Author Enabler column reader (and talented writer) Steve asks, “I have read several pros/cons about Publish America. I was wondering if you could tell me what you may know about this company. Are they better than a vanity/self publisher?”
We have also heard pros and cons about Publish America, Steve. The term “vanity publisher” is a bit antiquated, but there is no question that you would be perceived as a self-published author if you go this route.
For some authors, this is fine. But it’s likely you will be disappointed if you are expecting the editorial, publicity, sales, and marketing support offered by traditional publishers.
We’d love to hear what other writers have to say about Publish America and similar companies.
Thanks for writing,
Kathi Kamen Goldmark and Sam Barry
July 8, 2009 at 4:35 pm |
Hello Steve,
As the Public Relations Director for PublishAmerica, I would like to give you the facts about America’s number one book publisher.
At PublishAmerica, authors are not treated like a faceless, means-to-an-end, but rather like a member of the family. It is no wonder that thousands of first time and experienced authors are saying that PublishAmerica is the company that makes dreams come true.
A traditional, royalty paying company, PublishAmerica offers authors numerous benefits that other companies simply cannot. Such benefits include:
● No publishing fees, ever!
● No literary agents required.
● Author keeps copyright.
● Full time Author Support Team to answer your questions and assist in scheduling book signing events.
● Full time Marketing team to contact bookstores to schedule signing events.
● Qualified and knowledgeable Acquisitions and Editorial staff.
● Professional, award-winning book cover designs.
● Dedicated Public Relations Department contacts over 100 newspapers daily.
● All books available through bookstores, large and small.
● Free website available to authors.
● Author Message Board available for authors to get to know one another and share ideas.
As a member of the PublishAmerica family, authors will not be viewed as a victim of vanity presses. Our books have been reviewed by and our authors interviewed by some of the most respected newspapers and magazines, not only in America, but in Europe and Asia as well. Our authors have also appeared on Fox News, the History Channel, as well as a host of other local, regional and national television stations.
PublishAmerica is also proud to have a growing number of celebrity authors in our family. They include The Sound of Music’s Agathe von Trapp, Pulitzer Price winner William Coughlin, and Sandor Stern, the screenwriter of The Amityville Horror.
If you would like more information about PublishAmerica and our relationship with our thousands of satisfied authors, I invited you to visit the following link: http://www.publishamerica.com/testimonials/index.php
July 9, 2009 at 1:41 pm |
We appreciate this thoughtful response from PublishAmerica’s public relations director. We’d also love to hear from writers who have had experience with this or other similar companies.
July 14, 2009 at 3:00 am |
I am a published writer/author by PublishAmerica. They have been
nothing but good to me. With that being said, I have also had many
other companies approach me to let them publish my short stories.
As with me and my opinion, a couple of things come to mind. First and
foremost, no matter what your name, unless your Bill O’relly or John
Grishom, you as the writer have to promote your work. It takes alot of
hard work everyday to get that book out there and get it promoted.
Also, It is my opinion also, the title and content must be something of
interest to someone or else its going to sit on the shelve or in the
computer waiting to be printed. Does it really matter if Pigeon or Random
House do the book instead of Publish America, I doubt it. With the tons of
manuscripts and books written daily and submitted all over the world
it is my understanding that out of all those books, 3% total actually sell
over 5,000 books. I don’t know if I will be one of those, but I’m going to
continue to try and make my name noticed by everyone I can. Grap all
the free press you can get and all the avenues for promotion as well.
If you make it popular by the name and generate the momentum on the
internet, I believe you have a better chance of selling books.
I don’t buy my own books and try to sell them myself, if a company
doesn’t believe in me enough to at least try and get retailers to buy the
book for a booksigning, then I’m not interested. If they won’t buy the
book that should also be a big message about the book.
With PublishAmerica, they will at least give an individual a chance.
You never know what is going to sell and become the next number
one on the New York Times Best Sellers List.
