How can I tell you … let me count the ways … stay away from the Publishing Predators!
The email box fills daily. Not one goes by without an author reaching out for help. Today’s is no different:
… she self published a book through Author House in 2010. Recently a representative from that company called telling her she needed to come to a meeting in Las Vegas with film producers. She was really excited and gave him her credit card number. I understand he immediately ran it through for $1,500 …
Her son has stopped the account. His mother is mentally impaired. Money should be demanded back. The credit card company should be immediately notified that the deal was “fraudulently” represented. Etc., etc., etc.
Author House/Author Solutions is the big gremlin in the publishing sky. Along with iUnverse, Xlibris and others, authors are consistently duped into thinking that they are self-publishing their books. No … Author House, Author Solutions, Xlibris, iUniverse or any of the knock-offs are publishing your book—and you are paying them all the money to do it. They have no risk. It’s called Pay to Publish.
Yes, they do have people who lay a book out—they pay them to do it with a portion of the money you pay them; they do have people who create a cover—they pay them to do it with a portion of the money you pay them; they print your books as you request/pay for them– they do have people who print books—they pay them to do it with a portion of the money you pay them; if it dawns on you that editing might be a good thing—they may have an editing package—they pay someone who says they are an editor with a portion of the money you pay them; they may even come up with a “marketing” or “publicity” package—they pay the people who create them with a portion of the money you pay them.
It’s their business model. You want a book that kinda, sorta looks like a book “book.” You pay … they create. This is not self-publishing …the only thing “self” about the whole enchilada is that it’s “self money”—yours—that funds it all.
The stats are awful. These kind of books only sell a few—and when “few” is used here, it means far less than 100 copies … more likely 10—copies. Do your”self” a publishing favor. Before you pump moneys, which could easily drive into the thousands with the Pay to Publish model, do some test driving yourself by starting with a few questions:
- How much time, energy and money can you commit to your book?
- How much time, energy and money will you commit to your book?
- Is having any type of control important to you?
- Is it important to you to know where your books are sold?
- Is it important to you to receive your moneys for book sales promptly?
- Is it important for you to be able to track eBook sales?
- Are you someone who wants to be involved in the “process” or are you someone who wants someone else to do it?
- What’s your vision for your book, really?
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out …
The worms crawl in and out (play pinochle on) your snout …
Indeed there are too many negative stories out there about Author Solutions. I believe that for authors who are looking for someone else to take on the formatting side of things, there are plenty of reputable options out there who won’t resort to running up charges on your credit card with false promises. As Author Solutions has now been bought by Penguin, there’s to hoping they can clean up the industry one business at a time. That way authors aspiring to e-publish should have less to worry about when looking for some outside help!
I had a horrible time with Trafford, one of the associate companies of Author Solutions. I sent them a copy of my manuscript (which is about rape) and told them to vet it and tell me if they want to publish it. Their “author representative” said it was OK, and pressured me to send money to “start the process.” I did. But guess what? After they received my money they said the manuscript “is not OK.” Here comes the hold up: I asked for a refund. They are now giving me the run around and rigmarole. These predator companies are no different than rapacious crocodiles that position themselves in the river of opportunity to pick off struggling wildebeests trying to make it to greener pastures. Please help me put pressure on them and other crooked companies.