This is a great post from The Passive Voice, discussing the current difficult contract environment for authors and some of the not-so-nice games some publishers are resorting to in efforts to stay afloat in these rapidly changing times.  He quotes and references a great article from Kristine Kathryn Rusch.

Very good stuff, and well worth a read if you’re a writer or hoping to become a professional writer.

http://www.thepassivevoice.com/05/2011/strip-mining-the-authors/