SK Covey
In The Arms of a Sociopath
published by PublishAmerica
July 15, 2009 at 5:14 pm |
No PublishAmerica book has ever been stocked nationally by any of the major chains, and this is out of thousands of books. Bottom line, PA is a reverse vanity press scheme. You pay nothing upfront, hence the “traditional publisher” hype, but what happens is most of their authors buy books from PA afterwards, and these books are overpriced by an average of $5 or so.
They’ll take anything and publish it. I even sent them an outline for a book I proposed to write about septic tank repair, and they were interested. Y’all might also want to check into a book called “Atlanta Nights.” PA has published a number of “sting” type books.
Bottom line, if you want your name on a book cover for free, use PA. If you want your writing in bookstores and libraries, stay far, far away.
July 16, 2009 at 12:16 am |
Sorry, I forgot one last comment or ??? if you will.
Why would you bother to send something to them knowing it was bad
writing or worthless? Seems like a real waste of time for a
professional.
Sandie
July 16, 2009 at 12:14 am |
It sounds like you are telling me what they published on my behalf
and on everyones behalf is garbage. Just being curious, do you have
published works and if so, are they in the major bookstores.
Do you make a living writing and when I ask that, you have not got
another day job? If this is true, I’m screwed. Due to the fact I love to
write and do feel I have something to say, and can be and will be
a help to other women/men with my books but I as everyone else,
must make a living during it. Do you know if anyone who has been
published by PublishAmerica has made any money?
July 19, 2009 at 8:34 pm |
When PA accepted my book “The Black Knight’s God” it was the happiest day in my day. I never regretted my decision.
I don’t doubt a few of PA critics really did have a bad experience {I can’t get them to answer the phone so I miss out on specials} but by and large PA critics are delusional writers.
July 21, 2009 at 12:35 am |
Thanks for the encouragement. I wrote my story to try and help some
one else from going through the pain and horror I did. The next ones
they have and are doing are of the same. I just do short stories.
Seems like they are trying to change their image abit. Did you
make any money on your book. I have numbers I guess thats good,
but I have no idea what they mean.
Thanks again for the reply.
July 21, 2009 at 6:30 pm |
Publish America’s contract ties up your rights for seven years with their ONE DOLLAR ADVANCE and automatically renews it if you don’t write in to cancel.
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21345
In the ten years they’ve been in business, not one PA title–there are at least 35,000 according to their claims–has ever made it to a recognized best seller list like the New York Times or USA Today.
PA books are “available” in stores, but ONLY if someone walks in to order one.
PA has NO distributor like Ingrams or Baker and Taylor. Without distribution there are no sales to stores or libraries.
PA writers are expected to go to bookstores and beg for shelf space, they’re expected to buy their own titles for signings.
The big chains may allow the books to be advertised on their websites, but they do not stock PA books. No distribution, you see.
Bookstores and libraries, having dealt with PA, see it as a vanity printer. Most stores and libraries do not shelf vanity titles, as they take away space from professionally published books.
PA books are overpriced, usually 5-10 dollars above average–another reason why bookstores don’t stock them. PA claims “it is what the market will bear.”
PA writers don’t get a free author’s copy, they are expected to buy it.
PA aggressively markets books to its own writers with frequent emails urging them to “stock up” and have “copies on hand.”
In my 20 years in professional publishing I have NEVER once gotten such mails from any of my publishers. My editors send me a box of FREE copies each time one of my titles is released. More than once when I’ve asked to buy copies they drop a few dozen in a box and ship them to me for nothing.
PA manuscripts are run through the spell check, which introduces new errors to the book. They process an average of 100 new titles every week or so, and only have about 20 editors (if that many) for the work.
Formatting errors are all too common in the final product, even for writers who hire an outside editor for their work.
Unhappy writers wanting out of their contracts are urged to buy more copies of their books or flat out write PA a check to get out of the deal.
