Ghosted by co-editor on 2 major projects?

[euro_trash]

Colleague agreed to co-edit 2 major works with me (humanities). 80% of the work was done YEARS ago (I've done my half good lord!). Colleague made less and less contact over time, citing work pressure and always promising to be nearly ready to tidy things up, the emails ready to go out, but colleague has totally disappeared. It's been a *year*. Colleague has been publishing elsewhere in the meantime.

I've already put hundreds of hours into each of the two projects, and one of the book contracts is in my name. I got the contract in 2013. What do you think I should do? I feel really stuck. On the one hand, I feel like these should have been out years ago, and that the delay has harmed me professionally. On the other hand this colleague is important, though I feel as if I've been ghosted. So I'm stuck. WWYD? Colleague outranks me but is at another university if that matters.

[mamselle]

Can you say what general field?

Given that article/book differences, the use of multiple authorships on humanities/science works, etc. vary so much by discipline, that might help get you more specific, useful feedback.

[euro_trash]

These are (edited) collections in 1) literature and 2) creative writing.

[pedanticromantic]

Personally, I would contact them and say something like "you're obviously not interested in doing this work. I understand that you're too busy to continue so I will do the remainder of the work and remove you from the project unless I hear from you in x days... "
Otherwise you're doing all the authors a serious disservice, since they may be dependent on things getting published for their own T&P, etc.

[secundem_artem]

One rule of thumb that has stood me well when dealing with co-authors:

"Your silence will be interpreted as your consent." 

If they don't like what I've done, the edits I've made, the author order, the journal I sent it to, or anything else, it's their problem.  I've found this to be remarkably effective at motivating other people to send replies, or otherwise get on the ball.

[youllneverwalkalone]

One rule of thumb that has stood me well when dealing with co-authors:

"Your silence will be interpreted as your consent." 

If they don't like what I've done, the edits I've made, the author order, the journal I sent it to, or anything else, it's their problem.  I've found this to be remarkably effective at motivating other people to send replies, or otherwise get on the ball.

I wholeheartedly agree with this in the context of journal papers. I am not sure it applies to the OP's case though since edited collections tend to be much more complex projects and especially because only one of the book contracts is in their name.

[Hibush]

One rule of thumb that has stood me well when dealing with co-authors:

"Your silence will be interpreted as your consent." 

If they don't like what I've done, the edits I've made, the author order, the journal I sent it to, or anything else, it's their problem.  I've found this to be remarkably effective at motivating other people to send replies, or otherwise get on the ball.

I wholeheartedly agree with this in the context of journal papers. I am not sure it applies to the OP's case though since edited collections tend to be much more complex projects and especially because only one of the book contracts is in their name.

Perhaps OP has been dropped as co-editor of the volume that doesn't have them on the contract, and is now sole editor of the other volume. Now it is mostly a matter of informing everyone.

[toothpaste]

Since you have a contract, this would be a good time to talk to your editor at the press about why you haven't delivered. They might be able to help you think of strategies for dealing with the ghosting colleague.

[euro_trash]

Since you have a contract, this would be a good time to talk to your editor at the press about why you haven't delivered. They might be able to help you think of strategies for dealing with the ghosting colleague.

I did just that. I called the editor who was very supportive. Editor told me to proceed without ghost colleague altogether. I sent ghost colleague a very factual nonemotional email explaining that I'm moving forward as sole editor, and am waiting for the fallout. I'm sure I'll get excuse after excuse but I'm done. It's unfair to the contributors and to me. Should have done this years ago.