She expected to make $1000 but would rather take $500 to be published by Lippincott's. Says that she is going into the playwriting business, encouraged by a New York manager, and does not plan to write any more novels for a least three years. Another reason for taking $500 now. Talks about her social life, enlivened by [Mrs. Burnett?] and that Thomas Nelson Page will dine with her next week. February 17, 1895, letter to Mr. Stoddart. Seawell states that she is happy Stoddart will publish A Strange Sad Country but is even more anxious for him to also print Lady Betty. She has spent over a thousand dollars for serial rights for A Strange Sad County and has had unsolicited offers for the book rights. She is anxious to know what he will pay. Publishers pay her as high as thirty dollars a thousand [words] but she accepts fifteen per thousand from less wealthy companies. Says that the current fashion in literature is "lore and gore" (Labonchise? phrase). Mr. Howells made "the deadly dull provincial American novel the mode." So at least Lady Betty is in fashion. The subject is based upon a real incident concerning a Sister of Mercy who received the Medal of Order of Bravery from the Commander of the French army. The market for serial rights is small and "commands" him to purchase Lady Betty. She will meet Mr. Parker when he comes to Washington. She supposes Uncut Leaves will be given, as Lent is the time for it. March 2, 1895, letter to Mr. Stoddart. Seawell responds to Stoddart's note received that morning and requests that he return "Lady Betty" by express, C.O.D. She accepts his offer of $250.000 for the book rights of A Strange Sad Country and assures him that the rights are hers. She has the receipt dated June 16, 1892, for $1,000 for the serial rights. Therefore, Godey's, the publisher, has nothing more to do with the book.