Words from an ex-employee on how things work:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2241185&postcount=1
Publishing professionals comment on PA:
http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2005/01/the_publishamer.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25187-2005Jan20.html?sub=AR
http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/006032.html
The Atlanta Nights Sting to prove that PA accepts everything:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Nights
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/01/prweb202277.htm
The Crack of Death Sting
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/120377/book_review_the_crack_of_death_by_sharla.html?cat=38
But boiled down–you’re better off self-publishing than using this bunch!
July 21, 2009 at 6:42 pm |
PS–
PA’s Shawn Street says:
I invited you to visit the following link: http://www.publishamerica.com/testimonials/index.php
In my experience when you see “TESTIMONIALS” on any publishing site it means that you’re dealing with a VANITY printer.
Check out pro publishing sites like McMillans, Penguin, Random House–see if you can find the “T” word anywhere.
You won’t.
BIG difference.
July 22, 2009 at 1:42 pm |
Thanks everyone, for checking in with your thoughtful opinions. We’re curious about “Atlanta Nights”…
July 23, 2009 at 1:25 am |
I truly hate to hear this. I have information to share and a degree in
marketing and know how to market myself. I do not buy any of my
books from them, nor do I need a spell checker as I have one in my
computer. I checked with a couple of others and they all say the same
thing….you can’t make a living writing books unless your a big name
and then the publisher will go all out to support and promote you.
I agree with several things you say, one, how can they publish so many
books in a day, week, or month. Its overwhelming to me. As I checked
the numbers game on Amazon or B&N, I could not find one of there
books that has any kind of number except a few and most of them were
in the millions. How does PA stay in business if they are a scam?
Thanks for the info.
What I get from all is don’t quit your day job.
July 24, 2009 at 6:33 am |
I have made next to nothing but thats not PA’s fault. PA doesn’t promise you will get rich just that the first time author will have at shot at getting published.
Mr. Elrod is TOTALLY misinformed. He should feel ASHAMED to put this crap out there.
I never bought anything from PA unless I wanted to. I received two free copies. PA does use distribution services such as Ingraham and Baker and Taylor.
Usually but NOT always book stores don’t have POD published books on the shelve.
I could one day make money {Although thats not my main objective} because PA granted me in writing all movie rights.
August 1, 2009 at 4:53 pm |
If you read the fine print and understand the contract then you will not get any surprises. If you are dreamy eyed over the prospect of being a “Published Author” have an objective 3rd person read it for you. I have a book published by PA (“Jodon Renaissance”) and am totally happy with their performance. Than being said, I already have an agent and publisher for my next 2 books other than PA.
August 8, 2009 at 2:35 am |
PublishAmerica is a company staffed by people who must be so intimidated by the their managers that they will say anything and do anything to get an author to write a check. I published a children’s book with them and even though I was promised a traditional softcover binding, I got STAPLES! They also cut up my illustrations throughout the book instead of resizing them properly to fit the pages. My digital galley proof looked NOTHING like the published book and when I complained, it was to deaf ears. It took three emails to even GET a response! I was also assured that it is not a POD company, when it obviously is! This is not a professional publisher and should never be considered by ANY author. I cannot get my books into any book seller because they don’t consider PublishAmerica a worthwhile vendor. I don’t mind working to market my own books, but it’s ridiculous how badly edited and ridiculously priced the books are! I called in to order and nobody answered the first three times. I left messages and no one called me back! When you do get to order your books, EACH BOOK costs $3.99 to ship, even though they come Media Mail in one or two boxes. When I shipped copies to relatives and friends, it cost $1.50 each book. I could go on and on about what has happened to me, but these are the main points I needed to make. Now I’ve vented and will never again have anything to do with this non-professional company.
August 10, 2009 at 9:08 pm |
Debbie,
Thanks for all the info. I am having a rather unique situation and was
curious if you experienced anything like this.
Lets take Amazon as my example; the only example.
My book was released in April 09, and began climbing in the numbers
game they play which to me meant, it was selling? Now, B&N won’t
carry the book because its POD, PA says its not, and some writers have
their works in B&N, I’m not one of them, I have had many booksignings
scheduled and the book continued to show great “promise” on both
Amazon and BN. Now, all of a sudden these nasty, bad, awful, review
comes up on Amazon. Person says, she had not even read the book,
was complaining about the number of pages and the publisher. Interesting. I emailed Amazon and they removed it. Then we go along,
and suddenly again, This really really nasty long review again against
the publisher and me, actually making money on such trash, on and
on, then I went in and tried to do some damage control with the one
star bomb review, and these power gods of the review staff for Amazon
said I reviewed my own book and so I complained cause now this trash
is on Amazons site and you can’t remove this garbage when its out there.
Now I admit, I’m not the world best writer, but for this kind of horrible
trash to be against my book, needless to say, my numbers on Amazon
dropped like a rock. Amazon removed all but the ONE BOMB from the
reviews, so now its just really bad. So I went in and tried to remove my
authors page and delete any info about me and my thought was maybe
they will leave me alone if I take a low profile and avoid trying to
promote my book through Amazon. Its funny, the other sites aren’t like
this. I’m horrified. I have given PA 2 more books which one should be
released soon and the other probably in several months. I’m thinking
I will look into self publish with someone else for my additional short
stories. The really weird thing; the book Amazon was pairing me with,
The Sociopath Next Door, the same reviewer, on the same day, gave
that book a five star review. Now she also reviewed big wheel and baby
shoes and since I don’t see her name on anything else. This is a mess
and my heart is broken because I believed in PA and have tried to dis-
count all the bad press. The ??? do you think they actually let people
post bad reviews because of PA? The person actually said, she did not
buy the book, someone gave it to her. Horrified by PA and Amazon…
Why does PA Allow Amazon to do this. Maybe they don’t know?
It seems my book was the only one on Amazon by PA that had any
rank at all. Now I wonder about the whole rank thing. Any suggestions?
Now they have 3 of my stories and I can’t do a thing about it, funny too,
I didn’t think I would get rich but I did feel I would make something.
Thanks for listening and letting me vent!!!
Sandie Covey
August 13, 2009 at 10:05 pm |
I have received a contract from PA but am now afraid to go with them. I seem to read more negatives than positives – other than their OWN RECOMMENDED testimonial site.
I guess I will continue to submit to other publishers. I believe if nothing else, I can always go back to PA.
Also, has anyone heard of WLChildren’s Agency? Thanks.
August 16, 2009 at 12:16 pm |
I left a note below yours concerning WL Children’s Agency. I failed to see that I could simply click reply.
August 16, 2009 at 12:13 pm |
I would advise anyone looking to publish a book to check out the following website; it has great information concerning publishing companies.
http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/pebpublisham.htm
I had a children’s book accepted by WL Children’s agency, but I understand most of their money comes not from the books they sell, but from fees they charge the author. I was informed that I needed to pay $70 to $90 for a critique, even though PublishAmerica had already critiqued it.
I didn’t use PublishAmerica because I was told I needed to either do a children’s book without pictures, or use their illustrations for a price of over $400. I looked at their illustrations and my artwork looks great in comparison.
August 25, 2009 at 7:27 pm |
If I can warn one person and have them listen and save them endless hours of regret then this will not be a waste of time.
Please don’t use PA.
* Your book will never be stocked in any mainstream bookstore, unless you buy the books from PA and do a consignment sale.
Most mainstream bookstores are forced to buy through Ingrahms to minimize collateral damage from overstock and returns, but there is no discount to Ingrahms from PA, nor through Ingrahms to these bookstores.
Hence: Retail price + shipping + the bookstore margin = No book stocked.
* Your book will be so overpriced that no one in their right mind other than loving family and friends will purchase it.
* PA will push sales to you, the author, at “sale” prices with huge shipping fees. There are no returns for damaged goods.
* No effort will be made to market your book on PA’s part except to an email list that you are asked to provide to them and a one page “Press Release” that is so benign that a 7th grader could have written it.
* You will not get any email support promised -you will be ignored.
* Their editors will inject errors into your work and publish it uncorrected.
* You will be trapped for seven years of contract.
* You will receive a $1 advance instead of the statistical three or four digit remuneration for an unknown or new author.
* This could be a full page post, but that would be rude and inconsiderate to the blog.
You will be better off using a self publish house than using them.
Get a quality agent, do your homework, submit, submit, submit your manuscript.
I pray for the other multitude of duped authors and their lost dreams.
But don’t take my word for any of this…
Google this – “publishamerica complaints”
September 1, 2009 at 1:11 am |
I got the email stating no royalties due this time as my book released
officially June 8 and the distributors hold back 90 days for payment,
blah, blah, blah, and yes I am sooooo sorry I got involved with them.
They do zero editing, and even if you have a English/Writing Degree
you will make mistakes. I don’t care how many people you ask to read
and re-read your manuscript there will be something wrong.
They will not change one misspelled word, fix anything they don’t think
is bad and frankly, I find what they are doing an embarrassment to
people who wish to be taken serious. It may be that size matters but
in many many books, short stories, published by high profile publishers
are only 60-100 pages. They sell however for an amount of around
7-9 dollars instead of $17-20 with shipping cost and tax. Its stupid.
I hate it but I’m in it now so I just blog, don’t buy this book expecting
it to be written or edited by Quality Professionals. Makes me sick to
my stomach. So we all think PA is making money but only off of the
people they publish. I don’t and will not buy my books. Actually, I delete
the tons of sales offers I get on the email. I asked for several format
and sentence structure changes and they said no. Then in one of my
books, it a guide you can write in and they will not even add the lines
to write on. I could not believe it. Don’t expect to make a dime.
In fact has anyone ever received any kind of royalty check from them???
I now know and won’t be so easily smoked next time.
September 12, 2009 at 1:49 pm |
I am one of those who published with PA and even though it was a smooth, painless process I have my regrets. The problem stems from all the negative publicity PA has received. In the wake of that it seems I have a skeleton in the closet! I am querying to find an agent for my most current manuscript, and as I have been researching online, I have found several agents who advise NOT to mention any publishing credits through PA. In fact one agent said this would be like saying you Xeroxed the pages and stapled them together and called it published! Of course, that negates most of what I’d like to consider part of my accomplishments. So, if I do mention my PA credits, it might be the kiss of death as far as most agents go. What a mess! Whether the publicity about PA is true or false isn’t really the issue. It’s out there and it does affect how people in the industry are thinking.
October 15, 2009 at 5:18 pm |
Here is the email address to the office of consumer affairs of Maryland
The Attorney Generals Office:
consumer@oag.state.md.us
Contact them with a SHORT itemized list of grievances with PA. Let them know that they have breached contract and be prepared to prove it.
PublishAmerica has already changed their online FAQ page to reflect that books will not appear in bookstores. It’s all changed in the last few weeks.
You may not need to file a lawsuit if we all petition at the same time.
PA Information:
PublishAmerica LLLP
P.O. Box 151
Frederick, MD 21705
(301) 695-1707
(publishamerica.com)
Good luck.
October 16, 2009 at 7:30 am |
PA accepted my book for publication but later withdrew their offer when they realize that am not residing in America. Am just scared of getting plagiarize. Have already sent my manuscript to an e-book publisher. Am also on the look out for any work that resembles my. I do hope they won’t try to still my work, cause if they do i will be ready for them.
November 3, 2009 at 8:30 am |
The first novel I ever sent them was rejected. I read some reviews about their company and decided not to use them. However, if I dont find one soon, I might have too. (Im sending them another novel) Oh, anyone interested in reading a rough draft of it?
November 3, 2009 at 8:33 am |
I’ve also noticed that on amazon, they wont ever let you look inside a publish america book.